[3PedalJake]

After a forced 2.5 year break I'm finally ready to finish my 325i. I left off after doing the following (that I can remember)
1.) Dropped front subframe, did oil pan gasket, replaced all front suspension parts and brakes. New M3 control arms and OE Bilstein B4s.
2.) Replaced water pump and all coolant hoses.
3.) Fixed broken head bolts under the Vanos gears, VCG and PCV stuff, new Vanos solenoids
4.) Upgraded to 3SI with Bimmerlabs 325to330 tune
5.) Other various stuff I can't remember lol

Now it's time to finish the rear suspension and exhaust then rehab the interior.
Today I finished rehabbing my spare subframe, got it painted and new OE bushes installed. I went with the M3 bushes on the 330i, they're great but a little harsh for road trips with the wife & pupper.
Got all my mountain of parts and hardware sorted and checked through for everything needed.
Got the axle carriers that I blasted back from powder coat and new bearings and bushes installed, ready for hubs pressed on. Going with the rear M3 arms like the front just because they're almost the same price as OE so why not. Also ECS trailing arms cause again, why not.
Finally actually got underneath and got the exhaust off, in a nick of time it looks like as they look ready to fall off by themselves at the flange. Have the old exhaust from the 330i that I replaced with supersprint still all shiny from when I polished it 3 years ago still sitting in the garage. Looks like I'll have to pull the exhaust manifolds too as they look rotted at the flange too. Have the ones from the 330 that I upgraded to headers, but I had to cut the studs to get the exhaust off back then so they'll need a trip to the muffler shop. Thinking of just removing the studs and going with bolts, the studs are a PIA.
Tomorrow start disconnecting parking brake and brake lines (hopefully without use of the tubing cutter).

[StradaRedlands]

Inspirational! The rear end bushings are pretty much the last thing I need to do on my car to have it fully rebuilt!

[tlow98]

That’s a serious refurbishment. Nice work!

[colorado.e9x]

Excited for this thread. Subbed. Definitely use bolts for exhaust. If you ever have to get the exhaust off again, it doesn't feel like diffusing a bomb hoping the studs don't break

[Efthreeoh]

Time to START (refurbing) my 325i.



The rear subframe has been sitting here in my wood shed since July 2023. I've never even looked at it.

Good to see you back 3Pedal.

[3PedalJake]

The subframe has landed! That's about all an old dude with quickjacks cares to do in a day whew.
It's all pretty straightforward unbolting stuff until you take into account 18 years of rust, that's when it gets fun.
The brake line nuts are all corroded, I'll have to use the kroil and torch and patience on them but for today since they're getting replaced up to the long hard lines that run to the front I just cut the hoses and plugged the hose with nails.
The driveshaft unbolted easy enough but took some persuasion with the prybar and brass hammer to let go it's gip on the diff flange.
The parking brakes are the real fun part. The hex screws were so corroded there was no chance of removing them without using a drill, and since I have powder coated axle carriers waiting I just bent the ears of the holder bracket out of the way and I'll revisit those screws some day maybe.
The cable itself had zero chance of pulling out from the back side it was corroded in so tight, but I found a way to get it out by pushing it from the front. The bead on the end of the cable is actually a 7mm hex, you can sneak a 7mm 1/4” deep well socket behind the hub and over cable bead, then slip a 1/4” extension thru a lug hole on the hub, then you can pop it out with a hammer, the 7mm socket fits perfectly thru the cable hole.
After that a ATV jack and some lumber under the subframe you're ready to impact off the subframe bolts and before you know it it's on the ground. Time for a beer

[3PedalJake]

Thanks Strada! If you start now you can beat me to the finish line
Thanks tlow! One of the best parts about a craigslist special is you don't have to spend much time agonizing over what to replace and what not to. Everything must go lol.
colorado I have to take my old exhaust manifolds to the muffler shop tomorrow because I had to cut the exhaust off them in the 330i, yeah ticking time bomb. Told you I had projects cooking, thx for the support brother!
efthree, your car is my inspiration, at 190k my 325 is a spring chicken, got well over 250k left in it according to yours. I'm sure it would lurve that subframe . And it's good to be back, thanks pal!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Thanks Strada! If you start now you can beat me to the finish line
Thanks tlow! One of the best parts about a craigslist special is you don't have to spend much time agonizing over what to replace and what not to. Everything must go lol.
colorado I have to take my old exhaust manifolds to the muffler shop tomorrow because I had to cut the exhaust off them in the 330i, yeah ticking time bomb. Told you I had projects cooking, thx for the support brother!
efthree, your car is my inspiration, at 190k my 325 is a spring chicken, got well over 250k left in it according to yours. I'm sure it would lurve that subframe . And it's good to be back, thanks pal!

You Sir are my inspiration for starting work on the E90. Lot of life issues have been pausing work in the shop this past year. But this post got me started at least on the subframectomy. The long over due reveal of the subframe I bought some 18+ months ago. I was as curious as anybody about what it looked like. Looks in pretty good shape. I'm leaving the bushings as is because they probably have 380,000 miles less on them than the ones in my car.

[3PedalJake]

ooooooh that's purdy efthree that had to come from some place salt is just something you have with tequila, not drive on. Those bushes look like they were pressed in yesterday. I can totally get the life issue thing, I didn't touch a wrench in over 2 years. Now it's both our time! Can't wait to see your baby's progress.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

ooooooh that's purdy efthree that had to come from some place salt is just something you have with tequila, not drive on. Those bushes look like they were pressed in yesterday. I can totally get the life issue thing, I didn't touch a wrench in over 2 years. Now it's both our time! Can't wait to see your baby's progress.

