325iX: Desirable?

[Zreberlcoe]

My dad, brother and I all drive 5 speed 325ix's daily in the winter. We just deal with it and consider it an active cancer on the car that needs constant attention. We put them up on the lift and replace rusty parts, sand down rust areas, spray them with neutralizer and 3M rubberized undercoating. All undercarriage bolts, nuts, washers have been replaced with stainless steel and lubed with anti-seize.

For 1, that's a lot of IX in a family. For 2, that's a lot of bolts nuts and washers.

[reelizmpro]

Just depends on what you like I suppose. In LA, I don't see too many iX's. I hear about transfer cases and other iX specific parts being problematic and not readily available which deters people. Being in LA...I'd never own one. They look cool and might be rare but are ultimately undesirable to me.

[JinormusJ]

It's seems it's mainly just a Cali thing. I guess it'd be cool for snow, but we don't get that in Cali. For other regions, I can see why people would want them, but down here.. I really just don't see the point

[BillBrasky]

For 1, that's a lot of IX in a family. For 2, that's a lot of bolts nuts and washers.

Haha, yeah there is about to be another one added in a few months.



Going back to the op's question, if you don't live anywhere that has winter storms then I wouldn't even bother with a 325ix. Most of them are haggard because 90% of their miles were driven in salty conditions. They don't handle anything like a rwd e30 and are pretty boring on dry pavement. After a while of driving, sometimes I forget that its awd. Then I go hop in my 325i and the lighter steering feel is instantly noticeable. My M3 takes it a step beyond that. After I go back to the 325ix, it feels like a truck.

Having said all of that, I love my 325ix. I hate winter, but I love driving it around in blizzard conditions when only awd/4wd vehicles are on the road. We have plenty of those days here in northeast Ohio. I can't remember the last time that weather has prevented me from getting around anywhere since I bought my first IX in '07.

[accident]

OP: stop changing your username.

[JinormusJ]

325iX: Desirable?

Lol^^

Your wish had been granted
Jason won't let me change it anymore

[einhander]

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.

[RocketJohn]

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

Mine has only ever lived in Denver, Colorado, in a garage. Dry climates and areas where they don't salt the roads help tremendously.

[dannyyisntt]

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

I don't. Rust on my ix is earned thru miles of abuse.

Truth be told, I bought it for $500 (with working awd) and it was already rotted so why bother.

[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...

[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

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.