Official 325ix ride height thread

[nando]

Post pictures & specs here!

Ride height will be defined as measured from the center of the wheel/hub to the bottom edge of the fender lips.

Please post in the following format:

Year: 1991
Miles: ~265,000
Springs: Ground Control 450/600
Struts/Shocks: Koni Race
Front Height: 11 3/4"
Rear height: 11"



Other Notes:
The strut housings have been shortened by 2", which allows for greater travel. Neither the front or rear perches are at the bottom, but much lower isn't really possible as the CV shafts are at an extreme angle and there's limited space between them and the frame rails.

AFAIK the front height of a stock ix is over 14", depending on what pads & springs BMW used. Earlier ix's were also heavier, my 10/1990 for example came without trunk tar from the factory, but on my 9/87 ix it was about 1" thick. So the same suspension could settle differently depending on when the car was built.

[nando]

I don't have height measurements, but here's the H&R suspension back in 2004:

[fresh_TD]

-Year: 1989
-Miles: 103,000
-Springs: Suspension Technique ix Springs
-Struts/Shocks: Bilstein Sport
-Front Height: 12.6"
-Rear Height: 12"

20150702_054511 by Manny Nieves, on Flickr

[flyboyx]

chris, what are you using for upper strut mounts and control arm bushings?

[nando]

Ground control camber plates, E30 M3 offset CABs.

[Northern]

Tire size would also be good to list, since that could skew results (people running 205/50 instead of 205/55, or people with 17's and plus size diameters, etc.)

EDIT: Nevermind, misread the measurement, thought we were measuring from the ground...


I guess some stock-ish comparison is good?

Year: 1987
Miles: ~160k
Springs: OEM iX
Struts/Shocks: Bilstein HD
Front Height: 16"
Rear height: 16.5"

[nando]

Yeah, tire size won't matter because youre measuring to the center of the wheel, not the ground.

Do you have extra spring pads or something?

[fresh_TD]

16" R / 16.5" R seems higher then stock height

Sent from my Samsung Note 4

[nando]

It looks like an early body ix so it could be right. Or maybe because the flares are missing.

[Northern]

It is an early iX, and yeah one of the PO's removed the flares and filled all the holes in the wheel arches. I wouldn't be surprised if it is higher than stock though...

No options (other than a custom/special colour of some kind, dark metallic greenish blue. Someone painted the exterior DS unfortunately.)
So, no sunroof, comfort seats, no A/C, no premium sound.

Carpet is now gone, seats are some FIA expired takeoffs from a local stage rally car, nothing in the trunk, and it's well underway a rigorous rust-based weight savings plan.

Also as it sits, there are no fluids in the engine, no exhaust/rad. Does have a manifold, HX35/40 and associated oil lines/filter relocation/charge piping.

Hopefully some of that will be resolved this fall.

[Nisse Järnet]

Year: 1989
Miles: ~150k
Springs: Ground Control 450/650
Struts/Shocks: Koni Race
Front Height: ~12"
Rear height: ~12"
M3 E36 offset CABs, GC Camber plates up front and adjustable toe/camber in the rear.

[mtnbimmer]

Year: 1989
Miles: 292,000
Springs: Lowtec 05370F
Struts/Shocks: Bilstein
Front Height: 30 cm (11.8")
Rear height: 28 cm (11.0")

M3 offset CAB's

[stonea]

Year: 1988
Miles: ~230k
Springs: OEM ix
Struts/Shocks: Bilstein
Front Height: 14 3/4 inches
Rear Height: 13 1/4 inches

[ak-]

Struts/Shocks: Koni Race

Other Notes:
The strut housings have been shortened by 2", which allows for greater travel.

Seeing how you sectioned the strut housings by 2", what Koni Race insert did you use to compensate? Not stock spec'd iX Koni Race shock, right?

Would you happen to know the rod length and shaft travel of the shock you used or a part # so i can look up the specs Nando?

[Nisse Järnet]

Seeing how you sectioned the strut housings by 2", what Koni Race insert did you use to compensate? Not stock spec'd iX Koni Race shock, right?

Would you happen to know the rod length and shaft travel of the shock you used or a part # so i can look up the specs Nando?

I'm using the same thing: Koni race inserts ( P/N: 8610-1436race)
Don't forget: Koni glad nuts ( 73.25.01.003.1 (M48 x 1.50))

They are great! :)