wanted: e46 M3 lsd

[hanby42]

As above, want to do the swap on my 3.0si!! Open diff just isnt cutting it!

 

[Machine monkey]

Have you conciderd a m factory diff swaps straight into your diff casing. I have one and I love it £600 ish life time guarantee

 

[GuidoK]

You can't swap it for a z4m diff.
You need the whole rear axle and maybe a custom made propshaft (don't know for sure).
And you'll get a very high end ratio.

 

[hanby42]

Ok sorry I'll stick to the m3 one then!

Yeah MM they seem to have gone up in price, i contacted grinspeed and they are now £859!

 

[hanby42]

Plus i like the idea of having the higher final dribe on the M3 one

 

[GuidoK]

Ok sorry I'll stick to the m3 one then!

What I said about the z4m diff also applies for the m3 diff.
They're the same!

If you want to go this route, get a shop that has experience in installing this complete back axle into a Z4.

There's a topic somewhere around here what to do if you want the m3/z4m back axle in a z4. But I don't know if this adresses the 3.0si. That agian has maybe different propshaft, so maybe different lenght due to a different engine. This is not all 100% plug 'n play.

 

[Machine monkey]

I think you will need the whole m3 rear axle they are the same as z4m i believe. m cars all of them have a different diff drive shafts and probably prop input. It can be swapped its been done but its not a straight swap...I am not 100% but i think the diff carier and rear trailing arms are the same??

£860 FOR JUST THE DIFF!! Wow it has gone up!!

 

[hanby42]

Ah ok, from what I've been reading it's one out one in pretty much, dont really want the extra weight of the m3 rear axle!

 

[GuidoK]

The axle isn't heavier (not significantly, it is similar in construction). It has bigger brakes though (which are heavier)
You cannot mount the m3/z4m rear diff in the non m subframe. It just doesnt fit. It has different mounting points and the diff is bigger, so you also cant swap the inner parts of the diff. The normal z4 has a 188k diff, the m3/z4m has a 215 diff.

 

[RenoRaines]

E36 M3 diff fits E46 (non-M) housing. And E46 housing will fit E85/E86 rear frame. I have one of this diffs available. But I'm not really up to paying the same as for MFactory diff. I'm still pissed I didn't buy MFactory diff when dollar was low compared to €. Now it's like 300€ more than it was for me