Cooked E46 M3 Diff - Buy 2nd hand, rebuild or new?

Cooked E46 M3 Diff - Buy 2nd hand, rebuild or new?

Author
Discussion

slampis

Original Poster:

55 posts

129 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Hi M Dudes and Duderidas, I have a lovely e46 M3 which is nearly complete apart the boot floor and the diff - seems the bearing on one of the shafts is gone, and there was no oil inside at all when we discovered the diff is done, so I'm guessing it's pretty much done. I had a quick browse and it doesn't seem you can get a half decent second hand one, at least I haven't found one, so the question is do I refurbish or get a new unit? Any idea how much to refurbish and where and if I do refurbish, are there any must to mods to do at the same time?

Thx!

Output Flange

16,789 posts

210 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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I'd wager that any second hand diff would benefit from a refresh anyway, so you may as well get yours done instead.

I've used www.gearboxman.co.uk for diff builds. I've yet to have a bill smaller than £600, but your requirements are probably different to mine.

Not sure I'd bother making any mods if the car is just a road car.

slampis

Original Poster:

55 posts

129 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Thanks, I have experience with these people, not sure if I want to deal with them again frown

Anyone else using anyone else? There must be someone specialising in building these?

Output Flange

16,789 posts

210 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
quotequote all
There's also JC Racing in Thirsk.

AW10

4,412 posts

248 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Try Road and Race in Sevenoaks - they used to specialise in Caterhams but as Caterham now uses a BMW diff perhaps they can help. No website but look at http://www.ikent.co.uk/profile/233087/Sevenoaks/Ro...

slampis

Original Poster:

55 posts

129 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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Perfect! Thank you! I will try to remember to report the outcome wink

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
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ETA motorsport near Brands Hatch are a good independent.