erm, 4 wheel drive e30??

[tonyppe]

this is the first ive heard of it, i was trying to get some prices on the viscous fan coupling and found this:
http://experts.about.com/q/BMW-772/1989-BMW-325-ix.htm

who has new fan thingys for the 325? i need one soon, any help appreciated...

[d6dph]

The IX was a 4wd version, i think Tompson has one? Not common over here at all.

[miniblob]

Spoke to jc-bm on monday and i think he'll be selling one soon!!!

Seen a couple around recently!!

[Brianmoooore]

iX seems to more common in the US than here. Actually used a unique bodyshell with the front suspension towers in a slightly different place and at a different angle.
Not the most reliable car that BMW have ever produced, with the transfer box being the weak point, so I've read, and parts being very expensive.
Fan couplings: Dealer, GSF, ECP. Must be stored on edge.

[tonyppe]

iX seems to more common in the US than here. Actually used a unique bodyshell with the front suspension towers in a slightly different place and at a different angle.
Not the most reliable car that BMW have ever produced, with the transfer box being the weak point, so I've read, and parts being very expensive.
Fan couplings: Dealer, GSF, ECP. Must be stored on edge.

thanks brian,
i was wondering if anyone had new ones on here going cheap cheap?

[pacerpete]

I have a 325IX touring, diamond black with black heated leather ,f+r electric windows, electric roof, map mirror, IS front lip , correct IX 15" BBS etc etc.Obviously it has the factory bodykit and is LHD.
The car is very tidy with no issues, i want Ԛ£2350, not a lot for possibly the ultimate spec factory built touring.
The drive train on these cars is very strong and can handle serious power upgrades but like all old cars they are only as reliable/good as their current / previous owners.

[tonyppe]

where abouts in uk r u? sounds a lovely car

[Morat]

Pacerpete, I can't afford it but I've love to see some pics!

[tim-ix]

I've got a 325ix too down here in sunny Swansea. A 4-door in Diamantschwarz, LHD by default and with the standard bodykit. Apparently owned by a BMW employee as first owner who went crazy with the options list. It's got electric and heated everything apart from seats.

I've fitted a 325is rear spoiler to try and balance the slightly heavy-handed kit. Standard wheels that came
with mine were 365mm metric so it's wearing 325i 7x15 BBS cross-spokes for now, but the offset's wrong
and I need to get them machined back to the correct 41mm ET for 15's.

I've just ordered H&R springs and Koni top-adjustables but don't know whether to go for M3 control arm
bushes or to stick with the original spec. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Next step will be an engine rebuild/transplant. Top-end is ticking and I reckon it's down on power. I'll either get the M20 rebuilt or am thinking about an M50 swap using a 525ix sump. Trouble is clearing all the front diff stuff.

[tonyppe]

do you have any pics of the underneath? im trying to picture it. is it a similar set up to any other 4 wheel drive, with 2 props coming out of 1 gearbox type thing.? i dont know my about 4 wheel drive set ups

[orangecurry]

I've seen a schematic for it somewhere; yes it has a centre diff and then a 2nd prop coming forward through a special hump-shaped sump


hang on I'll go and look...........

[tim-ix]

It does have a special sump pan which allows the driveshaft to come forwards from the centre box. It's around a 70/30 rear/front torque split in normal driving but can send 100% to either end if grip is lost I believe. Also different from a standard E30 are front suspension, mounting position of front calipers, rear discs (to bring offset out) and ABS settings. Also has short gearing. Redlines first at around 25mph.

[tonyppe]

It does have a special sump pan which allows the driveshaft to come forwards from the centre box. It's around a 70/30 rear/front torque split in normal driving but can send 100% to either end if grip is lost I believe. Also different from a standard E30 are front suspension, mounting position of front calipers, rear discs (to bring offset out) and ABS settings. Also has short gearing. Redlines first at around 25mph.

25?? seems quite a high ratio, what do normal 2.5s redline at in 1st? 35?

[orangecurry]

not the schematic I've seen, but you get the general idea



fun

[tim-ix]

Off the top of my head the final drive is 3.94 I think. I only estimate 25mph because I've got km/h clocks in mine. Your mental arithmetic picks up pretty quickly calculating km/h to mph when you spot speed cameras

[tonyppe]

i know what you mean, 100kmh is 60mph so 50kmh is 30mph 120kmh is 75mph blah blah blah

remember x5 /8 to get kmh to mph

i did a google on the 325 4x4. seems they are all snow-mobiles

[tim-ix]

yeah, they're designed for snow really which is why I'm troubled as to which way to go when it comes to suspension mods. I want to set it up for tarmac obviously, mainly wet and potholed tarmac in Swansea. Apparently M3 control arm bushes promote a little more negative camber. Also, what's the form when it comes to spring pads? Should they stay or should they go? I'm pretty new to all this BMW stuff. I actually acquired the car for a fiver from a mate who'd lost interest in it.

[Morat]

a fiver??


well, seems like you're looking after it

[tonyppe]

a fiver? a f-ing fiver?
does he have anymore?

[evostormm]

If you have an interest in the 325ix this is an excellent site and should answer most questions including suspension tuning.

http://home.earthlink.net/~wardellhix/iX/

[jc-bm]

i have 325ix for sale Ԛ£750 cheap 4x4 good car to nice to break for parts somebody save it

[tomson]

I have a 325IX touring, diamond black with black heated leather ,f+r electric windows, electric roof, map mirror, IS front lip , correct IX 15" BBS etc etc.Obviously it has the factory bodykit and is LHD.
The car is very tidy with no issues, i want Ԛ£2350, not a lot for possibly the ultimate spec factory built touring.
The drive train on these cars is very strong and can handle serious power upgrades but like all old cars they are only as reliable/good as their current / previous owners.

I need that leather well, fronts anyway!


That is cheap as id want a lot more for mine if i was ever to part company with the girl

[tomson]

The parts for them are readily available if you look in the right places

American ebay would be a start, the yanks are fragging them left right and centre.

I do have a spare gearbox if someone needs one, other than that ive bought a complete "spare" drive train for mine just in case