Rear end ratio help. e36

[Hazem83]

Hello bimmers, i have an e36 with engine m52b25 auto transmission with an open differential 2.93. Now am thinking to change the ratio as the car is not that fast from 0 - 80 km. Need your help is it better to change it to another ratio

[dworthy]

You could use one from a e-36 1991-1995 325i manual, as it has a 3,15 ratio.

[bmwdirtracer]

A lot of this conjecture wil be related to the exact market the car was sold in.....

An early ~91 to 94 (?) 325is sold in the USA had a 3.91 limited slip diff.

I'd advise staying away from 4-cylinder diffs, as they are usually "Small" (165mm?)diffs, where the 6 cylinders have "Medium diffs" (188mm?)which are much stronger.

If the diff metal tag has "S" anywhere after the ratio number, it is limited slip.

[bluptgm3]

from - E36 Differential Ratio - http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/GearRatios.htm

I am pretty confident that the 318 came with a small case differential and may not be interchangeable. Hopefully someone can respond.

Model Platform Type Transmission final drive
Series - E36
318i E36 Sedan Manual 3.45
318is E36 Coupe Manual 3.45
318ic E36 ConvertibleManual 3.45
318ti E36 Compact Manual 3.45
323i E36 Sedan Manual 2.93
323is E36 Coupe Manual 2.93
323ic E36 ConvertibleManual 2.93
325i E36 Sedan Manual 3.15
325is E36 Coupe Manual 3.15
325ic E36 ConvertibleManual 3.15
328i E36 Sedan Manual 2.93
328is E36 Coupe Manual 2.93
328ic E36 ConvertibleManual 2.93
M3 Coupe 95E36 Manual 3.15
M3 Coupe E36 CoupeManual 3.23
M3 Sedan E36 SedanManual 3.23
M3 Convertible E36 Manual 3.23
318i E36 Sedan Automatic 4.44
318is E36 Coupe Automatic 4.44
318ic E36 ConvertibleAutomatic 4.44
318ti E36 Compact Automatic 4.44
323i E36 Sedan Automatic 3.91
323is E36 Coupe Automatic 3.91
323ic E36 ConvertibleAutomatic 3.91
325i E36 Sedan Automatic 3.91
325is E36 Coupe Automatic 3.91
325ic E36 ConvertibleAutomatic 3.91
328i E36 Sedan Automatic 3.91
328is E36 Coupe Automatic 3.91
328ic E36 ConvertibleAutomatic 3.91
M3 Coupe E36 Automatic 3.38
M3 Sedan E36 Automatic 3.38
M3 Convertible E36 Automatic 3.38

E46
323i ................E46 Sedan manual 3.07
323ci ........E46 Coupe manual 3.07
323cic ........E46 Convertible manual 3.46
323iT ........E46 Wagon manual 3.46
328i ................E46 Sedan manual 2.93
328ci ........E46 Coupe manual 2.93
325i ................E46 Sedan manual 3.15
325ci ........E46 Coupe manual 3.15
325cic ........E46 Convertible manual 3.46
325iT ........E46 Wagon manual 3.46
325xi ........E46 Sedan AWD manual 3.23
325xiT ........E46 Wagon AWD manual 3.23
330i ................E46 Sedan manual 2.93
330ci ........E46 Coupe manual 2.93
330cic ........E46 Convertible manual 3.07
330xi ........E46 Sedan AWD manual 3.07
330i 6spd ........E46 Sedan manual 2.93
330ci 6spd E46 Coupe manual 2.93
330cic 6spd E46 Convertible manual 3.07
330xi 6spd E46 Sedan AWD manual 3.07
330i ZHP ........E46 Sedan manual 3.07
330ci ZHP ........E46 Coupe manual 3.07
330cic ZHP E46 Convertible manual 3.07
M3 Coupe ........E46 Coupe manual 3.62
M3 Convertible E46 Convertible manual 3.62
323i ................E46 Sedan automatic 3.46
323ci ........E46 Coupe automatic 3.46
323cic ........E46 Convertible automatic 3.46
323iT ........E46 Wagon automatic 3.46
328i ................E46 Sedan automatic 3.46
328ci ........E46 Coupe automatic 3.46
325i ................E46 Sedan automatic 3.46
325ci ........E46 Coupe automatic 3.46
325cic ........E46 Convertible automatic 3.46
325iT ........E46 Wagon automatic 3.46
325xi ........E46 Sedan AWD automatic 3.46
325xiT ........E46 Wagon AWD automatic 3.46
330i ................E46 Sedan automatic 3.38
330ci ........E46 Coupe automatic 3.38
330cic ........E46 Convertible automatic 3.38
330xi ........E46 Sedan AWD automatic 3.46
330i ZHP ........E46 Sedan automatic 3.64
330ci ZHP ........E46 Coupe automatic 3.64
330cic ZHP E46 Convertible automatic 3.64

[CblockM3]

I used to have a m3/4/5 and installed a 3.91 Diff. It really woke the car up and made it a lot more fun.