fitting m3 suspension

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:31 pm

what is required to fit m3 suspension to a non m3 e30?

Is it a case of new hubs and brakes? or am i going to need a selection of m3 parts?

Also i have seen that you can use some e36 compact parts on the rear for 5 stud conversion-ness, are these parts anything like the m3 stuff?

Its something i couldnt check myself at the moment as i dont have the car, so im just wondering if anyone else has done it or knows what needs doing?

Thanks!

Chris

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:51 pm

Why are you looking to fit them?

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:29 pm

you will need the whole front legs I am afraid --> £££££
There was a whole set in the for sale a few days back, think KARAN is the seller. Reasonable priced IMHO

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:21 pm

UweM3 wrote:you will need the whole front legs I am afraid --> £££££
There was a whole set in the for sale a few days back, think KARAN is the seller. Reasonable priced IMHO

Fair do's. i contacted that karan yesterday and its all been sold unfortunatly. i kind of jumped into buying some competition suspension for an m3 planning on doing the 5 stud conversion and the parts to be a bit more easily available.

As im not in a major rush so i guess i'll just have to wait around for some to appear somewhere.

What do i actually need on the front as i have found bearings/hubs and m3 wishbones/control arms on various sites in america, and other than calipers and brakes, what else is there?

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:37 pm

The front struts are m3 specific, as are the brake calipers and carriers. I was recently selling some along with the rears and must have had 50 enquiries about them - good luck with your search!

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:42 pm

i have everything you need to fit m3 susp to a non e30. its gonna cost ya tho

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:51 pm

1775 wrote:i have everything you need to fit m3 susp to a non e30. its gonna cost ya tho

Message/PM me some detail/information mate, if the price is reasonable then im interested!

Cheers

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:46 pm

Right this is what i have for the front to to help give an idea of what i have and what parts i require (preferably m3 stuff) or any other ways in which to make them fit?

M3 strut:

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:06 am

i have an m3 that im selling the parts from. you can take anything you need for 450

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:18 am

1775 i'm interested mate give ya 400 for it

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:59 am

stof wrote:Right this is what i have for the front to to help give an idea of what i have and what parts i require (preferably m3 stuff) or any other ways in which to make them fit?

M3 strut:

That's good news. Is the strut complete? Spring, platform etc?
Do you have the steering ball joint brackets as well (bolts to underside of strut with 4x M8 screws ---> £££'s!)

All missing parts can be bought from KW, but they add up. I have two new unused top hats for this strut if you haven't got some.

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:41 am

Well.. You need A LOT of things..

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:45 am

He has the all important struts though!

You wont be a happy bunny when you see the prices of the ball joint brackets and wheel bearings though!

On the rear end you can fit new e30 m3 hubs to a standard e30 trailing arm, but again they are very costly. The brake carriers are m3 specific front and rear, as are the front calipers. The rear calipers are also found on the E32 730i and 735i with the 6cyl M30 engine.

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:25 pm

IF this would be my suspension I would not use the M3 front brakes full stop.
I am running a disk from Merc SL129 with calipers from E32 735i. Needs a bit of machining
but nothing too dramatic and will improve brakes A LOT.
Also wheel bearings can be used from E28 (any model) but if you want to run the E30 ABS you need to swap ABS rings (not a big deal either)

Rears I am planning to use E36 M3 calipers and disks with a reducer ring to get the handbrake drum back to the diameter of E30 (to use E30 handbrake shoes). I have beel told that this will bolt on without mods but haven't got round to verify this myself.

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:35 pm

UweM3 wrote:IF this would be my suspension I would not use the M3 front brakes full stop.
I am running a disk from Merc SL129 with calipers from E32 735i. Needs a bit of machining
but nothing too dramatic and will improve brakes A LOT.
Also wheel bearings can be used from E28 (any model) but if you want to run the E30 ABS you need to swap ABS rings (not a big deal either)

Rears I am planning to use E36 M3 calipers and disks with a reducer ring to get the handbrake drum back to the diameter of E30 (to use E30 handbrake shoes). I have beel told that this will bolt on without mods but haven't got round to verify this myself.

Interesting.

I was thinking of offering a rear brake upgrade for the M3. 300mm vented disc from an e34 m5 with an m5 caliper and adpator brackets to suit and an insert in the drum to allow use of the standard handbrake.

However, if the E36 M3 bits pretty much bolt on there isn't much point.

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:37 pm

Theo325 wrote:
UweM3 wrote: However, if the E36 M3 bits pretty much bolt on there isn't much point.

Don't take my word for it just now. I haven't had a look myself.

I have made a write up for the wheel bearings. Don't know if you can see the thread without signing up
http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.ph ... el+bearing

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:38 pm

Hi guys, i have been unnessisarily banned as stof for some reason, so this is now me..

Thanks for all the replies.

That's good news. Is the strut complete? Spring, platform etc?
Do you have the steering ball joint brackets as well (bolts to underside of strut with 4x M8 screws ---> £££'s!)

