10mm or 20mm Spacers

[mark///m3]

Looking for some insight....

I have been contacting Tino at 300mm.de and he offers 10mm and 20 mm subframe spacers.

How tight will it be near the oil pan with the 10mm? I would rather goes this route to keep the subframe as close to the stock height as possible.

I am hoping that some of you guys that have completed your swaps can chime in.

[bmwmech1]

Mark,
Subframe spacers don't change the relationship of the pan to the subframe, they change the angle of the engine to the driveline. The engine is mounted to the subframe, so to vary that relationship, you need to change the mount arms or the rubber mount between the arms and the subframe. Be careful though, as there is no free lunch... if you raise the engine up for a little more clearance between the pan and the subframe, you will increase the angle of the engine to the driveline, which is no good. It's a balancing act to get enough clearance between pan and subframe and keep the engine/driveline angle to the minimum.

Garey

[mark///m3]

Mark,
Subframe spacers don't change the relationship of the pan to the subframe, they change the angle of the engine to the driveline. The engine is mounted to the subframe, so to vary that relationship, you need to change the mount arms or the rubber mount between the arms and the subframe. Be careful though, as there is no free lunch... if you raise the engine up for a little more clearance between the pan and the subframe, you will increase the angle of the engine to the driveline, which is no good. It's a balancing act to get enough clearance between pan and subframe and keep the engine/driveline angle to the minimum.

Garey

Oops i wasnt really thinking on this one.... I am going to order the 20mm spacers to keep everything kosher with the tilt degree. It seems thats what the majority of everybody doing this swap on this side of the pond has been running.

On another note Garey do you have any interest in making another set of mounts and spacers? Id much rather give you the money if you have the time.

[bmwmech1]

Oops i wasnt really thinking on this one.... I am going to order the 20mm spacers to keep everything kosher with the tilt degree. It seems thats what the majority of everybody doing this swap on this side of the pond has been running.

On another note Garey do you have any interest in making another set of mounts and spacers? Id much rather give you the money if you have the time.

Yes, I'll PM you back over the weekend... I got busy and forgot to respond to your last PM. I can make them up for you whenever you need them...

Garey

[mark///m3]

Yes, I'll PM you back over the weekend... I got busy and forgot to respond to your last PM. I can make them up for you whenever you need them...

Garey

OK great. I am ready for them now. I can send you money before or after you make them whatever works better for you.

[Jonsku]

Without spacers you won't be able to fit E34/E32 coolant reservoir, or that strengthening stick between damper towers (never remember what it's officially called :D ).

I'd also say that for fitting the two abovementioned, you need to have at least 15mm spacers ..


For reference;

-20mm spacers;




-No spacers, 6-speed manual


-No spacers, ZF5HP30 automat

[BruceBe]

Another route is no spacers and a modified oil pan. Then, you're not mucking with any aspect of the front suspension geometry, or the mass centroid axis of the vehicle. As Garey mentioned, find an acceptable engine angle, then select/build everything else to fit. I have photos posted elsewhere with our pan mods and mounts. Obviously, if you're using Garey's mounts, you'll need to duplicate his setup.

-Bruce