My Bastardized E36 5-Lug Conversion

[BenM]

I've been busy recently, but decided a while ago to go 5-Lug on my 4dr. 318i, along with a more powerful engine at some point in the future.

Anyways, the reason I've been sourcing E36 stuff is because my dad's Turbo 318is currently uses E36 stuff (Coilovers, MZ3 Rear stuff, etc.) so it will make swapping wheels and tires easier instead of having to use E30M3 stuff. I know, I know, the geometry will be incorrect and blah blah blah. The fact is I've tracked my dad's turbo car with no ill effects, so I feel safe doing so in my own car.

So here is some of the stuff I've collected, and what I plan on ordering sometime this week:

Have so far:

97 M3 Front Strut Housings (spring perches cut & gutted for E36 Koni Inserts, already sandblasted and soon to be powdercoated)
E36 M3 Front Brakes (Calipers, Rotors, Knuckle, Hub)
Ground Control E36 318ti Coilover Kit (440F/650R)
E36 318ti Rear Trailing Arms (w/ all associated brakes, etc.)
ASA AR2 17x8 et38 w/ 235/40-17 Azenis


Ordering this week:

Koni E36 M3 Front Inserts
Koni E30/ti Rear Shocks
AKG 12mm Rear Shock mounts, 80D Rear Subframe bushings, Trailing Arm Bushings & Diff Mount
97+ M3 LCA's
THR LCAB's
E36 Rack (3.2 turns lock-to-lock)
Vorschlag E30 Camber Plates

This sound about right to you guys? Anything else 'yall think I need?

I'll update with pics when I end up installing everything.

[Aptyp]

I like your choice of wheels :-)


I want pics. lol

[BenM]

I like your choice of wheels :-)


I want pics. lol

Haha thanks dude. Picked 'em up last weekend and they are going to look good. Driving my 4dr. 318i until I finish the major suspension overhaul on the E34 wagon.

I was down at work today, so here are some pictures of the M3 strut housings with the GC setup and Koni Inserts. Blasted them using a mixture of bead and sand, so as to not tear up the housings too much. Then primed and rattlecaned 'em the Duplicolor "grabber green" to match the THR lollipops I will be ordering. I think it came out pretty nice. Crappy cell phone pic:



Will take more pics of everything once more stuff is completed.

[e30_325es]

You will need a fender roller to fit those wheels and tires. On my 86, the rear fenders had to be rolled to fit the same spec wheels and size tires (but g-year f1 asymetric tires). The fronts I'm running -3.5 camber and have no issues ever.

[MR 325]

Should be sweet! I'm loving the Grabber Green.

I've got the same wheels, in 17x9. [Same size tire].

[BenM]

You will need a fender roller to fit those wheels and tires. On my 86, the rear fenders had to be rolled to fit the same spec wheels and size tires (but g-year f1 asymetric tires). The fronts I'm running -3.5 camber and have no issues ever.

My fenders are already rolled pretty severely, so I should be ok.

Should be sweet! I'm loving the Grabber Green.

I've got the same wheels, in 17x9. [Same size tire].

Thanks dude! It was either that or black, the green looks freakin' awesome. The Azenis are pretty shot, so I may switch to the Dunlop Direzza Star specs, since I've heard fantastic things about them Any pictures of your setup?

Keep the compliments rolling lol.

[FredK]

The Bridgestone RE-01R in 235/40R17 are on clearance at Tire Rack for $115/

[clavinZERO]

updates on the E30 Vorschlag plates installation on this whole setup?

[BenM]

updates on the E30 Vorschlag plates installation on this whole setup?

Haven't ordered them yet, and my buddy has a set of GC E30 Camber/Caster Plates that he is selling, so I think I'm going that route. Only things I need to order are the Control Arms and urethane rear stuff. I'll let you know.

[jrdeamicis]

updates on the E30 Vorschlag plates installation on this whole setup?

I will let you know, I am doing the same thing with mine w/ vorshlag camber plates.

[BenM]

Just replied to your PM jrdeamicis.

What I ended up doing was using a plasma cutter to cut off the spring perches and then a grinding wheel to clean up the leftover perch, and make it even all the way around. This was a shitty way to do it, since the plasma cutter essentially heat-treated the housing when cutting it.

The better way would be to stick the housing in a lathe and use a cut-off Insert to cut off the spring perch evenly. Then use a belt sander to smooth out the leftover portion of the perch.

HTH.

[318isbmw]

Just replied to your PM jrdeamicis.

What I ended up doing was using a plasma cutter to cut off the spring perches and then a grinding wheel to clean up the leftover perch, and make it even all the way around. This was a shitty way to do it, since the plasma cutter essentially heat-treated the housing when cutting it.

The better way would be to stick the housing in a lathe and use a cut-off Insert to cut off the spring perch evenly. Then use a belt sander to smooth out the leftover portion of the perch.

HTH.

Could also use a skinny wheel instead of a grinding wheel and then use a grinder blade on an angle grinder and that'd do the job pretty well.

[BenM]

Anyone know if I can use stock E30 strut mounts for now, or will my alignment be all fucked up? Haven't been able to get those camber plates and I need to finish my car.

Any thoughts?

[M-technik-3]

Aren't the strut tube diameter different? Maybe use the M3 upper mounts or redrill them.

I was working on some Z3M struts yesterday. Cut the tops to insert Koni's as well since I had a line on some Bilstein Sport/H&R race but seller never responded back and they sold.

[clavinZERO]

Stock e30 strut mounts will fit with e36 m3 bilstein sports. I am running them myself at the moment.