E30 Zone

I intend to write a decent 5 stud WiKi page over the next few weeks. I have held off this long as I want to get my sollution fully aligned and measured before I post up all about it (even before adding camber or setting toe on the front and rear it feels very nice BTW). There's no point till you have accurate numbers.

I might put some bits and bobs about suspension alignment and geometry and what is desirable/affects of each in there aswell.

Then when I get all shitty and write one word replies like "Search" I have a good reason..

Those of you that have any good reasource and or questions/comments, post them here so I can collate some good stuff.

Basically I hope it will list the ways you can do the front and rear, along with vehicles they come from, BMW part numbers and any tools you may require.

As it is I have fitted full M3 to one of my cars, and to the other I have fitted full MCoupé (rear AND front).

I will NOT entertain the idea of doing it a cheap way. After loads of research I can safely conclude there is NO way to do this on the cheap, and I am quite hard line about that fact. Sub-standard alignment and geometry specs are not something I would reccomend to anyone. I (believe it or not) have a bachelors degree in Automotive engineering and stand firm on my oppinion. LOL. DONT even get me STARTED on using spacers/adaptors.. OK?

Jai

jaistanley wrote:I intend to write a decent 5 stud WiKi page over the next few weeks. I have held off this long as I want to get my sollution fully aligned and measured before I post up all about it (even before adding camber or setting toe on the front and rear it feels very nice BTW). There's no point till you have accurate numbers.

I might put some bits and bobs about suspension alignment and geometry and what is desirable/affects of each in there aswell.

Then when I get all shitty and write one word replies like "Search" I have a good reason..

Those of you that have any good reasource and or questions/comments, post them here so I can collate some good stuff.

Basically I hope it will list the ways you can do the front and rear, along with vehicles they come from, BMW part numbers and any tools you may require.

As it is I have fitted full M3 to one of my cars, and to the other I have fitted full MCoupé (rear AND front).

I will NOT entertain the idea of doing it a cheap way. After loads of research I can safely conclude there is NO way to do this on the cheap, and I am quite hard line about that fact. Sub-standard alignment and geometry specs are not something I would reccomend to anyone. I (believe it or not) have a bachelors degree in Automotive engineering and stand firm on my oppinion. LOL. DONT even get me STARTED on using spacers/adaptors.. OK?

Jai

Interesting stuff - probably not something I will ever attempt, but out of interest, what areas of the geometry are adversely affected in using the 'mix and match' 5 stud set up favoured by some?

With the front end using the wrong E36 parts will give a greatly reduced castor and camber..

Is there anything wrong with using the e36 compact rear end? I'd heard they were basically identical to the e30, measurement wise.

Nothing wrong with any of the Compact/ti/M3/E30/MCoupé rear ends. As long as the wheel offset and brake caliper piston diameters are correctly matched front and rear. They can all yield the same geometry. They just all have different wheel offset requirements.

I chose the ZMCoupé rear end as it had the uprated stuff like brakes, driveshafts, strengthening ribs and matched my brakes and wheel offset front to rear.

Jai

jaistanley wrote:Nothing wrong with any of the Compact/ti/M3/E30/MCoupé rear ends. As long as the wheel offset and brake caliper piston diameters are correctly matched front and rear. They can all yield the same geometry. They just all have different wheel offset requirements.

I chose the ZMCoupé rear end as it had the uprated stuff like brakes, driveshafts, strengthening ribs and matched my brakes and wheel offset front to rear.

Jai

Oh right, cool.

hi
i was just about to start a post for this,iv seen them before but heard different things.
im clear on sorting out the back end
on the front, is it possible to just fit E30 M3 bearings to the standard stub axles?
cheers daz

Excellent question! I need an answer on this too.
Great idea fella, it would be very handy to know what option requires what offset.

Is there a reason why E30's use 4 instead of 5 stud.

Thanks Jai, About time some one did this. Instead of hearing (he said she said) from people that have never done it and never will.

No probs.

You can't use the E30 M3 hub or wheel bearing on a normal E30 hub. The diameters of the stub axles are different and the parts aren't interchangeable.. You have to transplant the entire hub/bearing/strut assembly from the E30 M3.

I have seen on E30.de some adaptor hubs that will bolt to the E30 stub axle and give E30M3 offset hubs. At least I think I have, my German is about as good as my swahili.

Jai

Apologies if I'm missing the point, but why do a 5-stud conversion? Is it just for wheel choice?

I can see with Jai's it offers considerable potential for braking upgrades as a side effect, but if you use componentry of any lesser standard (ie e36 compact bits) then it can't possibly be worth it?

daz wrote:is it possible to just fit E30 M3 bearings to the standard stub axles?
cheers daz

As Jai says, no its not.

On the rear you can fit the M3 hub to a normal E30 arm though but you will need the M3 disc and all associated brake parts to go with the hub to make it work. It's what I did, and its not a cheap road to go down if your buying new from BMW!

Good idea Jai

jaistanley wrote: I have seen on E30.de some adaptor hubs that will bolt to the E30 stub axle and give E30M3 offset hubs.

I think those adaptors will give closer to E36 offset for the front, but if you use the E36 compact rear stuff, that will be ok. But the price is......

On the subject of e30.de, I noticed that they have withdrawn the pages detailing the E36 5 stud conversion (for the front), due to safety issues from what I can understand - my German isnt great either.

im gona blank that idea then, 1x e30 m3 front axle stub = £500+!!!!

i think i can live with 4 wheel bolts haha

Hey mate, just wondering did you get a chance to finish this articule

Not yet, new job and 'missus' has soaked up article time.. I'll get it done though!

Regards,

Jai

Blitz wrote:Is there a reason why E30's use 4 instead of 5 stud.

Think its just old/smaller car technology.

the e30's m3's 5 lug set up has bigger hubs and bearings on the front

ARB pick up points on the front are different

i do beilve there is some difference in geometry which makes it out handle 4 lug cars

it was built with motorsport in mind, so there is a good reason behind it, but the above points are some that i know of

djk wrote:Apologies if I'm missing the point, but why do a 5-stud conversion? Is it just for wheel choice?

I can see with Jai's it offers considerable potential for braking upgrades as a side effect, but if you use componentry of any lesser standard (ie e36 compact bits) then it can't possibly be worth it?

wheel choice, brake options, suspension options mainly all on the front but most will do it for wheel choice

jmc330i wrote: On the subject of e30.de, I noticed that they have withdrawn the pages detailing the E36 5 stud conversion (for the front), due to safety issues from what I can understand - my German isnt great either.

Has anybody got any further info on this. I only ask ive got a 5stud setup using the e36 m3 and evo bits.

Thanks in advance, Ben