New 325IX Owner...here's a list of things I'll be doing..

[ghatid]

How does ones strut housing end up looking like that? The bumpers went out and it hit the top?

*edit* Oh, nevermind, I see you had to remove the cap and it got damaged on the way out.

Hey Sean, looks like we bought 325ixs at about the same time. Currently, I'm in the middle of replacing my ball joints too, got the Moogs based on this thread (from Patrick).

Did you end up choosing a grease for the axles? I also got new boots and repacked the axles. I didn't put any grease on the back one and I think I should, and I have another one ready to go in...the first one is a rear axle so I'm not as worried, but these from axles are precious:D.

[fresh_TD]

Sean, how did the inner and outer ball joints work out for you?

Sent from my GS4 Active

[Sean]

Update!

Not as happy of an update as I had hoped. I DID get all the bushings pressed in. Using a ball joint set from autozone, and my investment in a 20ton harbor freight press - I pressed out the old ones (which was very scary ) and the new ones went in super easy. Everything is all together now - at least when it comes to balljoints. However, the strut housing I purchased is now sitting at the Atlanta Mail Recovery Center, with no line of sight on when I will get it - sooooooooooo...I'm at a stand still. I also had to move my car, so I put it all back together with the blown struts just to move the damn thing.

I never got the other side apart yet - but now I have nothing but time. So I'll keep trying and may purchase a set from another person or something.

Also, last night when I went to move it, my rear brakes lines blew apart somewhere - fluid everywhere. So, that's another thing I need to fix.

I havent done anything to my axles - since they were already done. I do need to check the front driveshaft spline still, though, and do a transmission filter/fluid change.

[Sean]

Hey guys!

With the move to the house, work, travel - blah blah - EXCUSES - I finally drove the IX last night. I had to replace a bad hard brake line, which was a PITA, painted the strut towers with POR15 and checked my driveshaft splines (WHICH WERE AMAZING!) - coated with the Molykote from McMaster car.

Now - I need help troubleshooting 3 issues! Well...two.

1. I need an alignment lol Gonna try it on my own - what ya'll run for toe?

2. The transmission is doing some funky stuff. I started to do a fluid/filter change - but couldn't get the check tube (for dipstick) off the pan, so for the sake of time, I bolted everything back up and put 2 quarts of ATF in. Is that enough, or do I need more? When I drained the auto pan, the car was at an extreme angle (rear on ground, front off). Should I put in more than just 2 quarts?
What its doing: Its like the torque converter has a delay - I especially see it in reverse. I have to give it gas to get it to start moving. Then its like the transmission shifts, but not normally? Just seems totally sporatic.

3. I have a clunk which wasn't there prior to the updated suspension. Obviously I checked the obvious: shock mounts (brand new), sway bar mounts) - Is it possible that the subframe bushings are bad, and prior to the updated suspension it wasn't noticed? It sounds a ton like my brother's 325is did for the longest time, and I was convinced it was subframe bushings (same thing, he did shocks/springs but left orig. bushings).


Shoot away! :)

[Nisse Järnet]

Dont drive it if youre unsure of the oil level in the auto trans, you can fuck shit up :P I think you should have just over 3 quarts in the trans.

[nando]

You fill the trans with the engine running and in neutral. You cant fill it all the way with it static.

I doubt 2 quarts is enough.

[Sean]

Yea, I was thinking that too, regarding the oil level. That dipstick is BS to read - it grabs all the oil off the wall of the fill tube.

I only drove it around the block about 4 times. Hopefully I didn't hurt it too bad?? :-\ (from 1-1.5miles total) I was mainly listening to the clunk and confused by the automatic function.


Grr reading into it, I hope I didn't damage anything. Dammit.

[Sean]

Well, folks, SHES GOING!!!

Put another quart and a half into the trans, and she purrs like a kitten. Turns out the clunk was my loose muffler - I used some bailing wire to tighten that up hahaha. Just need to buy a couple hangers now.

Noooow - I need to figure out why my car drones. I don't know where its coming from, but it seems to begin at about 30 mph. I thought it was maybe the tires, but it's not.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks
Sean

[fresh_TD]

Yea it's 3.2 qts for trans..glad she's going now

Sent from my GS4 Active

[Sean]

Do you guys have noisy cars when you drive? Its not bad, until I get above 30mph, then there are various frequencies of droning occurring above that speed. It's awfully annoying... I'm guessing wheel bearings, but it doesn't happen at lower speeds, and it doesn't really change much when turning (need to check).

It's not the PS pump - has nothing to do with steering, happens when traveling straight.

[fresh_TD]

Nothing here, besides the engine sounding like a diesel..lol

Sent from my GS4 Active

[Sean]

Got my alignment today - 0.10 deg toe in.

However, I was surprised by my -2.5 and -2.3 camber in the front. Is that normal for H&R Sport springs? How could I dial some of that out on an IX?

[bradnic]

Camber plates - check out nando's build thread

[Sean]

Uggggh, i dont want camber plates. Maybe I shoulda just left the stock springs then - my track car doesn't even have them!

[bradnic]

Yeah I hear ya. Lowering a car definitely changes camber - unavoidable. Besides, you can tell yourself it's an IX so you need the ground clearance ;-)