e36 m3 is more reliable. e36 has way more torque. e36 is more raw. e36 is a better handling car. e36 is more connected. zhp is more comfortable, more modern, quieter drive, and has more space.

Interesting video, thank you. I have a '95 M3, '98 M3 Sedan and an '03 330i ZHP Sedan. I love driving all 3 as each have their own characters and personalities that makes them special and fun drivers. None could be said as a favorite because i really like them all. Also have an original '88 E30M3 as 2nd owner bought 23 years ago but its a garage queen and gets driven maybe once a year to exercise it. Thanks again!

You make good points man. I bought a ZHP earlier this year and it's a great car to live with. Much cheaper to own and run than an M car, yet still pretty fun. I have a 6 speed sedan in Imola and still love it!

@fuelfiles

3 жыл бұрын

Imola 6 speed sedans are what I picture when I think ZHPs. Amazing!

@BeefyMon

2 жыл бұрын

I have an Imola 6-sp sedan also. 2nd owner, 73k miles, loaded. The design of the E46 coupe always seemed a bit awkward looking when compared with the sedan, which is absolute BMW perfection. Since there was no E46 M3 sedan, the ZHP is the ideal E46 in my opinion.

Great vid! Proud 2005 330i ZHP owner here with 117k miles

The e46 ZHP sells for much more money than a traditional E46 and most people use them as daily drivers. In the event of an accident, you better have agreed value insurance or you will get traditional E46 money. This is not a problem with E36 M3's. I also don't think e46 ZHP's are more reliable than an E36 M3. There are a host of expensive future repair items in the ZHP not shared with the E36: CCV; DISA; VANOS; Window regulators; Melting headlights...Do your research.

@fuelfiles

3 жыл бұрын

Personally, I havent had a single E46 out of the three that I've owned melt the headlights. I think that boils down to where the car is and how it's stored with climates speeding up the melting process etc. DISA, CCV, and VANOS issues also happen at higher mileage numbers and each cost less than $300 in parts to replace. When (not if) these parts fail on any M or S engine, it just happens to be the things you'd need to have in mind when owning one of these as a used car. As far as insurance is concerned, you absolutely have a point which is why there are a lot of rebuilt title e46's out there that I have seen caused by issues that PDR could sometimes fix, especially here in FL. I personally saw a rebuilt title ZHP sedan with a dent the size of a football on the quarter panel that the right specialist could have solved. However, the insurance company disagreed. The same topic applies to non M E30's. I've seen plenty of them that had insurance companies total them out for the saddest of taps. In the end, I still like the ZHP better, but thats also just my opinion. I do love E36 M3's still, but I hate seeing every set of vaders cracking and torn, gloveboxes melting and door cards that look like shrinky dinks. I still want one, but I'd get rid of everything on the interior and go "Porsche Clubsport" on the interior (shaved door cards with pull tabs, rear seat delete, and bucket seats) that is unless I find the unicorn Dakar/M rain interior...cheers!

I didnt even know about this car. Great facts and "data" haha. Thanks for the video info!

Incredible detailed info on the ZHP, importance in the BMW lineup and how amazing (and better purchase) it is compared the the us m3 of he same era. Awesome vid

The only issue is that all the things you named I don’t care for I’m just looking for a RAW driving experience and honestly a e46 m3 couldn’t give it to me

also Zhp has a better head than the oem m54, which can hold more boost for turbos and or supercharged. all this without the aid of valve adjustments that the S54 engine were slaved to.

@drewdavis239

2 жыл бұрын

Zhp cams are different. Head is exactly the same.

The ZHP is a great sounding(like at 8:05) daily driver for me and I don't think it is meant for collecting. Just enjoy it everyday. . Ultra reliable and city, freeway fast but with only 235hp, it is not meant for slamming the gas. With the money saved, I would get a separate car(M3) with over 300hp for the tracks.

I was about search up this exact question on what I should get

If you have the $ get both. Love them both

I would almost say it’s not fair to compare them , the e46 is such a more refined car

1/140 How do you know that you have a special ZHP i have a 2005 BMW ZHP and if I wasnt looking at it as we speak, I would have thought you were driving it because it is 100% identical to yours

Poor Americans… you have no idea what you missed out on with the S50b32

How is your investment thesis working out for you now? Since this video came out, e36 continues to climb in value while zhps are below the $15k mark. Guess you left out issues like subframe, double vanos, disa valve (torque dip issues); all way more costly than e36

@fuelfiles

2 жыл бұрын

Lol valid point that’s why I own an e36 m3 still. In longer term I think that the ZHP might accrue some more value but there will be a peak. Low mile ZHPs are still going strong. For a non WBS VIN BMW they’re going to reflect the same appreciation that iS e30 models have had. Sub $10k ZHPs are all VERY high miles already.

