» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 10-21-2005, 04:13 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 30 | M-Roadster rear drive train and suspension swap Hi, I was able to secure a complere M-Roadster complete rear drive train. Basically the whole thing from the diff to the and all the parts inbetween. At some point I may do an M50/M52 engine swap but wondered what the differences in the old differential and new differential would do. Not sure what the old one is (stock for a basic 97 318ti) vs. 3.25 one on the M-Roadster. Will my exisiting 4 cylinder have any problems driving it? What would be the gain/loss. Yeah I know the rear brakes are different and all that... that's a different issue. Just need to know about the diff right now. Also will the exisitng drive shaft just bolt up. Later, if I do an engine swap do you keep the 318ti drive shaft or do you need a different one. I may have the chance to pick up the M-Roadster drive shaft too but dont want to if it's not needed for a later engine swap. Any help would be appreciated, especially from someone who has also done this kind of swap. Thanks David __________________ David '97 318ti, '97 318is, '96 Z3, '95 M3 (club racer) | | | 11-18-2005, 01:34 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 484 | the Mroadster complete rear end is a direct bolt-on. Once you have that install, Your pretty much a good candidate for a 6 cyl swap. You may need to find a way to get the emergency brake working though. Quote: Originally Posted by racepad Later, if I do an engine swap do you keep the 318ti drive shaft or do you need a different one. I may have the chance to pick up the M-Roadster drive shaft too but dont want to if it's not needed for a later engine swap. | What ever tranny you wil be using you will have to mate with that driveshaft.(e.g.) 318ti tranny will require 318ti Drive shaft, m3 zf tranny will require M3 driveshaft. good luck. keep us updated. by the way how much did you happen to pick the rear end for? __________________ S50 Swap, Euro 3.5" HFM (MAF), my custom Chip, Cosmo CAI, Custom Exhaust, 6 Cyl. Gauge cluster, 80C thermostat, E46 330 Front Brakes, Powder coated Calipers, Clear Corners, Black Grill, UUC SSK, M3 Front Strut, M3 Front Springs, Powder Coated Valve Cover, ZR3 Laser. and some | | | 11-18-2005, 03:00 PM | #3 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | Quote: Originally Posted by racepad I was able to secure a complere M-Roadster complete rear drive train. Basically the whole thing from the diff to the and all the parts inbetween. At some point I may do an M50/M52 engine swap but wondered what the differences in the old differential and new differential would do. Not sure what the old one is (stock for a basic 97 318ti) vs. 3.25 one on the M-Roadster. Will my exisiting 4 cylinder have any problems driving it? What would be the gain/loss. | nice find! stock ratio (assuming you have a 5-speed manual) is 3.45 so you'll be even slower than stock! you'll have a theoretical higher top end (assuming the 4 can get it there) ... except for being electronically limited to something around 116-120mph. i'm also assuming that the M-roadster one is a LSD so you'll gain there as well if you have an open diff. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-18-2005, 03:37 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 30 | Bolt on M-Roadster rear end Thanks for the confirmation on the setup. I have disassembled and reassembled the eBrake stuff before so I am reasonably sure that I can pull off using the existing one. I can't say what I paid for the complete rear end but, if you can find one, one should expect to pay over 2K. Quote: Originally Posted by Dredder the Mroadster complete rear end is a direct bolt-on. Once you have that install, Your pretty much a good candidate for a 6 cyl swap. You may need to find a way to get the emergency brake working though. What ever tranny you wil be using you will have to mate with that driveshaft.(e.g.) 318ti tranny will require 318ti Drive shaft, m3 zf tranny will require M3 driveshaft. good luck. keep us updated. by the way how much did you happen to pick the rear end for? | __________________ David '97 318ti, '97 318is, '96 Z3, '95 M3 (club racer) | | | 11-18-2005, 03:41 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 30 | Ratio on M-Roadster Diff Yeah that is an issue. I may consider pulling my 3.45LSD from my e36 M3 track car and using that then upping my track car diff to a 3.64 or 3.75. Not sure If I can just swap the diff (and just swap covers) or if I need to swap internals. Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti nice find! stock ratio (assuming you have a 5-speed manual) is 3.45 so you'll be even slower than stock! you'll have a theoretical higher top end (assuming the 4 can get it there) ... except for being electronically limited to something around 116-120mph. i'm also assuming that the M-roadster one is a LSD so you'll gain there as well if you have an open diff. | __________________ David '97 318ti, '97 318is, '96 Z3, '95 M3 (club racer) | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |