5-lug Setup

[Aptyp]

Whatever is that on the bottom, do NOT use.


... yes, you can use e36 325, 318ti, and z3 calipers...

[bimmer630]

aptyp..., You wrote above that ANY rear caliper from an E36 will work, right? and you said when doing so you simply flip them side to side to get the lines to be in the right places? Is that only when using non-Ti parts?
I have rear calipers and brackets from an E36 Ti and also a set from an E36 325. they look very similar in all aspects except the position of the bleeder screws.
The Ti calipers have the bleeder screw pointed in the same direction as the line inlet, and the 325 calipers have the bleeders pointed opposite the lines.

[Aptyp]

Well, the thing is this, that bearing fits nearly every 3-series up to end of e46 production.

Hubs are VERY VERY different. e36 hub is a lot smaller in depth, and when installed it touches parking brake. Hub sits 6mm closer to the parking brake than e30 hub. If you chose not to run parking brakes, they would work, but then e36 rotor wouldn't fit. e30 and e36 rotors are nearly the same in all dimensions (exception is rotor surface), so those 10mm difference have to be made up somehow.

Currently, I am playing with an idea of scrapping parking brakes, and installing front rotor on rear hub. Run big brakes all around. So far problem I ran into, is that rotor is not hub centric on the hub. There's a 2.5mm difference in diameter. I an still beating this idea, we'll see where it leads.

Here you can see that difference in depth.
e36:


e30:


That difference in beveled part.

[bimmer630]

I was looking around for rear flanges for my swap and wondering what other flanges might fit.. Im sure Aptyp you have cross referenced alot of parts to find out what fits.. but did you notice that the rear wheel bearing part #'s are the same for E36 sedans and Z3's? the flanges use a different number, have you looked at them side by side? maybe they have a diff. depth for diff. brakes or whatever..
just makes me wonder you know cause if the center hole of the bearing is the same size maybe there are some other options for flanges. Im having trouble finding wrecked
Z3's and when i do nobody wants to pull the flanges off.. new ones are 100 bucks maybe i should stop being a cheapskate and just buy them but if i can source parts from an E36 i know where there are a couple of them.
here are the #'s
33 41 1 093 567 e36 328 hub
33 41 1 130 617 e36 328 bearing

33 41 1 095 772 Z3 2.8 hub
33 41 1 130 617 z3 2.8 bearing

[Aptyp]

no worries, I like seeing new ways of doing this, so if you want to try it, please do. I'd love to see another option on the table.


when are you coming back to Asheville, by the way?

[Julien]

ok, it was just an idea- thanks for the input

[Aptyp]

Julien, the splined part of the hub is only so deep, without major machine skills and amazing fabrication skills, this option should be out of question, because it would cost more than buying e30 m3 parts.



Indeed, junk yards don't sell hubs separately from trailing arms (unless it's a pick-and-pull, and no one's watching)... I bought mine with trailing arms and brakes at a local yard for $250.

[bimmer630]

I was refering to cuting the back end off the hub and making new splines to alllow it to sit deeper into the wheel bearing

so you want to machine a Z3 hub down and use factory E30 M3 rotors and calipers im guessing? Ive heard that finding rear caliper brackets for the M3 is near impossible.. E32 750 ones are the same supposedly but you have to use a modified 318Ti bracket (??)

add that to the cost and potential safety risk of modifying your hub and it may be easier and less costly to just go with the setup like Aptyp suggests


Aptyp, BTW- Where did you source your used Z3 rear hubs (if you did in fact get used ones.. i dont know of course) I ordered mine (i thought i did) from Bavarian auto recycling and a box showed up today with diff output flanges for the driveshafts. I was kinda annoyed but after calling them i was more than annoyed. the guy said they cannot sell wheel hub flanges cause its pressed into the trailing arm. I said well i asked the guy on the phone for wheel flanges and thats what he charged me for and thats what i thought i was getting.. so i want my $ back! he said no cash refunds, only store credit.
i said well i dont need anything else from you guys so i want my money instead.. he said 35 % re-stocking fee!!! what a bunch of losers!!
now im gonna have to think of something i need for my car i guess that i can get from them in return for these useless drive flanges.
in the meantime i will search again for used ones. new ones cost 100 bucks a side i think

[Julien]

I was refering to cuting the back end off the hub and making new splines to alllow it to sit deeper into the wheel bearing

[Aptyp]

Hey Julien, simple answer is no way...


Here's why:
e30 m3 rotor
e36 z3 rotor


Difference in offset is the difference in rotor hat depth... If you take that much material off the hub, there will be no hub left.

[Julien]

Hey,
I am looking at some 5 lug options for sir kombi (touring) I've got a line on some e30M3 front struts, but I don't want to spend a stupid amount (ie new from the dealer) getting the rear 5 lug. Hence why I've been thinking at using z3 6cyl hubs instead of m3 units. I'm guessing that the difference in offset between e30m3 and z3 rear suspension is because the hub is different? If this is the case, can this hub be modified (by a machine shop or so) to get it down to e30M3 offset? I have never had one in my hand so I have no idea what makes the Z3 piece sit roughly 20MM out further than it's M3 counterpart. Any input? i'm guessing the rear M3 haubs are about 400-500 for both at the stealer?


CLIFF NOTES:
Can I make a e30 m3 rear 5 lug conversion with a modified z3 hub (I have access to rear m3 rotors, pads and calipers)
Thanks,

Julien

[Aptyp]

no, older e30 have higher rear wheel arches...


And wheels that don't fit are Style 65 on the pic in first post... They are ET15. And I have another set of Sport Editions, but they don't fit, because they just don't look as good as I thought they would. I may have to doodle on the to enhance looks.

[bimmer630]

what wheels are not fitting so i'll know to stay away from those? also you have an older E30 which has lower rear fender arches, right?

[Aptyp]

well, I had 2 sets of wheels in mind, and they didn't work out. So now I have 2 sets of wheels in the garage and neither fits the way I want...

I also need fender roller, and I may get it on Saturday. Then I may make my wheels fit the hard way.

[bimmer630]

so I cut front spring perches today, to make room for coil-overs...

My search for cheap wheels continues.

doesnt it suck looking on ebay and finding that people still want an arm and a leg for used BMW wheels?? I am doing this swap partly because I have come across sooo many nice bmw wheels in the past that were just slighty bent or curbed and we would throw them in the aluminum pile!! if i had a car they would fit on i would have taken them all...