The e34’s are all gone from the O’Connor automotive stable. The last to leave was my 535, the reincarnated Black Chariot of Expensiveness. Somehow, when Joe Ording let his Chariot go, it’s soul must have channeled through the forum and inhabited my car. In any event, the car was sold last Friday, to my mechanic, who was quite happy to buy it. This closes my e34 chapter, started a number of years ago with the Wife’s 525iT, sold last summer to my nephew.

I pick up the new vehicle tonight, and I’ll get some pictures up as soon as possible. I don’t know when I’ll be back at work or when my wife will see me again for that matter. Just after 5:30 this eveningI will pull out of Manhattan BMW with a 2004 330i ZHP – the US Performance Package. It’s about 60 miles home, we’ll see how many miles actually pass before I get there. The only glitch is the potential for gully-washing downpours this evening. Thank goodness for DSC?


6 speed with a short-shifter, reinforced and lightened flywheel, hotter cams, revised ECU software, free-flowing exhaust, M-tuned suspension, M body kit, Alcantara sport interior, 18” wheels, 225/40 rubber up front and 255/35 rubber anchoring the rear, and a shortened rear end (3:07 vs 2:93, from the -xi) to top it all off. The US ZHP Performance Package basically loads up a 330i sedan with all of the M goodies from BMW Individual. Of course, this is the US Market, so there’s no real “Individual” choice in what you get. I am just lucky in that I’m getting all the goodies from the factory that I would have chosen anyway.

The BMW Canada web site has better pictures and easier-to-browse information than the US site, though it appears the Canadians do not get the shorter rear end in their cars?
BMW Canada web page - 330i M

For me, it was time to move on. All I’ve really been interested in lately is time with the kids, not time under the car (go figure!). When I farmed out a new radiator and sway bar links last month I knew that maintenance (read: labor costs) would get expensive again soon, and I decided I’d rather pay depreciation than maintenance. Perhaps a different and non-possessed 535 would have treated me better, perhaps a different commute would have provided more time.

This new car will also give me the ability to schedule track days and autocrosses without wondering if a nagging vibration is going to become a massive part failure in the middle of a turn. I know lots of people here have lots of fun with e34’s at autocrosses and tracks, but this ZHP is built for it right from the factory. I won’t have to do any prep – just drive to the event and drink coffee to wake the hell up. Of course I won’t raise as many eyebrows as a “lard-assed e34” hustling around with such vigor, but that’s okay.

In any event, I’ll still lurk around this joint. You all have been a great part of the ownership experience and much more. From giving me the balls to rip a car apart, to giving me the chance to play with a bunch of CGI scripts (Ed thought I had some experience with that stuff!!!), I’ve done nothing but learn around here. Thanks much everybody.

--Micah O'C
'04 330i ZHP
formerly '90 535im
formerly '92 525iT