More rear diff questions

So a '92 325is couple is being parted out locally...

3.15LSD that I've been dreaming about!!!!!

anyways...

anything i should look for? how do i beat the price down on this? i know they usually go for $2-300... I'm shooting for <$200

should i consider rebuilding it? i've gleaned a little from all the diff threads and I know there is something to do with a wear pattern but i probably won't be able to see that before i buy it...

anything else i should know about before bolting that diff up to my '98 '28 sedan?

I know the '92 had differences compare to the rest any comparability issues going from coupe to sedan - '92 to '98?

<$200

Anything I should know in regards to bolting the diff from a '92 up to my '98 '28 sedan?

I have one that im picking up from my mechanic. what i gather is the case doesnt bolt together anymore. If the guts are interchangable and you want to do a switch You can have it for 50$ and the cost of shipping. You would have to see if you can change the insides up though.

Thanks for the offer... I have my sights on a local 3.15 from a fairly reputable BMW guy down here (he has garage n he usually parts e30s but has done 2 e36s so far this year) I was just fishing for info on compatibility n what to look out for...maybe some tips on what I can leverage to get him to give it up for <$200 he's asking $275

I'm posting from my phone so excuse the OP

$275 is a pretty fair price. I doubt you're gonna get it for less than $200.


Cash talks. Go there with $225 in your pocket and see if you can get it.

That's what I'm thinking going to check it out later today... Will let you guys know the results

Just to be on the safe side, I'd get him to drain a bit of lfuid from it in front of you to show if there are any metal particles in it if possible. (Some small ones are okay, larger ones aren't.

good tip jonesin ill def have him do it... he hasnt pulled it off the car yet but will have him drain it for me before i purchase... he says the car has 91k on it so the diff has less miles than my car...what is the life span on the LSD unit? should i worry about a rebuild at that mileage?

All depends on how hard it's been thrashed. One at 91k shouldn't be worn out under normal use, but it can be fried at half that if it was constantly hammered on (drifting, etc.). Mine has 209k and is still good. What I thought was a diff problem a while back turned out to be a center driveshaft bearing (which I still haven't changed )

Guess I should go inspect the entire car before he tears it apart

You may also want to look into the output shaft flanges. Some had flanges with 6 bolts, and some had 4. The output flanges can be easily swapped, however.

From what I understand the ///m cars had 6 and the non-m were 4...but I'm going to try and take a look at mine and then get a look at the one I plan on purchasing

I actually just crawled under there and I can see 4 bolts which means mine has 6? (considering I can't see the entire thing with the car in the ground)

Originally Posted by r33p04s

From what I understand the ///m cars had 6 and the non-m were 4...

No, that is not true. Some ///M LSDs were 4 bolt setups, and some were 6 bolt.

If want "go" .. try a 3.23 quaife unit..

No want more "go"
Want more tail happy

Originally Posted by r33p04s

No want more "go"
Want more tail happy

should have been more specific..

If you want some "grab ass & go" try the 3.23 lockup unit.

butt dyno shows great results.

tt

the diff i was originally going for seemed to evaporate into thin air since it was on a racer and most likely was sold as an entire car...

sniffed out another in tampa (for $75 less and its obo!) it has a 4-bolt input flange... will that mate up with my 328i driveshaft? it has 6 bolt output like mine so that shouldn't be an issue (even if they didn't match up) the input worries me because it seems to be a little more involved to swap...

im about to go jack up my car and crawl under to look but would anyone have the answer here?

Its not bad, you just have too swap the input flanges. Just one large nut, hit it with a impact.

Sent from my thumb to your eyes

ttt

finally picked up the that LSD...got the 3.23 from a 98 m3/4/5 with almost identical miles to my car...
it was quite the process to get it in between putting it RTA's w/ poly bushings from the same car and axles that didn't bolt up to my 2.93 to having to swap it out (not to mention the near disaster that were the larger M3 rear brakes)

this thing is lovely, first gear roll out is smoother now than with the 2.93, so are shifts...the grip is unbelievable compared to the open diff...why would they put that on a passenger car when the lsd holds the road that much better?

anyways go get one if you haven't yet

just a few things to look out for incase you want to tackle this:
M3 axles are larger so even if you have 6 bolt output flanges they don't fit
M3 brakes are large, hub is larger, caliper is larger...get everything if you are swapping
everything else swaps right over

Seems like you got it all sorted, and are enjoying the benefits!
Congrats!


You are now obliged to post donut pic.