24V AWD Swap Knowledge Base

[mw044]

Have you checked out the E53 X5 front drive assembly (FDA)? It's very close in the overall package dimensions to the E34 525iX FDA, but it has wider, stronger diff (and can accept the Quaife for the 168 rear!) with a wider variety of ratios available (2.93 to 4.10, AFAIK).

This setup pushes the diff to the left, so in order to use with E30 or E34 T-case, you'll need to build a U-jointed driveshaft, but that's not such a big deal.

Yes, I've checked out pretty much all the possibilities. That wouldn't be bad choise, but as it's not bolt-on to anything - it's out of the question at this moment. I've got enough to do with compeletely new turbosetup (manifold, plumbing etc) and completely new intake system (old one sucks). So it's nice to just bolt-on something. :D

When I got the engine and all the accessories built to 30deg tilt angle - after that the updates on the front diff, gearbox etc are a lot easier to do.

About the LSD for the front diff. ZF unit from Opel Omega 2.0L will fit nicely inside 525ix front diff. It has to be machined from basicly every direction, but possible... If I got time left when the car is finished otherwise, I might make that mod too.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Ok. Time for me to make my contribution to this thread. I recently broke my 10th front diff and 2 within few days... I thought to myself that this is enough. :D

I made a decision that e30ix stuff has to go and something stronger instead.

So I went for e34 525ix front diff. It fits ok. Just little mods to the oilpump intake pipe and naturally oilpan has to be modified to fit M20 engine (using e34 525ix oilpan).


So I went for the easy way out and ordered a 525ix gearbox, transfercase, driveshaft and halfshafts.

Have you checked out the E53 X5 front drive assembly (FDA)? It's very close in the overall package dimensions to the E34 525iX FDA, but it has wider, stronger diff (and can accept the Quaife for the 168 rear!) with a wider variety of ratios available (2.93 to 4.10, AFAIK).

This setup pushes the diff to the left, so in order to use with E30 or E34 T-case, you'll need to build a U-jointed driveshaft, but that's not such a big deal.

[Sebbe]

Thats awesome! Cant wait to see how the 525ix drivetrain will hold up with 1000+ hp :D

[mw044]

^mother of all turbo ix!

I've been working on the 525ix diff under the m20 for a bit now, have it all mocked up just needs welded. did you weld the pan yourself, if you don't mind my asking what filler rod did you use?

No, friend of mine welded it. He used filler rod meant for cast aluminium parts so it's quite soft.

I will try to update this project here as I go along. Next step should be making of engine mounts for new 30 degree tilt angle. Along with that I may have to butcher the firewall to some extent. Hopefully not very much..

[nomansland92]

^mother of all turbo ix!

I've been working on the 525ix diff under the m20 for a bit now, have it all mocked up just needs welded. did you weld the pan yourself, if you don't mind my asking what filler rod did you use?

[mw044]

Ok. Time for me to make my contribution to this thread. I recently broke my 10th front diff and 2 within few days... I thought to myself that this is enough. :D

I made a decision that e30ix stuff has to go and something stronger instead. The first idea was to use e70 x5 front diff, gs7d36sg trans (double clutch) and e70 x5 transfercase. Pretty soon I had to ditch the front diff, because it would heavily interfare with the engine oilpump. I don't want to use external pump since the original is doing it's job very well. So I went for e34 525ix front diff. It fits ok. Just little mods to the oilpump intake pipe and naturally oilpan has to be modified to fit M20 engine (using e34 525ix oilpan).


Then I took a reality check with timetables etc and realized that double clutch box and x5 transfercase will have to wait... It would take too much of my time and the Project would be too long. So I went for the easy way out and ordered a 525ix gearbox, transfercase, driveshaft and halfshafts.

So the drivetrain will be e34 525ix with the original M20 engine.

