Lifting my E30 and 5 lug problems

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  • MR 325
    Moderator
    • Oct 2003
    • 37825

    #1

    Lifting my E30 and 5 lug problems

    I'm pretty sure I'll be the first one to ask this...

    So me and a buddy are lifting an E30. We put together a junkyard 5 lug setup that I thought would work. The rear is no problem, it's complete and working. The front is the issue. We've got E36 325is front struts and spindles, E46 control arms, and AKG E46 to E30 bushings.

    The front wheel is WAY too far back. It was my understanding that the E46 arms pushed the wheel forward. It seems I was wrong. Does anybody have thoughts to a solution to our problem? We're not looking for perfect geometry here, this is not a race car. We just want a solution that can keep it 5 lug while not having tire clearance issues.
    BimmerHeads
    Classic BMW Specialists
    Santa Clarita, CA

    www.BimmerHeads.com

  • surapple
    Advanced Member
    • Apr 2011
    • 145

    #2
    have u tried using the 7-series E32 arms those might work

    Comment

    • MR 325
      Moderator
      • Oct 2003
      • 37825

      #3
      Originally posted by surapple
      have u tried using the 7-series E32 arms those might work
      Do you even know what style of control arm the E32 uses? No they will not work.
      BimmerHeads
      Classic BMW Specialists
      Santa Clarita, CA

      www.BimmerHeads.com

      Comment

      • IanS_in_Oz
        Member
        • Jan 2010
        • 75

        #4
        A set of these will fix it
        sigpic
        BumbleE30 M52 2.8i

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        • Jonny Cash
          E30 Mastermind
          • Sep 2008
          • 1763

          #5
          Do the e46 lca more aggresive caster, than the e36 m3 does? I was always under the impression the e36m3 arms fixed the problem.

          I would say e36m3 LCA, matched with e36M3 strut tops (which are also more aggresive) would center a it a bit.
          -Jay

          2014 NASA FL se30 champ #81
          2001 se46 3 year plan in progress


          Comment

          • MR 325
            Moderator
            • Oct 2003
            • 37825

            #6
            Originally posted by IanS_in_Oz
            A set of these will fix it
            Funny, those are exactly what I was thinking about in my head. PM me a price.
            Originally posted by Jonny Cash
            Do the e46 lca more aggresive caster, than the e36 m3 does? I was always under the impression the e36m3 arms fixed the problem.

            I would say e36m3 LCA, matched with e36M3 strut tops (which are also more aggresive) would center a it a bit.
            It seems that I will have to go with the E36 M3 arms. They seem to push the assembly forward the most. I've read conflicting info that says the M vs non M E36 spindles place the wheel differently too. As far as E36 M3 strut mounts, they won't fit the E30 strut tower holes.
            BimmerHeads
            Classic BMW Specialists
            Santa Clarita, CA

            www.BimmerHeads.com

            Comment

            • MR 325
              Moderator
              • Oct 2003
              • 37825

              #7
              Anyone else have anything to add? Ideally I'd like to have the wheels FURTHER forward than stock.
              BimmerHeads
              Classic BMW Specialists
              Santa Clarita, CA

              www.BimmerHeads.com

              Comment

              • Roysneon
                R3V Elite
                • Apr 2010
                • 4505

                #8
                Maybe a stupid suggestion or not something you're willing to do but you could always redrill the strut towers to reposition or run different upper mounts as I've seen done online with other 5 lug setups.
                For all things 24v, check out Markert Motorworks!
                Originally posted by mbonanni
                I hate modded emtree, I hate modded cawrz, I hate jdm, I hate swag, I hate stanceyolokids, I hate bags (on cars), I hate stuff that is slowz, I hate tires.

                I am a pursit now.

                Comment

                • trackjunkie21
                  No R3VLimiter
                  • Jan 2010
                  • 3962

                  #9
                  I was under the impression you couldn't use anything but e36 M parts up front, I doubt that would be the cause of the caster problem though.
                  Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

                  Originally posted by Wh33lhop
                  VANOS: sometimes you just need to go full retard.

                  Comment

                  • MR 325
                    Moderator
                    • Oct 2003
                    • 37825

                    #10
                    Originally posted by trackjunkie21
                    I was under the impression you couldn't use anything but e36 M parts up front, I doubt that would be the cause of the caster problem though.
                    It's definitely a DIRECT cause of the caster problem. The E36 M3 arm pushes the strut forward. Also, the E36 M3 spindle pushes it forward even more. I have the control arms and spindles on the way. Going to run non-M brakes on them though.
                    BimmerHeads
                    Classic BMW Specialists
                    Santa Clarita, CA

                    www.BimmerHeads.com

                    Comment

                    • 84driver
                      Wrencher
                      • Aug 2011
                      • 234

                      #11
                      So you are going with e46 lca after all! In all photos of others who did this mod it did push the wheel forward. Are you using camber plates? Can you post pics?
                      balticblau-metallic '84 318i 5spd 3.91 LSD

                      Comment

                      • MR 325
                        Moderator
                        • Oct 2003
                        • 37825

                        #12
                        Originally posted by 84driver
                        So you are going with e46 lca after all! In all photos of others who did this mod it did push the wheel forward. Are you using camber plates? Can you post pics?
                        No, I just said I am going to use the E36 M3 arms. I sold the E46 parts. The E46 arms did NOT put the wheel forward at all.

                        No, I am not going to use camber plates. I am not lowering this E30. Will post results this weekend.
                        BimmerHeads
                        Classic BMW Specialists
                        Santa Clarita, CA

                        www.BimmerHeads.com

                        Comment

                        • MR 325
                          Moderator
                          • Oct 2003
                          • 37825

                          #13
                          For anyone that cares (not likely) we made progress on the 5 lug.

                          Installed E36 M3 control arms, E36 M3 spindles, and E30 M3 offset bushings. The wheel is perfectly centered, better than my S50 5 lug car in face. Since we plan to run 15" wheels we will be running the non-M E36 325i brakes. This requires a spacer between the caliper bracket and the spindle where the bracket mounts. No big deal, that's taken care of.

                          The big problem we are having now is that the tie rod location on the M spindle is further forward, the tie rod is hitting the wheel! It's oh-so-close though, going to try minimal grinding on the bottom of the tie rod and see if it will clear.
                          BimmerHeads
                          Classic BMW Specialists
                          Santa Clarita, CA

                          www.BimmerHeads.com

                          Comment

                          • carlb
                            Grease Monkey
                            • Feb 2011
                            • 359

                            #14
                            Are these the offset bushings you used?
                            1985 M635csi Black on Buffalo
                            1985 535is Zinno on Black
                            1985 M635csi White on Pacific Blue
                            1988 M3 Lachssilber on Black (sold)
                            1987 M3 Zinno on Black (totaled)

                            Comment

                            • MR 325
                              Moderator
                              • Oct 2003
                              • 37825

                              #15
                              Originally posted by carlb
                              Are these the offset bushings you used?
                              Well yes and no. I got a pair OEM BMW bushings from BMA for about $45.
                              BimmerHeads
                              Classic BMW Specialists
                              Santa Clarita, CA

                              www.BimmerHeads.com

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