On April 21st, exactly two months to the day I ordered it, I took delivery
of my 2006 330ci ZHP.

Fresh off the car carrier, my dealer actually put the car inside for
me. When I told them I wanted to come look at the car they brought it
outside where I could inspect the finish before any of the dealer detailers
got to it. |

Another great thing about having a good relationship with my dealer
and lead tech. I got to join him in the shop while he did the Pre
Delivery Inspection (PDI). |

BMW delivers the car well protected, inside and out. Here you can see
the covers on the seats and carpet. The yellow box on the dash is a wireless
interface used to connect the car to the GT1 diagnostic computer. |

The vehicle is shipped with special blocks in the suspension that
allow the shipping companies to secure the vehicle tightly but without
compressing the suspension. |

A nice picture with the car up on the lift. The beige gunk you see
sprayed on the bottom of the car is cosmoline. It's sprayed on items
most likely to rust. It is not removed for delivery. |

Another perspective. Performance oriented BMWs come with a true dual
exhaust, and the performance package (ZHP) incorporates M-branded front
lower control arms to tweak suspension geometry. |

The suspension of the E46 is largely an evolution of the E36. In the
rear, standard coil springs with separate shocks. A center subframe
carrier holds the differential and upper and lower control arms extend
from it. |

With the vehicle cleaned up, I came back later for the official delivery
process. My dealer always used this spot for deliveries. I picked up
my E36 in 1998 in the very same location. |

Another perspective showing the performance package wheels and front
fascia. |

The tail lamps and rear blinkers of this late model E46 are LED based.
Earlier E46s came with traditional incandescent bulbs. |

Here you can see the clear side markers, which are also yellow LEDs. |

Back at home for the first time. |
I agonized about interior color but felt that gray meshed with the
Mystic Blue exterior about as nicely as that new gravel driveway does.
|

BMW thankfully stepped up its game in redesigning the interior of
the E46. The materials quality and overall fit and finish were markedly
better than the E36. |

This perspective better shows the classic BMW driver-centric cockpit.
Radio and HVAC controls face the driver and the window controls are
on the center console so you don't need to swap hands to operate the
windows. |

The car was delivered with only a few miles on it, and the only person
to drive it was my technician, who took it out on his usual post-PDI
test loop. |

I fretted about spending $800 for HID lights but knew they would not
only be a drastic improvement over the E36's shitty DOT reflector headlamps
but would more easily sell the car should I ever want to let it go. |

I think this perspective shows the great lines of the E46. Agressive,
yet still conservative. In other words -- a classic BMW. |