Handling after swap

[Ferret]

How much did your car's handling change after the swap?
After the swap, my car's nose is noticebly lower than the rear when at rest, and the car's back end is much looser than before the swap when cornering.
What are everyone elses cars like?

Avner.

[permit]

Well the front is definitely going to get lower due to the extra weight, and with that extra weight up front and the newfound power, the rear will be more squirrely.

[Garageaholic]

what swap are we talking about here? the M50?

[Ferret]

what swap are we talking about here? the M50?

Yes, M50tu off an '95 525.

[Garageaholic]

wow, it's hardly heavier than the M20..you really notice a difference in handling?

[Ferret]

I sure did.
What about your 335is? The M30 probably wieghts even more tan the M50. How does it handle?

[Garageaholic]

I am about halfway through the swap.. got the engine in and got it driving, but i can't tell for any certainty.... i need to completely swap out the suspension with new springs/shocks as my front shocks are completely gone and the car bounces like pancake tits.. so until i get that swapped out and changed, i can make an accurate assessment... I'm sure ill notice a little bit difference, but it's been like 2 years since i've really driven an e30.... so hopefully i forgot what it handles like stock .. hahaha


And yeah, you're right, it is heavier than even the M50/S50... it will be interesting.. It probably will be different and i'll probably just get used to it and learn it's limits after a while.. no big deal..

[Ferret]

I just upgraded to new shocks (Bilstein) and springs. I got the Eibach kit that is supposed to be right for the heaviest version of the E30.
Based on my experiance, If you buy new springs, I wouldn't recommand buying a matched set, rather "mix and match" stiffer/longer front springs and lower/shorter rear springs to counter the effects of the heavier front end.

[Garageaholic]

Well, i see what you're saying, but i think that sticking with the same springs all around... in addition to the added 80lbs in the front will give the car a nice front-rake look, which is what i'm looking for... as for the handling.. i dont know. i'm going to have to cross that bridge when i come to it..

[Ferret]

Since I havn't tried it myself it is just speculations. Maybe the tail hapiness is perticular for my car (its suspension allignment or the fact that the 320i has a 18 mm front ARB compared to the 325's 20mm). Thats why I'm really interested in what do the guys that has been running a completed conversion for some time have to say on the subject.

[Garageaholic]

Well, when i'm done in a few weeks, i'll start a thread to talk about it.. can't wait... should be a fun project..

[Ryan Stewart]

I couldnt tell much difference up front. Ditching the AC made up most of the difference though.

As for the rear end, well that is a whole ballgame going from an Eta to an S50.

[Jason89i]

yes, there is a difference in the nose. that 40 lbs really makes a difference. the m50tu was not as bad as the s52obd1. at the track, that extra nose weight really does create understeer. stiffening the rear sways is a good option. my m50 (nonvanos) with aluminum control arms and no ac feels like the stock m20. realistically, on the street its not greatly noticable. on the track, yes, you will notice the fat lady sitting on your hood.

cheers, jason

[BeirBrennerE30]

i didnt really notice that bad of a change.... any understear created by the added weight can be countered by getting a cf hood, removing washer fluid, AC, and moving the coolant tank farther back against the firewall, slightly stiffer front springs... not to mention countering it with a lil power overstear(i know this is new territory to e30 owners)


doubling power>>> extra 40lbs

[Ferret]

What springs anti roll bars are your m/s50/52 cars running?

I still have the AC, and it appears most (all?) of you guys ditched it. I also currently have a small case diff that makes the rear end lighter. That may account (at least in part) for the oversteering i'm experiancing, instead of the understeer you described.

why is the s52 worse than the m50tu? I would have thought that if anything it would be lighter withe the cast exhaust manifolds.