they heavy, they drive poorly, they're really slow, the parts are insanely expensive, they're inefficient and just generally don't drive like a BMW. Travesty wrapped in E30 metal. They're shit cars.
I've owned 7 e30s one of which was an ix. I replaced the xfer case which I had to source from German eBay. Just as you were saying "oh boy, this is going to be a pain in the butt", I was thinking "I remember what a pain in the a$$ working on the ix was". The sales volume wasn't that much more than the m3, and they have almost all been beat to heck so parts are super hard to find. As noted my best source was the used market in Germany. You are correct, not as much fun as an IS, but when the roads get snowy, they're tough to beat.
Can I use any getrag 260 to manual swap a 325ix, without any modifications? Can I reuse the transfer case from the aut trans? what about the drive shafts, all same or also different sizes with manual?
I simply love the M20 engines. The sound of that straight six is just one of a kind imo. Also great work as usual Erik, an automatic in BMW is just an abomination. :-)
depends how shit the exhaust is, and how tiny your hands are for the auto bellhousing bolts. I probably can't do one in under 6.5 hours, but 6.5-8 is probably how long I'd actually be in the garage for a non iX swap.
stupid question, but did you need any special tools to do this? even dumber question: how long did it take you to do this? i have an '87 325i and I am mostly familiar with my car, but i don't have a lift and I don't do this all the time so it'll definitely take me longer.
@@OvalboreCars umm.. anything that wouldn't be found in a typical home garage (wrenches, sockets, extensions, jacks/stands, mallet) that might include things a professional mechanic might have such as proprietary hose disconnects etc. for example through some quick reading i discovered that the bell housing is held on using inverted torx? stuff like that
requires a ton that wouldn't be found in most home garages - does require e-torx, but requires transmission jack, tons of oddball extensions, wobbles, a tiny pair of hands, hammers. This is not a DIY job, and should not be attempted without at the very least a vehicle lift and 2-3 people with a trans jack.
@@OvalboreCars cool i like a challenge. I have a trans jack, can get the chassis at least 3feet off the ground safely, and i've seen several people service their clutch. thanks for the info!
So its( four wheel drive) because i don't see a centre diff in the gearbox . and not ( All wheel drive ) both are different are one is more FWD ( all wheel drive ) and ( four wheel drive ) is more RWD
no, that doesnt have anything to do with it. AWD is open center differential with or without locking center diff 4WD is locked center (usually 2WD, where all power goes to back until you put in to 4WD when theres literally a mechanical connection that locks front and rear drive shaft speed). AWD can be driven full time as it allows differential rates of output speed and torque split. 4WD is purely to get un stuck at low speeds, otherwise transfer case damage will occur.
@@OvalboreCars i know all this but, i wasn't sure because most people do not know that both are different. Subaru and Audi have (All wheel drive ) . Nissan r32 gtr and evo 2,3,5,6 ( four wheel drive ) worked on many and i know they use 4WD systems
R32, Evos etc are all AWD. Aside from some early subarus that have AWD that lets you lock the center diff to 4WD, nothing except SUVs and heavy trucks have 4WD.
@@OvalboreCars how so if i work on over 100 plus gtr here in Australia not to mention the rear diff is lsd already and the front is a open diff. Also try doing a rwd burnout in a subaru! ! Not possible. unlike a gtr r32 r33 r34 you can do a rwd bec you can modify the relay that controls the pump and transfer case diagram coupling , subaru dnt have this but SUV and other real 4WD vehicles do but you can change to high or low range manually. Unlike the gtr system 4WD is electrical controlled and more rwd if you ever driven a gtr youll know the back end will get lose, but a subaru will just spin the tyres and shake the whole vehicle
Appreciate this video alot, makes the Getrag sitting next to my Auto 325i seem less daunting.
getting the auto out is the hard part. I do these all the time but it's not too bad.
Why do you dislike the IX Bimmers?
they heavy, they drive poorly, they're really slow, the parts are insanely expensive, they're inefficient and just generally don't drive like a BMW.
Travesty wrapped in E30 metal.
They're shit cars.
I've owned 7 e30s one of which was an ix. I replaced the xfer case which I had to source from German eBay. Just as you were saying "oh boy, this is going to be a pain in the butt", I was thinking "I remember what a pain in the a$$ working on the ix was". The sales volume wasn't that much more than the m3, and they have almost all been beat to heck so parts are super hard to find. As noted my best source was the used market in Germany. You are correct, not as much fun as an IS, but when the roads get snowy, they're tough to beat.
they're horrible cars and should all be in the junk yard.
