I've heard they're different, but how much? I've also read up on how to change an E30 over to 5 lug, but I'm super cheap, kinda poor, and have access to a nice set of 16" E36 wheels and a machine shop. Any reason I couldn't just re-drill and tap the hubs?
OEM e36 offsets are typically between 41 and 47, they vary by wheel style. I think e30 offsets are roughly 10mm less.
As for re-drilling the wheel, I suppose it would depend upon how the 4x100 pattern would lay out, and the style of wheel.
4x100 wheels are so easy to find as compared to 5x120, it would probably be easier to look for a trade partner.
If you could just re-drill the hubs, don't you think the masses would have caught on by now? There just isn't enough material to do it.
You've got use E30 M3 $$$$$$$ or E36 fronts, Ti rear (M coupe/roadster trailing arms).
There is a TON of information on all the different ways to go 5 lug on www.r3vlimited.com in the "5 lug conversion" section.
z31maniac wrote: If you could just re-drill the hubs, don't you think the masses would have caught on by now?
Not really, most people would rather just buy stuff and bolt it on. I have more fabrication skills than I do money.
bludroptop wrote: As for re-drilling the wheel, I suppose it would depend upon how the 4x100 pattern would lay out, and the style of wheel.
I was actually considering re-drilling the hubs, not the wheels.
Anyone know the offset of the bottlecaps? I found out the wheels I have access to are "style #42" with a 46mm offset.
You need more circumference to drill the 5 lug pattern and the center is smaller (so you would need centering rings). Its doable if you have a lathe and good welding skills I suppose. I suppose if you have a lathe you can just make your own hubs too.
For the rear - you can just press in the E36 hubs using the bearings from a Z3 1.9L car and the E36 hub. The bearings are about 2x as expensive and the normal ones though as they were only used on that car. You can use the rotor from the Z3 as well but you need to move the caliper. You are better off just grabbing the whole setup off the Z3 if you aren't planning to re-engineer things.
16vCorey wrote:z31maniac wrote: If you could just re-drill the hubs, don't you think the masses would have caught on by now?Not really, most people would rather just buy stuff and bolt it on. I have more fabrication skills than I do money.
Yes, but you deleted the sentence where I told you the hub isn't physically big enough for that.
E30 is 4x100. E36 is 5x120. There is not enough meat on the e30 hubs to redrill.
Z3 and ti complete rear trailing arms pop up on ebay all the time for about $100 or so. The M coupe and Roadster trailing arms are stronger and WIDER. Might want to stick with the normal Z3 and Ti arms
z31maniac wrote:16vCorey wrote:Yes, but you deleted the sentence where I told you the hub isn't physically big enough for that.z31maniac wrote: If you could just re-drill the hubs, don't you think the masses would have caught on by now?Not really, most people would rather just buy stuff and bolt it on. I have more fabrication skills than I do money.
I know. I'm just saying that even if they were big enough, most people would still go with the bolt-on option as opposed to machine/fabrication work. I believe you.
e30 bottlecaps (14X6) offset is 33mm, iirc. e30 BBS (14X6.5) are 30mm.
The most perfect size for E30 wheels is 15x8 et20
16s do not seem bad either... and you can just about stuffs 17s, but you start losing performance and the car begins to look goofy
2002maniac wrote: The most perfect size for E30 wheels is 15x8 et20
Incorrect 17 x 8 ET 25 = 235/40/17 sexiness.
z31maniac wrote:2002maniac wrote: The most perfect size for E30 wheels is 15x8 et20Incorrect 17 x 8 ET 25 = 235/40/17 sexiness.
nope, too tall
225/45/15 on 15x8 is the best. bar none.
225/45/15 is too short. Bigger percent difference to your 15 than to my 17.
z31maniac wrote: 225/45/15 is too short. Bigger percent difference to your 15 than to my 17.
I consider that an advantage! Smaller tires:
Offer better gearing (my car has 140hp, I know yours doesnt)
Lower ride height and center of gravity
Have less problems with rubbing
True! I'd like to run the new RS-3 in that size if it wouldn't mean a huge fender gap.
I hate fender gap, but then again, I should raise it up abit. OUTRAGEOUS bumpsteer at the moment. Well when it was running anyway. 
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