New owner, BMW 325iX Touring

[jeenyus]

great work. The light on mine just took a shit, but lucky me, Garagistic has the LED replacement 50% off.

[D.Martijn]

Last week I stumbled upon an Instagram post of a German guy fixing the screen of his OBC. I pm'ed him and asked where he got a replacement. He send me an Ebay link where he bought the replacement screen.
(https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/LCD-REP...53.m1438.l2649)

This week I received the new display. Today after work, I removed the OBC and installed the new display. Very easy to do + the screen comes with instructions.

Before, although not the worst case of bleeding, it's not pretty either.


Old and new


Fitted inside the OBC


And the OBC back into the dash;

[D.Martijn]

I got selected for car of the month, I asked a friend to take a couple of rolling shots of my Touring. The 'regular' pictures, I took & edited myself.

I decided to also post these pictures here on my build/update thread as I think that they turned out pretty good. :)



























[/QUOTE]


here's a link to the COTM article;

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=426639

[D.Martijn]

Today I replaced the LCA bushings with new Lemforder E30 M3 ones.
Getting them off was the pretty simple part, I started with drilling a small hole in the end of the control arm so my puller wouldn't slip.

I was then able to tear the old bushing completely in two and finally pull of the center ring with a smaller puller. Getting the new bushings on the arm is a whole other story. Last time I had to do this on my uncles iX, I used a ratchet strap and pulled/pushed/wiggled the bushing onto the arm but somehow it was a lot harder now. Mainly because the rest of my suspension was still fitted. When I did this on his car everything was removed.
In the end both bushings were on the arms, took me roughly 2 hours. :)

To remove the old one I compressed it in the bench vise. Also used the bench vise to push the new one in.


I'm pretty sure these are still the original (250k km) lollipops that came on the car.


And a picture of the new bushings.

[D.Martijn]

That's interesting. Everything I read indicated to not forget that washer. I haven't had any issues with mine at all, but i could have sworn the washer is what pushed the oring in the hole properly. Idle issues on these things can really cause some frustration.

My IX is about to get the main flex disc replaced. I've been having the same issues as you with the clutch out fast shake and vibration.

You do need to use the washer at the bottom but just not at the top. No oil is leaking out since removing that washer at the top.

Replacing the rear guibo did not solve this, I'm guessing my subframe bushings are getting worn down so I might have to redo the rear suspension + bushing at the TC some time.

[jeenyus]

Thanks guys!

Some people suggest it's possible to remove the tube without removing the intake? I can't see how that would be possible though..

I figured out why the bitch tube was leaking, When assembling everything back, I used a washer at the top as well, googling some more I found out this isn't necessary. Without the washer, the o-rings sits a bit further into the intake.
I only had to push down on the tube, remove the o-ring and washer and fit the o-ring again. I bought 2 new o-rings from BMW when reassembling the head but there were some included in the Elring head gasket set as well so I use a new one although the 'old' one looked just fine. Hopefully that solves the oil leak I was having :)

Next thing on the list is the new LCA bushings.

That's interesting. Everything I read indicated to not forget that washer. I haven't had any issues with mine at all, but i could have sworn the washer is what pushed the oring in the hole properly. Idle issues on these things can really cause some frustration.

My IX is about to get the main flex disc replaced. I've been having the same issues as you with the clutch out fast shake and vibration.

[D.Martijn]

love your car

bitch tube oil leaks are a pain. I just finally fixed mine - apparently I had pinched the new o-ring during installation and ended up damaging it. New o-ring and a little Hylomar sealant - problem solved.

Of course I had to take the intake out to get the tube removed though. I have ITBs so that was not fun at all ;-)

by the way, there's an IX touring on bringatrailer here in the US. auction about to close
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...5ix-touring-2/

Your touring makes me happy <3

The bitch tube's got it's name well deserved.

Mine is all beat up. I don't know what the previous owner did. I bought one on my trip to the USA and i'm waiting to install it when some other parts arrive.

Keep us updated!

Thanks guys!

Some people suggest it's possible to remove the tube without removing the intake? I can't see how that would be possible though..

