I have a new Car

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:16 am

My Parents are picking up a new 5 series so I picked up off of them a 2003 330i (e46?) performance suspension model (it has M Wheels shocks a sways I believe.) The only downside to this car is that it is a 5 speed auto.

How hard it is to do routine maintenance on these cars? Oil changes and such? Also was the performance suspension option a Factory Option or a dealer option? Has any one autocrossed an automatoc BMW? It has both sport and normal options for the transmission and you can "manually shift" the transmission. My though was that if I ever auto-cross it to put in second manually and leave it there.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

David Teague wrote:

How hard it is to do routine maintenance on these cars? Oil changes and such?

Easy. Easier than most cars even. Oil filter is a top-mount canister, and drain plug is directly accessible. Fuel filter is hidden under the car but not difficult. Get the Bentley manual, it's excellent.

David Teague wrote:

Also was the performance suspension option a Factory Option or a dealer option?

Assuming this is the ZHP, it's factory. Dealer doesn't do any bolt-ons, they would all be Dinan stuff. Google search "BMW ZHP" and you'll find all sorts of good info.

David Teague wrote:

Has any one autocrossed an automatoc BMW?

No, I'm sure no one has ever autcorssed an automatic BMW.

David Teague wrote:

It has both sport and normal options for the transmission and you can "manually shift" the transmission. My though was that if I ever auto-cross it to put in second manually and leave it there.

Why? Just pretend it's a manual. Launch in first, shift manually to second, and drive.

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:37 am

Looks like it is not a ZHP as according to some reading I just did in 2003 they did not come with auto's only manuals, and it has 17 inch wheels, but they are defintaly M wheels, cause they have the M emblem on them (I assume).

Is there a way to like decode the vin to see what options the car has?

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:41 am

David - check the history of the car and see if the Trans has been replaced. The 5spd auto in my wagon died at around 60K miles, but due to the CPO warranty I had for the car, I got a new one for free. The transmission failures on those cars are quite common. Aparrently, the replacement transmissions don't have the same problems.

What to look for: When the car is cold and shifting in to drive, the car will wait a long time (sometimes up to 30 seconds) before it will actually "catch." Another failure (what happened to me) was that I lost reverse.

That said, I love my car for daily driver duties, especially in DC traffic. It's comfortable, handles well enough, it's quiet, and it actually gets darn decent gas mileage.

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:48 am

Well this car has 62,000 miles on it and the transmission seems fine, hopefully it was something they fixed during production.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

David Teague wrote:

Looks like it is not a ZHP as according to some reading I just did in 2003 they did not come with auto's only manuals, and it has 17 inch wheels, but they are defintaly M wheels, cause they have the M emblem on them (I assume).

Is there a way to like decode the vin to see what options the car has?

If you go to the dealer with the VIN and ask nicely (wear nice clothes too, can't hurt) they will print up a page with the build sheet and recalls/warranty work.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:34 pm

David Teague wrote:

Well this car has 62,000 miles on it and the transmission seems fine, hopefully it was something they fixed during production.

'03 is the borderline year, IIRC, for the revised transmission to actually be installed at the factory. Hopefully yours is a later '03.

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:39 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

If you go to the dealer with the VIN and ask nicely (wear nice clothes too, can't hurt) they will print up a page with the build sheet and recalls/warranty work.

What you don't think my normal attire will work???

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:32 pm

a Picture of the new ride.

After doing some digging this car defintaly has the Factory Performace package not the ZHP, oh well.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:51 pm

David Teague wrote:

After doing some digging this car defintaly has the Factory Performace package not the ZHP, oh well.

Yeah, that sucks. You should just give the cr away (to me). It would be a burden, but I guess I'd drive it.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

David,

Unless you have a compelling need to have an automatic daily driver, you might consider trading it for a manual transmission model. I'm sure there's plenty of demand for clean automatic equipped 330s.

Art

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:25 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

David,

Unless you have a compelling need to have an automatic daily driver, you might consider trading it for a manual transmission model. I'm sure there's plenty of demand for clean automatic equipped 330s.

Art

Hmm thats an Idea, however I do know the complete history of this car since my parents owned it.

David Teague · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:25 pm

scottjohnson wrote:

Yeah, that sucks. You should just give the cr away (to me). It would be a burden, but I guess I'd drive it.

Hmmm I could, but I guess i'll drive it :lol:

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