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Old 07-03-2009, 01:43 PM   #1
pnosker
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Default E30 Diff swap advice

This is to help those swapping E30 diff's into the 318ti. I originally went by the Notebook's guide (http://318ti.org/notebook/diff_conversion/index.html) and BlueBimma's guide.

My project was to swap an E30 eta 2.93 diff into my car while reusing the halfshafts and flanges.

Advice for old diff removal:
I tried the PB Blaster that everyone loves, and it probably helped with the overnight soak, but two of the driveshaft bolts were still impossible to remove. So I pulled out my Oxy-MAPP torch and heated it up with Propane-Oxygen (Couldn't find MAPP gas). That got them right off. Be careful, but this works very well.

That was the easy part. Remounting the flanges was also very easy, except I had a terrible problem fitting the new half shafts in because the flanges were still not quite 100% in. After they "suck" themselves in, hit them with a hammer to make sure they're seated properly. There will be no gap between the flange and the differential after.

I jacked the new diff into place and stupidly started the diff ear bolt first, instead of any others. That was stupid. None of the other bolts lined up after that. SO I had to dismount and waste over an hour trying to figure that out. Remount and start the top two instead. Even the bottom two would be better. After it was all mounted in, my stock halfshafts wouldn't fit. I searched for a while and saw Steve (Administrator of this forum) couldn't do it without E30 halfshafts. I said screw that, I need to use my car, so I dismounted the diff except for one of the lower bolts (which was loose) and the driveshaft, used a screwdriver to pry the diff as far over as I could, and stuck the half shaft in. I bolted the other side lower bolt in and removed the original side to do the same for the 2nd shaft. I needed to hammer the half shaft in so that it could fit. It was close, but a hammer was needed to do the trick. I found that this method worked well and I could reuse my shafts.

I bolted it all up by using a screw driver to pry the diff right under the correct bolt holes. This was tricky. I used a screw driver on the diff ear mount to pry forward and backward, and near the lower bolt region to move side to side. This got it to line up perfectly. The rear ear bolt couldn't fit and was over 1 in away from the right place, so I jacked the rear of the diff up to make that fit.

And so, after thinking it was a 1-2 hour job, was extremely sore after 8 hours of work.

Moral of the story:

Don't mount the diff without the half shafts completely in. Don't attach the ear-bolt first. Make sure someone can help you (Dad had to help me position the diff with the jack). And prepare to spend more time than you thought you needed.

I used Mobil 1 75w90 LS and it seems to be working fine.

I love the lower revvs. My Stromung exhaust made my car very loud at 65 mph. Now it's so quiet! 4th gear is like how 5th gear was. I can still spin the tires at start at around 2500 rpm and it doesn't really seem much slower. I don't have to shift at 58 mph anymore though! Oh, and my gas mileage appears to be at least 3 mpg higher now.
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Old 07-03-2009, 03:05 PM   #2
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I think I have changed diffs three or four times now. Its a pain everytime.

I had a 2.93 in my 325ti at one time and rather liked the running RPMs as well. Gotta post that up for sale.

Glad to hear you got it together, enjoy..
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Old 07-03-2009, 03:25 PM   #3
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Your S52 wouldn't like it? That motor has enough power and torque to handle 2.93 easily I would think.

Have you done the M50 manifold? If not, definitely do it. It's just insane.
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Old 07-03-2009, 04:39 PM   #4
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I have a 2.93 in mine right now, I don't think its enough gear for the M50, I don't have as much power as you S50/2 guys
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Old 07-03-2009, 04:47 PM   #5
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I only have a DASCed ti...
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Old 07-03-2009, 08:08 PM   #6
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yeah, when i did my diff on my own one night it was a pain. took me like 5 hours on my own. used my original ti half shafts in the E30/E28 diff, 3.25 LSD. nice little revs but high enough to take off now that i have my S52 in place
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Marv's 332ti is in the werks. Stay tuned ya'll ...

Check list: S52 swap, manual transmission swap, 3.25 LSD with M Coupe diff cover, SuperSprint muffler, M3 style mirrors, AFE intake, ASC delete, M50 Manifold swap, UUC strut bar, ZHP lighted knob, Vaders, M-tech interior, OEM armrest, AC Schintzer front lip, AC Schnitzer rear spoiler, Roof spoiler, 18'' rims, M3 front drilled brakes, LED interior lights, 3 spoke Euro style steering wheel, OEM roof spoiler and bike holder, Thule fairing, Euro tail lights, oil pressure guage, carbon fiber hood painted to original paint (still showing CF weaving), what's next to do...?
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Old 07-03-2009, 08:53 PM   #7
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so you guys got the stock ti halfshafts to work with the medium case e30 diff with no trouble?
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Old 07-03-2009, 09:17 PM   #8
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The trouble was fixed by half-dismounting the diff while installing. Read the 1st post.
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Old 07-04-2009, 12:41 AM   #9
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yup. i had no problems getting it mounted with the ti half shafts...
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Float like a cadilac, sting like a BIMMER

.... my socket is just too thick and won't fit in the hole! damnit!


Marv's 332ti is in the werks. Stay tuned ya'll ...

Check list: S52 swap, manual transmission swap, 3.25 LSD with M Coupe diff cover, SuperSprint muffler, M3 style mirrors, AFE intake, ASC delete, M50 Manifold swap, UUC strut bar, ZHP lighted knob, Vaders, M-tech interior, OEM armrest, AC Schintzer front lip, AC Schnitzer rear spoiler, Roof spoiler, 18'' rims, M3 front drilled brakes, LED interior lights, 3 spoke Euro style steering wheel, OEM roof spoiler and bike holder, Thule fairing, Euro tail lights, oil pressure guage, carbon fiber hood painted to original paint (still showing CF weaving), what's next to do...?
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Old 07-09-2009, 07:14 PM   #10
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I think I have an E30 318i 4:10 LSD sitting around. If it fits, I'll probably swap it into my ti for fun. Thoughts?
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Old 07-09-2009, 07:18 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shellback View Post
I think I have an E30 318i 4:10 LSD sitting around. If it fits, I'll probably swap it into my ti for fun. Thoughts?
have fun driving on the highway if you have a manual, high rpms FTL
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Old 07-09-2009, 08:34 PM   #12
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That bad, huh? Ok, I'll think of something else. In the mean time, I still need to get underneath there and see what kind I have...
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Old 07-09-2009, 08:47 PM   #13
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see what you have?

If you have a manual its a 3.45 and if you have an automatic its a 4.44
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Old 07-12-2009, 10:55 PM   #14
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I have a 4.10lsd in the 325ti right now, can cruise at 5k around 80 on the highway and get 30mpg with ease. Drove to new hamsphire, maine, vermont, new york, pennsylvania, and across ohio like this. 400 per tank without a problem and have proof of it. If you have a decent exhaust, that isnt loud for the hell of it, then these rpms are fine. The engines operate just fine at these speeds. Think of the ratios the euro gang have stock in their cars not to mention the roads, its easy for these engines to operate amazingly at these speeds and rpms.
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Old 07-19-2009, 08:24 AM   #15
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4.44 FTL with me i have the autotragic version Ti ha but i wanna do a new diff
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