5 lug swap is done. Pictures and a writeup inside.

[Wes325]

IMO 18s look out of place on an E30, although I have seen some M3s pull it off quite nicely. Get 17" ACS III wrapped with some 245/40/17 sized rubber!! I forgot how sick your car is, those pics were a nice reminder.
________
Yamaha XV920R

[M42Technik]

It looks fantastic. I say stick to getting M Parallels though, but thats just me. And you have PM

[lukasbmw]

Looks awesome Erik! Is there any truth to the rumor that E36 parts messes up the front suspension geometry? I'm talking about issues other than the wheel not being centered. I recall someone saying that if you put E36 suspension, the car would want to jack itself up and down as you moved the wheel from lock-to-lock at stop. Sounds like hog wash to me.

Jonathan

I don't know what that guy's problem was. I have no idea where he got his info or why he told me that bullshit, but it is totally false. This car does nothing funky. I suspect the guy saw that I had all the parts needed to do the conversion and wanted to persuade me not do go through with it so he could snatch them up cheap.

[randomtask37]

damn, thats hot.

i love the way that looks, makes your car look 10 years newer... the mtec 2 helps that also ;)

[reelizmpro]

I don't think the wheel centering issue is a big deal. E30 M3 front wheels are also like that particularly if they do not have the offset bushings. Even with the offset bushings the wheels tend to be closer to the rear of the fender.

[RCWells]

That there is nice, real nice. I hope to do the same one day.

[RedBaron86325]

Pics of the control arm bushings?...or does that cost money?

[CiLK WuRM]

Major hotness.

Now moved up many places on the must do list.

[Z3Jonathan]

Looks awesome Erik! Is there any truth to the rumor that E36 parts messes up the front suspension geometry? I'm talking about issues other than the wheel not being centered. I recall someone saying that if you put E36 suspension, the car would want to jack itself up and down as you moved the wheel from lock-to-lock at stop. Sounds like hog wash to me.

Jonathan

I don't know what that guy's problem was. I have no idea where he got his info or why he told me that bullshit, but it is totally false. This car does nothing funky. I suspect the guy saw that I had all the parts needed to do the conversion and wanted to persuade me not do go through with it so he could snatch them up cheap.

:up: :up: :up:

I was thinking today that even if the M Roadster stuff didn't wok geometry-wise up front, you could always use E30 M3 struts/A-arms up front, E36 M3 brakes (?) and still use the reinforced ///M Roadster trailing arms in the rear.

Can't wait to see it with some new wheels to show off those brakes!! ///M Parallels or some ///M System wheels would look sick.

Jonathan

[eliasmavs99]

Not to tread on your newly attained turf, but what was the approximate cost?

[lukasbmw]

$1,200 after I sell my old parts. If I had done this myself and not bought some unneeded parts, I probably could have almost broken even!

[clavinZERO]

which parts do u need for JUST the e36 brake swap? (needing 5 lug rims is now a given)

is it just the:

calipers
caliper bracket
rotors
hub
new lines

can u give a list of the nuts-and-bolts-small crap too?

I have like 3 other people interested in this swap, 2 of which are mechanics, we're just looking to see who has a parts list to make this easier.

any help wud be great, thx!

[lukasbmw]

I don't understand what your asking

The swap is either complete or not at all. You can't do just an E36 brake swap or a 5 lug swap.

Every little nut and bolt is listed. Remember, the main M coupe and E36 parts all bolt directly to the E30 stuff so any small nuts and bolts can be reused. Just make sure any parts you get used have all the correct bolts (EX: Bolts that hold calipers on).

Also, you may need to upgrade your Master Cyl. I did this a year ago knowing a 5 lug swap was in the future. Bimmerworld.com sells a custom 750il brake booster designed to work with the E30.

[clavinZERO]

I'm sorry, maybe my question wasn't so good...

Reading your respsonse I see: "Remember, the main M coupe and E36 parts all bolt directly to the E30 stuff..."

I see u are using the e30 strut housing, which is what the hub/rotor/etc is mounted to. So I should basically be good to go with:
-bimmerworld's master cyl upgrade (750il u say?)
-e36 rotors
-e36 calipers/pads
-e36 caliper brackets
-e36 hubs
-misc: SS lines and stuff

Seems crazy that the newer, better stuff just BOLTS ON, no problem.

Please let me know if you have any words of wisdom or whatever, and if I am getting this right. thx.

Sorry it's late and i don't know if i am missing anything or looking like an idiot. :oops:

[Jay Stock E30]

no he is usuing the e36 strut. The struts for the e30 and e36 are different. The e30 has shocks that you insert into the strut housing which is part of the lower hub/spindle unit. On the e36 the shock/strut is one piece and unbolts from the steering knuckle. Therefore you need the whole assembly from the e36