What DIff's can you use for an s52 swap. with the e36 tranny?

[BingM3]

3.25 LSD preferred, I have the S50 + S/C and it pulls nice!

[e30s52]

/\ that must pull really hard. what numbers do you have with the SC?

[bad_azz_bmr]

3.25 is probably the closest to stock for the S52. But a 3.73 is hella fun.

what is the top speed with a 3.73?

i have a 88 325is and am planning on putting my s50 c/w zf tranny in it and then splicing the driveshaft, do you think the 3.73 will be way to short? also do i need to upgrade to a stronger diff? e28?

TIA

[Bennetts22@aol.com]

i have a s52 and using a m coupe 3.25LSD and its perfect with a LWF. tall gears and 3250 rps on the highway.

[e30polak]

what is the top speed with a 3.73?

i have a 88 325is and am planning on putting my s50 c/w zf tranny in it and then splicing the driveshaft, do you think the 3.73 will be way to short? also do i need to upgrade to a stronger diff? e28?

TIA

That is extremely aggressive gearing with the e36 trans. You will have torquey, short gears, but it will hurt you on the highway.

[Jesse30]

i have a 3.73 with a zf. butt loads of torque, BUT no top speed.

[WillisE30]

I don't know how you guys drive your cars around on the highway with anything > 3.25 and the ZF. I've got that combo and I'm just over 3k rpms @70mph. Gearing any lower makes for a pretty useless car for any kind of highway trips.

[iwantspeed]

rpms at 80

I don't know how you guys drive your cars around on the highway with anything > 3.25 and the ZF. I've got that combo and I'm just over 3k rpms @70mph. Gearing any lower makes for a pretty useless car for any kind of highway trips.

I was wondering what size wheels and tires you are running and
what rpms your at 80 in 5th.

Your car is very clean.

[e30polak]

I was wondering what size wheels and tires you are running and
what rpms your at 80 in 5th.

Your car is very clean.

Not me, but I have the same setup. I do about 3.5 grand cruising at 80 in 5th, with the e36 zf and a 3.25 diff.

[jrdeamicis]

I would love a 3.46 with my ZF. That would be a blast.

[*freshm3]

I run a ZF tranny and there is always a difference of opinion on this subject....ideal diffs vary for each driver whether its purposed for track/street. I have a 3.25LSD from an e28 and recently purchased a 2.93LSD because I dislike 5th gear on the 3.25...just too short and the gear is ringing out on the hwy-plain and simple. With the 2.93LSD i can have a more enjoyable long hwy cruise--thinkin about driving down to Florida in the summer time of 09' after I graduate. With the s52 the car will still pull with enough torque so I'm not losing to much ground on the low end! 3.46 is mindboggling to me...i wouldn't be able to cope

[e30polak]

I run a ZF tranny and there is always a difference of opinion on this subject....ideal diffs vary for each driver whether its purposed for track/street. I have a 3.25LSD from an e28 and recently purchased a 2.93LSD because I dislike 5th gear on the 3.25...just too short and the gear is ringing out on the hwy-plain and simple. With the 2.93LSD i can have a more enjoyable long hwy cruise--thinkin about driving down to Florida in the summer time of 09' after I graduate. With the s52 the car will still pull with enough torque so I'm not losing to much ground on the low end! 3.46 is mindboggling to me...i wouldn't be able to cope

For daily driving, the 2.93 would be cool, but the torque from the shorter gears is always nice. ;)

3.46 = perfect ... I want one. :puppy:

[WillisE30]

I was wondering what size wheels and tires you are running and
what rpms your at 80 in 5th.

Your car is very clean.

Stock size wheels and tires, and as Polak said it's ~3.5k rpms @80mph.

[Jim Lepage]

what is the top speed with a 3.73?

I have a M50 with Getrag 260 and 3.73 open diff and I'm going over 200km/h.

[MDryVur]

just got a 2.93 lsd 90k on it.... cant wait to see what it does.