e30 Rear suspension differences

[actionpod]

Hello everyone, recently got an iX in January and have been restoring it. Have been through the timing belt, new alt, new cat, rotors and pads, fluids, and all sorts of little things that go wrong, not a big deal. However, a new development in big dealism has occurred- It seems my passenger rear upper spring mount is pushed up a solid inch into the unibody//frame, with all sorts of life threatening rust above and beside (think where the battery cable goes up the side- destroyed). It's bad enough that when you stand far away (or are watching the car being driven from behind) you can see it sagging to the right. I'd like to cut out some fresh body from another car.

I guess my question is this- are the rear ends of e30s identical? I'm almost positive I can find a clean cheap e30 shell out here, but I KNOW I won't find a clean iX shell cheap. Can I cut the rear out of a regular e30 or am I better off going the total fabrication route? I've got a mig and no lack of experience...

Or am I starting a very, very painful partout?

I'll come back with pictures if you need them, but the real question is over the similarities between the models. Thanks in advance.

Pic for inspiration- help me save my baby

[nomansland92]

as long as you find a late model then there identical from what i understand. I believe the only difference in the rear is heaver springs and different rotors and maybe a few small things here and there but body wise, its the same.

Funny i have an 88 ix also the am restoring mine as well. I have a lot of fabrication hours into mine so far.

[actionpod]

I've spent one winter in an iX (half of a winter even) and already know I can't live without it.

I know I'm not heading for easy territory, but I'm much more comfortable with the whole "cut and replace" theory of body repair than I am with actual custom fabrication. My friend who will be assisting is a mechanical engineer- (I'm a technician) so we'll see which way will be most feasible.

Thanks for the information, that's going to make things much easier- at the very minimum I'll be pulling the spring perch off another vehicle and possibly patch welding the rest. I'll have to see how my prospects look once the suspension and interior of the trunk are gone.

Time to find that shell!