I figured out why the bitch tube was leaking, When assembling everything back, I used a washer at the top as well, googling some more I found out this isn't necessary. Without the washer, the o-rings sits a bit further into the intake.
I only had to push down on the tube, remove the o-ring and washer and fit the o-ring again. I bought 2 new o-rings from BMW when reassembling the head but there were some included in the Elring head gasket set as well so I use a new one although the 'old' one looked just fine. Hopefully that solves the oil leak I was having :)

Next thing on the list is the new LCA bushings.

[notanawdix80]

Your touring makes me happy <3

The bitch tube's got it's name well deserved.

Mine is all beat up. I don't know what the previous owner did. I bought one on my trip to the USA and i'm waiting to install it when some other parts arrive.

Keep us updated!

[bradnic]

love your car

bitch tube oil leaks are a pain. I just finally fixed mine - apparently I had pinched the new o-ring during installation and ended up damaging it. New o-ring and a little Hylomar sealant - problem solved.

Of course I had to take the intake out to get the tube removed though. I have ITBs so that was not fun at all ;-)

by the way, there's an IX touring on bringatrailer here in the US. auction about to close

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-bmw-325ix-touring-2/

[D.Martijn]

I forgot to update you guys about the bad idling.
It turns out my valve clearance has changed after getting the engine at operating temp a few times..? I couldn't get the 0,25 feeler gauge to fit between the valve and rocker.

After re adjusting all the valves and adjusting the rear exhaust + replacing the gasket rings since I had new ones laying around. It's idling like it was before.
I might have to go back and readjust the valves once again as there is one valve that is ticking louder than the others since driving the car to work this week.

Today I also went to the inspection center for my yearly inspection, everything was fine.
I only got a "warning/advisory" that I should replace the front LCA bushings. I was actually planning on replacing them when I had the head of but decided no to order them.. Oh well. At least we already know what to do on one of the next weekends :)

When my car was on the car bridge, I noticed an oil leak coming from the side of the engine block. When I got home I checked under the hood and I'm pretty sure it's coming from the bitch tube. However I did replace the orings when doing the head work...

[D.Martijn]

First drive to work with the E30 today. The Golf mk1 is back at the workshop, it was pretty fun to drive to work though.

The E30 did stall this morning and after work when I started it. I'm guessing the ECU is still adjusting itself/the ICV.
I'm also pretty sure I got an exhaust leak at the connection between the cat and rear muffler. I'll have to look into it this Friday before I go to the inspection center.

[D.Martijn]

Careful, don't make it too clean. Keuring will find a way to fail you. "To clean for 25+ years old, must be false paperwork for o-plate. Red flag!"

:p

Nice build man!

Thank man! It's my daily so it's on regular plates :)
Last time I went, the guy said " AAH ne goei'n ouwe nafte" :D

They all love these old cars, atleast where I go to get it inspected.

shoot, I want MY engine bay to look that clean, what did you use to get the valve cover and intake manifold that clean?

Paint ;)

Thank man, but no paint on these.
I glass bead blasted the aluminium pieces. The finish on them is pretty good as is but since I blasted them, the pores are all open. I decided to use a quartz coating instead of a clear coat. This coating should withstand 350°C!

[Julien]

shoot, I want MY engine bay to look that clean, what did you use to get the valve cover and intake manifold that clean?

Paint ;)

[2mAn]

shoot, I want MY engine bay to look that clean, what did you use to get the valve cover and intake manifold that clean?

[Julien]

Thanks!
You were right, I had a bad engine ground at the PS hinge/bracket.


After cleaning every ground/power connection in the engine bay, the engine cranked over like it should. I wanted to build up some engine oil first but drained the battery after a few cranks. I tried starting anyway but it didn't fire right away. It fired a few times but not enough to start.

I decided to charge the battery again so I had to wait a day until I could start the engine. This evening I went back to the workshop with the charged battery, after connecting it, the engine fired up from the first try! :) I think there might have been too much fuel after turning the engine over for oil pressure..

It idled quite rough the first few seconds but smoothed out after a while. I drove it up some ramps so I could bleed the cooling system more easily.


Final engine bay shot :)
Happy with the outcome of the intake and valve cover.



edit:

Careful, don't make it too clean. Keuring will find a way to fail you. "To clean for 25+ years old, must be false paperwork for o-plate. Red flag!"

:p

Nice build man!