E36 Dampers and E30 topmounts question

[SCOTT325SE]

Right guys, Im sure someone has done this before so I'll just ask it.

I am intending to fit some E36 hubs/struts/brakes next week and want to check that I can use the following...

E36 (328) struts and bearings (with modified wishbones and eccentric bushes for castor correction),
E36 springs (will be having a M50/52 fitted as a 'stop-gap' engine)
E36 Dampers

I have already noted that the top mounts on the strut are different between E30 and E36, and the bearing appears to be narrower on the e30 than the e36.
Could someone please tell me what combnation of damper/top mount I need please?

Many thanks.

[Ant]

Scott, hold fire on that dude !

banana wishbones are not the correct way IMHO.

[SCOTT325SE]

Scott, hold fire on that dude !

banana wishbones are not the correct way IMHO.

I know, but they get the car to a rolling chassis standard while i move the car in and out of the garage. Thats all they're here for. End result will be M3 suspension but that has to wait a little.

THEORETICALLY,
whats the combo Sir?

[DanThe]

Not the 'correct' way but they do work and are a damn sight cheaper than M3 struts

[mick_318is]

I'm not sure the E36 328 struts will work either.
As the external diameter of the springs is larger than the E30 springs.

Thats why you need the E36 M3 struts as they have use the same spring diameter of the E30.

From what I have "read" you can get the e36 328 struts to fit however they hit the chassis mounting when you try to adjust to the correct camber.

Please note I have only read this on several forums not experienced it myself.

[SCOTT325SE]

my week off work has commenced!

okay, so another question maybe..... can E30 dampers be fitted to E36 struts?

anyone?

[bss325i]

my week off work has commenced!

okay, so another question maybe..... can E30 dampers be fitted to E36 struts?

anyone?

No as E30 dampers are inserts which fit inside a strut.

E36 damper is integral to the strut.

Dont use those "heated up and bent" wishbones you bought from FMH as they are potentially leathal.

They are cast iron which can potentially fracture if its been heated and bent.

Not only that, the geometory will be out.

Look for threads by Jaistanly as he has used E36 parts to get sensible geometory.

I think along the lines of,

E30 top mounts
E30 springs
E36 M3 EVO struts and hubs
E36 EVO wishbones
E30 M3 eccentric wishbone bushes

[tommy22]

E30 top mounts
E30 springs
E36 M3 EVO struts and hubs
E36 EVO wishbones
E30 M3 eccentric wishbone bushes

me and penton08 have used this set up and the wheels sit where they should

[SCOTT325SE]

'Trev', the parts are simply to get the chassis down on 4 wheels so I can work on it and move it around. The car wont be on the road until next year, when E36 M3 Evo stuff will have been sourced and fitted.

I am looking for a way to get the stuff I currently have to a point where I can actually move it out of the garage and give the thing a wash.