First Car, First Build

[IrishBeamer]

Hi guys,

This is the start of quite a long journey that I hope will be well worth it.

Tomorrow, if all goes well, not only am I going to buy my first project car but my first car. A 89/90 E30 316i that's been off the road for three years.

I've been driving since I was 16 but as you all know insurance is a nightmare for a young man, I drove my fathers car under his insurance policy. Now while at uni, I still didn't/don't need a car but have always wanted a project car to learn how to work on cars.


The insurance issue is what lead me to the idea of building a vintage car, as well as the fact that they (on the whole) are simpler to work on.



Now this will be the first car I'll spanner on so for now I'm doing all the research I need before I start working on the project.

The big plan is a 4-Year Budget Build with upgraded suspension, brakes and the piece de la resistance, a S50B32 engine swap.

I want to do as much of the work as possible myself and with a few experienced friends lending a hand here and there.


Wish me luck lads.

[Jaxx_]

welcome, and good luck. Just don't add up the costs--you'll start drinking more.

[IrishBeamer]

Just don't add up the costs--you'll start drinking more.

I'm Irish, whatever the cost, it'll be less than the drink tab!

[Jaxx_]

And you'll soon learn that bimmer is the correct spelling of the 4 wheeled BMWs.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk

[IrishBeamer]

And you'll soon learn that bimmer is the correct spelling of the 4 wheeled BMWs.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk

Bimmer was taken unfortunately, and it's a small pun on the Beams engine that my aforementioned friend and I are swapping into his Toyota at the same time

[einhander]

Welcome!

[IrishBeamer]

Right time to start with the question.

The order in which I plan to do the build

1) Suspension
2) Brakes
3) Engine Swap
4) Interior

I've started researching what I want to do. The long term plan for this car is a weekend warrior along the roads and the odd track day, as well as teaching me how to work on cars for future projects.


INSPIRATION



I love the stance of this one. I love almost everything about this! If mine turns out as well, I'll be one happy man.

Suggestions on suspension set up to achieve said stance yet still maintain driveability would be greatly appreciated.


Brakes, I assume the brakes from a E36 M3 should be good enough, or are they're better suggestions for similar prices?

On this note, if swapping a S50B32 into the E30, how much of the M3 should I get? Would the entire real axle swap in?



Engine, I have A LOT of threads on this forum to read through before I even think of asking question. Believe me, the search function will be used heavily here!

Just a few pointers in the right directions would be great.

[E30NJ]

Good luck, I'm fixing my first car too! Lots of rust... :(

[zumjosh]

Right time to start with the question.

Brakes, I assume the brakes from a E36 M3 should be good enough, or are they're better suggestions for similar prices?

On this note, if swapping a S50B32 into the E30, how much of the M3 should I get? Would the entire real axle swap in?

Just a few pointers in the right directions would be great.

E36 M3 brakes are a great starting point. Be it known that you cannot use E36 M3 brakes and rotors without the entire hub, spindle and strut. There are custom kits that you can purchase without dealing with the hassle of modifying the front struts found here. For me I chose to modify my struts because I'm using an E30 coilover kit and E30 inserts on my 5 lug conversion. As far as I know, I don't believe there is a 4 lug with E36 M3 brake kit in the market right now (that may change in the near future). Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

As for the rear axles... What are you referring to? Are you referring to the entire rear drivetrain (differential, axles, spindles, hubs and brakes)? As far as I know, I don't believe that would work at all because it would require you to use E36 M3 trailing arms, rear subframe, etc. That's a very costly method of using E36 M3 rear axles. It's also substantially wider than stock E30 rear axles. This is why most people use E36 318ti when they do 5 lug swaps on their E30s because the trailing arms are the exact same dimension including hub offset(E36 Z3M as well). I'm not saying it's impossible. I remember seeing someone do complete E36 M3 onto E30 rear drivetrain and suspension but so much had to be modified (mounting points and suspension relocation). It's just NOT worth the effort (unless you have the money to throw away at it).

As for purchasing an M3... Just buy the entire wrecked M3 and grab what you need and part out the rest. If you have the space to put it and the time to tear it apart, it's easily the best, cost-effective way of getting the engine, transmission, etc. you need.

[IrishBeamer]

Be it known that you cannot use E36 M3 brakes and rotors without the entire hub, spindle and strut. There are custom kits that you can purchase without dealing with the hassle of modifying the front struts

Great. I feared as much though.

For me I chose to modify my struts because I'm using an E30 coilover kit and E30 inserts on my 5 lug conversion. As far as I know, I don't believe there is a 4 lug with E36 M3 brake kit in the market right now (that may change in the near future). Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

So correct me if I'm wrong in saying that I would have to use E36 coilovers then should I use the adapter kit? How difficult was the modification?

Are you referring to the entire rear drivetrain (differential, axles, spindles, hubs and brakes)?

Yes I was.

It's also substantially wider than stock E30 rear axles. This is why most people use E36 318ti when they do 5 lug swaps on their E30s because the trailing arms are the exact same dimension including hub offset(E36 Z3M as well).

That's great, I think I know where to find a few of them. Gathering the cash is always harder than finding the part unfortunately...




Thanks for all the great info.

[zumjosh]

So correct me if I'm wrong in saying that I would have to use E36 coilovers then should I use the adapter kit? How difficult was the modification?

Ok that adapter kit allows you to not have to modify your E30 spindle and strut. So you can use stock E30 struts and spindles for the front. The method I used was modifying the E36 M3 front struts so that I could use E30 STRUT INSERTS and E30 coilover kit from Ground Control so that I could use the E36 M3 front spindles. I'll have a complete write up within the next two weeks because I have extensively changed quite a bit from what the typical E30 5 lug conversion people do. And I think my methods are for the best. I'll post a link to it on your thread as soon as I have everything uploaded and written up. For some reason I feel like I'm having a hard time explaining things without photos. lol

[IrishBeamer]

I'll post a link to it on your thread as soon as I have everything uploaded and written up. For some reason I feel like I'm having a hard time explaining things without photos. lol

That would be great. Thanks man!

[IrishBeamer]

Why cant I simply replace the entire strut, suspension and brake setup with that of an E36 M3? Take the whole tower out and attach the desired setup of coil, strut and brakes.

[IrishBeamer]

The plan of attack is, ATTACK!

Right, I've been doing some research in regards to the 5 Lug Conversion I need to do in order to fit adequate breaks on to stop the S50B32.

This link has been excellent in helping me understand vaguely what it is I need to do but I was hoping some of the more knowledgeable of you here could clarify before I start diving into the pit of money that this will undoubtedly cost.

Ok so from the link above I understand that for the front, I need spindles, brakes, struts, ABS sensor and control arms from a 1996+ E36 M3.

It's the rear that's confusing me slightly, in order to use E36 M3 brakes I must MZ3 parts on the rear? or I can use parts from a Z3, which is much cheaper, but I'll not be able to use larger brakes, ie the whole point of this conversion.



As a side note, my E30 is a 1988 316i yet this guide seems to be written only for the US 318 and 325. Is there a large difference between them? Will the method listed still work or will I have to find another way?

[blasphemy101]

First of all - best of luck on this project. I often wish my E30 had been my first car/daily-driver.

Question: Why are you set on going with an E36 5-lug setup?