It's not clean or fancy...

[lotar_6]

... but my iX will be rally-x'n and ice race'n!! I'm working on the minor rust issues I have and hope to have it sprayed by the end of summer. I picked it up a lil' over a month ago w/ recent timing belt, hoses, intake elbow, rear billy HD struts, and valve adjustment. It runs like a top and sounds pretty good for a stock air box w/ supersprint exhaust. I just recently finished replacing the front struts w/ billy HD's, used e28 535iS springs to replace the broken iX springs, new CA bushings, new driver's wheel bearing, and new Motul driveline fluids. I couldn't get my arm around the tranny to replace the shifter bushings and install the short shifter, so I'll pull the driveshaft and lower the tranny this summer while replacing the guibo(s).

The front now sits a bit higher w/ the stiffer front springs. Ok by me as I intend to race it off-road and serve winter duty. I'm tracking down e36 M3 rear springs now to level off the ride height and better match the rates. Here's some shots for the pic-luvers...











my strut housing struggles...


Air chisel & torch FTMFW!!! The billy's came w/ new collars which I snugged down w/ a spanner and some help...


billy > sachs boge...


other pics...




so that's it... oh, and I'm Kyle, btw...

[rThor432]

Nice iX. Looks great in silver. The ride height really looks good as far as I can tell.. How much rust do you have to fix?

[Mike325]

Great looking IX you have there. Have fun on the ice.

[lotar_6]

thanks... it's a lil' rough w/ some minor dings... the worst is the pass. rear corner. Needs some pulling and finishing, but it's minor. The rust is on the bottoms of the doors (all but 1... I got a set of 4 doors for free w/ no rust!!), lip of trunk (found an iS lid in good shape), and lower corners of the front fenders (pass side is rotted, but driver's side might be fixable). The battery tray has some rust in one corner, but not bad. And there is some rust in the driver's side rear lower valence. The hood has a few dings and the sunroof has some surface rust spots. Typical spots but should be fine if I get to it this year.

The interior is ok. Dash is great, but the seats have seen better days. I'm looking for some heated sports... wish me luck. I'm going to tackle the interior if I can find a donor car. I'd like to go black b/c I hate the gray. Like the rear pass-thru seat, tho. We'll see what happens.

[87e30]

FYI, you should be able to get the shifter out without dropping anything. At least in a RWD model. Maybe I'm way off base with the IX.

Looks pretty nice.

[bp9129]

nice ix. i have the same wheels but damn where did u find four rust free doors?? i have the same problem with my e30 (rust on the bottom of three doors).. its whack and i need some new doors

[lotar_6]

I should be able to get at it, but the t-fer case makes it a little more snug... and I gotz big handz. I may give it one more go, but I was more concerned about getting it back on the ground than anything else.

And as for the doors... I got lucky! found a guy on Bimmerforums that listed them for free about a year ago and nobody took them! cooler still, he was about 1.5 hours south of where the car was.

[chadthestampede]

Nice ix, what lake are you by?

[TruEdrty]

Those borbet type hs look good in black too ;)

[lotar_6]

Nice ix, what lake are you by?

thnx... I'm on the sw side of Cayuga Lake. You nearby?

Those borbet type hs look good in black too ;)

hhhmmmm..... they do. I was already going to paint my chrome trim and kidney black... I may have to do some photoshop work...

[chadthestampede]

thnx... I'm on the sw side of Cayuga Lake. You nearby?

So around Ithaca? I'm not really that near, but I know a few people from Syracuse. Good to see another (relatively) local person.

[lotar_6]

So around Ithaca? I'm not really that near, but I know a few people from Syracuse. Good to see another (relatively) local person.

right on... I get up to Syracuse often w/ the vw club. I race Solo w/ the Glen Region SCCA, so I'll post up about the schedule soon... we race at Seneca Army Depot 3 times a year and should have our last event on 10/10/10 at WGI in the far north paddock, while the club racers run the track.

My other toy is a VW...

[BillBrasky]

Welcome. The transfer case has to come out on an IX in order to replace the shifter. That also means you have to remove the rear driveshaft. Good luck with that. I hate rust.

[lotar_6]

Welcome. The transfer case has to come out on an IX in order to replace the shifter. That also means you have to remove the rear driveshaft. Good luck with that. I hate rust.

drat... I suspected. Oh well... I need to go through it all anyway. Just more time I don't have.

[kid325e]

What are you talking about it's extremely clean and fancy, it's a friggin IX! Nice pickup man! The 'rado isn't bad either.