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Thread: HELP! M3 Diff question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
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    Saint Cloud Minnesota
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    2000 328ci 1999 g20t

    Cool HELP! M3 Diff question

    Hey Guys,

    I looked around but couldnt find an easy answer. I have an e46 but recently met a friend with a 96 m3. He got a little rowdy and destroyed the internals of his diff. From what I understand he intends to send the diff to a machine shop and get a professional rebuild but in the mean time we want this on the road. So my question is what diff would bolt up with the least amount of hassle.

    There are a lot of salvage yards around, we looked at my e46 and it doesnt seem that it would work without major modifications. Would any e36 diff bolt up? Is there any easy answer to this? If its an inferior diff but it bolts up that is perfect and he will have to tone it down until he has a good replacement.

    If there is any insight please let me know I really want to help him out and he will stop beating the #$%^ out of my car if his is working.
    Last edited by MauiM3Mania; 06-20-2018 at 02:23 PM. Reason: Profanity Removal

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    St. Joseph, Mo.
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    95 m3+, 03 ZHP, Mk4 Tdi
    don't take this the wrong way - but, yes, this has been answered many, many times.

    the summarized version:
    any e36 medium case diff will work - those came in both the M and non-M cars - the outputs from the diff will have to be swapped to work with the M half shafts.
    true plug and play would be another e36 m3 diff with the same input shaft - the existing one will either be 4 or 6 bolt input.
    swapping the outputs is a simple task.
    swapping the input requires much more work and precision.
    '95 325iS - auto to manual swap done!

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    The inputs may vary also. Check what you have now — 4 bolt or 6 bolt. Get one that matches yours if it is a quick temporary swap so you don’t need to deal with changing inputs. Done wrong you can damage the diff. Ratios vary — M3 has 3.15 or 3.23 while 325 has 3.15 and 338 has 2.93 for the manual cars.
    Last edited by pbonsalb; 06-20-2018 at 02:52 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    1995 BMW M3
    If it's a stock 96 m3 car, It should have the 4 bolt input. The output flanges would need to be from the m3, but just about any differential would work from an e36 except the 318s and 95 m3 with a manual (6 bolt input shaft stock). Non lsd diffs are cheaper

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    95 m3+, 03 ZHP, Mk4 Tdi
    at this point, anymore, i just visually confirm the input type as i've found them to be all over the map - especially with these cars now hitting the 20 year old range; things have happened, parts have been swapped, etc....
    '95 325iS - auto to manual swap done!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
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    Quote Originally Posted by shadowpuck View Post
    at this point, anymore, i just visually confirm the input type as i've found them to be all over the map - especially with these cars now hitting the 20 year old range; things have happened, parts have been swapped, etc....
    very true!

    are you in St Joe, MO?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    95 m3+, 03 ZHP, Mk4 Tdi
    Quote Originally Posted by lbennyboobool View Post
    very true!

    are you in St Joe, MO?
    yup, i am...
    '95 325iS - auto to manual swap done!

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Rogers AR
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    1995 BMW M3
    Quote Originally Posted by shadowpuck View Post
    yup, i am...
    Cool!! I have family up that way and have been through there allot. Never really knew there were BMW there. Thought everyone was in KC lol

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    95 m3+, 03 ZHP, Mk4 Tdi
    haha....yup, they are allowed here too! i've been involved with the KC chapter CCA for over a decade now.....
    '95 325iS - auto to manual swap done!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
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    2000 328ci 1999 g20t
    Hey Thanks Guys, I appreciate you answering my duplicate question. We will start digging asap.

    I really do appreciate the support

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