FYI: Solving the 5 lug swap problem (centered wheel)

[Bryson]

Re: Treehouse CAB's

I need a picture of these installed, if they fit the way I think they do, then a stock e34 exhaust will fit onto an m50 e30 with no modifications

Sorry I dissapeared from this thread for a while.... Yes, Another reason I invented them was so I could use a stock E34 5 (M50) or a E36 stock center section with NO mods.

I THOUGHT so. Damnit, and my center section has already been hacked to shit.
Which fits better, e36 or e34? The e34 looked like it was practically sitting against the firewall when I had it bolted up with the CAB out

[Chris E30 Cab]

Hi Jon, I've been reading your posts in this thread and have emailed you regarding the 5 lug swap using E36 components. I just noticed on your website that you offer a "How-To" manual so please include that in your quote as I live in Singapore.

Thanks!

Chris

[radback]

Awesome work there Mpowerjon.

What I had planned was:
Offset contol arm bushes (already have them) and +96 M3 control arms (need new arms anyway).
This should give the most caster possible with unmodified bolt on parts.
Thoughts!?!?!

I saw this mod on a german car.
The wheel is still a little to much on the back.

[radback]

Anyways, here is a pic of how far the wheel is pushed forward on a stock wheel/rim combo.

It would be interesting to see a pic with theses CAB fitted on a car with e36 brakes and struts....
anyone?

[Jay Stock E30]

I've done it, I'm must waiting on getting the tires mounted on the wheels, hopefully I'll have it done by the middle of next week.

[E30godz]

that picture of the stock tire/wheel combo doesnt look bad...

[radback]

I've done it, I'm must waiting on getting the tires mounted on the wheels, hopefully I'll have it done by the middle of next week.

So Jay... Do you have any pics?
Thanks

[5150ct]

The machined offset control arm bushing mounts that Jordan posted are mine that i used on my 5-lug swap i did 2 years ago on my 318is. That helped a little but what solved my wheel centering problem was a relocation plate with guides that positioned the mounting point for the control arm bushing brackets closer to the wheel well. I wish i had taken a picture of those cause they were machined out of billet and looked super trick. The custon made bushing mounts (green) look pretty cool too! If they were used on a race car you could run roller bearings instead of bushings. It would rattle your teeth but it would corner as if it were on rails.

[rheacox]

E36 MZ front suspension on E30 M3

I used the MZ hats and springs, off-set bushings, elongated bushing support mounting holes for 6mm more off-set and E30 M3 alum. controll arms. I rotated the hats to produce minium caster and drilled the hat to fit one of the mounting bolts in the stock shock tower hole. My tire (215/45/17) now has very minor rub which I can eliminate with very little body moulding relief. After I've driven the car a little I will measure the caster, camber and ride-height and make the necessary adjustments.

[PanamaE30]

Sorry to bring back an old dead horse.. There was just too much information for my head to properly process and I want to make sure i got it right..

So, to convert to a 5-lug I want:
E36 '95 M3 Offset Control Arms
E36 '96+ M3 Offset Control Arm Bushings
E36 Front Springs
E36 Front Shocks

E36/5 or E36/7 rear trailing arms with hubs and brakes
E30 Rear Shocks
E30 Rear Springs

Or would I be better off using the control arm bushings mpowerjon makes? And whats the dilly on the half shafts? Do I have to change them?

Being a former ti owner, when they swap to E30 diffs they usually just use E30 halfshafts, if I remember correctly.

[PanamaE30]

bump..

anyone?

bueller? bueller?

[lukasbmw]

You need 96-99 M3 control arms

95 M3's had regular arms with offset bushings

96-99 M3's had the different arms with regular bushings.

You need offset bushings and 96+ E36 M3 control arms.

[PanamaE30]

You need 96-99 M3 control arms

95 M3's had regular arms with offset bushings

96-99 M3's had the different arms with regular bushings.

You need offset bushings and 96+ E36 M3 control arms.

Ok, then I slap on E36 Hubs, Kingpins, and brakes right?

How about the rear? just use ti or Z3 trailing arms, halfshafts, hubs and brakes right?

[lukasbmw]

Then you use E36 struts/hubs/brakes up front (E30 upper camber plates)

Rear can be Z3/MZ3 or 318ti

On MZ3 you need MZ3 halfshafts and e28 diff output flanges

On regular Z3 and 318ti I think (THINK) you can use stock e30 halfshafts

I did M roadster shit in the front and rear.

Everything works great except for the front wheel not being centered. I'm currently running ONLY offset bushings. I need the 96+ arms to solve my last problem. After that I'll be good.

[PanamaE30]

Hmm.. Great. Thanks for the information and the clarification :)