E36- LSD Swap

[135ER]

Good Day Gents

I am still fairly new to the forum. My brother and I own an E36 1992 325i and we plan on changing the stock Diff to the E36 3.2 LS Diff.

I've read many articles about this however some say that it is almost straight forward and some say otherwise.

Has anyone done this before?
What's a fair/estimate price for the M3 diff?

Thanks in advance.

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[born2boost]

Good Day Gents

I am still fairly new to the forum. My brother and I own an E36 1992 325i and we plan on changing the stock Diff to the E36 3.2 LS Diff.

I've read many articles about this however some say that it is almost straight forward and some say otherwise.

Has anyone done this before?
What's a fair/estimate price for the M3 diff?

Thanks in advance.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

The Diff from an E36 M3 3.2 (large case) will not work in your 325i. You will need to get a diff or ls unit from a 3.0 M3 (medium case) instead.

 

[boost3d]

Search for Gizmo on the forum, he can assist and advise ....

 

[KarshS]

From what i know its not a straight fit.

You will need the internals from an e30 LSD and do a transplant into your e36 diff case

 

[Nikhil]

if you want to fit the 3,2 diff you will need the rear subframe or the diff wont fit. you can get an E30 lsd which will fit in the E36 non M diff :rollsmile: or if you just want it for drifting then weld the diff :fencelook:

 

[135ER]

Thanks gents. I have pm'd Gizmo.

From what I've researched I know the 3.2 diff is large case but I've been hunting Down a 3.0 diff since July.....

We are building the car for track/Gymkhana so welded diff won't work @Nikhil



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[Gizmo]

The lsd centre portion u need can be found in e30 and some e34 diffs.

 

[328ii]

I recently had just that done on my E36 328i and it is NOT a straight install.

The output flanges on 3.23 LSD is larger than those on the 325i(3.15) &
328i(2.93) differentials, which is a straight swap.

1st option is to fit complete M3 rear sub-frame which i did not want attempt due to lack of parts at the time.

2nd option was the one i used. The 3.23 LSD fitted into the 325/328 sub-frame just fine,
but i had to have custom side (drive) shafts made with the bigger flanges at LSD.

You will need a good mechanic to do the job and a CV specialist to do the side/drive shafts.

Took 1 day for the LSD and 1 week for the side shafts as that had to be done in JHB somewhere

Your cost will probably vary :

LSD cost me R4000 after very long search
Custom side-shafts cost 2x R2000 = R4000
Labour (quite a job) around R4000

Good luck anyways

8?>

 

[danieljames]

16 grand.....Shucks man. Wouldn't it have been more cost effective....In the long run....to get a quaife or something of the sorts?
Just curious....don't know actual prices

 

[328ii]

16 grand.....Shucks man. Wouldn't it have been more cost effective....In the long run....to get a quaife or something of the sorts?
Just curious....don't know actual prices

maybe, maybe not...

I'll consider it a very risky, and possibly costly exercise to fiddle with differential internals,
or any oily goodies for that, unless you have the required expertise/experience.

Some say : the devil is in the details

8?>

 

[Nikhil]

16 grand.....Shucks man. Wouldn't it have been more cost effective....In the long run....to get a quaife or something of the sorts?
Just curious....don't know actual prices

Thats like 25k excluding shipping, fitment and oil:hammerhead:

 

[danieljames]

Joh......

What a k@k idea I had lol.

 

[JadielM]

Jeeez... And we thought this would be easy