5-lug swap how-to 2021

[MrriS]

I know there are numerous topics on the subject, tho most of them outdated or perhaps quite specific in an uncommon approach (like the route Turbo-brown has gone down).

My aim is to compile an overview of the various possibilities to go 5lug. I'll update the first post with any usefull info I can find or that one of you ads further in the topic..

Cool? Hope so, encountered more than a few people that where looking for a comprehensive write-up on the subject..

Since front and rear offer various solutions they are described separately

Front axle

https://clipzmotorsport.com/shop/e30/fr ... 5x120-hub/
Simple solution, keep stock calipers and suspension parts.
But at that cost I would prefer getting a brake upgrade too.
You have to redrill your discs or keep buying their expensive multi-lug discs.

411€ for the kit without ABS

https://srs-concept.com/product/e30-5-l ... ront-rear/
great company, looks nice quality, gets good reviews
you have too swap to E36 knuckles, springs and dampers. And then compensate for the loss of built in caster in the E30 front that you loose by going E36, the SRS kit provides "lollipops" that correct this.

For the E36 spring and damper swap there's a coilover kit from HSD: https://www.hsdcoilovers.com/hsd-coilov ... -hubs.html
I'm not exaclty shure but it appears to fit an E30 strut tower and allows an E36 knuckle.. thats money

Front only: 209$ + E36 springs, dampers, knuckles etc..

https://www.300mm.de/product_info.php?products_id=93
awesomeness
expensive .. I could go in to detail, but it's quit straight forward: you pick the brake set up you want, spend loads of cash and get a brilliant kit.

https://epytec.de/en/brake-system/adapt ... 5-hole-hub
cheap
freedom of choice in other components to mix and match
My personal favorite atm. You buy 2 kits, one to mount the E36/E46 hub and one to mount the E36/E46 brakes
If I'm correct you can then also use Z4 hubs in the rear and that would make it a complete kit, but I havent found adapter brackets for the rear E36/E46 calipers yet. If I do i can finally swap


Rear axle

various hubs will fit, it’s sorting the track width and getting a bracket to fit a descent caliper, descent calipers and brake discs that pose a challenge.
This lists 4 out of 5 populair options, Still not shure on what the Z3 hub does.

starting from the E30 hub being 0mm
Z4 -> + 2,5mm
M3 E30 -> +5mm
E36 compact hub -> +19mm
E36 compact axle is 20mm wider each side

The SRS concept rear kit uses Z4 hubs and 294mm 328ci rear discs and calipers (which are the largest ones that use the E30 handbrake)

https://srs-concept.com/product/e30-5-l ... rsion-kit/


Complete swaps

https://clipzmotorsport.com/shop/e30/fr ... i-lug-kit/
keep calipers and suspension
spend 1k and you can fit other wheels.. geometry stays perfectly E30, no hastle, swap and play.

https://www.irp.lt/individual-racing-pa ... nd-brakes/
nice and somewhat knowledgeable guys
track width widens 24mm front and narrows (? it's what the guys told me via mail, I'm confused because everybody else says it widens 2,5mm) in the back due to Z4 hubs

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anz ... 2-223-2581
reseanoble value
offers brake upgrade (e36 328i)
rear brake calipers E30 325i (or in my case 318iS/stock)
discs are just 258*10 (same size as stock). Andreas (the guy who sells the kit) says he can deliver a 5x120 brake disc in 258x10mm but the dude is an absolute nightmare to communicate with, so I gave up on this option.
caliper carrier has to be machined.


I spent quit some time researching all of this, bothering nice people like Simon from SRS who has been an absolute saint answering all my questions. Hopefully this topic will be of use to all of us wanting to upgrade their brakes and get a wider variaty of wheel choice!

Looking forward to youre input!

[flybynite]

Rear axle

various hubs will fit, it’s sorting the track width and getting a bracket to fit a descent caliper, descent calipers and brake discs that pose a challenge.
This lists 4 out of 5 populair options, Still not shure on what the Z3 hub does.

starting from the E30 hub being 0mm
Z4 -> + 2,5mm
M3 E30 -> +5mm
E36 compact hub -> +19mm
E36 compact axle is 20mm wider each side

Good writeup!

As far as the rear goes, Z3 hubs are the 'classic way', about +20 and allow you to run E36 offset wheels.

The SR concept rear kit uses Z4 hubs and 294mm 328ci rear discs and calipers (which are the largest ones that use the E30 handbrake)

https://srs-concept.com/product/e30-5-l ... rsion-kit/

AFAIK they are +2.5 and allows flexibility in rear wheel choice

Unfortunately the design of the E30 front hub carrier has a built-in offset for the strut. Any of the more modern ones do not and leave the strut at a steeper caster angle

[MrriS]

Great, thanks for the appreciation and the extra info! I'll add it to the writeup

[spannerrash]

Awesome thanks for sharing this info. Seems to be a few different ways to go about this, but I recently took receipt of the SRS Concept complete kit which I will be combining with HSD Monopro coilovers that are for E30's with E36 hubs.

Really hoping it all fits together nicely. When I eventually get to it, I'm intending to explain and document the whole thing on Youtube if anyone is interested.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCs ... rFSAZZVaEd

[MrriS]

Awesome thanks for sharing this info. Seems to be a few different ways to go about this, but I recently took receipt of the SRS Concept complete kit which I will be combining with HSD Monopro coilovers that are for E30's with E36 hubs.

Really hoping it all fits together nicely. When I eventually get to it, I'm intending to explain and document the whole thing on Youtube if anyone is interested.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCs ... rFSAZZVaEd

I am INCREDEBLY INTERESTED Will investigate the coilovers for shure.. Simon from SRS would be my choice too if i'd go for coils.

Now i'm in hoping that Epytec will design a rear bracket for the E36 328i brakes so i can puzzle a kit together with those..

[flybynite]

Now i'm in hoping that Epytec will design a rear bracket for the E36 328i brakes so i can puzzle a kit together with those..

SRS already do, I have a set and linked to them above

[MrriS]

Now i'm in hoping that Epytec will design a rear bracket for the E36 328i brakes so i can puzzle a kit together with those..

SRS already do, I have a set and linked to them above

Those are for E46 brakes .. that's overkill for me. I had them allready in the write up as most of you aren't shy of some serious brakes

[MrriS]

Awesome thanks for sharing this info. Seems to be a few different ways to go about this, but I recently took receipt of the SRS Concept complete kit which I will be combining with HSD Monopro coilovers that are for E30's with E36 hubs.

Really hoping it all fits together nicely. When I eventually get to it, I'm intending to explain and document the whole thing on Youtube if anyone is interested.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCs ... rFSAZZVaEd

adding these: https://www.hsdcoilovers.com/hsd-coilov ... -hubs.html to the write up, very interesting option, not to expensive.. I was eyeballing a set of BC racings because of the adjustability and price.. but this

[spannerrash]

adding these: https://www.hsdcoilovers.com/hsd-coilov ... -hubs.html to the write up, very interesting option, not to expensive.. I was eyeballing a set of BC racings because of the adjustability and price.. but this

Hey MrriS, I remembered this thread, if you're interested I got the 5-lug swap done and documented it, here are the vids explaining everything used.
Rear swap:
Front swap:

Really happy with the results! Fitment seems spot on with the 16" E38 style-5 wheels. Hope that's of some use to you mate.

[MrriS]

Hey MrriS, I remembered this thread, if you're interested I got the 5-lug swap done and documented it, here are the vids explaining everything used.

Really happy with the results! Fitment seems spot on with the 16" E38 style-5 wheels. Hope that's of some use to you mate.

Thanks!! I will definitely take a look!