So, I was worried about the condition because the dismantler I bought it from is in Connecticut. But it's a reputable place, and I bought a diff from them back over 100,000 miles or so ago, so I took a chance on the subframe. I honestly was presently surprised by how good shape it is in.

The shipping was more than the frame.

I'll stop jacking your thread now. Looking forward to reading about your progress.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

So, I was worried about the condition because the dismantler I bought it from is in Connecticut. But it's a reputable place, and I bought a diff from them back over 100,000 miles or so ago, so I took a chance on the subframe. I honestly was presently surprised by how good shape it is in.

The shipping was more than the frame.

I'll stop jacking your thread now. Looking forward to reading about your progress.

It must have belonged to a snowbird then, or some1 who had a second car for winter (like my Accord). No way that drove thru a dozen+ Connecticut winters.

No worries about thread jacking, any subframe stuff you want to put here is fine. I posted all my past work in the "what did you do today" thread and now it's all basically lost to me and my failing memory, just having it one thread is good enough. Me thread es su thread brother.

[3PedalJake]

Took my exhaust manifolds to the muffler shop to get the sawed off studs extracted, dude didn't want to touch them. Why do regular shops all hate BMW stuff (don't answer lol). He sent me up the road to a hotrod shop. That guy was fine with doing it but made sure to warn me labor is $150/hr. Fine, better than $1400 per for new ones.

Found a guy on marketplace with the folding rear seat I didn't know I needed till I did the EKPM job for $250, I snapped them up and took a ride to pick them up.

Got the diff removed from the subframe, what a sorry looking ball of rust. It'll clean up tho, that's what grinders with wire wheels are for

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Took my exhaust manifolds to the muffler shop to get the sawed off studs extracted, dude didn't want to touch them. Why do regular shops all hate BMW stuff (don't answer lol). He sent me up the road to a hotrod shop. That guy was fine with doing it but made sure to warn me labor is $150/hr. Fine, better than $1400 per for new ones.

Found a guy on marketplace with the folding rear seat I didn't know I needed till I did the EKPM job for $250, I snapped them up and took a ride to pick them up.

Got the diff removed from the subframe, what a sorry looking ball of rust. It'll clean up tho, that's what grinders with wire wheels are for

That's titanic-grade rust right there. But I know you will have it looking better than factory when you're done.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

That's titanic-grade rust right there. But I know you will have it looking better than factory when you're done.

"titanic-grade rust" LMAO yes it looks like it spent some years under the sea

Not quite factory fresh but this car isn't getting the same level of OCD that the 330i got. Hit it with my entire arsenal of de-rusting weapons and got close, but not quite 100% Looks a damn site better than it did though.

[3PedalJake]

Sometimes small steps are measured in miles. I really thought I was gonna have to cut these brake lines off, but patience and heat finally won. My microtorch is my hero tool today

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

"titanic-grade rust" LMAO yes it looks like it spent some years under the sea

Not quite factory fresh but this car isn't getting the same level of OCD that the 330i got. Hit it with my entire arsenal of de-rusting weapons and got close, but not quite 100% Looks a damn site better than it did though.

Nice!

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Nice!

Thanks Efthree! It was pretty satisfying I'm glad I'm just replacing everything cause today I started (trying) to dismantle the rest of the subframe before Mrs. 3P starts hinting about the junkpile in the driveway, the axles and hubs are basically 1 piece now. Think they'll need a trip to my cos' shop with the 50 ton press if the one ever wants to be 2 again.

[ZGator]

I just did similar work on my 2000 z3 very limited winter use amazing the difference to my 2007 328xi that is used for the winter. Rust belt diy is so much harder. Lot of rust bombs starting with exhaust studs to brake lines. A real fun one you guys missed is the Xi front ball joints that are pressed into the spindle and bolted. Nice paint job on that rear sub frame so pretty!

[ZGator]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Sometimes small steps are measured in miles. I really thought I was gonna have to cut these brake lines off, but patience and heat finally won. My microtorch is my hero tool today

👍

Broke my clutch line which was not close to that bad, had to buy new line and then install the line which was days more work. At least my day.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by ZGator

��

Broke my clutch line which was not close to that bad, had to buy new line and then install the line which was days more work. At least my day.

I did this same job a few years ago on my other E90 before I knew the magic of the torch, the line twisted and kinked with no hope of recovery. I ended up up replacing the entire lines up to the forward coupling with CuNi lines. It's a real PIA making a good inverted flare like BMW uses instead of the regular single flare that's so easy, not to mention removing all the underpanels. Anyhoo yeah, what I thought would be unscrewing a couple brake lines turned into replacing the entire rear brake system over the course of a week. I didn't want to do that this time, and the torch + kroil is magic. When I saw the plastic line coating bubbling up out of the fitting I tried it and YAY! it turned. Kept working it and now it spins good as new. And yeah, rustbelt DIY ain't for the squeamish. Sunbelt ppl have no clue

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Thanks Efthree! It was pretty satisfying I'm glad I'm just replacing everything cause today I started (trying) to dismantle the rest of the subframe before Mrs. 3P starts hinting about the junkpile in the driveway, the axles and hubs are basically 1 piece now. Think they'll need a trip to my cos' shop with the 50 ton press if the one ever wants to be 2 again.

Details on the micro torch?

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Details on the micro torch?

It's a little Butane powered torch with a push-button igniter. It shoots out a cute little micro sized blue flame just like a blowtorch but mini sized, perfect size for heating things the size of brake line nuts. I got it at Harbor Freight (Along with many of my other tools lol).

https://www.harborfreight.com/butane...rch-63170.html