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Thread: E36 LS Differential

  1. #1
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    E36 LS Differential

    What are people running for differentials in LS-swapped e36’s? Stock housing?

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillyDee36 View Post
    What are people running for differentials in LS-swapped e36’s? Stock housing?
    Most propably big housing with big head 210mm. Diff from older (E34, E39) V8 BMW or EU M3 E36

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  3. #3
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    Plenty of folks use stock BMW medium-case limited-slip differentials, just like the ones BMW originally put on the car. Some are getting to the point they need to have the friction discs replaced due to heavy mileage. Others not. The discs are an easy DIY job to replace, according to the Internet, and there's info out there on squeezing in a third friction disc to really lock it up another notch for track use.

    Last one I bought used off Craigslist for $250 holds single-sided torque up to about 95 foot-pounds before it starts slipping. You don't have much to lose by trying one out and seeing if it holds up.
    If God meant for man to motor-swap LS engines into track cars, He wouldn't have created Corvettes.

  4. #4
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    Using e36 M3 diff. On my second one.
    - 96 328is 6.0L. (LS1 to LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?2098938)
    - 96 328is 5.7L. (LS1 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1289987)
    - 95 ///M3 6.0L. (LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1619249)

    - 97 ///M3. (e46 Fender Flares/track car build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1727098)
    - 96 328is (Dual Fuel Pump to Surge Tank thread: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?1964025)

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by bimerok View Post
    Using e36 M3 diff. On my second one.
    Just a stock diff or overhauled?

  6. #6
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    I'm using a 3.91 LSD, 188mm.
    Instergrams: @davemakepictar

  7. #7
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    I'm planning on a stock M3 diff as well...188 with 3.91's. Mine is a bit of a cream puff...(auto/unmodified) but with 229,000 miles. Only pushing 400 CHP.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillyDee36 View Post
    Just a stock diff or overhauled?
    Stock diff from craigslist.
    - 96 328is 6.0L. (LS1 to LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?2098938)
    - 96 328is 5.7L. (LS1 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1289987)
    - 95 ///M3 6.0L. (LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1619249)

    - 97 ///M3. (e46 Fender Flares/track car build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1727098)
    - 96 328is (Dual Fuel Pump to Surge Tank thread: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?1964025)

  9. #9
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    188mm 3.91LSD. I tore it down and rebuilt it, and did the larger bolt mod (I think its an m12 10.9 IRRC) before putting it in the car.


  10. #10
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    Awesome. Thanks everyone!

  11. #11
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    95 LS1 M3
    Destroyed my built medium case, now running a 210mm with cusco LSD
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    95 M3 7.1L LSX

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by kalib0y View Post
    Destroyed my built medium case, now running a 210mm with cusco LSD
    Wicked! Aren't you running something like 700 HP at the crank?
    If God meant for man to motor-swap LS engines into track cars, He wouldn't have created Corvettes.

  13. #13
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    1996 bmw 318i
    I’m running LS turbo/ auto 4l80e with the 188 m3 diff and will be looking for an upgrade. Is the 210 worth the upgrade??
    I heard a rumor of sikky working on a drop in conversion of a beefy rear diff is in the works

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hondapowerjoe View Post
    I’m running LS turbo/ auto 4l80e with the 188 m3 diff and will be looking for an upgrade. Is the 210 worth the upgrade??
    I heard a rumor of sikky working on a drop in conversion of a beefy rear diff is in the works
    188 its normal diff for E36 series. Was mounted ofc in M3 but only in US ver. A EU version with S52 engine recived 210mm diff. For LS engine second diff should be natural decision.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by kalib0y View Post
    Destroyed my built medium case, now running a 210mm with cusco LSD
    Glad to have built this one! Newest revision of the car looks fantastic!

    Quote Originally Posted by lakimakromedia View Post
    188 its normal diff for E36 series. Was mounted ofc in M3 but only in US ver. A EU version with S52 engine recived 210mm diff. For LS engine second diff should be natural decision.
    Totally agree;
    in GTS3 application (~ 2650lbs 265rwhp) the ring and pinion of the 188mm wear rather quickly with large slicks compared to street cars. They don't usually break outputs but can fracture them (light car high downforce high grip tires)
    the BMW 210mm units do not have this issue; they are designed for factory large displacement bmw's i.e. V8 and V12's.

    Quote Originally Posted by BillyDee36 View Post
    What are people running for differentials in LS-swapped e36’s? Stock housing?
    depending on traction / RWHP the 188mm may or may not last.
    usually around 400-450rwhp is where the OEM output stub axels start snapping, the ring and pinions also break.
    the LSD unit is not the weak point in the 188mm differential; whatever modifications are done to it has nothing to do with the ring and pinon durability and output stub shaft durability.

