» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 03-13-2008, 05:27 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | diff swap question Me again! Got a lead on a 3.25 LSD for my 2.8 swap... its a medium-case diff... so my question issssss, will it work? Ive done a little searching but couldn't find anything solid. Im going to be replacing the halfshafts, am i looking at anything else? or should the flanges that are already on the diff work with E30 halfshafts? Thanks again everyone who's helped me, and listened to my million questions! -Ryan __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-14-2008, 03:19 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | anyone? __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-14-2008, 03:28 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | I think you will need to shim the ABS sensors. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 03-14-2008, 03:44 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 | ^ +1. Not tough at all. You'll also need to create some clearance for the diff cover. An angle grinder will be needed to slightly alter the support that goes under the hatch. You'll understand when you get under there. If not, I can take a pic of mine. __________________ SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs | | | 03-14-2008, 10:39 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | so just for clarification.... i can use a medium case 3.25 with E30 halfshafts? As well as a little grinding and shimming.... other than that, it bolts right up eh? The guy who is selling the diff had a different perspective, but i think he may be under the impression that the 318ti uses the same style rear-end as a normal E36. And a pic would help wonders if at all possible Campaiar! Would very much appreciate it. __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-14-2008, 11:40 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | theres a link to the swap on the "notepad" section on the front page the write up is also in the how to section __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 03-15-2008, 01:58 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | im not yet 100% sure if its in fact an E30 diff though... im still waiting to hear back what model it is out of...but does it really matter? since ive noticed most other diffs will fit E30, according to egay __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-15-2008, 07:54 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | here ya go its not actually originally out of an e30 if it is in fact a 5 or 6 or 7 series __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 03-15-2008, 10:29 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | yeah i saw that chart here before... i better save it while i can, lol anyone know if i will have any problems OTHER than whats Camp and 1996328ti said? So if i buy this differential, E30 halfshafts, shim the sensor as needed, and grind the support as needed... thats it right? I just wanna be 100% sure, so i don't buy a useless differential __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-16-2008, 11:01 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | just make sure it has 4 mounting holes on the top of it and that weird bushing mounting point sticking off of it like it the picture above and it will work. __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 03-17-2008, 12:01 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | This is my setup, no grinding needed. I did use a washer on each ABS sensor. E28 3.46LSD, E30 halfshafts and flanges. Quote: Originally Posted by rwd_king yeah i saw that chart here before... i better save it while i can, lol anyone know if i will have any problems OTHER than whats Camp and 1996328ti said? So if i buy this differential, E30 halfshafts, shim the sensor as needed, and grind the support as needed... thats it right? I just wanna be 100% sure, so i don't buy a useless differential | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 03-17-2008, 12:28 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | i've got a med/large case diff that I put on. . no grinding needed. Since I destroyed the 318ti abs sensors, I spliced in the ones from the e30 donor car. The e30 halfshafts fit with no problems. | | | 03-18-2008, 12:29 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | thats great info! thanks L8 and Zboot... did you also replace the flanges on your swap like L8 or was it not needed? the guy selling has yet to get back to me about the 3.25 differential, so im going to start looking else where. Ive located a 3.15 Z3 differential...can I use my current halfshafts with no issues? or would e30/z3 still be the way to go? __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-18-2008, 04:21 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | the e30 flanges bolt pattern are different from the ti's so if you use the e30 shafts then you need the e30 flanges (most diffs will have this on there already) (if not i have an extra set) depending on the z3 you would be able to bolt it right up using your ti half shafts. if its a 1.9 your good. but i do believe the bigger motor z3 uses a bigger diff __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 03-20-2008, 03:10 AM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | Im pretty sure the 3.15 was for the 2.8 z3's and the 1.9's used the same as ours... but not 100% on that... __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |