325ix

[Cybernix]

So hey, Im pretty new to this whole e30 thing. But i think i kinda have my heart set on a 325ix. So just some questions and such about them in general and sorry if this is misplaced.
1. They have an m20 right?
2. Other than the normal e30 crap for maintenance is there any problems the ix is prone to.
3. How noticeable is the awd system and how much power can be sent to the front?
4. Is there anything special i should look for when purchasing one?
5. Whats an appropriate price to pay for a normal slightly molested ix
Sorry if i should just google this crap but i figured r3vheads might have a little more info for me instead of me sifting through 2312391283091283 hours of crap to find all i need. Thanks in advance.

[Robotin]

i just recently purchased my first IX.... its my second e30..

i dont have much to say personally about besides that i belive it does handle like a beast. (this is also my first AWD car)

yes they are an m20... but obviously different becuase of the front axle...

oil pan is totally differnt...

i believe the pwoer split is 60-40 (60% in the rear)

4. Is there anything special i should look for when purchasing one?

RUST!!!!! under carriage.. sunroof seals....

i paid $900 for my IX here is Los Angeles.. but from waht ive seen they usually go for about $4000

nothing wrong with asking ?'s... thats how u learn!!

[Cybernix]

is gear ratio the same in the rear?
does the 40 up front create any sort of under steer and does the turning angle remain the same or did they switch up the tie rods for the ix?
Whats different about the oil pan?
and thanks for the support.

[audiquattrot]

transfer case/viscous coupling is prone to go bad in this car, making it RWD.

[dannyyisntt]

3:91's f/r on manuals, 4:10's f/r on autos I believe.

Suspension components (control arms, tierods,etc) are more expensive to replace than a standard e30.

Other than the awd system and suspension it's just another e30 and has the typical issues.

[Cybernix]

Lol and what are telltale signs of transfer case wear on it? and yeah i figured suspension as usual on e30. Price isnt an issue seeing as i was looking to s54 swap it >_> so i was gonna dump some money anyway

[nando]

transfer case/viscous coupling is prone to go bad in this car, making it RWD.

it doesn't work like that. A burned out VC makes the transfercase an open differential, it's not possible to be RWD only unless your VC still works and you disconnect the front driveshaft. The planetary gear always transmits the torque split in the same percentage.

OP, do a youtube search on "325ix jack test". It's basically a pass/fail test, although a VC can be partially failed and still work. Other things to check are front CV boots (cheap to replace, but takes some work, and important to do!), lubrication of the front driveshaft splines, and fluid levels in all 3 differentials. Otherwise, they're pretty solid.

[325ix]

The power is split 63/37 under normal conditions. Up to 90% can be transferred to the front if needed.

[nando]

sort of. the VC doesn't really transmit torque (that is the planetary gear's job), it keeps the speed differential between the front/rear relatively constant. the planetary gear can transmit the same 63/37 torque split even if the front and rear output speeds are different (a toyota prius uses the same concept in reverse, so that both the electronic and gas engines can drive the car even though the motor shaft RPMs may be different).

effectively, yes, it can momentarily transmit "torque" to the other end, but as far as the planetary gear is concerned, it's always the same.

it's confusing because a lot of cheaper AWD systems at the time actually used only a VC to transfer all of the torque (like the earlier VW vans). if you drove an ix in a straight line, and the VC had been totally gutted, it would still move and it would still transfer the torque split in the same ratio. if you did the same thing to an AWD VW van it wouldn't move at all.