24V AWD Swap Knowledge Base

[Northern]

I looked for my spare engine mount arms, but I can't find them. I had them before I moved, not sure if I lost them or if they're burried under something.

[nando]

Do you know if the X5 flex disc is thicker than the E34 ix?

don't know - I think the BMW parts catalogs show the thicknesses? I'm assuming you used the E34 ix flex disc?

[Nisse Järnet]

don't know - I think the BMW parts catalogs show the thicknesses? I'm assuming you used the E34 ix flex disc?

Yes the E34 disc is mounted right now. Do you have a X5 disc you can measure maybe? :-)

[nando]

yeah, I get 26mm with a slightly bent tape measure. the battery in my calipers is dead but that's probably close enough.

[Nisse Järnet]

yeah, I get 26mm with a slightly bent tape measure. the battery in my calipers is dead but that's probably close enough.

Ok thanks! E34 ix is 28mm.

[AndrewBird]

As far as the driveshaft bolts, what if you threaded the holes and put helicoil inserts in? Then have the bolts go through the flex disk first and thread into the driveshaft. No bolt heads or nuts on top. You would just want to locktite the bolts so they don't come loose.

[LJ851]

As far as the driveshaft bolts, what if you threaded the holes and put helicoil inserts in? They have the bolts go through the flex disk first and thread into the driveshaft. No bolt heads or nuts on top. You would just want to locktite the bolts so they don't come loose.

You don't want to turn the bolt or nut that directly contacts the flex disc, it can cause the metal spacer/sleeve to rotate and unbond from the rubber. This applies to a regular through bolted flex discs as well, always spin the end contacting the drive flange.

[nando]

you can't do that anyway, there's no room to push a bolt in through the other side of the flange.

[nando]

Ok thanks! E34 ix is 28mm.

I re-measured with a caliper and they are 28mm. The e30 ix is 19mm.

[Nisse Järnet]

I re-measured with a caliper and they are 28mm. The e30 ix is 19mm.

Thanks! Wonder what the diffrence is between X5 and E34 ix then, since they dont share the same part nr?

[nando]

who knows. the rear ix disc is also the same as the X5 front. visually, they are identical.

[Nisse Järnet]

Different rubber compund or something?

Btw the E34 ix lacks a rear disc, its only got one between the gearbox/TC and front diff. The rear drive shaft/prop shaft also got a centre support and a CV at the rear diff.

[nando]

yeah, maybe different torque ratings? they have a fiber winding inside them, maybe some have bigger/more threads than others.

the E34 ix is a strange beast!

[AndrewBird]

you can't do that anyway, there's no room to push a bolt in through the other side of the flange.

All you would have to do is bolt the flex disk onto the drive shaft before you put it up inside the car. Washers under the head of the bolts would fix the rubber twisting issue. Doesn't the transmission side mount exactly as I am describing anyway, without nuts?

[nando]

the flange of the front diff is threaded actually. I don't remember there being issues with the flex disc sleeves rotating while tightening the bolts down.

now that I think about it you have a good idea. the only thing is you'd usually remove the centering pin to pull the shaft, and you can't do that with the flex disc installed. maybe there's still just enough room to slide the bolts out, or at least far enough away to remove the disk. I'll have to look at that.

if that were the case, you could move the diff back the required 1 1/4" and not have to mess with that one oil pan bolt. or still modify that bolt, but have a little more clearance to work with.