Lower arm differences/compatability/fitments

[MarkF]

Hi all,

I have been doing some homework for a while now regarding 5 stud conversions using E36 parts. I have gathered all info on which parts to use and have a couple of questions which need answering.

To get the correct castor alignment on an E30 you have to fit E36 M3 Evo 3.2 lower arms (among other parts), does anyone know the differnce between the E36 M3 Evo lower arms, and the other E36 ones?

Secondly, a friend of mine has an E36 (drift spec dare i say it ) which uses E46 lower arms to gain a wider track, and with increased steering rack travel and shortened track rod end fixing points, gives incredible steering lock.

What i am wondering is if there is any chance the E46 arms will be compatable on the E30?

Any help/knowledge will be great

Cheers, Mark

[e301988325i]

well logic would suggest that if E46 parts fit the E36 and E36 parts fit the E30, then they would all be interchangeable.

[MarkF]

well logic would suggest that if E46 parts fit the E36 and E36 parts fit the E30, then they would all be interchangeable.

Yes that is true, but to convert E30 to E36 setup, E36 EVO lower arms have to be used, and the EVO ones are obviously different to all other E36 arms.

What i need to know is if this trend is the same for E46? I.e. maybe E46 M3 CSL arms are the same geomety as E36 EVO, but wider???

I may well be barking up the wrong tree tho!

[MarkF]

Some homework on RealOEM.com (first time ive used this, what a great site!) has shown the E46 M3 and M3 CSL to use the same lower arms, and these appear to be different to all other E46 models.

Now just need to find out if these 'differences' are the same 'differences' as E36 M3 EVO and E36 lesser models?

Getting there slowly

[e21Jason]

E36 m3 lower arms use solid ball joints the standard e36 use a ball joint with a hollow ruber mount
the geometry varies between them both but acording to some sources the evo arm is the same geometry as the e30 arm

to use an e46 arm you would have to modify the lolly pop mount as the e30/36 arm has a round end and the e46 a hex end

Jason

[MarkF]

E36 m3 lower arms use solid ball joints the standard e36 use a ball joint with a hollow ruber mount
the geometry varies between them both but acording to some sources the evo arm is the same geometry as the e30 arm

to use an e46 arm you would have to modify the lolly pop mount as the e30/36 arm has a round end and the e46 a hex end

Jason

Some interesting info there mate! Something else to look into!

Cheers!

[HairyScreech]

are e46 lollypop bushes the same external size as e30 ones? as that would mean they can be swapped into the e30/36 lollypop.

and just out of interest if you have to use e36m3evo arms as there the same as e30 ones why not just use e30 ones?

[bss325i]

are e46 lollypop bushes the same external size as e30 ones? as that would mean they can be swapped into the e30/36 lollypop.

and just out of interest if you have to use e36m3evo arms as there the same as e30 ones why not just use e30 ones?

No and E46 lolly pop bushes and the lolly pop are one peice and not available seperately

[penton08]

The e36 m3 evo bottom arms are unique to the evo, all other e36/e30 lower arms are more or less exactly the same. all evo/e36/e30 arms look the same! but side by side the evo ones bottom ball joint sits further forward and the inner ball joint sits at a slightly different angle.