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Thread: 210mm diff questions for E36 fitment - when is a 210 not a 210?

  1. #1
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    210mm diff questions for E36 fitment - when is a 210 not a 210?

    So I've broken the diff in my E36, and I'm simply not going to bother dropping in another medium case diff.

    That lead me to a bunch of scattered and unclear info about E36 fitment 210mm differentials.

    At the top of the list, it seems E32 750iL (USA) and E34 M5 are the only two true 210mm differentials able to be used on the E36.

    I've heard now that some 210mm differentials aren't real 210mm interally? ie, it's a large case diff but internally it's some sort of mix and match stuff that are smaller/bespoke unlike say an E32 750 diff. Any truth to this?

    Looking up the (limited) parts breakout on realoem.com shows that the output flanges are the same PN throughout the 210mm diffs regardless of model (E32, E34, etc. ). But the LSD unit is certainly different between say a 540i differential and an E32 750iL/E34 M5 differential as seen here:

    eg. 540i 210mm/large case LSD:

    Code:
    33141210707
    Limited slip diff.unit
    25%
    
    Part 33141210707 was found on the following vehicles:
    
    
    Part 33141210707 was found on the following E34 vehicles:
    
    
    E32 750iL/E34 M5 (and apparently E32 740i) share the same LSD:

    Code:
    33141206745
    Limited slip diff.unit
    25%
    
    Part 33141206745 was found on the following vehicles:
    
    
    Part 33141206745 was found on the following E32 vehicles:
    
    
    Part 33141206745 was found on the following E34 vehicles:
    
    


    So interestingly enough (to me) the e32 740i diff might be what I'm looking for (2.93 LSD) 210mm. Yet I can't seem to find any mention that someone has used one. Is there an issue with the internals, or casing?



  2. #2
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    Maybe double check the input and output flange patterns. I remember looking and finding the two different diameters being what made it really hard.

    Finding the small compatible input flange was the difficult part. Oh and the correct rear cover that the boomerang mounts to.

  3. #3
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    I’m working on a finned rear cover solution for the 210 diff that will work with our subframe, has a VSS and a fill plug.

  4. #4
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    The correct way to look for a large case diff from E32/E34 is they are off v8/v12 cars and the output hubs have an 8 bolt cover instead of the 6 bolts that you find on the medium case off the 6 cylinder motors cars. They're getting harder to come by though.

    I saw a picture of an E39 M5 differential modified to fit an E36 will have to look that one up again. E46 M3 210mm are plentiful still but no VSS ring on the diff as speedo is read off the ABS sensors.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by tofunin View Post
    The correct way to look for a large case diff from E32/E34 is they are off v8/v12 cars and the output hubs have an 8 bolt cover instead of the 6 bolts that you find on the medium case off the 6 cylinder motors cars.
    You would think that is the case but as I said in my OP, the output HUB's are the same yet internally the E34 V8 car diffs are different internally (LSD is a different unit for instance).

    That said I'm not sure how different they actually are as I've never torn any of these things apart aside from my 188mm

  6. #6
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    waganstyle would know. You could pm or email him. I assume you need to know because you want rebuild parts or are trying to put interchange parts from different diffs.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    waganstyle would know. You could pm or email him. I assume you need to know because you want rebuild parts or are trying to put interchange parts from different diffs.
    I did PM him... he's only interested in selling complete differentials, not assisting with DIY jobs or info. Fair enough... asking him for a price it's clear his differentials are out of my budget for various reasons.

    I want to know for two reasons, one I want to know if I can source a 210,, diff for the E36 from something other than a E32 750iL/E34 M5 as I would like to have the 2.93 ratio with LSD and that is not an option from either of the cars.

    So having to source from a different chassis as presented itself with the issue that apparently the CASE might be 210mm (large case), but internally it isn't all 210mm/large case internals.

    For some reason this information doesn't seem to be prevalent and without going out and buying multiple differentials and pulling them all apart I was hoping on collecting some info from the more DIY oriented crowd.

    The only differential that seems to suit my possible goal is the E32 740 differential but I simply cannot find enough info to confirm this.

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    Over in the track car builds, Vorshiag has a e46 build which incorporates a Ford 8.8” IRS diff. Not sure if you would be interested, but throwing it out for.the community to ponder upon.
    WOT

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    I think around 1996, 215mm diffs started appearing and LSD became less common except on M cars. Maybe another old diff like an E34 540i would have a 2.93 210mm compatible with the E32 3.15 210mm LSD. You could try pioneering a newer case with 215mm guts, but you might not get a speed sensor in the diff. Post what you come up with since it may help people in the future. The E32 3.15 LSD are expensive now — I bought a very nice one 4 years ago for $250.

