Less rust and hopefully some reliability- the Midwest Daily iS

[Staszek]

Man, same here. And I 100% agree regarding E30s hiding rust. Most people look at the battery box and if there's no rust present it gets a "rust free" sticker slapped on. My brother has daily'd his fairly rust free iX for 6ish years and just pulled it apart this year to check for rust....and he found it.... everywhere.

I am assuming this car was purely a winter car, so they didn't care much for fixing anything in proper fashion, they just caulked over whatever rusted area was there and then undercoated over it. Once I started poking at some of the harder to find/reach areas it was scary how little metal was left on this car.

I got to thinking about it, and 99% of the snow we get is cleared within a day or two. Thus, I am starting to doubt my actual need for AWD as long as I have a set of proper snow tires (which I have). It seems at least 2x as easy to find a clean RWD E30 because they weren't used as snowmobiles.






Thanks, gents. It's a pain to arrive at this point after spending time on it, but I'm glad I found all of this before I wasted any more time on it.




Man, that thing is rough haha! Seems there are either cars that should be parts cars priced from $1500-4500 or quite nice cars that I don't want to spend that much money on.

I think I'm just going to expand the search to include a RWD M20b25 car (since I already have all of these parts), and if I find a decent iX I find one, but I am starting to have my doubts.

Good news is, I have an MT1 wing, refinished 15" weaves with new tires, an 885 fully rebuilt with a new cam/rockers, and pretty much every other e30 maintenance item ready to go, as well as a RWD manual swap if I find an auto car...... so whenever the right car comes along, it should be able to make quick work of it.

So is the ix drivetrain in the car you bought any good?

What about taking a regular coupe and swapping in the drive train and suspension?

[AWDBOB]

God damn... not where I hoped this was going. RIP

These E30s can hide detrimental rust pretty well, a friend of mine bought a car in PA that looked quite minty from the exterior with no signs of rust until we jacked the car up and I was fearful to get the jackstands under it let alone drive it.

Hopefully something reasonable comes up soon, maybe a rwd with snow tires is the ideal candidate.

Man, same here. And I 100% agree regarding E30s hiding rust. Most people look at the battery box and if there's no rust present it gets a "rust free" sticker slapped on. My brother has daily'd his fairly rust free iX for 6ish years and just pulled it apart this year to check for rust....and he found it.... everywhere.

I am assuming this car was purely a winter car, so they didn't care much for fixing anything in proper fashion, they just caulked over whatever rusted area was there and then undercoated over it. Once I started poking at some of the harder to find/reach areas it was scary how little metal was left on this car.

I got to thinking about it, and 99% of the snow we get is cleared within a day or two. Thus, I am starting to doubt my actual need for AWD as long as I have a set of proper snow tires (which I have). It seems at least 2x as easy to find a clean RWD E30 because they weren't used as snowmobiles.

Sorry to hear it's too far gone. Glad you caught it now before starting to daily it!

Sorry to hear, man. That sucks.

Thanks, gents. It's a pain to arrive at this point after spending time on it, but I'm glad I found all of this before I wasted any more time on it.

Save all the parts you can for the next XI! There is an 88 for sale here in IL, although its described as rough.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/c...055390189.html

Man, that thing is rough haha! Seems there are either cars that should be parts cars priced from $1500-4500 or quite nice cars that I don't want to spend that much money on.

I think I'm just going to expand the search to include a RWD M20b25 car (since I already have all of these parts), and if I find a decent iX I find one, but I am starting to have my doubts.

Good news is, I have an MT1 wing, refinished 15" weaves with new tires, an 885 fully rebuilt with a new cam/rockers, and pretty much every other e30 maintenance item ready to go, as well as a RWD manual swap if I find an auto car...... so whenever the right car comes along, it should be able to make quick work of it.

[Staszek]

Save all the parts you can for the next XI! There is an 88 for sale here in IL, although its described as rough.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/d/libertyville-1988-bmw-325ix-e30/7055390189.html

[e30austin]

Sorry to hear, man. That sucks.

[mike.bmw]

Sorry to hear it's too far gone. Glad you caught it now before starting to daily it!

[zwill23]

God damn... not where I hoped this was going. RIP

These E30s can hide detrimental rust pretty well, a friend of mine bought a car in PA that looked quite minty from the exterior with no signs of rust until we jacked the car up and I was fearful to get the jackstands under it let alone drive it.

Hopefully something reasonable comes up soon, maybe a rwd with snow tires is the ideal candidate.

[AWDBOB]

Nice score on the steering wheel!

Even if you can't take one of your cars, The Vintage is a great event to attend and soak in all the sights and sounds. I need to make a return trip.


MJ

I have always wanted to go! If you end up going and I have a running car, let me know, I may have to caravan down with you.

----------------------------

Well folks.....this car was a hopeful purchase that turned discouraging.

I started to install the good brake and fuel lines I had, and I think I've hit my stopping point with this car. I don't think it'd be safe in an accident.