All missing parts can be bought from KW, but they add up. I have two new unused top hats for this strut if you haven't got some.

i have the following:

I dont have the steering ball joint brackets, but i was in the middle of trying to sort out some rear trailing arms, hubs, discs, calipers and front struts complete all of an M3, which will just leave me with the front hubs, discs, and calipers i think.

I need to find some front hubs, so if anyone has any please PM me

As for the front brakes i was going to get the wilwood 4 potness kit when it was 4 stud, so i might see if an m3 kit is available?

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:57 pm

The brackets are ~£200 a side..

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:06 pm

why are they so much, could probably get them machined for less.

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:16 pm

You can't.. I know someone who has looked into it!

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:48 pm

why do the brackets cost £200 a side? are they made out of space grade titanium?

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:01 am

I have no idea, but that is the price from BMW

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:02 am

baptie0 wrote:why do the brackets cost £200 a side? are they made out of space grade titanium?

they are cast iron. They would be easy to make if the ball joint points wouldn't be out of plane (if that makes sense).

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:03 am

chrisroberts wrote:Hi guys, i have been unnessisarily banned as stof for some reason, so this is now me..

Thanks for all the replies.

That's good news. Is the strut complete? Spring, platform etc?
Do you have the steering ball joint brackets as well (bolts to underside of strut with 4x M8 screws ---> £££'s!)

All missing parts can be bought from KW, but they add up. I have two new unused top hats for this strut if you haven't got some.
i have the following:

I dont have the steering ball joint brackets, but i was in the middle of trying to sort out some rear trailing arms, hubs, discs, calipers and front struts complete all of an M3, which will just leave me with the front hubs, discs, and calipers i think.

I need to find some front hubs, so if anyone has any please PM me

As for the front brakes i was going to get the wilwood 4 potness kit when it was 4 stud, so i might see if an m3 kit is available?

you just need wheelbearings for the front. They include the hubs.
Would you mind reading the spring rates (printed on the springs) and post them up?

I might be mistaken but to me it looks like you are missing someting to centre the rear spring on the trailing arm. the adjuster for the rear sit's on top of the springs, not on the trailing arm.

This is a Variant 2 kit I take it? (bump AND rebound adjustable)

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:54 am

http://www.kw-suspension.co.uk/kw-produ ... p?vid=1692 its the 2-way competition stuff.

I know theres like a spacer thing to go between the main spring and helper spring, but dont know about the thing to center them on the trailing arm. I thought the trailing arm has the centreing mount thing on it? Are they not just plonked on there.. or am i being stupid

http://www.passracing.com/e30%20trailing%20arm2.jpg

i'll check the spring rates for you when i get home.

There was some front leda struts complete with hubs discs, caliper, and the ball joint brackets that went on ebay the other day for quite a decent price, wish i bid on them now, £200 on some brackets would be rediculous.

Does anyone have any pictures of these brackets, id be interested to know if i could get some made up at work if this guy doesnt have them?

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:59 pm

Rear springs are 180 - 100*

Front springs are 160 - 140*

Thats what they have on them

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:58 pm

chrisroberts wrote:Rear springs are 180 - 100*

Front springs are 160 - 140*

Thats what they have on them

That's almost what I am running. That is pretty hard at the front BTW!

What is the main use of the car, I hope not road.

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:06 pm

UweM3 wrote:
That's almost what I am running. That is pretty hard at the front BTW!

What is the main use of the car, I hope not road.

Track, some single venue stage stuff, odd hillclimb etc. Wont be used on the road. When the cars complete i'll get it corner weighed/set up properly.

you dont happen to know if E36 m3 front hubs will fit these struts do you?

cheers!

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:09 pm

Standard M3 brakes are up to pulling up my V8 touring, ask Uwe. If I could get the M3 stuff again, I would, but credit crunch circumstances, I'm using the 4 stud stuff. Though I have a sweet set of wheels, same as jhonno\'s but different offsets and widths.

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:23 pm

oze30 wrote:Standard M3 brakes are up to pulling up my V8 touring, ask Uwe. If I could get the M3 stuff again, I would, but credit crunch circumstances, I'm using the 4 stud stuff. Though I have a sweet set of wheels, same as jhonno\'s but different offsets and widths.

for road maybe the brakes are fine, but no way on track.

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:32 pm

Brakes were better on the track. Grip levels are better so you can stomp harder if needed. But ideally, yes, for road work, they are good.

Post Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:51 pm

This is how far forward the Tree house racing bush puts the wheel forward.

Post Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:06 pm

oze30 wrote:This is how far forward the Tree house racing bush puts the wheel forward.

It should not move it any more forward than the excentric M3 bush.

Post Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:48 pm

I wasn't sure if the M3 eccentric was the same. Thanks Uwe! How's the project going?

Post Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:52 pm

UweM3 wrote:
Theo325 wrote:
UweM3 wrote: However, if the E36 M3 bits pretty much bolt on there isn't much point.
Don't take my word for it just now. I haven't had a look myself.

I have made a write up for the wheel bearings. Don't know if you can see the thread without signing up
http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.ph ... el+bearing

Had a quick look today and E36 M3 REAR calipers do NOT bolt to the E30 trailing arms.