325ix - my new daily

[tomcat2040]

Hi, not really new to the forum but this is my first proper post, other stuff was just questions or wanted ads

Got into e30's when i bought a 325i to turn into a rally car project (still on going).

But a few days ago I stumbled across this pretty minty IX!
I've wanted one for a while but I never thought I'd find one around my area, I think its the only one in Jersey.

Here's some pictures:

[img][img]http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/1138/dsc01357a.jpg[/img][/img]


[img][img]http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/981/dsc01356q.jpg[/img][/img]


[img][img]http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/646/dsc01355mf.jpg[/img][/img]


[img][img]http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9692/dsc01361kt.jpg[/img][/img]



Even the clock works!

[img][img]http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4001/dsc01365ra.jpg[/img][/img]



[img][img]http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/1281/dsc01366n.jpg[/img][/img]



An e30 with front drive shafts is a fairly odd site for me

[img][img]http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/7809/dsc01370lw.jpg[/img][/img]


[img][img]http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/5139/dsc01371.jpg[/img][/img]


The car hasn't been serviced in a while so when its payday I'm going to give it a good going over. I plan the following:

New timing belt, tensioner, water pump, all auxillery belts, coolant flush, flush the clutch system and re-bleed, new brake pads and discs, all new engine, gearbox, transfer box, and diff's oils.

Can anyone give me some advice on general ownership points for these cars, and also anything else I should check/replace in the near future?

Cheers
Tom

[Falkster]

Looks nice in that colour.

[appletree]

Very nice!

You took the pictures i want to see to!

[Eddie25]

Very nice!

You took the pictures i want to see to!

+1 I always wondered what they look like underneath. That front subframe is a very interesting set up.

Lovely car by the way

[tomcat2040]

Very nice!

You took the pictures i want to see to!

Yeah I notices there's not that many pictures on the 'net of the underside of these cars. Over the weekend I'll get it on jack stands and take some proper pictures of the drivetrain, especially cause I still haven't properly inspected the transfer box and the drive shaft that runs to the front diff

most likely gonna keep it standard and mint cause it will hold it's value, but probably keen to get a leather interior in it if anyone has got one going for less than the price of them on eBay!

[dickster]

Hi Tom, I was the guy who said hello yesterday with the Lexus, very nice car you have and it was mentioned on this forum when it originally appeared for sale.

If you ever need help/parts let me know and I'll see what I have.

[ross_jsy]

Nice to see another islander!

Fancied that car, but my own rally car project meant it was a deffinate no.

[dickster]

We should all have a meet up one day.

[ross_jsy]

Deffinately.

CI contingent zone meet/roam?

[dickster]

roam?

Wouldn't be a very long roam in fairness

[toby]

Nice purchase!

At service time check your engine mounts and all other bushes just to be on the safe side. It's keeping all the moving parts lined up nicely that'll make a real difference to the longevity of the car.

[schnaarf]

I'd like an iX. Look great fun on youtube! There is a shed load of parts for them on ebay.de too - diffs etc

[tomcat2040]

Yeah I'm up for a meet, on a nice day down St. Ouen's or something

Theres a lot of information on e30tech about the ix, like a whole section devoted to it which is quite useful! Just a load of Yanks on there, but still informative.

Definately gonna check the bushes all the way round, although just polybushed the whole of my rally car, and its a pain so i'd rather not have to do them all again, at least not the rear beam ones!

Its good actually though that the rear set up is the same as a regular e30, so those parts are all interchangeable.

[ross_jsy]

Out of interest, which e30 is your rally car? Or hasn't it been out yet?

[tomcat2040]

@ Ross

It hasn't been out yet, i've been really slow getting it ready cause of money and time issues with work etc!

It will be out by the August hill, and possibly L'etaq attack as well. Then next year the plan is to do a lot more events and possibly dirt

Which one is yours?

[ross_jsy]

Ah exact story with mine!

Mines the white sport in my sig, was owned by Michael Kean, a friend of mine, and was taken up the hill in standard trim by Martin Pallot (on the site too).

Got any pics of yours?

[CaesarBob]

Get that on ebay, such a rare extra should make tidy money!

Top mounts are quite different to standard E30s. Is that for extra ground clearance?

[tomcat2040]

Get that on ebay, such a rare extra should make tidy money!

Top mounts are quite different to standard E30s. Is that for extra ground clearance?

Don't think I wanna put it on the 'Bay right now, cause I want to keep the car as it is standard. Will be worth more in total in the future

Yeah the struts are quite different to accomodate the front drive shafts, and the top mount is a big mutha rubber contraption, bigger that standard e30 stuff.



@Ross

Yeah i thought i recognised that white one from somewhere, went out in it with Martin a few times when he'd just stripped it down. He's helped me quite a bit with mine, as I'm fairly new to the whole rallying thing.

Did you see Martin's go up the hill on Easter Monday? think he got a 49.9 or something..escort territory..

[ross_jsy]

No I didn't make it town. I love Martins car though, so well done.

I bought his m50 off him, really nice guy.

How much you done to yours? Right now cage is half in and rest is almost fully stripped on mine. Just hit a brick wall in terms of money (trainee wage hurts).

Be interested in seeing yours at some point!

[tomcat2040]

Most of it is done, i just need to finish off the brake lines, fuel lines, windows, some electrical work and then just aesthetics on the outside (bit of paint etc).

Not trying to make it mint, just something to have a bit of fun in you know.
That m50 ran well when it was in his so nice one on getting that.

I'll let you know when its up and running (shouldn't be too long) and go out for a spin or something.

[ross_jsy]

Sounds good. Im hoping mine won't be too long. Given up on building it to a high spec for now, just build it so i can compete and get the expierience then continue to improve it over time

[turk]

But a few days ago I stumbled across this pretty minty IX!
I've wanted one for a while but I never thought I'd find one around my area, I think its the only one in Jersey.

Let us know how she handles as I'll hopefully be picking one up soon too

I have heard there is a spacer to push the 2nd prop further in the the transfer case to give the splines more grip and prevent future ware...

I very nearly managed to get to that car b4 u too... oh well... enjoy my friend

[tomcat2040]

I have heard there is a spacer to push the 2nd prop further in the the transfer case to give the splines more grip and prevent future ware...

I think a few people in the US just fab up longer driveshafts for them, which seems to be the stronger way of doing it, and there was one guy who machined up some really nice spacers with concentric holes drilled which fitted the unit well. All this is per e30tech..

Does anyone have an idea how solid the drivetrains on these are? I'm looking to take mine to europe at some point and just wondered (with a good service obviously) whether it would be fine at highish speeds around there? Been a left hooker i'll actually feel natural over there

[ross_jsy]

Apparantly they can take some high levels of power, so would imagine it will be fine on the trip. Take it to the alps and hunt down some snow

[Alex]

Looks great, the tech 1 front valance works really well with the rest of the IX bodykit

Tropical Rad too