winter prep, best spring for ix?

[Bimmer325ix]

hey i need to change my oil before the snow flies, i was thinking of putting in castrol syntec blend 5w30? the weather is anywhere from -50 to 90 in minnesota, winter is generally below the 40 mark, usually about 15 or so. also i am planning on getting springs soon, ive heard h&r with bilstein shocks, anyone know of anything about the same price that preforms better? and last would it be cheaper/easier to just get a custom exhaust system at midas/meinike or some place like that then to buy a system, i was thinking 2 1/4 inch. thanks

[ken06]

bump, is ground clearence an issue? if so id stay with the stock spring. bilsteins are good shocks but overpriced. I have them on my ix though, only complaint is that they actually raise ride height over stock. Bilsteins and stock springs are what i have, at least untill the end of this winter.

[SebSter]

apparently lowering springs made for other model e30s will fit on our ix'es.

right now i have h&r (for ix) with bilstein shocks in the front. the ride height is allright for a clean look, but its not low by any means. what i will do come springtime, is probably get a new set of springs (some nice lowering ones like the apex 60mm) and swap those in in the springtime for a nice drop. then come wintertime again swap back the h&r's.

anyways i was surprised when i heard that other springs will work on the ix, if i woulda known i never would have dished out the cash for the h&rs.

[jtuner]

Sooo... the springs for all e30s will work in the ix's? But i've heard that the shocks are different... is that wrong? Could i use like 'e' or 'is' springs and shocks in an 'ix'??

[Bimmer325ix]

i wasnt aware that you could use all springs in an ix, on alot of the sites i have looked at it they most say "will fit all e30s EXCEPT ix" so if someone knows for sure that would be great, and cheaper on our wallets. I have heard good things about the h&r's and the bilstein shocks, im looking for maybe 1.5" lower. I also need to fix my light body damage i need a new driver side front fender, and its annoying becasue i have the fender flare and the m tech II kit so its been harder to find, and i need a dent pulled on the driver side just before the rear tire. its about the size of a softball in the lower part of the fender, just above the side skirt. not paint is chipped or cracked though so i hope its not to expensive. I also need a new front valance or kind of ghetto rig it somehow by bending it, it got pushed forward a bit. also if anyone doesnt want their splash gaurd for teh engine id be happy to take it off their hands. also , anyone know anything about Viper VX-2 chips, some guy on ebay offered to get me one when i asked him about an alpina chip.

[jtuner]

I wouldn't trust an ebay chip, but this guy on r3vlimited.com has a good chip goin for cheap

http://www.r3vlimited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3183

Looks as if it's gettin decent reviews... just an fyi