14 years - 1991 325ix, Stroker/5-Speed (N52 swap?)

[jeenyus]

wonderful. after reading through all this I am curious why you never deleted your PS? Especially if you are driving a lot of autox.

Regardless, I love everything about this thread. Thanks for all the useful information, I will take that to my IX now.

[nando]

because the ix with wide sticky tires and no PS sucks. especially for autox. it's like 5lbs of weight - simply not worth it.

[UNHCLL]

because the ix with wide sticky tires and no PS sucks. especially for autox. it's like 5lbs of weight - simply not worth it.

So not Fuh Raze.
Poseur.

[ForcedFirebird]

PS isn't as bad as people think. You actually get more feedback, it's just lighter.

[nando]

ix steering is already a lot heavier than a RWD E30 anyway, it feels a lot more normal (just slow, like all stock E30s). If I get to swapping in that E46 rack, it should be pretty nice!

[stonea]

ix steering is already a lot heavier than a RWD E30 anyway, it feels a lot more normal (just slow, like all stock E30s). When I get to swapping in that E46 rack, it should be pretty nice!

*Fixed*

[nando]

hah. actually, the N52 will make it easier - since I'm planning on supporting the engine on the frame of the car itself, I won't have to deal with the engine mounts being in the way of the E46 rack. I already know how to make the tie rods work - E46 rods need slightly shortened, and ForcedFirebird said he could ream out the strut housings to fit the larger ball joints.

[ForcedFirebird]

Happy belated birthday, and saw the email, sounds like we need to talk :)

[nando]

Will probably be a couple weeks before i pull the head, but definitely :-)

[jeenyus]

I've been planning on removing the PS system just to eliminate any hassle associated with it. Is it that hard to turn it without the PS?

[Northern]

Mine had the PS belt removed when I bought it. PO said it started leaking a few months before so he removed the belt.

It definitely wasn't fun, but maybe it wouldn't be terrible if the fluid was drained from the rack itself?

On a side note, the steering knuckle had killed itself, so there was ~20degrees of play in the steering wheel. While trying to find a replacement, I found a couple of threads about the same issue. I don't know if the iX knuckle stands up to the lack of assist as well as the RWD ones.

[Dj Buttchug]

valvetronic is sick. sub'd

[nando]

Just for fun...



the holy grail for me, always has been and always will be, the E46 M3 CSL carbon airbox. glad I was able to pick this up for mock up - it would be relatively simple to adapt to the N52, but it would probably be too long - I'm not sure it would clear my brake booster. I also think the trumpets are about 3" too long (the N52 head is deceptive, since it has no throttles the ports on the head are significantly longer than a "normal" head - probably 4-5" longer).

The trumpets are pretty huge - but they taper it down to ~49mm. I had been planning 48mm trumpets. Wondering if I should go a little smaller to keep up the velocity. 48mm just seemed to line up better with the transition to the oval ports.

One thing this does illustrate is a problem that I realized when thinking of my custom trumpets with the ITG filter setup - the oil filter housing is seriously in the way. I can make something that clears it, but then I lose brake booster clearance.. I think it's doable just a little more difficult.

Also going to look a bit at the clearance inside the airbox - there was some discussion on whether it was a good idea to notch the airbox around cylinder 6 so the stock booster would clear. I'm going to have to say, that looks like a pretty bad idea - it's already tight back there. there are minimum clearances you want around an air horn, and the stock M3 box looks like it's pretty much at minimum already..

[iXguido]

What about using the sikky hydro booster setup that everyone is using with their ls swaps these days?

[nando]

yeah, I've looked at all of that and I don't really like any of the solutions. the 3 MC Tilton setups are nice, but $$$$. Hydroboost is a bunch of extra weight and complication. One of the reasons I settled on a custom intake (aside from not really needing any throttle on the N52), is because I should be able to make it clear the stock booster. I still want to do a BBK down the line, but I really don't think I want to sacrifice the brakes. Eventually I will do a BBK, but I still want to retain the stock booster as much as possible.

I think it would be easier in the end, to custom make a filter housing relocation plate - it would basically be a flat piece of aluminum with the gasket profile machined in and ports for a standard filter housing. of course, I much prefer a stock BMW filter housing, it's just much easier to change the oil with. I think I will do my best to make everything fit within the packaging constraints that I have. I think it will most likely mean I will need a different ix strut bar too.

The S54 plenum was really just an idea - it does give me a good feel for the fitment of what I have planned though. I don't think the S54 housing will be worth it, realistically even with a custom plenum and the ITG filter housing, it will still cost less than a used 3 stage N52 manifold and new DISA valves (which I'm almost certain will not fit regardless). For what I would have to do to make the S54 plenum work, it would be both more complicated and expensive.

also down the line, the stage 2 plan is to include the E46 MK60 DSC unit, sensors, etc. Should be a big upgrade over even the IX ABS - but it requires some work to the MC, since it needs pressure sensors and a bunch of other stuff.