e34 differential

[liquidtiger720]

hi.
Well, since my differential needs new seals, gaskets, and probly other little stuff i was wondering how much it would cost to buy a new/used differential.
1. where could i look to find new or used e34 differentials (open and/or limited slip)?
2. how much would it cost?
3. what ratio would you get?


TIA


oh yea, car is an automatic, so right now i have a 4.10 open differential. was quoted $330 for 2 seals and gasket insall.

[Rigmaster]

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/Recipe.htm


click above link, then scroll down the page for some recommended diff ratio "upgrades", though if you have a 4.10 right now, moving up 1 level would be a 4.27 which can be hard to find.

BTW- what car do you have?? (525/535/530 all use the same type diff, 540/M5 use a different type)....

I've got a couple different ratios available, both LSD and open. Let me know what you want to do and I'll see if I can help.

Thanks!

Bret

[liquidtiger720]

hmm, thats weird. it says i have a 3.23. i was thought i had a 4.10. what ratio would be the best for a 95 525i automatic?

[Rigmaster]

It's sort of impossible to answer the question about the "best" ratio for your car. Since you probably have a 3.23 ratio, I would not go TOO far up (or down) from there, unless you have a specific reason to do so. I would think you could go for a 3.46 or a 3.64 and not have any negative effects.

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

well,i just want a little more acceleration, but i dont want to sacrafice too much mpg.
i still dont know where to start looking on buying the differential. i am getting mixed info on what i have already. supposedly the canadian e34's came with 4.27lsd. which leads me to think i have a 4.10 not the said 3.23.


does anybody know anywhere to find some differentials??

[Rigmaster]

First, you need to confirm which diff you have in there now- that's should not be too hard as there's a metal tag on the rear cover with the ratio- if you have a 3.23 it will have "323" plus some other numbers/letters on it, if you have a 3.23 Limited slip is will say "S 323" plus the other stuff.

I have a couple of diffs that will work for you, some open, some limited slip- you just need to decide what you want to install!

Thanks, Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

hehe, yeah, i know. ill crawl under soon. i also need to know how much a new/used differential is! hehe.


thanks for all your help so far rigmaster.

[Bill R.]

http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/Diff2b.jpg














hehe, yeah, i know. ill crawl under soon. i also need to know how much a new/used differential is! hehe.


thanks for all your help so far rigmaster.

[Rigmaster]

Nice chart Bill, THANKS!!

Liquidtiger- I can sell you a used E34/E32 LSD in a couple different ratios for $300 + shipping, or a used OPEN diff in a couple of different ratios for $225 + shipping.

"NEW" diffs will be ~$2k or so, www.diffsonline.com sells rebuilt diffs for ~$1600-1800.

Let me know once you find out what ratio you currently have, and I'll see what I have that would work for you.

Thanks!

Bret.

[Bill R.]

while back. Here's the rest of them.
http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/Diff1b.jpg
http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/Diff3b.jpg
http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/Diff4b.jpg

http://www.bimmernut.com/%7Ebillr/images/Diff5b.jpg




Nice chart Bill, THANKS!!

Liquidtiger- I can sell you a used E34/E32 LSD in a couple different ratios for $300 + shipping, or a used OPEN diff in a couple of different ratios for $225 + shipping.

"NEW" diffs will be ~$2k or so, www.diffsonline.com (http://www.diffsonline.com) sells rebuilt diffs for ~$1600-1800.

Let me know once you find out what ratio you currently have, and I'll see what I have that would work for you.

Thanks!

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

where are you located rigmaster?

looks like i have a 4.10. so how much would a 4.27 lsd cost?

[Rigmaster]

I'm in NC, but I don't have a 4.27 LSD. I do have a 4.10 LSD though.......$300 + shipping. Not doubting you, but are you SURE you have a 4.10??

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

according to that list, yea.

525iA (the ones without the A are manual right?) m50 engine, build date of o5/95.
i looked under but couldnt find the stampings...where are they located?

[Sean H]

But would you happen to have a 3.91 LSD, Bret? I'd be very interested in one for my 535im (plus since I'm in GA I may be able just to make a trip up and save the shipping!)

[Rigmaster]

Sorry Sean, I had one- but met the buyer last night on his way from NY to SC...... I'll keep my eyes open for another one......

Bret.

[Sean H]

Sorry Sean, I had one- but met the buyer last night on his way from NY to SC...... I'll keep my eyes open for another one......

Bret.

Bah, story of my life! I've missed out on three or four of these things by a week or less.
One day, though... :)

[Rigmaster]

Yeah, I know what you mean- but I posted it FS about 2 weeks ago, the guy who bought it replied and we worked out the meeting- he was on his way to Myrtle Beach, SC for a golf trip, and I only live 15 minutes away from I-95, so it worked out perfectly.

I can still get a 3.23LSD, 3.64 LSD, 4.10LSD and a couple of other open ratios...AND, the guy who bought the 391 should have a 3.46LSD available once he installs the 3.91.....

Bret.

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

rig, where are the stampings?

i need to confirm what diff. i have before i decide on what ratio. hehehe.

[Rigmaster]

Here's my other post explaining where to look:
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?postid=44541#poststop

As I said- the metal tag is on the rear cover of the diff- it should be held to the cover by one of the large bolt heads that hold rear cover to the diff housing. You will have to scrape off crud + possibly some corrosion to see the numbers clearly. I have a pic of a diff tag here somewhere- let me know if you need to see it.

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

o crap, i didnt see that post. okay will look tommorow.

if i were to say, let my car go with the leaking diff for awhile, would it be extremely bad?
i jsut got my tranny rebuilt, and spent almost 3k on that. im pretty down on $$ at the moment.

[Rigmaster]

hmm, I just re-read your initial post- and if it's only leaking a bit- you should be able to keep it going forever IF you keep the gear oil level up.

If that shop quoted you $330 for the seals + gasket, they would probably charge at least that to swap in a new (or used) diff, and even then, there's no guarantee that the seals in the used diff wouldn't leak. I always recommend installing new seals + gasket with a used diff.

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

i dont think its leaking too bad, just built up over time. i dont even see drips where i park. so how do i go about filling this thing up?


on a side note. THANK YOU bret for all the help! i appreciate it a lot.

[Rigmaster]

theres a fill plug on the rear cover- it's a round plug with a hex hole in it- you'll need a 10mm (I think) allen wrench to fit into it to remove it. Pull the plug, then stick your finger in and see if the gear oil level is close to level with the bottom of the hole- if it is, then you're oK, if not, then you need to add some gear oil. I use a plastic pump that screws into the top of the gear oil bottle- it's got a long hose that you stick in the diff, then pump the oil up into the diff until it's full. You can get the pump at most any auto parts chain store, or maybe even walmart or similar stores.

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

will do! i am going to just keep filling it, as i am only keeping this car until i get out of college and get on my feet. thanks again for all your help bret.

i guess, theres only one last thing. what kind of oil do i use? should i flush it and fill it back up the first time. i wouldnt want to use redline as its expensive. and well, its leaking, so pointless.