mdshaw
mdshaw HalfDork
9/25/22 8:48 p.m.

Trying to find one for our son's E30 K24A2 turbo swap. Any medium case ( 188 mm) Lsds from e28 e30 e36 z3 will work. 

I'll swap the cover & output shafts as needed.  The lower ratio the better. 

iansane
iansane GRM+ Memberand Dork
9/26/22 11:00 a.m.

As far as I know, the e36 stuff uses the same gearset but totally different case and I think the e46 doesn't use anything the same. Almost positive the e28 and z3 stuff will work though. Maybe just verify you can use an e36/e46 diff before plunking down the insane 500+ they seem to be going for.

AWSX1686 (Forum Supporter)
AWSX1686 (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
9/26/22 11:58 a.m.

I have a couple e46 diffs if you determine that would work for you. 

mdshaw
mdshaw HalfDork
9/26/22 6:10 p.m.

Oops:

188mm - Found in E28, E30, E32, E34, E36

- Uses all taper bearings
- 6-bolt side covers
- 8-bolt rear cover
- Uses 188mm style LSDs
- Uses 188mm style ring and pinion sets
- Standard offset 3.15 to 4.88
- High offset is 2.79 to 3.07, and 5.00 to 5.44
 

So no e46.

Slippery
Slippery GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
9/26/22 6:18 p.m.

In reply to mdshaw :

I think you are being too general. An e36 M3 diff will not fit on an e30, neither will some e28 ones. 

I think what you need will be found on e30s, e28 (m20b25/m20b28), e36 compacts and z3s, and maybe early e34s with the m20b25. 

As iansane mentioned, becarefull otherwise you will be stuck with something that will not work. 

This will not be cheap. 

adam525i
adam525i GRM+ Memberand Dork
9/26/22 11:01 p.m.

The E28 M30 cars (533i, 535i) used the 188 medium case, I have the stock 3.25 LSD as well as a 3.73 LSD out of an E30 325is that both work provided you use the car specific rear cover and stubs. Sorry they aren't for sale though.

ralleah
ralleah PowerDork
9/30/22 12:08 p.m.

I have a 2.9x from an e28 eta. I pulled it from the yard, swapped cover+new bushings and ran it a few seasons in RX before switching to a higher ratio. make me a reasonable offer. It could probably use a rebuild for friction, but the bearings weren't bad when pulled.

I'm in DC, and currently planning a challenge trip this year, so may be able to deliver that far.

Justjim75
Justjim75 SuperDork
10/3/22 8:54 a.m.

In reply to AWSX1686 (Forum Supporter) :

I have an e46, 2001 330ci manual with an open diff that I'd like to replace.  Numerically higher than the stock 2.90 something preferred 

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