    Butters built the E32 former 3.15 LSD into a 4 clutch with 2.93 gear for John at CES. He runs it in his race car. Butters could tell you which 2 diffs he combined.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by hsvturbo View Post
    Over in the track car builds, Vorshiag has a e46 build which incorporates a Ford 8.8” IRS diff. Not sure if you would be interested, but throwing it out for.the community to ponder upon.
    I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel, so all that is not for me.

    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    Maybe another old diff like an E34 540i would have a 2.93 210mm compatible with the E32 3.15 210mm LSD.
    I feel like we're on two completely different pages. Refer to post #1.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
    I think around 1996, 215mm diffs started appearing and LSD became less common except on M cars. Maybe another old diff like an E34 540i would have a 2.93 210mm compatible with the E32 3.15 210mm LSD. You could try pioneering a newer case with 215mm guts, but you might not get a speed sensor in the diff. Post what you come up with since it may help people in the future. The E32 3.15 LSD are expensive now — I bought a very nice one 4 years ago for $250.

    Butters built the E32 former 3.15 LSD into a 4 clutch with 2.93 gear for John at CES. He runs it in his race car. Butters could tell you which 2 diffs he combined.
    That Butters diff sounds awesome . 2.93 sounds like a tractable ratio for street usage


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  12. #12
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    I’m sure Butters probably has a bunch of e32 210 diffs laying around.

  13. #13
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    Where the hell is butters anyway?


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  14. #14
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    210mm diff questions for E36 fitment - when is a 210 not a 210?

    Quote Originally Posted by someguy2800 View Post
    Where the hell is butters anyway?
    Iirc I shipped butters a 2,93 210mm gear quite a while back.

    210mm diff with 2,93 Lsd oem
    Doesn’t exist in the USA as shipped in a car from the Bmw factory commonly.

    This having been said there is a E34 540i running around with a 2.82 Lsd in the Bay Area, a E34 with a 2.93 Lsd, a 850 with a 2.93 Lsd.......I may have been involved with this Frankensteinization.



    If you want a e32/34 210mm in 2,93 with LSD that uses the rally road kit to bolt into a e36 You gotta build it sorry;

    1994/5 E34 540i 6mt msport has an open diff; I have built an Lsd for one well known forum members car (abl imports)

    The E34 540ia msport has an open diff. Have one in local friends shop now. The Bmw factory did build a 2.65 Lsd; it came
    Oem in a very common e31 model; 850csi. Perhaps option on some 850-6mt.

    Local friend has one 850csi in his shop
    Last edited by wanganstyle; 09-24-2018 at 07:33 PM.
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  15. #15
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    FYI-
    https://rallyroad.net/products/e36bu...tialconversion


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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by bluptgm3 View Post
    FYI-
    https://rallyroad.net/products/e36bu...tialconversion.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    If only that came with a diff for that price

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by chikinhed View Post
    If only that came with a diff for that price
    It's $235, not $2,350, how could you possibly feel it's that exorbitant of a price?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Liquidity View Post
    It's $235, not $2,350, how could you possibly feel it's that exorbitant of a price?


    So $2500usd+ tax will get you a new Lsd diff at the Bmw parts counter for some models; (235/335/435 + 240/340/440)

    That is a reasonable price for a oem Lsd diff new; as rally road is selling a new product.


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  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Liquidity View Post
    It's $235, not $2,350, how could you possibly feel it's that exorbitant of a price?
    Wishful thinking?

    The last two 750iL 210 diffs (used) I bought were $250, so ya, $235 for diff and brackets would be a good deal.
    Last edited by chikinhed; 09-28-2018 at 01:03 AM.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by chikinhed View Post
    Wishful thinking?

    The last two 750iL 210 diffs (used) I bought were $250, so ya, $235 for diff and brackets would be a good deal.
    I need me some good deals like that!

  21. #21
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    I was offered a 3.15 210mm for $200, i countered a month later with $100 and i will pull it off....they accepted

  22. #22
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    The unicorns are out there.

  23. #23
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    Getting harder and harder to find. You can sell one here for $500.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by chikinhed View Post
    The unicorns are out there.
    More likely to find these unicorns down by our southerly neighbours.... Not so much here in Canukistan it seems.
    Last edited by NOTORIOUS VR; 09-28-2018 at 07:31 PM.

  25. #25
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    210mm diff questions for E36 fitment - when is a 210 not a 210?

    Quote Originally Posted by NOTORIOUS VR View Post
    More likely to find these unicorns down by our southerly neighbours.... Not so much here in Canukistan it seems.
    The local Bay Area junkhoarders are selling them for $1200 on Craigslist.

    A new Lsd unit from wavetrac retail is only $1395 for the 210mm
    Wanganstyle Powertrain
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    S54B32 E36 M3 DTA S100 Sedan Street car full swap:
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