New owner, BMW 325iX Touring

[jeenyus]

Is this the x3 rack steering conversion I've seen? https://bavallrad.com/2020/01/28/fin...st-e30-of-all/ This one?

[econti]

Very interesting. What's the donor rack out of? How much faster is it?

[D.Martijn]

Small update.

When I first received the SWRA/headlight intensive cleaner kit, there were a few things missing. (Wiper stalk wasn't the right one, a rubber wiper blade got lost during shipping and I got two left wiper arms)
I've contacted the seller since and got everything luckily sorted, last piece to arrive was the right wiper arm.

Well, upon opening the box, I was presented with this, looks pretty beat up, as well as the plastic holders that the wiper blades clip onto are missing, I'll probably will have to uses the ones from the second left wiper arm I received
But can't seem to figure out how to remove them. I obviously don't want to break them lol.




After some carefully work with a plier and a little bench vise hammer, I got it pretty straight.


Unfortunatly, today I noticed I received the wrong headlight rims. Well atleast the plastic pieces on them are not the correct ones. (The rings are numbered from 1 to 4) The rings I do ahve these numbers but somehow the plastic pieces were once in their life swapped.
The outer two rings should have longer pieces than the inner rings. I only figured this out when mounting them onto my headlights today. Fortunatly, after contacting the seller, he should have some extra correct rings, with the longer plastic wiper blade stops..
I guess I have some more painting ahead of me

Outer headlight with the incorrect (too short) stops (should be 21mm long)


Inner headlight with the correct shorter stops (roughly 16mm)




I also received the steering rack for the quick ratio steering conversion for the iX.
Looks pretty good, although there is some rust on the steering shaft, which wasn't there on the pictures of the listing. I've contacted the seller but haven't heard anything from him yet


First "fit" after removing the swaybar and original iX rack from the spare subframe
Couple of things:
- The main in and outlet of the rack needs to face the front of the car, this is donw by just unbolting the top housing and rotating it.
- There are two nubs on the bottom of the rack that prevent it to go an further, these will need to be removed
- Adding threads for banjo bolts for the in/outlet ports + also for the hardlines like Bavallrad did? Although, mayby it's possible to also use the same OEM style connection..




Removed input shaft housing.


This is the housing where that needs to be modified a bit


Degreased


I am now wondering, the original steering rack had one dowel sleeve to somewhat center/position it.
The new rack only has bolt holes. Should I just drill new holes in the subframe or should I also add one or two positioning/centering sleeves?
If so, I'll had to add these on the rack as well since there aren't any in the new one.

[D.Martijn]

Received some more pars for the SWRA.

Although these parts weren't cheap, I'm glad I was able to source them.

Reproduction wiper motor seals - 61631359531 NLA from BMW. Found these on a Czech Republic E30 forum. Via their facebook group I was able to contact the guy who's making them


And reproduction wiper arm/shaft nut covers. The original cap on my wiper arms are cracked and are missing a few pieces.
The original pieces are rivitted togehter, so there is no way to replace them. I'll have to cut the old pieces from the arms so I'll be able to install the new ones.

[D.Martijn]

Road trips for parts are the best. Especially when they are accurately described and you don't go home empty handed. The rings turned out great!

Exactly!
and thank you

[mike.bmw]

Road trips for parts are the best. Especially when they are accurately described and you don't go home empty handed. The rings turned out great!

[D.Martijn]

So as some of you might know, BavAllrad (Kent Zimmerman) figured out a way to have a quick ratio steering rack for the iX.
Since shipping is pretty expensive, I thought I might give it a shot myself since I have acces to plenty of machinery at my work.

I already ordered the rack, should arrive any time now.
So the only left, was a front subframe, after searching a couple second hand websites, I found a guy in Germany selling one together with a couple of other iX parts.

Today I mad the 990km drive to get the parts
Luckily I was able to use a couple of parts of the Autobahn and got to test the GTI..


