New owner, BMW 325iX Touring

[litu]

I decided not to prime the engine at first, but after cranking it, it took rather long to get oil pressure.
So I quickly turned it off again and figured out it's probably the best to prime the engine by manually turning over the oil pump.

So you was taking out that oil pump cover and used some power tool to prime it??
Thanks for that info, need to do to this mine ix tomorrow.

To that clutch bleeding, why not try nest time reverse bleeding. Use some syringe to push fluid backwards, i have been using this method in mine fluid clutch system in supemoto.

[D.Martijn]

Nice work as always. I also pumped my slave cylinder by hand to bled it. Seemed like it was the only way to get it bled properly, even after trying a power bleeder and someone pumping the clutch pedal.

Thanks Mike!

I know I had a hard time bleeding it last time as well when I replaced the laster and slave.
I did press the pedal a few times after and got a couple small bubbles coming into the reservoir. After this the pedal feel was pretty positive. I might remove the slave once again just to be sure

[mike.bmw]

Nice work as always. I also pumped my slave cylinder by hand to bled it. Seemed like it was the only way to get it bled properly, even after trying a power bleeder and someone pumping the clutch pedal.

[D.Martijn]

Yesterday I finally finished the X3 steering rack conversion, transmission rebuild etc.

Alternator got fitted and connected as well


I still had a new rubber clutch line laying around as a spare when I fitted the new clutch some time ago, however I somehow didn't end up fitting it then.
Decided to replace it now since I the front axle was out anyway. Had some difficulties bleeding the system but in the end managed to get it beld by pumping the slave cylinder by hand.


Swaybar got fitted as well. When putting ATF fluid in the new steering reservoir, after some time I noticed a little drop hanging from the subframe.
After looking more closely, it was dripping from the upper steering line I had custom made. I had to remove the left control arm so I could pull the axle out.
Turns out I forgot to put an oring on the top fitting, luckily an easy fix!


After fitting the radiator, couple hoses and the new viscous coupling for the fan, it was time to lower the car back onto it's wheels. Strange seeing the car sitting this low again (although it's still an iX)
It's been almost 6 months!


I decided not to prime the engine at first, but after cranking it, it took rather long to get oil pressure.
So I quickly turned it off again and figured out it's probably the best to prime the engine by manually turning over the oil pump.
After doing so and fitting the airbox back, starting the car resulted in only firing/running on 3 cylinders. I've had this happen before when coming back from the Alps roadtrip.
Cleaning out the plug below in intake manifold and it's running like it should..

It's crazy how much air is blowing from the fan now, before you could barely feel the air. Even at idle it is now blowing quite a bit.
Hopefully this will cause the temp to stop rising when it's hot outside and sitting at idle.

[D.Martijn]

I finally received the custom lines I had made for the steering rack.
In the evening after work I test fitted them and they were pretty much spot on, I might 3D print a little holder to keep the two lines together






While we were in the workshop, we wend ahead and test fitted the rack + subframe for the first time since all of the modification were done.
The steering rack was touching on the lower reinforcement rib as well as very closen to hitting the ribs on one of the connections of the hard lines.






This weekend I removed some more material on the steering rack housing, after giving it some quick touch up paint, we got started on reassembling the rack.
Unfortunately not all of the oring were the correct size in the kit.. So I ended up reusing the old ones, they still looked fine though

Rack centered on both ends


And fitted (hopefully for good.)


Checking clearance




I knew the clearance between the hard steering rack lines and the front left driveshaft would get close, but before going and further, I needed to fit the transmission and transfercase back into the car.
So everything was sitting right as it should


Z3 shifter fitted back, with the new poly rear shifter mount instead of the derlin that was fitted before


Transfer case, drive shaft and heatshields mounted


And this is how much clearance we ended up with. Not much but still, clearance is clearance right?


To prevent the engine from shifting/rocking forward, I decided to put some shims between the front rubber stops to keep the engine from shifting.


Steering coupler fitted, it's crazy how easy it slides together when the splines are nice and clean! PITA to get them loose!


New high pressure hose was made locally and everything fitted again


Finally the steering pump mounted back into it's place

[D.Martijn]

some serious update and refurbish here ! loving it , i think i like more e30 touring's than coupes haha. So bad there is none in my country :(

Thanks!

[QuiqueUy]

some serious update and refurbish here ! loving it , i think i like more e30 touring's than coupes haha. So bad there is none in my country :(

[D.Martijn]

So I finally received the receipt for the custom hydraulic lines. took 2 week for the seller to contact me, now I'll have to wait until they arrive...
Then it's time to test fit the rack, if everything checks out, I will reassemble the steering rack with the new seals I got.
I still need to shorten the new E36 outer tie rods I got as well, the ones pictured above were just to test and making sure.

