E36 5 lug conversion

[86325e]

I've read that some of you have done a E36 5 lug conversion to your E30s. I'm curious what parts are you swapping out?

[Jordan]

Re: E36 5 lug conversion

I've read that some of you have done a E36 5 lug conversion to your E30s. I'm curious what parts are you swapping out?

in a word

no

318TI parts are usable, other e36's have quite different suspension setups, that really cannot be adapted.


Just use e30 M3 parts, if those are too expensive for you, you are likely doing the conversion for the wrong reasons in the first place.

[86325e]

Can one acquire the E30 M3 suspension parts needed through pelican parts (or someone else) or would I have to look for someone parting out an M3 or go to the yard?

[Jordan]

Looks like you have a 86 325e.

Buying all the parts used, and getting them installed will likely far exceed the value of such a e30. Look to spend $1000-1200 on just the parts.

Buying them new would be absurd.

[Jon325i]

I'm in the process of doing a 5-lug conversion for my '89 325i (at the moment I'm still in the parts gathering stage). Initially I was against doing this project because it seemed rather cost prohibitive....especially considering my car is now 15 years old. What changed my mind was that I found a complete E30 M3 suspension/brake set up for a really good price. There are going to be a few things I will need to buy in order to make it all work, but I don't expect the final cost of parts to exceed $1500 including 15" OEM M3 wheels. Had this deal never came along, I would've never considered going through with the conversion.

And like Jordan mentioned, some E36 stuff will work, but going with E30 M3 parts is a very straight forward process. Just don't buy all the parts new (unless you won the lottery and don't care about dumping a few grand into just suspension and brakes). Taking that approach just isn't financially prudent.

Jon

[BeirBrennerE30]

imho the 5 lug conversion is a gigantic waist of time and money especially if you are going to pay top dollar for the parts... the only reason to go 5 lug is to get different wheels, biggerbrakes, or better m3 suspension geometry...

all of these things can be had with the current 4 lug setup:
Ground-control makes a very very cheep couple of parts that wlill give you the m3 geometry
movit, IE and a couple other companies make very nice big brake kits
and you can get light wheels for 4 lug(if you swapping just to get fancier wheels then you are surely waisting your time)

im sure some on will bring up things that i didnt mention to contradict this but this is just my reasoning against spending all that money and why i will never do it


if you want to swap e36 parts find yourself a 95m3 rack to swap in.. its cheeper and will give you far better handeling for the money spent

[86325e]

Thanks for the info. If all the advantages of an E30 5 lug suspension setup can be had on an E30 4 lug suspension setup then BeirBrenner is right and it would just be a waste of my time, effort and money. I didn't know so I asked.

Jordan, If I was concerned about the amount of money I already have in my car, the amount of money I'm looking to put into it and it's current market value, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place to toy around with. Don't be so condescending.

[Stu]

Re: E36 5 lug conversion

I've read that some of you have done a E36 5 lug conversion to your E30s. I'm curious what parts are you swapping out?

in a word

no

318TI parts are usable, other e36's have quite different suspension setups, that really cannot be adapted.


Just use e30 M3 parts, if those are too expensive for you, you are likely doing the conversion for the wrong reasons in the first place.

wrong.

Lots of guys have done 5-lug swaps using E36 components. 318ti rear hubs and brakes bolt right up to E30 t-arms. E36 325/328/M3 front struts, hubs, knuckles, and brakes will fit on an E30 front with slight modification. Hell, the control arm and tie-rod location is the SAME!!!

[Jordan]

Ah Stu... are we forgetting about how much modification must be done to the e36 front strut assemblies?

they dont sit properly front to back, or left to right in the fender well. Its not worth the hassle.

and its a 325e, drive it into a tree and call it a day 8)

[Stu]

Ah Stu... are we forgetting about how much modification must be done to the e36 front strut assemblies?

they dont sit properly front to back, or left to right in the fender well. Its not worth the hassle.

and its a 325e, drive it into a tree and call it a day 8)

I agree that it is pointless to spend money on a 5-lug for a mostly stock eta that has no plans of getting a serious motorswap, but if that is not the case....i say go for it. Stock E30 brakes are designed for daily driving and low horsepower/torque loads, but if the car has a serious motor, you NEED brakes. 8) 5-lug isn't the only way to solve that though....IE has some stout 4-lug brake kits for E30's.

The caster/camber angles of the E36 strut housing are fine, as long as you have offset control arm bushings. You use the stock E30 upper strut mounts, and since the E36 control arm/tie rod mounts are in the same location, nothing gets changed...unless you do something wrong.