The car had caulk all over it that was painted over, and I didn't realize the extent of the damage until I started poking around at it. The entire floor area behind the drivers side wheel well is gone, and the seam to the frame rail is rusted almost down the length of the car. I pulled the carpet up and the rocker boxes are rusted from the inside into the floor as well. The front frame rails also have rust, as well as the transfer case mount to the body. In working with the brake/fuel lines today, the whole structural area that the subframe mounts to on the drivers side is gone. The rear frame rails underneath the valance are also completely toast.

I am calling this one quits. Pretty pissed because I wasted a ton of time on this thing. Hopefully I can find a car that isn't a total shitbox.

I'm going to do a partout on this thing if anyone needs iX bits.

Cheers-

[mjweimer]

Nice score on the steering wheel!

Even if you can't take one of your cars, The Vintage is a great event to attend and soak in all the sights and sounds. I need to make a return trip.


MJ

[AWDBOB]

Ill have to reach out next time up there, Cool to get some E30 folks together.

You make the trip to The Vintage?

You going to use the .023 gas wire?

Agreed! The E30 population up here is slim. There is one cool car, a 3L M20 car with ITBs- he's converting to standalone for next season. The other few guys that I am friends with sold or wrecked their cars. One younger kid doing an LS swap. There is a Lachs E30 M3 that shows up to Cars and Coffee occasionally, but they don't talk to the rest of the E30 folk haha.

Always said I'd make the vintage, never made the vintage. My M3 project is like 3 years behind schedule at this point and Linda is waiting on the motor to be finished with no ETA, so I don't anticipate this year being a success either.

And yep, I'm getting a bottle and regulator this weekend! My POR15 came in so I can start on all of that fun stuff as well.

Got my radio all wired up. It took me a minute to figure out what to do, as this car had a 4ch head unit (common rear speaker ground) but no extra fluff (no premium sound, no fader, no amp). I would love to invert the display on this thing, but I don't think I want to mess with it. There was a rattle in the front right speaker so I pulled it off, looks like they're "upgraded" coaxials. I'm going to save some pennies and buy a set of four new premium sound speakers when I get the chance.

I'm also an idiot and accidentally melted my minty fresh AC button and warped my HVAC panel cover.

I was reminded that my 370mm MT1 is jacked up and sets the horn off randomly. Such a nice wheel, but I can't seem to fix that issue. eBay was good to me, though, and my brother sent me a link to a great deal on an Italvolanti, that I picked up. I also won a bidding auction and got myself a $37 non-airbag under dash panel.

Untitled by Bobbie Morrone, on Flickr
italvolanti by Bobbie Morrone, on Flickr

[moatilliatta]

Yes- I am right outside of Indy off of i69. And agreed, shortly after the undercoating shower I tried to tack up my plates with a cheap flux machine and was reminded how great a proper spark shower feels

Ill have to reach out next time up there, Cool to get some E30 folks together.

You make the trip to The Vintage?

You going to use the .023 gas wire?

[AWDBOB]

Your in Indy right?

Hot under coating shower > Spark shower

Yes- I am right outside of Indy off of i69. And agreed, shortly after the undercoating shower I tried to tack up my plates with a cheap flux machine and was reminded how great a proper spark shower feels

[moatilliatta]

Your in Indy right?

Hot under coating shower > Spark shower

[AWDBOB]

Hey Bob. Do you know if a regular E30 chassis carpet will fit in a 325ix? My carpet needs replaced(it has holes in it) and I have not been able to find information confirming if they will fit. The trans-tunnel is the reason why I ask. But I have not found a different part number for the 325ix carpet. Your interior is looking good. You should consider just reupholstering those tan sport seats.

To my knowledge non-iX carpet will "fit", but gets a little weird between the gas pedal and the front seat because of said bump.

Since this is just a hoopty I really don't want to invest the time into recovering these. I am doing my iS seats myself, but for this thing I'll just find some used seats if/when they pop up on the cheap.

[rzerob]

Hey Bob. Do you know if a regular E30 chassis carpet will fit in a 325ix? My carpet needs replaced(it has holes in it) and I have not been able to find information confirming if they will fit. The trans-tunnel is the reason why I ask. But I have not found a different part number for the 325ix carpet. Your interior is looking good. You should consider just reupholstering those tan sport seats.

[AWDBOB]

And I finished out the weekend by repairing/installing the passenger side sport seat (was stuck in place and no functions worked), cleaning the carpet on that side, and removing the brake and fuel lines from the parts car.

Next update will be the head gasket job and hopefully a working welder resulting in some completed rust repair. I have all of the stuff to delete the TB heater and simplify all of the vacuum lines for the throttle body so I'm going to do that along the way. When the head is off and the engine bay is more accessible I'll install the nice brake/fuel lines from the parts car.

Untitled by Bobbie Morrone, on Flickr