Just got this......

[lance1a]

E34 525iX Manual.
Needs a bit of work, but no problem. In hideous green with mundane tan interior. Still....better in the snow than my other BM's or Mercs!

[whipsey]

looks same colour as mine but mines a slush box saloon with all the goodies fitted

[Morat]

Nice work! I was looking for one of these during the blizzards but we ended up with a Jeep Cherokee instead. Secretly I do like the Jeep now, but that iX looks just the ticket. What's the story with the drivetrain? I heard they have some clever stuff going on with the diff...

[lance1a]

I think it's very similar to the VW Syncro system. Problem is that the front suspension is COMPLETELY different to any other BMW due to the driveshafts on the front axle. This tends to make things a bit more expensive. But it's a decent old car that I will more than likely move on if I don't get a buyer for my SLC soon.

[Blitz]

Nice. Love the wheels.

[lance1a]

Apparently the wheels are unique to the 4x4's, they are 16"'s with 225 rubber. I quite like them too.

[TheHeap]

Not what i would call a hideous colour

[harry_p]

i quite like it, looks very grown up and expensive.

[gareth]

the LSD on these is computer controlled AFAIK, it's locked up by hydraulic pressure via a pipe from the PAS pump. rather nifty

[lance1a]

the LSD on these is computer controlled AFAIK, it's locked up by hydraulic pressure via a pipe from the PAS pump. rather nifty

As is the centre diff which varies the normal 36 front/64 rear split. Works in tandem with the self levelling. Which can be a bloddy disaster if the correct fluid is not used.

[Fushion_Julz]

The central "diff" (AKA Transfer box) is not controlled in any way, but works like a differential. It bolts onto the back of a standard gearbox.

The rear diff is a hydraulic item with pressure delivered to an accumulator (on the right hand front inner wing) from the back of the power steering pump and controlled by an ECU.
The rear suspension of the tourings is also SLS and also has two accumulators under the floor with pressure coming from the same pump...

The front suspension and subframe are entirely different to any other E34...The steering is rack and pinion (no box) and the engine sump is different with the offside driveshaft running through it and the front diff sitting alongside on the nearside. The rear propshaft is also unique as are the 16"wheels with an ET54 offset.

All the body panels adn interior trim, electrics and engine/gearbox are standard E34 M50.

I used to have an iX touring SE manual in Island Green with tan cloth comfort...Drives great, but is quite fuel heavy (21-23mpg) and isn't all that fast given the extra weight over a normal 525i.

The transfer box only has 0.5 litres of oil capacity so needs to be topped up/checked regularly if you don't want a £2K ish repair bill!
As Lance says...the correct fluid (CHF11s) in the sls/steering/diff system is a must

[Blitz]

Does that mean the iX has better steering feel with the rack and pinion?

[Fushion_Julz]

Does that mean the iX has better steering feel with the rack and pinion?

I would say yes...but my old E34 530 (M30) saloon had a good steering box so wasn't too shabby...But the iX was better in that respect.

[TheHeap]

the LSD on these is computer controlled AFAIK, it's locked up by hydraulic pressure via a pipe from the PAS pump. rather nifty

Yeah 'til it's rather broke

[gareth]

...at which point the feed pipe can be connected to a hydraulic handbrake lever to provide an instant hooligan diff!