Side loader differential considerations

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Terga11

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I am doing a 5-speed converison (265/5) on my E9 and would like to change my open differential for an lsd at the same time. It's a Euro-spec csi with a 3.25 differential.
Are there any after market lsd conversion kits available for the side loader differentials?
Regarding the differential ratio, is there a noticable difference in acceleration between the 3.25 and the 3.45? Any advice on the optimal differential ratio for the dogleg 265?
With my 16” wheels the speed at a certain rpm drops by 6% compared to the original 3.25 diff/14” wheel configuration if I did my maths right.
Thanks,
Fredrik
 
The external cases are the same, so as far as a conversion kit goes, you can swap out the internals with another side-loader, but that is about it as far as I know.

If you've got a 3.25, then the easiest thing is to stick with it and swap in the LSD unit, unless you don't care about the speedo accuracy. It is driven by the trans, so changing your diff and wheel sizes will mess up the reading. Since you are sticking with a CR 265, a lower diff may be the best way to go. I remember being above 3000 RPM at 70 with the old 4 speed and stock tire/wheel sizes and a 3.45. With the 5 speed, I'm below 2500. How much highway time do you think you will use it for?
 
you might want to give Dan a call at Diffsonline. 781.983.2944

[email protected] website is www.diffsonline.com he specializes with BMW diffs and helped a lot of people out on the e30 M3 special interest group.

there is also an excel spreadsheet that calcs speeds dependent on tire size, ring gear, gear ratios and rpm.
 
I prefer the more active small road driving rather than the highway. Maybe the best alternative is to stick with the 3.25 after all. I don't have an lsd at the moment so I guess I will start searching for one of those. Does anyone have one for sale?

It seems as if the small oil resevoir/cooler that came with the 3.07 E24 (625csi) and E12 (535i) sideloader diff is available from BMW. Any point in mounting one of those on a 3.25 diff?

I will look into diffsonline.com as well.

Thanks,
Fredrik
 
What is the purpose of this small reservoir? sieving any small metal parts to prevent damage?
I have once seen a diff with some big text saying N7 (the 7 was in superscript if I am correct). Is this some special kind of diff? maybe a lsd?

Greets
Wim
 





This is a 3:07 LSD I bought recently, got slight damage to repair on the connection from the top of the diff to the de-airier.

Does anyone know if the tank is simply a hollow cylinder of are there any pipes/filters/elements inside?
 
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