A few weeks back friend contacted me and told me he had a 325iX Touring that he was going to part out, he asked if I was interested in a few bits.
Straightaway I noticed that iX had the SWRA headlights, I asked if he was willing to swap wiring looms and reservoirs. Since I'm using a regular E30 SWRA loom and the iX is different because of the location of the SWRA reservoirs.
Luckily he had no problem with this, I also bought a full retrofit for electric windows, middle console and front/rear doorcards included. so that's the next project for the iX :)

I already cleaned up the iX SWRA wiring loom with some new tape.

[D.Martijn]

Couple of pictures of the transmission fully assembled:






I already mounted the pivot arm and throw out bearing + shifter


I was able to get some old E36 tie rods from a friend to test/modify them in order to get the same overall length from tie rod end to tie rod end. stock iX is +/- 1380m

E36 tie rod is already a bit shorter but in order to get to the stock overall length, I had to remove 20mm from the X3 inner tie rods. I might remove a little more as they are now fully bottomed out on the threads - so I have some more room to get the toe right.

[D.Martijn]

Next step of the X3 steering rack conversion is getting the steering rack hydraulic lines made.
I opted to get some made with the same connection as original (some kind of flare connection, where the two halves of the pipe are pushed towards each other, making a little flange where the o-ring sits against)
I found a company in the UK that sells reproduction lines for all sorts of cars, after going through his website, I noticed the pipes had the same connection - I aksed the hydraulic shop next to my work if they could make these but unfortunatly they can't, buying the specific dies is rather expensive as well.
After sending the company an email if they were willing to make my a couple of lines, they said yes. I just needed to make a template they could follow to make the lines the correct lenght.

first type of connection, located at the spindle of the rack, this side is held into place by a little plate


Other connection on the rack itself, a nut is used to secure the line into place


I got some 6mm aluminium pipe from the hardware store and had a go at bending the pipes in the correct shape, turned out pretty good
I also send them out to the company to remake them.




Next up, I got a text message from the guy that's rebuilding my transmission. Couple in between pictures. I already went got the transmission back as well, very happy with the result.
There is still some play on the input shaft but a lot less then before. I'm eager to fit it back into the car and see/heard the results.






I'll post some pictures of the finished transmission later

[D.Martijn]

This weekend I got some more stuff done.
I brought my cleaned up transmission housing and bolts + new parts to the guy that will rebuild it all.
Unfortunately due to Covid, it's no longer possible be present when he rebuilds it at his work (in the weekend). He will now do it by himself after hours.

Meanwhile I also got the steering pump back together. Using the BMW Vickers rebuild kit.






I also receive the stickers In had custom made for the alternator, so this one is now fully refurbished :)


And the throttle body arms/hinges got also installed. Took some time to fiddle with the springs and getting the proper tension back into the mechanism.
But I'm pretty confident it's the same as before (as far as I can remember how much tension there was)

[D.Martijn]

Seriously awesome update! So much thought and effort goes into your work and it really shows.

Thanks Mike! It does take some time to get everything sorted but definitely worth it :)

[mike.bmw]

Seriously awesome update! So much thought and effort goes into your work and it really shows.

[D.Martijn]

Couple small things got done over the several last days.

I painted the steering rack housing, I'd prefer to have a more mat finish but at least the color is pretty much spot on


I also re threaded the shortend steering shaft, added a counter bore as well to be able to fit the tie rod and chamfer on the outside.


I also got my hardware back from the plated, on the last minute I decided to also include the tools form the tool kit however they didn't turn out all that great.
Probably since they are casted? not sure.


And gold plated hardware. Somehow the cooling fan turned all white.. not sure if this is some kind of coating they used to protect the plastic or it just changed color from the process.
The plastic is still flexible like it was..


Very happy with the result of the bolts, they came out nice and shiny.


I also had the chance to rebuild the alternator, I got a new rotor (aftermarket brand) but had to modify the collar a little bit where the plate that hold the bearing into the housing sits on to.
Happy with the results.


New bearings, voltage reg., rotor, sandblasted stator + new red isolator varnish, replated hardware and glass bead blasted + ceramic coated housing.

[D.Martijn]

Today I glass bead blasted the last bits of aluminium. I'm thinking about just painting the steering rack housing as I don't want to risk getting bead stuck in some of the chambers/ports. and actually like the darker finish, gives it some contrast.




Engine mounts and some smaller stuff


While I was at work, I decided to also shorten the X3 steering shaft; I still need to add a counterbore and make the threads deeper for the tierods.


When home, I hosed the parts down with water, dried them and finally gave them a ceramic coating to protect them against oxidation.
Very happy with the results.