Does anyone have a new diff.

[Greenbeast]

How much would a new diff cost me, where can I get one, how much of a difference is there, is it worth the money.

[BAADDOG]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
How much would a new diff cost me, where can I get one, how much of a difference is there, is it worth the money.

Hi Hick,

Is Hick u real name? :)

I have a new 3.46 diff w/40% lsd.

Lays the power down on the turn out and is more difficult to induce oversteer.

It is a Jim Blanton diff, at $1795.00.

Take a look at BMP for diffs.

Where are u really from??

[Greenbeast]

hey no Hick isn't my real name, it's Tyler. I'm from Springfield, Missouri.

Gees I didnt think that they would be so expensive but most everything is for BMWs.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
How much would a new diff cost me, where can I get one, how much of a difference is there, is it worth the money.

I have a 3.38 LSD with a 25% lockup.. it cost me $850 and yes theres a huge difference. I think its worth the $1100 overall spent. $1800+ labor is a bit high for my taste on this mod. Oh I also had a 2.93 stock ratio.. the M3 manual has a 3.23 ratio on the 3.2Ls.

[BAADDOG]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
hey no Hick isn't my real name, it's Tyler. I'm from Springfield, Missouri.

Gees I didnt think that they would be so expensive but most everything is for BMWs.

Tyler,

I was jus pullin u leg a little. :)

[Greenbeast]

Willy what kind of diff. do you have. Would I be able to install it myself or is it way to hard.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
Willy what kind of diff. do you have. Would I be able to install it myself or is it way to hard.

Its from a 96+ E36 M3 automatic... Its not way hard to install if u have the tools.. like air guns and a lift.. a stand to hold the 75lbs diff when u bolt it directly under the car while alighning it up with the crankshaft and driveshafts. ;) Get it...

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
Willy what kind of diff. do you have. Would I be able to install it myself or is it way to hard.
The install is damn easy. All you need is basic hand tools, a pair of ramps (or jack stands) and a floor jack. The diff is heavy, but once the back tires are on the ramps, you can use the floor jack to lift the diff in to place. No big deal.

[CarbonBlkE36]

on my 99 M3 i put a diff from a 97 Auto M3.... not sure what the ratios are..... but i know there is a difference.... anyone can tell me what i went to from what???

[232is PoWeR]

you prolly went from a 323 to a 338.....how much differnce did you notice??

[Stylin]

Originally posted by 232is PoWeR
you prolly went from a 323 to a 338.....how much differnce did you notice??

Yup.. on a 99' M3.. stock is a 3.23.. u went to a 3.38.

[CarbonBlkE36]

not too much of a difference......... but ehh

[The Tick]

I went from 3.15 to 3.91. I got the diff off an automatic 325i at a salvage yard for $800. No mod will give you more bang for the buck.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by The Tick
I went from 3.15 to 3.91. I got the diff off an automatic 325i at a salvage yard for $800. No mod will give you more bang for the buck.

Depends how much u get the diff for.. ;)

[Greenbeast]

is a higher # better or is a lower # better. I get so confused on all this stuff.

Grrr why do i have to be so stupid.

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
is a higher # better or is a lower # better. I get so confused on all this stuff.

Grrr why do i have to be so stupid.
Higher is better, if you want your car to be quicker.....

[Russell328is]

You guys are making me want to do this, but I do so much high speed highway driving that it would be reaaaaaly pointless.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by Russell328is
You guys are making me want to do this, but I do so much high speed highway driving that it would be reaaaaaly pointless.

It depends russell.. i do a lot of highway driving also.. I can live with were my rpms are at now.. any higher I would hate myself.

[Greenbeast]

Would I be able to put an automatic diff on my car(i have a stick), if so should I get a 4:10 ratio from an auto or just get a 3:45 ratio for a stick. I really want to do this but it just seems so expensive, but speed costs $$$$$.

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
Would I be able to put an automatic diff on my car
Yup as long as the auto diff has the same case design. E36 325/328/M3 diffs are interchangable, E36 318i/is uses a smaller ring gear and the 318ti/z3 diif has a totally different case, but should be interchangable with E30 diffs.

