E30 Zone

How to change from 4 to 5 lug?

I would like to know the different ways of doing this please.
and which ways are the most cost effective, safest, worst etc..

thanks

full e30 m3 suspensionl, or you could go the e36 compact way.

e36 compact cheaper

Problem with both KOS and Stevetiggers suggestions is that we here in South Africa never had any of the models (E30 M3 E36 Compact) mentioned. Damn I can do nasty things to BMW SA' s managment for not bringing the E30 M3 to our shores

So there are a few other suggestions. Here goes.

1. 325Box, you need to source a 325IS suspension.
2. Redrill the hubs
3. Adaptor plates

I am also interested in this mod

Could you not use a Z3 rather than an E36 compact??

Motorhole wrote:Could you not use a Z3 rather than an E36 compact??

Z3 and Z4 suspension will both work i believe!

Cam you literally just offer up the z3/4 or compact suspension and it will mount ok on the steering rack, wishbones and the arb links up front. And what about the rear. Is there a combination of bits you need?

Surely Z4 suspension would offer a considerable handling improvement also...after all it is supposed to be a massive improvement on the Z3!?

yes but it would cost a fortune. Not everyone has Ԛ£Ã”šÃ‚£Ãƒ”šÃ‚£s to lavish on their cars
surely e36 compact or z3 would be a more viable option pricewise

Z3 M on the left, standard E30 on the right
Much larger hub, but almost identical apart from the gusset
Dont know if the standard Z3 is the same though

i wonder if this would correct + camber from lowering because in the photo it looks like the hub is at a different angle

does the abs still work using e36 stuff ??

Cant see why not, have to use the E36 sensors though

To much caster if you're going to swap to E36 suspension at the front.

Aico wrote:To much caster if you're going to swap to E36 suspension at the front.

Not if you use eccentric bushes

Even then there is way to much castor. Bushings or even a fully adjustable uniball at the rear of the controlarm won't do the trick.

glenns m5 powered e30 seemed ok,and there are other people using e36 front legs so i dont think its a problem.

It does fit, no problem there. You can just drive the car, no problem either. You just will lose front end grip because of the castor. If it's a street machine then you might not even notice it. The E30 already understeers from the factory and now you make it understeer even more. There are people who are racing with this kind of set-up, but it doesn't mean it drives really well. It can be corrected with massive neg camber, but that's only usefull for racingcars.

Aico wrote: The E30 already understeers from the factory and now you make it understeer even more.

Never noticed that before.....

kam-325i wrote:

Aico wrote: The E30 already understeers from the factory and now you make it understeer even more.

Never noticed that before.....

It does, trust me! When taken on a track and driven smoothly and precisely for fast laps, it tends towards understeer. Oversteer arrives with heavy-footedness and raggy steering (And naturally unpredicable road surfaces when not on the track!). A slight tendancy towards understeer when driven properly is the sign of a very well set up car you know!

Well what about the Z3 front arms?
Or Z4 arnt they near enough the same

The E30 and E36 control arms are the same. The problem is not the control arm, but the design of the E36 hub.

So apart from E30 M3, what would be the ideal cost effective alternative