Recent content by DrivinWest

My question about a flush are now retracted!

Answered above, but I do want to ask him to double-check. The ZHP is such a wonderful car. It's the best car I've ever owned. It needs active ownership and preventative maintenance, but it rewards the owner with driving dynamics that are hard to beat.

The previous owner stopped driving it regularly so did many changes at 5K-6K on the 1-year mark.

It was originally a lease and serviced by Bay Area BMW dealers, so whatever they were using about 20 years ago. The previous owner and I have been using Castrol European 0W40 (the Belgian-manufactured one as I recall) for at least the last 30K miles.

I'm the second owner of a 2003 BMW 330i "ZHP" with the M54B30 engine. I have maintenance records all the way back to new. The OCI has never exceeded 10K miles or 1 year. I've just replaced the VANOS (variable valve timing), spark plugs, etc. and figured I'd share the look of the cams while...

Here's my latest. I did a ton of track days in 2021, but only one track day in the last year. I changed the oil this time based on an annual interval, not mileage or hard usage. Seems the results are pretty consistent with the Mobil 1 FS X2 5W-50 regardless of how I use the car or how often I...

I decided to do a UOA on my new to me 2003 E46 330i ZHP. I bought it from the original owner with an impeccable maintenance record. I was just curious to know if there were any issues that might need to be addressed, as these engines are known to blow head gaskets and drip fuel from injectors...

Correction: the car has used Castrol 0W40 European formula over the last 30K plus, not the 5W40 that I mentioned in the original post. Thanks all for the direction!

I think I know the answer but figure I’ll ask the braintrust of BITOG. I recently purchased a 2003 BMW 330i ZHP with the M54B30 engine enhanced with ZHP cams from the factory. I bought it from the original owner who has been meticulous about maintenance. Despite the age, and 153K+ miles on the...

Sure am. I mostly do PCA and NASA events.

Thanks for the comments, all. I got an updated file from Blackstone that reflected the previously missing aluminum value. Since I don't daily the car my plan is to keep using 5W50. It'll only be driven when ambient is about 40F.

It looks like my Carrera T is holding up well to track use. I've switched oils a few times (all Porsche A40 approved): 1) dealer-fill Mobil 1 0W40 2) self-fill Motul X-Cess 8100 5W40 3) self-fill Mobil 1 5W50 There are few miles on the engine, and my OCIs have been short due to track use, but...

I’m back to report that the problem persists. I’ve done two BG EPR treatments before oil changes but it seems that the rate of consumption is consistent. Given the piston design change it seems that this is indeed a mechanical problem, not a coking one. The vehicle is in exceptional condition...

Agreed. I will be tracking it and thus doing frequent changes and UOAs.

The car is new to me and decided to replace the last dealer fill with Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40. This UOA is for the dealer-fill Mobil 1 0W-40.