diffs

[joecassie]

does the e30 have a 3.25lsd cause i need one for my s50 swap

[frankie591]

get a medium case diff and swap over the flanges and cover from your stock diff.

[MR 325]

No E30 came with the 3.25 diff. It's commonly found in the E24/E28 chassis.

[mtlbloodshot]

When using a Z3 diff, does anything need to configured or does it bolt right in there without complications?

[SHunter]

When using a Z3 diff, does anything need to configured or does it bolt right in there without complications?

I used a Z3 3.15 diff for my swap. It bolted right in with no modification. Easy-peazy.

-Steven

[MR 325]

I believe on the MZ3 diff you'll still need to swap for E30 axle flanges.

[Wanganstyle]

I believe on the MZ3 diff you'll still need to swap for E30 axle flanges.

For the ancient crusty e24/28 units- the oversized 96mm side axel flanges and rear weird mounting cover plate will need to go into the trash.

e30's almost all use 86mm cv halfshafts.


on a Z3m or Z3 non-M 6 cylinder differential the rear cover can be kept as it is identical mounting to an e30 unit- only side axels need to be swapped out to e30 6 cylinder.

Z3 differentials are much newer (1997+) than old e28 or e24 items (1984-1988.)

Diffs are dirty smelly leaky items; age does matter. Kittens > cougars in this situation.

[Jean]

^ lol at that

[joecassie]

so what year z3 can i use

[Jean]

I think I have a z3 case in mine as well, looks nice and shiny/newish :)

[Wanganstyle]

I think I have a z3 case in mine as well, looks nice and shiny/newish :)

YA. Yours was a 2003 Z3 unit I fit a 4 clutch built LSD into.

so what year z3 can i use

Any 1997-2003 Z3 complete differential (6 cylinder) will just bolt into an e30 with e30 side shafts (for e30's 86mm CV)

[SHunter]

Wanganstyle,
The Z3 diff bolted up to my E30 axles without having to swap anything at all. I believe the diff was from a '99 non-MZ3. Perhaps only the M cars have the larger axles?

OP,
I have extra outputs and rear cover that will work with your car if you want. I would ship them for very little $$.

Interesting tidbit: The 3.15 diff that came in the non-MZ3 is a torsen style differential and the 3.25 diff that came in the MZ3 is a clutch style. The difference in gear ratio is probably insignificant but some people do prefer one type of LSD over the other.

Also, I believe that all 6cyl Z3 cars had LSD so you don't have to worry much about getting an open one that's been disguised or swapped or came from the wrong year.

I agree with Wanganstyle about how age matters with a differential and would say that it matters even more with a clutch style diff that was once in a high power sports car that has probably seen abuse. Part of the reason I went with the torsen diff myself. I can say that my new diff digs in way better than my 260k mile 3.73 diff that came out of my car. That sounds obvious but people are swapping IN diffs from e28 cars all the time around here. Just my $.02

-Steven

[Wanganstyle]

Wanganstyle,
The Z3 diff bolted up to my E30 axles without having to swap anything at all. I believe the diff was from a '99 non-MZ3. Perhaps only the M cars have the larger axles?

Interesting tidbit: The 3.15 diff that came in the non-MZ3 is a torsen style differential and the 3.25 diff that came in the MZ3 is a clutch style. The difference in gear ratio is probably insignificant but some people do prefer one type of LSD over the other.

Also, I believe that all 6cyl Z3 cars had LSD so you don't have to worry much about getting an open one that's been disguised or swapped or came from the wrong year.

The Torsen Gear-type units are the ultimate in street car OEM equipment the design does not wear out or break under street car use/power.

The Z3 differentials have an updated bushing that is nice for a street car- it has more flex due to voids but translates less NVH to the cabin. bushing material is also different; its more luxurious than the e30 bush.

All 6 cylinder Z3's had LSD units. 4 cylinder Z3's never came with factory LSD (not an option). No such thing as a 168mm OEM BMW torsen

[SHunter]

Your Z3 unit had E30 direct fit stubs installed (by me) :P

The Torsen Gear-type units are the ultimate in street car OEM equipment the design does not wear out or break under street car use/power.

The Z3 differentials have an updated bushing that is nice for a street car- it has more flex due to voids but translates less NVH to the cabin. bushing material is also different; its more luxurious than the e30 bush.

All 6 cylinder Z3's had LSD units. 4 cylinder Z3's never came with factory LSD (not an option). No such thing as a 168mm OEM BMW torsen

Wanganstyle,
You must have me confused with somebody else. I have installed two different Z3 diffs into my e30. They were both 3.15 torsen diffs and I purchased both of them from a scrap yard and bolted them directly up to my car without changing stub axles. I did however sell the center section of one of them to you after roasting my input bearing. Maybe that's what you were thinking of. I haven't purchased anything from you before though.

I'm thinking that the Z3M diff has larger output stubs and the non-MZ3 has the smaller e30 style. That would make sense and confirm why I have installed two different Z3 diffs in my car without changing stubs.

-Steven

[Wanganstyle]

ahh yes, i remember now. sorry - thanks for the unit!

the non m units have 86mm stubs ya, same pattern as non m e36.