E30 M3 S62 Build - Loads of queries about 4x4 drivtrains

[goarmy]

I don't have any wiring unfortunately, just the pins on the case itself. Ill try it both way round. The pins don't look that thick so I'd assume its a fairly weak signal.

Not sure if i should attempt to remove the block behind the pins to see whats going on in there...

Here are the wires. According to your picture of the pins, the top pin is red and bottom is blue.

[Turk]

so which bit is the actual magnet?

[The Dark Side of Will]

The actual magnet should be on the other side of the ring gear for the planetary center diff.

[Turk]

Can someone point me in the direction of a build thread for a standard car to IX conversion??

Ive been searching high and low with no real luck...

cheers
Adem

[Jonsku]

Can someone point me in the direction of a build thread for a standard car to IX conversion??

Ive been searching high and low with no real luck...

cheers
Adem

I doubt there are any as the iX is very different indeed, as pointed out many times in this thread.. At least I haven't seen any, and I've been following these different forums for way too many years - though I'd be very happy and curious to see build-threads! :)

[The Dark Side of Will]

Not sure there is or has ever been one.

I'm planning to build an iX first, then possibly move the drivetrain over to an M3 body in the future. I expect to fully remove the frame rails and strut towers from both bodies, install the iX frame rails and strut towers in the M3 body and reinstall the M3 front end bodywork. I have not decided if I will swap the relevant portions of the floor pans or modify the M3 floor pan.

The iX body will end up parted and scrapped as it probably wouldn't be worth reassembly with the RWD front end parts.

[Turk]

I thought it was a case of simply sourcing Ix subframe struts and wishbones then fitting all in with adjustable top mounts to alter caster?

[325ix]

I thought it was a case of simply sourcing Ix subframe struts and wishbones then fitting all in with adjustable top mounts to alter caster?

No, the shock towers are different, basically the whole front end of the car is different.

[The Dark Side of Will]

I thought it was a case of simply sourcing Ix subframe struts and wishbones then fitting all in with adjustable top mounts to alter caster?

AIUI, the caster is far too different to compensate with caster/camber plates.

[Turk]

Hmmm, I kind of agree with what you're saying. Although it will be fairly different caster, I can't see it will be damaging to the car or the drive, not so much so that I would chop up the front end of an m3. Not yet at least.

My second plan was to chop the lower end of the ix legs off and have them welded to m3 legs. though I think this will land me in a similar situation.

Can anyone provide me with a measurement of the distance between the centre of the top mount to the bulkhead (in a straight line parallel to the crank line) I can then compare to standard and see how far off we are.

[nando]

I don't think the extra caster will hurt anything. The reasons BMW used so little with the ix has to do with straight line traction, both acceleration and braking. Realize that the ix has a shorter stopping distance than the 325i, even with the same brakes and weighing 150lbs more - part of it is the tires (205mm vs 195mm), part of it is because the ix's suspension geometry reduces squat and dive.

You could probably run RWD camber plates set for minimum caster. Me, I run M3 offset bushings and GC ix camber plates for maximum caster.

If you care about cornering, you want as much as you can get. I think I'm maxed out at only ~2 degrees, vs a RWD car's ~14. Basically you trade off reduced braking and straight line traction for more camber with the wheel turned - and you bet the ix is a camber challenged car. IMO, it's got plenty of straight line traction already, so it's a compromise I'm willing to make. :)

[The Dark Side of Will]

How did you arrive at that assessment?

Without raising the lollipop, reducing the caster angle is going to give the iX less anti-dive, not more.

I think it's for steering feel... They wanted a little scrub radius as possible so that the front drive torque would affect steering feel and torque steer as little as possible.

It would have been very easy for BMW to build an AWD system using the RWD strut towers. Changing the strut towers is a lot more work. There was a very good reason that was done, and as I said, I stongly believe it's for scrub radius and steering feel.

[Turk]

the scrub radius can be altered with spacers, In fact i will having porsche 6 pot callipers and 340mm discs with integral hub spacing, So it should be ok i think.

If someone can give me the measurement form the shock nut center to bulk head I'm fairly certain something as close to standard can be conjured up without having to move turrets.

[The Dark Side of Will]

There are two components to scrub radius...
Steering offset and caster trail.

[Turk]

These are available new from Germany for £224 each.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1293&mospid=47311&btnr=41_0155&hg=41&fg=10&hl=6