The 5 lug swap truth thread!!!!!!!!!!

[bimmerteck]

Interesting, But no parking brake anymore.

Throwing a 535i front caliper out back will throw the brake bias off significantly as well. The surface area of the piston is much too large for rear use. ;)

[M-technik-3]

As for the brake issues between the 315mm front rotors and the smaller rears, I have a solution in the works for that as well.
E32 front rotors, along with E28 535i front callipers

Interesting, But no parking brake anymore.

[Mossman]

awesome, I would definitely be in for that. Only thing is, I have 318ti arms as a bunch of people do, I can't remember if the caliper bolt spacing is the same as E30 arms...I have a feeling in my gut it's a bit smaller?

So how are you doing it, looks like drilled and tapped carriers?

[IanS_in_Oz]

As for the brake issues between the 315mm front rotors and the smaller rears, I have a solution in the works for that as well.
E32 front rotors, along with E28 535i front callipers

[IanS_in_Oz]

Guys, there's a lot of slinging going on here about how the E36 method is no good. Wrong. It just needs some decent thinking and work put in.
I put the suspension from my wrecked E36 into my E30, but made sure it all worked. And when it didn't I designed the one component needed to make it happen.

My track E30 runs the following:
E36 Front coil-overs, c/w 500lb springs
E36 M3 96+ control arms
E36 standard spindles
E36 M3 rotors and callipers
Adjustable camber plates
Control Arm Mounts of my own design
17 x 8 wheels with 215-45-17 tyres

It is perfectly stable up to 220kmh

Here's a pic from the side showing the wheel perfectly centered

And these are the Control Arm mounts that make it work:


I started a thread on them late last year. UUC have made them for me. Although I'm down in Australia, I have 3 sets at over there in the US for sale. They come with a spare set of Delrin bushings as well.

Let me know if you are interested...

[psyber_0ptix]

oh well, I tried compiling as much info as possible, but you guys win...


I have: e36m front and e30/z3 hybrid rear. IE 25/22 sway bars, coilovers (400/550 with progressive helper shock spring). e30 m3 lollipops, SPC camber plates, RD strut bar. Working ABS, 944 brake booster, e32 master cylinder (part of m50 swap). Wheels are e38 16x7.5" ET20 with 205/50-16 tires.

On e36 Billies, car rode on bumpstops all the time. Made the ride unbearable. With my coilovers, my housing are 3" shorter and ride comfort (ever with 400 springs) is incredible. Love the swap, would not go back to 4 lugs. Adore brakes.

It was your time and effort that inspired me to carry my swap out. For which you have my gratitude.

[Mossman]

96-99 m3 front knuckles and brakes
96-99 m3 control arms
eyeball arms
e36 konis
h&r sport
redrilled strut towers for 96-99 m3 strut mounts, left mount on right side and vice versa.
washers between strut and knuckle for tiny bit more camber

results?
wheel is pretty centered but does rub in back first, can't run 225/45/17's at this height, too tall and hits the rear of wheel well when I turn hard.
caster 11-12*, camber around 2*. Going to install adjusters in back and realign.

[Aptyp]

oh well, I tried compiling as much info as possible, but you guys win...


I have: e36m front and e30/z3 hybrid rear. IE 25/22 sway bars, coilovers (400/550 with progressive helper shock spring). e30 m3 lollipops, SPC camber plates, RD strut bar. Working ABS, 944 brake booster, e32 master cylinder (part of m50 swap). Wheels are e38 16x7.5" ET20 with 205/50-16 tires.

On e36 Billies, car rode on bumpstops all the time. Made the ride unbearable. With my coilovers, my housing are 3" shorter and ride comfort (ever with 400 springs) is incredible. Love the swap, would not go back to 4 lugs. Adore brakes.

[Boosted E30]

Ive got
Gc E36 for E30 coils
97 M3 kingpins
97 M3 Control arms
Thr fcab
Rear is all E30 M3 stuff.

Wheels 17x8.5 kosie K1 with 235/40/17 all around.

Other then the brake ballance being off (im going to install a proportioning valve) setup is great and i do track my car aswell.

[Sharino]

This thread is scaring the crap out of me, I invested tons of money into a 5 lug swap, now I am scared it will drive like crap. Haven't installed anything yet but this is what I have so far:

- Groundcontrol 5 lug E30 kit (adj konis f/r) with camber/caster strut plates
- treehouse CABs
- new OEM M3 96+ control arms
- 96+ M3 front spindles, calipers/rotors

rear:
- Z3 I6 hubs
- 318ti carriers
- E36 rear calipers
- Z3 I6 rotors
- E30 new wheel bearings

wheels:
17x7.5" ET41 style 5s or 16" RS bastardize mix/match set 8" and 9"
(havent decided which set to run yet)

I plan to install a porportioning valve, but besides for brakes, think this will drive ok?

[clavinZERO]

FYI, here is my alignment sheet... Decent caster, no?
Keep in mind the following:
-E36 M3 (1997) knuckles and brakes
-E36 M3 (1997) control arms
-E30 offset control arm bushings
-E30 stock front strut mounts
-Mild lowering on E30 325is H&R Sport springs (about 1.3" to 1.5")
-Bilstein sport shocks/struts (E30 rear, E36 M3 front)
-rear toe and camber are "odd" (a.k.a. AWESOME) for a lowered car due to weld-on camber/toe correction kit from Ireland Engineering

[SA E30]

My non M knuckles are slightly forward of centre... With adjustable tubular arms

Without them I had the same problem as Mike, I found that offset bushes, with slotted holes and drilling new holes in the strut tower would have sorted these issues out.

[Bimmerman325i]

Mikeedler, yes the E36 M3 96+ knuckles are different than the non-M AND the 95s. Vorshlag went through a hell of a lot of issues getting their non-M e36 5 lug to work on their GRM car, read through their thread in the project forum. IIRC, their caster was ~15.

The correct knuckles are $35/ea though, plus shipping: http://store.bimmerworld.com/invento...les-p1066.aspx

good luck.

[mikeedler]

I currently do not have pictures of the inner wheel-wells.

I was meaning side view of the car-- found your build thread- looks to be really centered






thanks so much for the pics. Guess you are right by the looks of it. need to change my title to e36non M components.

a solution is great. Looks like I am on the search for e36 front components......
my main point with this thread is I have read so much misinformation over the last 3 years, that I just want people to know that what was earlier and still said that works is deadly unsafe at higher speeds. and to vent a bit about the love hate relationship I have with this car!

I have to say though, over the last week of driving the car it is feeling alot more stable (maybe tires) but still not right at speeds above 70 mph in long curves

[samurai7]

what do you mean?? there's a thousand ways to skin a cat ;)

Here's an e30 M3 with the e90 (non-m3) suspension: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2929437

Now that's extreme.