325ix BAUR

[Baur]

What is surprising is the standard steering wheel covered with leather. This item has its origins from the Baur works.

The leathers seats again replaced the König racing seats. Together with the A/C they will not get hot in summer.


Here the car poses at rest on the island of Reichenau, an island in Lake Constance/Germany.

How does a Baur 325iX drive?

The Baur specialities

Well, compared with a BMW cabriolet, it is much quieter. I cannot see much difference to a limousine in noise when using the back hardtop.

Even though I have installed most of the time the rear winter hardtop, I can open the hardtop quickly when a short period of sun occurs. It will be stowed out of the way in the trunk leaving enough usable space for luggage. And the oping is quite big compared to standard sliding roof.



The Baur conversion was done by using zinc-coted steel and all parts are durable (or was it high grade steel?). Some might object to this, but please remember, that the cars are now around 20 years old and that not every owner was careful when putting the roofs on and off. Parts can still be obtained from the BMW dealer, though some parts are not available right now. But with the help of the club or some friends and search most parts can be bought.



Again I can only repeat, that you own a car for all seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn) in terms of your roof. Spring and autumn may only open the top roff or leave it there and open only the rear window. Both openings is clearly for summer usage. The top targa roof can be handled by a woman on their own, the winter hardtop is better installed by two persons (it can be done on your own when you are careful).

You have to be careful folding the soft top in order not to damage the plastic rear window.

Both hardtop roofs are made from Kevlar.

The 325iX specialities

This four wheel drive option is really something for the mature driver. Because of its higher complexity (remember: additional front axle and transfer case) and all the little specialities around the four wheel drive more parts can create trouble. You better drive carefully.

And remember, that because of its low volume production number of 34.862 (limousines and touring) and the low remaining number of cars in Germany, it is expensive to maintain. Nearly no meachnical parts of the two-wheel drive cars fit to it (other than engine parts). Fuel consumption normally is 1-2 litres higher than a 325i.

Changing cars from 316i to the 325iX one immedeately notices, that the whole car is a little clumsy in curves. Sterring effort is a little bit higher, which might be emphasized by the rim/tire combination (7,5x16/205/50-16).

Transmission noise and thus interior noise is (very) little higher than the two-wheel drive cars.

But in the wet and in winter (this car here does not see any usage in wet – if I can avoid it - or winter – which is does not see because of its registration from april to june) you own the king of the road. I can say this with confidence because I owned/own two other 325iX (one with automatic/one with manual transmission).

In the wet the car is fully controllable, you do not notice that the car is driving through deep puddles, you do not notice any influence of the engine, even when stepping full on power or in the steering.

In winter time, you can cross the hard, icy snow between two lanes on the highway without any deviation of the car.

Drive the car 10-20 km/h higher at speed as others do and you have anough safety reserve left.

But remember that it does not braker better than its two-wheel drive siblings.