    I have built a 188mm to take over 50 passes down the 1320 @ 1krwhp; it used aftermarket stubs and was a trailer to drag strip only car.
    210mm is much suggested to match the displacement and immediate output of torque from an LSX transplant;
    210mm oem output axels are very large compared to the 188mm and so is the 210mm ring and pinion; simple mass / brute force size up benefit = durability for street / high grip circuit use.
    Last edited by wanganstyle; 05-22-2018 at 04:00 AM.
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    S54B32 E36 M3 DTA S100 Sedan Street car full swap:
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  16. #16
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    I wrecked my 188mm with 3.73 ratio and a stock style lsd in it. Gears were fine but the last issue was the pinion bearing. I believe the stocky tires and hard driving is definitely what caused the failure. Ended up installing a Ford 8.8 with 4.10's with custom axles and haven't looked back since.

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  17. #17
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    Using the medium case with 3.91, haven't really beat on it yet though and I hope it last since I paid a pretty penny for it. IF this goes out as I expect it to since I will be drag racing the car I will have to look for someone to build me something beefier

  18. #18
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    Nice!
    Do you have a write up on fabrication work to fit the 8.8 in your 92’? Looking to do the same when my 188 decides to fail

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by lloydjoe View Post
    I wrecked my 188mm with 3.73 ratio and a stock style lsd in it. Gears were fine but the last issue was the pinion bearing. I believe the stocky tires and hard driving is definitely what caused the failure. Ended up installing a Ford 8.8 with 4.10's with custom axles and haven't looked back since.

    Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

    Nice!
    Do you have a write up on fabrication work to fit the 8.8 in your 92’? Looking to do the same when my 188 decides to fail

  19. #19
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    Opinions on a 3.38 vs 3.91?

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillyDee36 View Post
    Opinions on a 3.38 vs 3.91?
    It's like asking Black vs Red
    - 96 328is 6.0L. (LS1 to LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?2098938)
    - 96 328is 5.7L. (LS1 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1289987)
    - 95 ///M3 6.0L. (LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1619249)

    - 97 ///M3. (e46 Fender Flares/track car build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1727098)
    - 96 328is (Dual Fuel Pump to Surge Tank thread: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?1964025)

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hondapowerjoe View Post
    Nice!
    Do you have a write up on fabrication work to fit the 8.8 in your 92’? Looking to do the same when my 188 decides to fail

    - - - Updated - - -




    Nice!
    Do you have a write up on fabrication work to fit the 8.8 in your 92’? Looking to do the same when my 188 decides to fail
    I don't have anything wrote up with great detail, I do have some pics here https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LS-build/page2

    If you search there have been a few guys that have done it and each person doing it a bit differently. The way I did it there was a lot of material in one area that required some dremel work to make some clearance.

    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ind-800-hp-LSX

  22. #22
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    Since it's ring and pinion that usually fail, is there a chance that the crush sleeve is to blame? We're putting much more torque through it than the factory intended and torque generally pushes the teeth of the ring and pinion apart. This puts a lot of pressure on the crush sleeve which leads to "extra" crushing and more gear lash which can lead to gear tooth and pinion bearing failure.

    I've seen a number of different machined steel pinion bearing sleeves on the market where you set the preload using shims instead of the crush of a crush sleeve. Would this not stabilize the gear lash in these higher output motors? Someone needs to start manufacturing and selling these for E36 188 diffs.



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    Last edited by jakermac; 08-09-2018 at 02:20 PM.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by jakermac View Post
    Since it's ring and pinion that usually fail, is there a chance that the crush sleeve is to blame? We're putting much more torque through it than the factory intended and torque generally pushes the teeth of the ring and pinion apart. This puts a lot of pressure on the crush sleeve which leads to "extra" crushing and more gear lash which can lead to gear tooth and pinion bearing failure.

    I've seen a number of different machined steel pinion bearing sleeves on the market where you set the preload using shims instead of the crush of a crush sleeve. Would this not stabilize the gear lash in these higher output motors? Someone needs to start manufacturing and selling these for E36 188 diffs.



    http://www.weirperformance.com/solid...pacerkits.html


    What about the answer no;


    with proper setup the Oem crush washer doesn’t fail on either BMW 188 or 210.

    The crush washer doesn’t fail even on the s2000; it’s just marketing bs to sell these.

    188mm 1,000rwhp with a local ran 50+ passes in the low 9 second range; high 150 traps.

    Oem crush washer was still ok and gears still ok when torn down to regear for another car (same client)
    Wanganstyle Powertrain
    http://www.wanganstyle.com/

    S54B32 E36 M3 DTA S100 Sedan Street car full swap:
    http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1437471

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