I started out the Project few days ago with chopping off the front framerails:



I'm going to move them 25mm up and 10mm forward. Up because of better bumpsteer geometry and forward because 525ix oilpan will move the engine 30mm backward. So this may help with the firewall mods. I've been running excentric bushings for years and front wheels ~10mm forwards, so this won't affect the placement of the tires (will not use excentrics anymore). Ps. Notice the slots for front halfshafts. I've had my engine raised 25mm since day one.







Oh yeah.. this is my car:


Currently M20 engine is making aroung 1050hp @ 2.75bar boost. At the moment thinking about the way to go with the new turbo setup (since old one doesn't work with engine tilted 10degrees more to the exhaust side. Will I go with turbo that can deliver ~1200hp (like the current one) or should I go with more driveable ~900-1000hp turbo.. I would love to see ~1200hp at least once in m20 engine :D

[The Dark Side of Will]

325iX Inner ball joints - Lemfoerder PN L1054301
325iX Outer ball joints - Lemfoerder PN L1054402

I thought it was on this forum in more places, but maybe that was the E30Tech forum, which is currently (permanently?) down.

[Sebbe]

I dont think there is an OEM part nr for the ball joint, ive only found some aftermarket ones on ebay.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Yes, the E34 and E46 inner ball joint have the same part number, but the outer E46 ball joint is M12, and is the same as E36 and RWD E46.

Does anyone have a E30 control arm laying arund and could take some measurements of the cone? Bottom and top diameter and height. And also diameter of the housing.

Ah, ok.

In that case, I'd peg the likelihood that BMW recycled the E30 AWD outer ball joints into the E34 as reasonably good, but I've never seen confirmation of it.

You have the PN's for the E30 AWD ball joints, right?

[Sebbe]

Yes, the E34 and E46 inner ball joint have the same part number, but the outer E46 ball joint is M12, and is the same as E36 and RWD E46.

Does anyone have a E30 control arm laying arund and could take some measurements of the cone? Bottom and top diameter and height. And also diameter of the housing.

[The Dark Side of Will]

The RWD E34 ball joint is non-serviceable in the control arm. Basically, the control arm itself is the ball joint housing.

I don't know if BMW reused the E30 AWD outer ball joints in the E34 or reused the E34 AWD outer ball joints in the E46 or both... However, the E34's inners are very different than the E30 inners and look much more like the E46 inners.

[Sebbe]

There is no OEM replacement ball joints for either the E30 or E34, only the whole control arm, a couple of aftermarket companies sell ball joints for the E30, but not E34. E36 ball joints doesnt fit, they are M12, RWD E34 ball joints are M14 so they might fit, but i can only find complete control arms.

I dont think BMW made a special ball joint for the 8000 or so 525ix's they sold. So in guessing its either a 325ix ball joint or RWD E34.

[nando]

that's true, but remember, on newer cars BMW broke out individual part #s for less and less assemblies. A good example would be the differentials. You could (before it all went NLA) get every nut, bolt, washer and bearing individually for an E30 diff, but on a newer car, you can only order the entire diff. on the E34 ix, BMW didn't break down the transfercase, so the individual parts are not replaceable.

[flyboyx]

Does anyone know if the E30 outer ball joint will fit the E34? They look very similar and the locking nut is m14x1.5 on both cars. One of the outer ball joints on my 525ix is bad, and i really dont want to spend 300$ on a replacement control arm.

lol. i think the best thing to do would be to consult realoem. if the part numbers match, the part fits. if not, you should probably just buy the part that fits. mmmm-kay?

more than likely, an e34 rwd or e36 ball joint would be more correct than an e30's.

[Nisse Järnet]

Does anyone know if the E30 outer ball joint will fit the E34? They look very similar and the locking nut is m14x1.5 on both cars. One of the outer ball joints on my 525ix is bad, and i really dont want to spend 300$ on a replacement control arm.

Hmm i tried some parts between E34 and E30 but i dont remember everything...but i think the "cone" was different, or i just mixed that up with the tie rod ball joint :P