New Member - 1989 325ix and Evo

[JonTheHero22]

Nice buy with the wagon, I've always wanted one but having to worry about the swap is a big hassle, but I'd love to get one one day and do the 6-speed swap;D

[AWDBOB]

Nice buy with the wagon, I've always wanted one but having to worry about the swap is a big hassle, but I'd love to get one one day and do the 6-speed swap;D

Thanks, man. That was one of the biggest purchase points- the 5sp swap was already done. The drivetrain feels GREAT in this car, I'm pleasantly surprised.

The struts are so bad it's actually scary driving this thing. I can't seem to find a P/N for any wagon lowering springs. If anyone knows of any, please chime in!

[The Dark Side of Will]

The E34 530's have the ZF 5 speed just like E36 24V cars do... The E34 trans just has the V8 bellhousing pattern.

[AWDBOB]

Got some time to do some work on the Touring today.

Before viewing the following photos, please understand this:

Someone went over this entire car with steel wool or scotch brite, minus drivers fender, door, and rear hatch. This paint is DEAD, and hasn't been washed in ages.


Before





After




And my favorite part about the car...





Also, finally got the chance to put the car up in the air to properly diagnose the problems.

Clunking on immediate throttle- Rear subframe bushings are totally shot. Have over 0.5" of movement with medium pressure.
Loose steering and wheel shake- Center track rod joint play. Way out of spec.
Generally drives like total ****- All tires have broken cords, alignment is ridiculously out, and all struts are blown to smithereens. Rear brake pads have but ~2/32" left on them.

On order:

Koni Struts
OEM subframe bushings
OEM center track rod
B&G wagon specific lowering springs
Rear brake pads

[Nisse Järnet]

Sorry to hear about the ix problems :-( Any news on that? I'm doing a GC setup now, just got all the parts, any tips? :-)
E34 tourings is nice cars!!

[AWDBOB]

Sorry to hear about the ix problems :-( Any news on that? I'm doing a GC setup now, just got all the parts, any tips? :-)
E34 tourings is nice cars!!

No updates just yet. I'm going to try the OEM boots with a little extra slack here in a week or so, and I'm hoping that does the trick. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM!

[audiquattrot]

U guys jinxed me. Found another torn inner boot over the wkend. This is becoming an annual occurrence :-/.

[AWDBOB]

U guys jinxed me. Found another torn inner boot over the wkend. This is becoming an annual occurrence :-/.

I think I'm bringing bad luck to the R3V iXers. There has to be a way to fix this crap. No reason a CV boot should rip in 60,000 miles, let alone 600.


In better news, I pressed my delrin diff bushing into the 3.91 housing and threw it in the car! I can feel more vibration right off the back, but there is definitely a noticeable difference in drivetrain slack on and off throttle.

It was also my first time driving the car with the 3.91s and front CABs. This little round of mods made a HUGE difference. I'm very pleased.

[AWDBOB]

I woke up to the iX halfway down my hill today. Gives a new meaning to the term 'neutral slam'.

[audiquattrot]

did it hit the tree?? time to readjust those ebrake cables or replace them. I did last yr, but I still don't 100% trust them. Last yr I had the car in neutral w/ just the ebrake, and it rolled back into a truck parked behind me. Fortunately no damage tho.

[AWDBOB]

did it hit the tree?? time to readjust those ebrake cables or replace them. I did last yr, but I still don't 100% trust them. Last yr I had the car in neutral w/ just the ebrake, and it rolled back into a truck parked behind me. Fortunately no damage tho.

Yeah, it hit the tree unfortunately. Thankfully though, due to the incline it just ruined my spoiler and dented my trunk lid. It was in gear still when I got in it, so for some reason now that I put the 3.91s in the car it rolls when in gear, which is odd.

Unfortunately my ebrake cables are shot and I haven't got around to fixing it, but the car wouldn't move in gear with the 4.10s in it. Scary waking up to your car not there and seeing it down your 20% grade hill parked up against a tree, I must say.

I'm pretty inclined to fix the ebrake now though, pun intended.

[AWDBOB]

I have a new iX problem/question for y'all.

I swapped in my 3.91 diffs. Ever since then, the car rolls while in gear (with it off) and seems to be only left rear wheel drive. Everything is bolted in properly. My VC worked perfect before the diff swap.

I did my 3.91 front diff first and then pushed the car 10ft outside the garage with the 4.10s still in the rear. It shouldn't be, but is that enough to shred the VC in the transfer case? VC felt tight in the rear 3.91.

It never ends with this thing.

[downforce22]

I had a similar problem and i believe my brother did too. Car was locked and rolled out of parking space while in gear.

It turned out the passenger side axle was not engaged in the front diff. Take a look on the exhaust side of the car to make sure the half shaft is riding right next to the metal bracket off of the oil pan. There should be no space between the black thing on the axle and the bracket.

Here is a picture reference:

[AWDBOB]

I had a similar problem and i believe my brother did too. Car was locked and rolled out of parking space while in gear.

It turned out the passenger side axle was not engaged in the front diff. Take a look on the exhaust side of the car to make sure the half shaft is riding right next to the metal bracket off of the oil pan. There should be no space between the black thing on the axle and the bracket.

Awesome call on that. Drivers was popped out a hair. Silly of me to not double check that seeing as I've had this problem, but the car reacts much differently when you have a working VC, which I am clearly not used to.

Thank you!

[AWDBOB]

Made some progress on the Touring today, and it already feels like a completely different car.

Replaced my front tie bar with an OEM piece (had a ton of play), replaced the front swaybar end links, and got a chance to put on my Bilstein Sports and H&Rs up front.

Progress pictures:





The old struts rebounded great haha.










Here's how she looks unsettled. I think the ride height will be perfect with the M Parallels.





Next weekend is SLS Delete, Rear Billy Sports + H&Rs, HD Subframe bushings, and rear sway bar endlinks. Then M Parallels, tires, alignment, and she's all done.