Why?

[VinniE30]

Is there any advantages of converting to 5 lug besides obviously more wheel options? If not then it doesn't really seem worth it at all. There's tons of 4 lug wheels, all the ones that look the best on the e30.

[Teaguer]

Is there any advantages of converting to 5 lug besides obviously more wheel options? If not then it doesn't really seem worth it at all. There's tons of 4 lug wheels, all the ones that look the best on the e30.

Well the most obvious advantage would be bigger brakes.
The most stupid reason is for wheel options.

[Aptyp]

because it's fun...

[nu-B]

ie sells big breaks so I say ta hell with the 5 swap.. un less you really like other bmw wheels. aftermarket is aftermarket doesn't matter 4 or 5 they still turn peoples heads the same. now oem bmw wheels just rile up other bmw nuts. most people don't give two licks.

[deutschman]

because people run out of things to do to their e30's!

[etxxz]

ie sells big breaks so I say ta hell with the 5 swap.. un less you really like other bmw wheels. aftermarket is aftermarket doesn't matter 4 or 5 they still turn peoples heads the same. now oem bmw wheels just rile up other bmw nuts. most people don't give two licks.

as a 5 lug e30 i will agree with you.
I swapped becuase i had a cheap opportunity for big brakes and i regret it.
Yes the brakes are awesome and my e30 looks sick as hell, but i would have rather gone with a BBK for my 4-lug and stayed max 15" wheels.

They are smaller lighter rubber is cheaper and i can turn full lock.
The 5-lug threw my geometry i had to use ridiculous 225/35-17 on the front and i still rubbed while drifting. I eventually had to bang at the frame with a sledge hammer and after all that aggravation 17" r-comps are really expensive... oh, with the e36m3 fronts, you can't fit anything smaller than 17" or it won't clear the brakes.... it does look ridiculously sexy, that is fo sho

[Van Westervelt]

I got 2 setups for a steal, and wanted the bigger brakes on my s50 car. Due to the sale (s50 car), I swapped the 5 lug over to my 4 door eta mtech project. I would much rather have a brake upgrade and some old school 4 lug 16s.

I already had a plethora of 5x120 wheels too, so here I sit, unwillingly 5-lugged. lol

[hoveringuy]

I swapped because I loved the look of the DS2's and wanted better brakes.

I got the brakes, but became disenchanted with the character and "manners" of the car. It took expansion joints horribly.

I had a can of "fix a flat" instead of a spare.

I swapped back to 4 lugs and will never go back; it drives and handles so much better now and has that je ne sais quoi that I was missing.


Edit: Just because I can use je ne sais quoi in a sentence doesn't mean I'm a fag.

[HybridNz]

They are smaller lighter rubber is cheaper and i can turn full lock.
The 5-lug threw my geometry i had to use ridiculous 225/35-17 on the front and i still rubbed while drifting. I eventually had to bang at the frame with a sledge hammer and after all that aggravation 17" r-comps are really expensive... oh, with the e36m3 fronts, you can't fit anything smaller than 17" or it won't clear the brakes.... it does look ridiculously sexy, that is fo sho

Try running 18's :) I have got it so it doesnt rub. You just need Tree House racing offset eye ball arms to push the control arm forward an inch to center the wheel properly.

As for geometry, just get it professionally setup and run some front camber with toe out for turn in = solved.

[etxxz]

I think the lollipops are the only thing i'm missing. I actually banged up the back of the wheel wheel for clearance, but the frame is too damn hard, even for a sledge hammer. I ended up getting 15mm spacers for the DS1s and DS2's that i own. That worked really well. I'm maxing out my camber and caster on my plates too -.-

I swapped because I loved the look of the DS2's and wanted better brakes.

I got the brakes, but became disenchanted with the character and "manners" of the car. It took expansion joints horribly.

I had a can of "fix a flat" instead of a spare.

I swapped back to 4 lugs and will never go back; it drives and handles so much better now and has that je ne sais quoi that I was missing.


Edit: Just because I can use je ne sais quoi in a sentence doesn't mean I'm a fag.

people don't realize that they need a brake bias on the front brakes. The difference in piston is drastic + the rear has a stock limiter valve. I bet you skidded the front everywhere. After the bias, my car brakes like a monster!

[bmw325csi]

with the options of 4 lug wheels, BBK and re-drills available for the e30 nowadays, i say leave it alone, that is unless you can afford a real e30 5 lug swap from the e30 m3.

[Boosted E30]

I think the lollipops are the only thing i'm missing. I actually banged up the back of the wheel wheel for clearance, but the frame is too damn hard, even for a sledge hammer. I ended up getting 15mm spacers for the DS1s and DS2's that i own. That worked really well. I'm maxing out my camber and caster on my plates too -.-


people don't realize that they need a brake bias on the front brakes. The difference in piston is drastic + the rear has a stock limiter valve. I bet you skidded the front everywhere. After the bias, my car brakes like a monster!

What did you do to balance the brakes better? Im running the e36m3 up front and under heavy braking the back end gets a little light.

[etxxz]

well i used this particular valve:

http://store.nexternal.com/ireland/brake-bias-valve-p247.aspx

now, describe the rear gets light? Might have to do with your suspension. In my case, the front locked up ages before the rear so i had to put this valve on the front brakes and tune them down. Took about a whole morning at the track to set them up.

[Boosted E30]

My fronts will lock way before the rears aswell, i dont know if the rear gets lite is the right way to describe it because it not like the rear end wants to come out under braking but its definatly lacking rear braking power.

So you installed that valve into the front line and tuned down the fronts to even it out with the rears? Did you upgrade the rear pads aswell?