@Bmwstephen

2 жыл бұрын

@@fuelfiles if anything I'd try to go for the e90 330i with sports package. slightly heavier but offset with 255 hp (same power to weight ratio as e36 m3).

@satanscreations

Жыл бұрын

@@fuelfiles when you mention the vin, why the "non m built wba" as having a better appreciation than the wbs m built versions?

The killer for this car, IMO, is the M54's piston ring issue. They burn absurd amounts of oil. It's almost inevitable over 150k miles. M/S52s didn't suffer from this... for that reason I don't think I could ever bring myself to buy an E46 330. E36 M3s will go 200k+ without issue...

@wannabezhp

3 жыл бұрын

whats funny is that mines 203,000 and counting 330i m54b30

@joemama38

3 жыл бұрын

@@wannabezhp Good luck. I hope it doesn’t happen to you, but it’s an inherently flawed design. Had a buddy with a 325i that started burning massive amounts of oil at 170k miles

@fuelfiles

3 жыл бұрын

I've personally never come across anyone with an M54 that had that issue unless the car was victim to overheating. However, taking into account all the nightmare stories from all BMW's across the board...here we all are, still loving them and buying them!

@sr20dett1000

3 жыл бұрын

The zhp is overrated in the price. Specialty with high mileage. When the dampers need to be replaced and the control arms. If you are going to go coilovers and tune the ecu and put headers it's even more pointless to pay the premium.I have a e46 330i mtech1 got it for $2800. I've seen zhp for $4000 to 5000 and that's a reasonable price anything else is to high.

@wannabezhp

3 жыл бұрын

@@sr20dett1000 agreed! I got my 330i for 1900 only! U might as well just get one rather than a ZHP and mod it your self

The e36 M3 is 300 lbs lighter. Why do most car reviews don't mention weight? Why do people dyno their cars but never put them on a balance? In physics, F=ma. This means, obviously, that the heavier you are the more difficult you are to move, the less you accelerate. But maybe a little less obvious is your hp has no benefit in a turn, but your mass definitely does. So yeah, where can I weight my car? Can we start talking weight instead of HP at cars and coffee? lol !

@drewdavis239

2 жыл бұрын

E46 is a PIG. e39 is only 150 to 200 pounds more with the same drive train.

Doesnt look like a regular late model e46! Lol

I am one of the guys who crashed his zhp rip

@satanscreations

Жыл бұрын

pouring one out for you rn

Terribly biased video. The US spec e36 m3 is a great car and was loved in its day(and now) for for a good reason. Itbs and box flares don't make an m car. You also contradict yourself saying there is no difference between an e36m car and the 325i.(which is false)...but then you say parts are harder to find(didn't they make a lot?) and marked up because they are "m" parts . So are they different or not ? Lol These are all slow cars by modern standards . Even the euro powered and e46 m3. It's not even the point of these older bmws. ... kids these days.... Buy what you like but don't throw shade at other models to justify your purchase.

4:56 if you look at BringaTrailer prices of ZHPs, you’ll know why I hate you. Jk

@fuelfiles

3 жыл бұрын

If you look at Bring a Trailer the last silver coupe to sell is this exact car!

More reliable? Same power? Holding value like a M? Not a chance sir lol my daily driven s52 is at 230k miles and still hurts some feelings, dynos show 250+whp with a m50 manifold and a tune , and you see the value of the E36 M cars lol I'd say the 330i and zhp are great but it's not on the same level. Some of the cars I have pulled on would make me seem like im full of shit lol 😂

@fuelfiles

2 жыл бұрын

If you look at it from a collector's perspective it boils down to the simplicity of production numbers. The ZHP may not surpass the E46 M3 values, but just like E30 iS models have blown past E36 M3's, the ZHP can do the same. Juuuuust now, US E36 M3's are hitting peak numbers because the bubble has arrived for them. I'm now on my second E36 M3 and can say a bone stock S52 and a bone stock ZHP M54B30 are extremely alike. Forget the M50 manifold, injectors, and tune...I know very well what all of that does + E85 and a Dinan stage 3 supercharger ;)

M54 motors have the worst rings. Only two. Burns oil by design. M52 / m52 tu has real rings, three of them. Also, you need a very compitent mechanic for the aluminium block. Oil pan bolts are 8 ft. Pounds, ect. Easily ruined by any mechanic in a hurry. M54 holds less power stock or tuned. Zhp is just a set of cams that give you less than 10h.p. over a standard e46

Ending soon: bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-330i-zhp-52/

MY 2001 330ci zhp is the ultimate daily. never a garage queen

@ericbrown577

2 жыл бұрын

There is no 2001 ZHP. If you’re is a 2001 then it’s not a ZHP. 2003-2006

@azizhachimi8744

2 жыл бұрын

@@ericbrown577 Accurate!