E36 M3 EVO Diff and schnitzer shift ?

[Knocker]

Hi all,

Can anyone help me with regards to the diff.

At the minute I am running a standard gearbox and diff but want to look into getting shorter ratios.

What is the way forward?, also has anyone got a AC schnitzer short shift I can buy?

The car is a 1999 E36 3.2 EVO with Schrek (Ithink that's how you sspell it !!) cams, competition head gasket built by butler motorsport and mapped by Wayne. Ps is anyone doing the rally on the 26th at Anglesey ?

[M3 Compact]

Loads of diff info available in here, Knocker. (The forum search facility isn't functioning correctly atm. )

The Evos use a 210mm CWP in the diff and (OE - cheap) alternative ratios aren't as readily available as they are for 188mm CWP diffs....

My Evo engine has only munched one (poorly assembled ) 188mm CWP 4.45 diff. If a 4.45 is low enough for your needs, a 188mm CWP diff swap might be £appropriate?


£££ for a 5... 210mm CWP. (£700ish? )

[notax]

I'm using a 318ti gearbox with my 3.0 M3 compact. Ratios are fantastic - first is a bit short but after that beautifully spaced Doesn't seem to have a problem coping with the power..Yet...

Not sure what ratio my diff is - maybe someone else on here knows..?

PS maybe a moderator can move this thread to a better forum?

[M3 Compact]

I'll move it to the transmission section after Knocker has seen the replies.

I think you have a 4.1 diff, notax?

Other than parking/pulling on to the trailer, I never use 1st with a 4.45 & Evo engine - it blitzes off the line in 2nd & pulls 40+ MPH....

I've ditched the (Valuable & unrepairable) 6-speed Gertrac in favour of a (125 MPH in 5th with a 4.45) M3 3.0L 5-speed box now.

The 3.0L M3 ZF boxes cost buttons to buy and they're repairable.

[notax]

I forgot you had an EVO engine at least I've got an excuse when you give me a pasting at EMCOS

I think you are right about my diff, 4:1 rings a bell. How come yours is a 4:45?

Do you think I should keep going with the 318 gearbox or would you recommend I put the M3 5 speed in? If I do this I'll need a new clutch - the one it came with was dead and using a 318 paddle clutch at the moment...which seem to cope.

[M3 Compact]

I had a couple of upgraded 4.45 diffs built, notax. (One built properly - one 'out-sourced' that wasn't built properly and it shat itself.)

IIRC , I sold a standard 4.1 LSD diff to MrF, which is the diff that's now in your car?

If the 318ti gearbox is working ok......

[notax]

Thanks - I think Mr F described it as an American diff does that make sense? Useful to know what it is (and where to get bits from) in case it goes pop...

[M3 Compact]

Thanks - I think Mr F described it as an American diff does that make sense? Useful to know what it is (and where to get bits from) in case it goes pop...

It's a (quite rare) 4.1 as fitted to the USA E30 M3. USA E30 M3 used a different gearbox with over drive 5th AFAIK - Euro E30 M3 used a dog-leg Gertrac with a direct 5th gear and taller diff ratio.

Other than the gear set ratio, it's the same as all the other 188mm LSD diffs.

[is-si]

you might save a bit on freight if you look for a E28 diff, 518i iirc

[jonnysprinter]

you might save a bit on freight if you look for a E28 diff, 518i iirc

they do have a 4.1 and guess who 'gave one of those away'