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

[Earendil]

Correct me if I"m wrong, but isn't stock camber for a 325i about -1 degrees front, and -2 degrees rear? I don't know how an ix would be different, but as long as you aren't our of spec in the toe department your tires should be just fine.

In any case, if you DO end of wearing the inside of your front tires more simply because of camber, it means you need to start driving harder ;-)

[Sean]

Hey Chris - yea, I have toe in set to 0.1 overall - unless less woulda been best?

I was thinking if I really wanted to take it out, I'd get my buddies welder and try to fab something up myself - taking a half to a full degree out wouldn't need to move it much.

IE also makes some cheaper plates that only move it a bit - but I'm guessing these wouldn't work for the IX?



Oh, update on humming. I pulled all the studs out of my tires. Surprisingly there is less noise. So, I guess both tires were noisy. lol But, I do think one of my rear bearings is going south - not a big deal tho!

[nando]

You dont really need camber plates for h&r springs on an ix, it doesnt gain much camber. -2.5 isnt that bad, imo. Just dont go crazy with the toe settings and tire wear should be fine.

I don't think the gc plates work with anything but coilovers anyway, and they also increase stack height.

If you really want to reduce camber, there are factory camber reduction mounts, but they aren't cheap.

[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 ;-)

[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]

Camber plates - check out nando's build thread

[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?

[fresh_TD]

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

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]

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

Sent from my GS4 Active

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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! :)