325iX: Desirable?

[Stanley Rockafella]

Yes, It will also give an inaccurate speed reading.

not when you reduce the tire profile as many newer cars have. As long as the overall diameter is good, there's no worries

it also increases rolling resistance, road noise, fuel consumption and the risk of damaging the wheels

BUT IT LOOKS SOOOOOO COOOLL THO!

[Isostar13]

Between 65-80mph, I'm usually somewhere between 3k and 3750 rpm. 75mph would put me right around 3400 or so. Not bad, not ideal either.

I can still average around 25-26mpg with steady highway cruising.

[nando]

It's not 3600 with 4.10 or 3.91 gearing at 75. It just isn't.

[MF DOOM]

Then you're going 90mph. I have 4.10s, 3500 is 75mph. Not 7600 at 70 with 3.91s.

Read "interstate speeds." Which is usually 75mph. So 3600 at 75mph.. The interstate speed limits in wyo are 80mph but I hardly ever take the car there for long. The road noise is terrible in the car at the moment.

[KIRIEIW]

^^^ would larger wheels reduced the rpm? I see more and more cars coming out with larger wheels..

Yes, It will also give an inaccurate speed reading.

[goarmy]

^^^ would larger wheels reduced the rpm? I see more and more cars coming out with larger wheels..

[nando]

Im definitely around 3600+ at interstate speeds. The mpg's suck in the ix as well. But driving an ix in the dirt/snow is an absolute blast. I was considering selling mine but god dammit that thing grips! But hell, even my 91 318is was a tank in the snow. My snowboard barely fit in the backseat but it had no problem climbing the mountain.

Then you're going 90mph. I have 4.10s, 3500 is 75mph. Not 7600 at 70 with 3.91s.

[Stanley Rockafella]

And yeah, the 3.64 will be more comfy on the highway, but it will accelerate like an old truck.

no....for that you should drive an eta with 2.79's!

awesome fuel economy tho!

[MF DOOM]

Im definitely around 3600+ at interstate speeds. The mpg's suck in the ix as well. But driving an ix in the dirt/snow is an absolute blast. I was considering selling mine but god dammit that thing grips! But hell, even my 91 318is was a tank in the snow. My snowboard barely fit in the backseat but it had no problem climbing the mountain.

[nando]

Its not 3600rpm. I hate how much people exaggerate the highway rpms, even 4.10s with the 5 speed isn't that high.

And yeah, the 3.64 will be more comfy on the highway, but it will accelerate like an old truck.

[downforce22]

Don't get me wrong...I love iX's. The 5-speed ix had 3.91 gears while the auto had 4.10. I wish BMW had at least done some work on the gear ratios in the transmission since they put the same engine/transmission as the RWD. With the 3.91 gears, the iX pulls stumps (I have done it) and then you have to shift immediately. I wish they had tuned the engine and retained the 3.73 gears. Did it make sense to put an identical engine in an AWD? More torque on the low end would get all of that mass spun up more effectively. I must admit that it is a lot of fun dialing up all of that horsepower in the snow - it just takes a while to get there in the absence of snow.

You need a set of euro 3.64 diffs. 3000 rpm at 70 is great compared to 3600 rpm.

[gtdragon980]

If I buy another e30, I think I will probably go for an iX. I would love to rip it up on a rallyx track or some snow!

[packratbimmer]

I use PPG epoxy primer and good paint to keep the rust back. I think they make some primers that help inhibit rust as well, though I have not tried them.

[Wh33lhop]

Why does anyone find any E30 desirable at all?

It was a mass-produced run-of-the-mill sedan built for and bought by Yuppie assholes wearing red suspenders.

But we like them because we do. That's all that matters.

hat tip

[EyExR]

All you ix dudes that drive em' year round, how are you keeping them rust free?

I just get an undercarriage wash after every snow/salt event. Then I check under the car when I get a chance and spray WD-40 on effected areas. When Spring rolls around (like now) I'll do a more thorough cleaning and POR-15 rust spots. I'm seeing rust appear at the inside bottom of my doors now, so I'll have to remove the doors, then strip and paint them before it creeps around to the outside. ...just gotta stay on top of it...