[332 RustBucket]

Don't get a 4:10, you will be shifting every 2 seconds. I am going with a 3:45 on my car. I have a 3:15.:)

[Bernman]

Originally posted by Stylin
Its from a 96+ E36 M3 automatic...when u bolt it directly under the car while alighning it up with the crankshaft and driveshafts.Willy, I thought the M3 diff didn't bolt right up to the axles, and driveshafts on a regular E36. If it does, this sounds like the next change that I would like to make to my car. :)

Bernman
94 325is with M suspension (mostly)

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by Bernman
Willy, I thought the M3 diff didn't bolt right up to the axles, and driveshafts on a regular E36. If it does, this sounds like the next change that I would like to make to my car. :)
It'll bolt right up to a 325. You may have to put the flanges from your original diff on the M3 one though. It takes about 2 sec to swap them.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by bimmer95

It'll bolt right up to a 325. You may have to put the flanges from your original diff on the M3 one though. It takes about 2 sec to swap them.

Yup.. u have to swap the flanges from the 2 diffs to fit.. but it works.. I went from a 2.93 to a 3.38. :)

[Steve Faust]

What diff. is stock in a 1994 318i? What do you guys recommend for quicker acceleration? what is the top speed of your recommendation? Thanks

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by Steve Faust
What diff. is stock in a 1994 318i? What do you guys recommend for quicker acceleration? what is the top speed of your recommendation? Thanks
The 318i has a smaller ring gear than the 325/328/M3 so you're somewhat limited in your diff choices. Probably your best bet would be to find the diff out of a 318i automatic if yours is a 5-speed.

[CarbonBlkE36]

ummm.... i'll sell my differential.... i took it off my car when it had 11,000 miles.... will take resonable offers..... :)

[CarbonBlkE36]

mines a 3.23 99 M3

[Greenbeast]

Hey Willy, after you got you new diff. in did it help alot or just a little. I really want to get a new one I just want to make sure it's worth it.

[GR8 Ride]

Here's a quick question for those that may have done this.

The 96+ rear diff's all have a 6 bolt pattern on the driveshaft flange for the diff. Prior to that, it was a 4 bolt pattern.

Now forgive, I haven't taken a close look at this. But it sounds like it's possible to change this flange in a matter of minutes. My presumption was this flange (on the diff, not the driveshaft) was welded on, and would need to be either welded on again, or a driveshaft change to take place in order to swap the diff?

Am I wrong in this? Is the flange on the rear diff simply a bolt-in/bolt-out arrangement?

Pat

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by Bad-Karma
Am I wrong in this? Is the flange on the rear diff simply a bolt-in/bolt-out arrangement?
Yes and yes.

[Stylin]

Originally posted by hickbeamer
Hey Willy, after you got you new diff. in did it help alot or just a little. I really want to get a new one I just want to make sure it's worth it.

It helped my acceleration a lot.. top end isnt bad.. Im reving at 3700 crusing at 80mph. I'll top out at around 135 i believe. Ive raced slightly modded M3's and kept right with them. :) It really depends on how much higher u go with the gearing. But too high isnt good either coz u'll spend too much time shifting.. running through the gears at low RPMs quick as hell. Not to mention ur going to hate urself on the highway.

[GR8 Ride]

Okay, I've done some digging on this.

Yes, changing the flange is a bolt-on arrangement, however, the bearing *may* be affected by this. We've looked into it, and everybody I talk to is suggesting that changing the flange from 6-bolt to 4-bolt (or vice versa) should be accompanied by changing the 2 bearings, seals and slip-on.

It's one of those recommended but optional type things. The bearing *may* fail in two years, or two weeks.

Pat

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by Bad-Karma
Yes, changing the flange is a bolt-on arrangement, however, the bearing *may* be affected by this.
Then just have the driveshaft modified. A friend of mine had a custom driveshaft made for his M3 when he changed over to a 6sp, only cost him ~$100.

[orangechicken]

Hey Bimmer95,

Could you give me that friends contact info who had the custom driveshaft made? I'd like to keep that an option if I stumble across a 6-bolter in my search.

Thanks,
Chicken

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by orangechicken
Hey Bimmer95,

Could you give me that friends contact info who had the custom driveshaft made?
He's BMLRacer here on BimmerForums and his email address is Brian@BrianLeib.com.

Really any local driveshaft shop should be able to whip one up for you though. Grab your local yellow pages and look up "automotive - driveshafts" or something like that.

[scottycs]

All 96+ m3 diffs should bolt on to a 92-95 325. Both have the 6 bolt pattern. The 95 m3 diffs are the only ones that the flanges would have to be swapped. I had a 3.23 LSD out of a 99 m3 I beleve and it bolted right up. The increase from 3.15-3.23 is barely noticeable if that, but the LSD is VERY noticeable.