custom wheel spacers

[deacon4100]

pardon me if this has been discussed to death but i searched the archives and didn't see anything....anybody know of a machine shop that will do a custom spacer to put a 5xXXX mm wheel on the e30 4x100 hub?

i've emailed a few spacer companies and can't get anyone to bite. the closest i got was a somewhat crotchety old guy from wheelspacers.com that said he had the ability but wouldn't do it because they would need to be two pieces and when he had done it before he got complaints from the buyer because they didn't know how to install them properly. i really don't know what would be so difficult about installing a two piece spacer. although i do understand the limitations of material shear strengths dependent upon how far apart the bolt patterns are.

at any rate, i'm just wondering if somebody has done this or knows of another solution cuz' i'm not willing (at the moment) to buck up for the 5 lug conversion.
TIA,
anthony

[Bitchin'e30]

What you want to do is ghetto, that is why not many people make spacers that do it.

Convert to a 5 lug suspension setup, its not that expensive.

[deacon4100]

i agree, it is a bit 'round the hood and i wouldn't do it if it couldn't be done safely. my problem is that i didn't consider wheel fitments when i got a screamin' good deal on a set of H&R coilovers. don't you need to go to an entirely different hub wheel bearing spindle for the 5 lug conversion?

[bimmerdremer]

There is most definately a safe way to do it. I dont know the name offhand but there was a post in "most beatiful e30" here or on Maxbimmer.com that makes BMW 4x100 to Porsche 5x???. They are street only though, no racing. And I believe they are only about $200 less than doing a full conversion. So if your stuck with your coilovers and dont plan to race, check it out. Other wise do the correct conversion and you will have an oem 5lug e30.

[deacon4100]

thanks for the info, i'll search around as you have noted. while i don't actually race, i do autocross and track events in the car. i'm really just interested in the 5xXXX's for a decent decent of street wheels and would keep a standard set of 4x100 wheels for the track.