Full frnt subframe with steering rack, tie rod assembly and front swaybar, 2 rear swaybars, 2 iX oilpans with oil level sensors, front T-case-diff axle and rear H&R iX springs.
I'm definitely will be keeping most of these parts, however probably will try to sell the swaybars, 1 oilpan and the rear springs.



As for the SWRA, I'm still waiting for some small parts to arrive, but got started on reassembling the headlight rings.
I used the new screws I got but had to shave the head down a little using the drill to hold and spin the screw against the angle grinder with a grinding wheel.


Still plenty of head left to use a screwdriver


Happy with the finish of the rings as well!

[D.Martijn]

nice work man!

Thanks man! It takes a while to clean/paint everthing but it'll be worth it.
Pretty exited to install these

[D.Martijn]

In the evenings after work I've been busy with painting the headlight rings, I've put on 2 coats of anti rust primer, a first coat of primer, wetsanded with 600 grit and another coat of primer.
Very happy with the result so far, today I put on the first coat of color. I decided to go with a silver/metallic heat resistant paint as it matched the original color the best.
I also tried a regular wheelspray but the shade was a bit too light.


Today I also got a email from my BMW dealer that the parts had arrived, so after work I went and got those.
Already clipped on the connector housings on the SWRA wiring loom. Looks a lot better!


I also got some wiring clips for the wiper motor connectors


As well as the plastic pieces of the headlight rings got some SEM paint


Finally I also got some new stainless steel screws for those plastic nubs (or whatever they are callad)
However, the head of the screw is a bit too big. I've tried searching for some with a smaller head but can't seem to find any yet.
I might just grind the head down a little if nothing turns up.

[jeenyus]

nice work man!

[D.Martijn]

Before fitting the headlight cleaning system, I wanted to freshen up some of the parts.
I was able to remove most of the screws for the plastic nubs on the headlight rings, however 3 little screws gave me a pretty hard time.
After working them lose, only one screw was still holding very tight, I first though I could try and put the ring in some boiling water to soften everyhting up but decided to just use the torch on the side of the screw.
quickly heating up the screw without ruining the little plastic nub, well it worked!


First 9 pieces removed, I'm going to source some new screws at the local hardware shop, might have to let them order some though as I doubt they will have such little ones in stock.
I'll paint the plastic pieces with some SEM black trim paint as well.


And removed!


Already sandblasted and first layer of anti rust primer applied, before stripping them, I went to the store and tried to match them with some paint.


Being 30 years old, the original black electrical tape BMW used for the wiring loom was very hard and had a couple of tears too, so I removed the old tape and rewrapped the loom.




Also cleaned up the plastic wiring tube and connectors. I plan on ordering some new housings for the connectors for the pumps too.

[jeenyus]

Yeah, black headliner material is definitly easier to source. Guess I'll search some more :)

I think whatever you decide on will look great. You seem to have that part figured out Martijn.

[D.Martijn]

that makes sense. I would disagree about it feeling smaller. I think it would actually be the opposite. I only ask because I'm sure it's an easier material to source/match.

Yeah, black headliner material is definitly easier to source.
Guess I'll search some more :)

[jeenyus]

I don't know, I think it might make the inside of the car look smaller when it's black? I kinda like the tan color too actually..

that makes sense. I would disagree about it feeling smaller. I think it would actually be the opposite. I only ask because I'm sure it's an easier material to source/match.

[D.Martijn]

Nice updates! I'm not sure how I missed the last few.

Those strut tubes look excellent.

I'm very interested to see how the headlight wipers install and function.

Keep up the great work!

Thanks Mike!
've found an other guy in France with an iX that installed the cleaning system without the smaller extra iX fluid container.
Or I might modify the washer bottle I got with the kit.

you wouldn't want to do a dark headliner? why the decision to go tan?

I don't know, I think it might make the inside of the car look smaller when it's black? I kinda like the tan color too actually..