5 stud wheels on an E30

[shafiq]

Looking to put a set of style 5 wheels on my E30, there 5x120.. Not sure weather to re drill or not. Has anyone else done it ?

[ross_jsy]

There are several ways. Filling and drilling being the worse.

You can get adapters. Originally I wasn't a fan of these as there is an overlap on one of the bolts and I didn't like the book of solutions I had seen. But they apparently work well.

Then you can cobble together a 5 stud conversion out of compact/z3 trailing arms and e36 m3 evo front suspension. Not the best way to do it as the geometry isn't quite right but it works.

Then the best way to do it is to use e30 m3 running gear, but this costs big money.

[m_azing]

Why is filling and redrilling the worst?

[Kos]

Main reason is the quality of the alloy

you're welding a solid alloy "bung" into a cast alloy wheel, they are not the same quality or alloy mix and that is a recipe for disaster.

re drilling isn't too bad if done properly and there's enough meat there.

the other problem will filling is that you have to drill the area which has been welded, and as stated before it is an unknown.......

[shafiq]

Finding an m3 running gear is near enough impossible, might just re drill instead because adapters bring the wheel out too much and can't put anything on with real dish

[Kos]

You can get from legs for about £800-£100

Rear hubs are available from the dealers

It's easy to find e30 m3 suspension but parting with the cash is hard

If the only reason you want to go 5 stud is for looks I'd just throw on e36 suspension, use adjustable top mounts and wishbone bushes to dial in the geo settings and don't destroy a set of 5 stud wheels

Failing that, speak to image wheels and get some nice dished splits made to order

[ross_jsy]

M3 gear comes up from time to time. A wanted ad will probably yield results.

But as Kos said, just use e36 m3 evo bits if it's for looks

[Blitz]

Or get wheels that actually fit. All this agro to fit some wheels makes no sense.