5 Lug Question (longish)

[drifty30]

What would be stopping me from converting to five lug by way of getting some new hubs machined that are 5 lug rather than 4. The way i see it, i could have these machined and run whatever offset i want on them. As far as i see, the only thing that i would be changing about my suspension if i went to E30 M3 parts would be the hub.

Other things like sway bars and brakes and struts and springs would probably be replaced by aftermarket units anyways, so why pay upwards of 1G to get five lug when i could just get these machined and spend money on after market stuff? (Like the flares i'll be needing with my already purchaced wheels and tires)

If it works out, i could have the certainty of knowing what i'm getting rather than doing some guesswork on a most likely wrecked M3 that is being parted.

This is a new idea to me... tell me if there is anything critically wrong with it. Has anyone gone this route?

[Brian 89 325i]

AFAIK there isnt anything really wrong with that other that the cost, not sure how much it would be. But you dont get the 2 peice strut tube from the M3, you dont get the better brakes, you'd also have to upgrade the the better pushrod type front sway bar links. In the end its all up to you i guess, BUT converting to 5 lug JUST for wheel choices is LAME.

Brian

P.S. My two cents, dont necessarily take it all seriously.

[AdamF 88iS]

I'll agree with Brian on this one. All the best reasons for doing the M3 suspension swap have nothing to do with numbers of lug nuts.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

You should go see how much a machine shop will charge to do this. It sounds like a good idea to me.

[drifty30]

i say this because i do know of a source that may be able to do the hubs for pretty cheap. What is the benefit of 2 piece strut tubes? As for brakes.... the M3 stock brakes are still single piston if i'm correct the only benefit would be larger diameter, which i know is a big benefit, but i could just buy big brakes later with a 5 lug setup.

well if and when it happens, those that think the converson is lame can just tell me i'm lame. if five lug, wide wheels and fender flares are lame.... then i guess you all can call me lame.

[Brian 89 325i]

Two piece strut tubes allow easier removal of the strut tubes. Also, Unless you can find a 5 lug big break set up for your custom application you'll probably be dropping a LOT more cash on that instead of doing it the right way with M3 parts.

Brian

[Jay Stock E30]

I hate to rain on your paraide, but I'm about 99.9% positive it won't work. before I started my e36 suspension, just for kickes I grabed one of my 5 lug wheels and held it up to the e30 hub. The 5 lug hub is much bigger than the e30 4 lug hub therefore the hub of the 5 lug wheel is also much bigger. I tried this with e34 m5 wheels, and the puny brakes on an e30 wouldn't even clear the hub on the 5 lug wheel, therefore there is no possible way to bolt up a 5x120 wheel to an e30 with out chaning the brakes and hubs.

If you are going to have to custome make a hub, custom make/addapt brakes, you might as well just go with a proven method, e30 m3 or e36 stuff.

[modifiede30]

One of the big advantages to the e30 m3 hub is the larger, more durable bearing. If all you're doing is going to a 5 lug e30 hub, I'd suggest you look harder for the wheels you want. It will be much easier and less expensive.

[drifty30]

i already have the wheels. i just wanted to see if getting a custom made hub would be a cheaper solution. which it might be for me. it shouldn't be taht hard to find rotors of the same diameter but of 5 lug... as far as i can see that will be the only thing i'll have to change! I'll get back to everyone with how much the place i know will charge for custom hubs.

[Bill 84 318i]

So you're willing to redrill the hub, but not a set of rotors? And you want "custom offset" with these hubs but expect aftermarket big brakes to bolt on? Then you have aftermarket 5-lug brakes with a huge hub that won't even be close to the hub of the 4 lug setup. So you have non-hubcentric wheels and brakes.

if five lug, wide wheels and fender flares are lame.... then i guess you all can call me lame.

Anything terribly wrong with four lugs, wide wheels, and fender flares?

Do it right.

[drifty30]

i'm not going to redrill the hub. i dont know where you got that idea. i'm not going to redrill brakes. neither of those things would work. as for having a different offset, after rethinking that, you couldn't with out changing the location of the brake caliper. (my bad) The hubs that i would have machined would be larger ( with the same bearing diameter) ... have five lugs.... and be hub centric with brakes and wheels. therefore, with the brake caliper un-moved, all i would have to do is replace my current rotors with rotors with 5X120 holes with the same outside diameter. with this done, my brakes would remain "stock" and i could purchace/fab up my own bigger brake package when i have the means. Hopefully (because i know a guy) this will all come out cheaper than a M3 swap of suspension parts and i can direct more funds at a brake kit or more suspension stuff. Am i just not making all this clear?

[riverdale21]

Sounds feasable enough. Theoretically if the diameter of the hub is wide enough to accept it you could redrill it to 5x120. You could also redrill the brake rotor to the same 5x120. That way you can keep the same calipers and mounting points and utilize the 5x120 wheels that you already have. I could see this working and staying on the cheap.

[drifty30]

holy $hit! i'm not redrilling. it wont work.BAH!

[riverdale21]

Your original post makes reference to you redrilling hubs to 5x120.