Can I use any getrag 260 to manual swap a 325ix, without any modifications? Can I reuse the transfer case from the aut trans? what about the drive shafts, all same or also different sizes with manual?
nope, not without being extremely good at machining and aluminum welding on cast. the iX might look like an E30 but its not. just a german abomination
@@OvalboreCars are the front and rear driveshafts the same with an ix auto and manual? of do I need the shafts from a manual as well?
I simply love the M20 engines. The sound of that straight six is just one of a kind imo. Also great work as usual Erik, an automatic in BMW is just an abomination. :-)
cant believe they ever shipped with an Auto
Love the video! For a proficient E30 mechanic how long would you estimate it would take to do a manual swap on a 325i, not the IX. thanks!
depends how shit the exhaust is, and how tiny your hands are for the auto bellhousing bolts.
I probably can't do one in under 6.5 hours, but 6.5-8 is probably how long I'd actually be in the garage for a non iX swap.
@@OvalboreCars Cool, Thanks what about if I brought the car in with the exhaust, driveshaft, trans, pedals, etc removed so the car is ready to go?
stupid question, but did you need any special tools to do this? even dumber question: how long did it take you to do this? i have an '87 325i and I am mostly familiar with my car, but i don't have a lift and I don't do this all the time so it'll definitely take me longer.
define special
@@OvalboreCars umm.. anything that wouldn't be found in a typical home garage (wrenches, sockets, extensions, jacks/stands, mallet) that might include things a professional mechanic might have such as proprietary hose disconnects etc. for example through some quick reading i discovered that the bell housing is held on using inverted torx? stuff like that
requires a ton that wouldn't be found in most home garages - does require e-torx, but requires transmission jack, tons of oddball extensions, wobbles, a tiny pair of hands, hammers.
This is not a DIY job, and should not be attempted without at the very least a vehicle lift and 2-3 people with a trans jack.
@@OvalboreCars cool i like a challenge. I have a trans jack, can get the chassis at least 3feet off the ground safely, and i've seen several people service their clutch. thanks for the info!
Hope you got this done !! You can find just about everything on UA-cam now for the swap
Hi , do the ix have the same trans mounting wholes as the rwd on the body where the mounts go.
no. whole car is different and shitty
@@OvalboreCars that sucks 😂 well I have a coupe. Hey to convert to stick will the auto transfer case bolt up to the rwd g260?
Why do the 325iX's suck? I'm about to do what your doing, OR buy a manny 318i or 325is. One guy has a 325e Auto as well that I could swap. Help!>!
ZF technical exercise wrapped up in an E30 body. doesnt drive at all like an E30.
Slow, inefficient. heavy, not good to drive.
Hey! JW how much would you charge to do the swap? How long do you think it would take to do myself with a lift but never having done it?
DM / Email me if curious. not public information.
No idea for a noob time on this swap. a long time.
You say you have a cache of parts. do you have these parts on hand now? DM me :)
feel free to email me if you have specific questions.
So its( four wheel drive) because i don't see a centre diff in the gearbox . and not ( All wheel drive ) both are different are one is more FWD ( all wheel drive ) and ( four wheel drive ) is more RWD
no, that doesnt have anything to do with it.
AWD is open center differential with or without locking center diff
4WD is locked center (usually 2WD, where all power goes to back until you put in to 4WD when theres literally a mechanical connection that locks front and rear drive shaft speed).
AWD can be driven full time as it allows differential rates of output speed and torque split. 4WD is purely to get un stuck at low speeds, otherwise transfer case damage will occur.
@@OvalboreCars i know all this but, i wasn't sure because most people do not know that both are different. Subaru and Audi have (All wheel drive ) . Nissan r32 gtr and evo 2,3,5,6 ( four wheel drive ) worked on many and i know they use 4WD systems
R32, Evos etc are all AWD. Aside from some early subarus that have AWD that lets you lock the center diff to 4WD, nothing except SUVs and heavy trucks have 4WD.
@@OvalboreCars how so if i work on over 100 plus gtr here in Australia not to mention the rear diff is lsd already and the front is a open diff. Also try doing a rwd burnout in a subaru! ! Not possible. unlike a gtr r32 r33 r34 you can do a rwd bec you can modify the relay that controls the pump and transfer case diagram coupling , subaru dnt have this but SUV and other real 4WD vehicles do but you can change to high or low range manually. Unlike the gtr system 4WD is electrical controlled and more rwd if you ever driven a gtr youll know the back end will get lose, but a subaru will just spin the tyres and shake the whole vehicle
the center differential on an R32 is not a full lock diff, and as such is all wheel drive.
It's a simple definition and it absolutely falls under AWD.
Non threaded starter motor life 😂
and those heinous blades on the 4HP22 bellhousing. so, so bad.
Incredible work
Someone has to do it!