325 diff into late model 318

[JHZR2]

Hi,

what is involved in installing a 325 4.10 LSD into a 318i car (late model with M42)? I know the case sizes are different, but apparently the subframe is the same so it will bolt up.

I believe that some modification may be required, but I dont know what. Id appreciate any info that you may have.

Thanks,

JMH

[Stu]

It will bolt right up. I had a 325i 3.73 hooked up to a 318 subframe, half-shafts, driveshaft with no problems.

[JHZR2]

thanks!

I thought that maybe some bolt holes had to be enlarged or something... thought I read that somewhere, but Im glad to hear that its not the case.

Out of curiosity, how did a 318 drive with the big case 3.73 ratio in there? Was it much slower off the line?

Thanks,

JMH

[Stu]

thanks!

I thought that maybe some bolt holes had to be enlarged or something... thought I read that somewhere, but Im glad to hear that its not the case.

Out of curiosity, how did a 318 drive with the big case 3.73 ratio in there? Was it much slower off the line?

Thanks,

JMH

Obviously it felt more sluggish, but my friends' 318is's with 4.10's couldn't pull away. It was nice for highway trips. The 3.25 rearend that I had to run for a few months, that was a different story. :P

[mikeedler]

im kinda curious, Ive never heard of a large housing 4,10 diff, so i cant see it being from a 325, unless it was custom built. thats the problem here in germany, the 4,10s are from the 4 cyl models, and dont take well to major abuse

[Stu]

im kinda curious, Ive never heard of a large housing 4,10 diff, so i cant see it being from a 325, unless it was custom built. thats the problem here in germany, the 4,10s are from the 4 cyl models, and dont take well to major abuse

They came in late-model 325isA, the same diff that came in the M3. I'd actually prefer to get a used one from the automatic 325, mainly because it couldn't have been abused the way an M3 diff would have been.

[M-technik-3]

Then you also have the crazy 4.45lsd too.

[mikeedler]

oh yea, me here in germany with my dogleg forgot about the unfortunate ones! my bad. what cars had a 4,45, the tallest in germany was the 316iA touring and that was the 4,27

[BavarianBimmer]

im kinda curious, Ive never heard of a large housing 4,10 diff, so i cant see it being from a 325, unless it was custom built. thats the problem here in germany, the 4,10s are from the 4 cyl models, and dont take well to major abuse

320i has an 4.10 big case????? :?

[M-technik-3]

4.45's came in some 318iS's with automatics... So I have heard from Mike Miller not that I have ever seen one.

[mikeedler]

never ever have i seen a 320 with a4,10! but maybe. my touring WAS a320, it has a 3,73, my old 320 had a 3,64S as well as a old chrome bumper 325i m tech that i had, that diff is in my M3 now though.
never seen or heard of a 318is w/ auto, the 318is here has a 4,10 and most of them are NOT LSDs anyway!

[BavarianBimmer]

never ever have i seen a 320 with a4,10! but maybe. my touring WAS a320, it has a 3,73, my old 320 had a 3,64S as well as a old chrome bumper 325i m tech that i had, that diff is in my M3 now though.

I had a 1987 320i faceliftmodel (ECE version) with the ZF man. tranny and a 4.10 open diff.
an i bought the car bone stock :?

[mikeedler]

well, I have probably only seen a total of 10 E30s out of the thousands I have seen, and a auto is of no interest, but, now they may be if they have that diff. why would you buy a 320 auto anyway? eeee

[M-technik-3]

Agreed with you on 318iS auto but was told it existed. I had a request to find that ratio too.

[mikeedler]

good luck, my best friend bought a 4,27 LSD direct from BMW for 1400euros last year, cause they were impossible to find even that.