E38 328i Sport Differential
Discussion
Evening Chaps ....
My 328i Sport is fitted with TC but no LSD and I'm sick of it.
I'm looking to change the diff, I believe the Non-EVO m3 diff will fit? Is his diff any good?
Are there any resonably priced aftermarket diffs available? Of possibly an LSD from a different model?
How about welded diffs? Can anyone recommend somewhere to get this done? Will it cause problems with the TC?
Sorry for all the questions!
My 328i Sport is fitted with TC but no LSD and I'm sick of it.
I'm looking to change the diff, I believe the Non-EVO m3 diff will fit? Is his diff any good?
Are there any resonably priced aftermarket diffs available? Of possibly an LSD from a different model?
How about welded diffs? Can anyone recommend somewhere to get this done? Will it cause problems with the TC?
Sorry for all the questions!
John Laverick said:
Evening Chaps ....
My 328i Sport is fitted with TC but no LSD and I'm sick of it.
I'm looking to change the diff, I believe the Non-EVO m3 diff will fit? Is his diff any good?
Are there any resonably priced aftermarket diffs available? Of possibly an LSD from a different model?
How about welded diffs? Can anyone recommend somewhere to get this done? Will it cause problems with the TC?
Sorry for all the questions!
A welded diff?! for the street? My 328i Sport is fitted with TC but no LSD and I'm sick of it.
I'm looking to change the diff, I believe the Non-EVO m3 diff will fit? Is his diff any good?
Are there any resonably priced aftermarket diffs available? Of possibly an LSD from a different model?
How about welded diffs? Can anyone recommend somewhere to get this done? Will it cause problems with the TC?
Sorry for all the questions!
A welded diff means massive understeer and rear tyre wear in the dry.Consider a Quaife ATB; they're good for street use.
I have a 328i, which when looking at it I thought was a sport, as it had no bumper (crashed) but had the correct wheels, interior and everything else. When I took a look at the remains of the bumper, it was a normal E36 bumper. And the Logbook said 328i coupe and not 328i sport.
I bought it nevertheless, and was thinking the same thing as you are now. But so far, I've not found I needed it. My old M535i (E12 shape) had a 25% LSD, and the only benefit I've noticed is that when it does come round, the E12 was a little more progressive and simpler to catch. BUT the E36 has rock hard suspension in comparison.
What is making you want to change?
Oh and welded diffs are only good for Banger racers and if you want it to drive like a quad bike.
I bought it nevertheless, and was thinking the same thing as you are now. But so far, I've not found I needed it. My old M535i (E12 shape) had a 25% LSD, and the only benefit I've noticed is that when it does come round, the E12 was a little more progressive and simpler to catch. BUT the E36 has rock hard suspension in comparison.
What is making you want to change?
Oh and welded diffs are only good for Banger racers and if you want it to drive like a quad bike.
Gad-Westy said:
Various diffs will work. What use do you have in mind?
An E36 M3 non-evo LSD ( also an E36 325i LSD ) is about 3.15:1 roughly as opposed to 2.93:1 for a manual 328i. Maybe the easiest to buy as a spare and swap - you will get slightly better acceleration but revvier cruising.It will work fine with ASC as fitted to your car at present - you can still switch the ASC off to make full use of your LSD.
An E36 M3 EVO diff is a LOAD more work to fit
Thanks for the reply guys ...
I want an LSD as previous cars have had them fitted and I can't live with not having one.
The car is for mainly road use ... but 'maybe' some track and drift days next year [as I've now sold my dedicated track cars]. but the main use is for arsing about on the roads ... sideways out of junctions ... drifting around quite roundabouts .. that kind of thing - mainly in the wet.
I was looking at Non-Evo M3 diffs ... but they're quite expensive for a second hand part when Quaife kits are circa £5-600 ... but it is my everyday car so i don't want to really start messing with it too much.
Which is why I though give a welded diff a go for the sake of £75 ... if I don't like it I can always take it back out again.
I want an LSD as previous cars have had them fitted and I can't live with not having one.
The car is for mainly road use ... but 'maybe' some track and drift days next year [as I've now sold my dedicated track cars]. but the main use is for arsing about on the roads ... sideways out of junctions ... drifting around quite roundabouts .. that kind of thing - mainly in the wet.
I was looking at Non-Evo M3 diffs ... but they're quite expensive for a second hand part when Quaife kits are circa £5-600 ... but it is my everyday car so i don't want to really start messing with it too much.
Which is why I though give a welded diff a go for the sake of £75 ... if I don't like it I can always take it back out again.
phelix said:
A welded diff?! for the street? A welded diff means massive understeer and rear tyre wear in the dry.
Is that from actual experience of what you have read on the internet? Only I have seen lots and lots of different views on the subject ... and the one you have seems to be from people who haven't actually tried it?? A welded diff means massive understeer and rear tyre wear in the dry.carlosvalderrama said:
Oh and welded diffs are only good for Banger racers and if you want it to drive like a quad bike.
If that means it goes sideways in a controlled fashion then its fine by me!Edited by John Laverick on Friday 14th December 12:49
John Laverick said:
Thanks for the reply guys ...
I want an LSD as previous cars have had them fitted and I can't live with not having one.
The car is for mainly road use ... but 'maybe' some track and drift days next year [as I've now sold my dedicated track cars]. but the main use is for arsing about on the roads ... sideways out of junctions ... drifting around quite roundabouts .. that kind of thing - mainly in the wet.
I was looking at Non-Evo M3 diffs ... but they're quite expensive for a second hand part when Quaife kits are circa £5-600 ... but it is my everyday car so i don't want to really start messing with it too much.
Which is why I though give a welded diff a go for the sake of £75 ... if I don't like it I can always take it back out again.
Welded diffs are a definite no-no for road use I'm afraid. You'll literally, always be spinning an inside wheel, even at walking pace coming out of parking spaces. You'll knacker the driveshafts in no time as well. Thats before even starting on the handling, which will be dreadful. The only experience I've had of a welded diff is on track in a Dax slalom car and it was frankly, crap. By welding a diff, you're effectively doing away with a diff altogether, and I don't know of any car in history, racing or otherwise thats rolled out of a factory like that.I want an LSD as previous cars have had them fitted and I can't live with not having one.
The car is for mainly road use ... but 'maybe' some track and drift days next year [as I've now sold my dedicated track cars]. but the main use is for arsing about on the roads ... sideways out of junctions ... drifting around quite roundabouts .. that kind of thing - mainly in the wet.
I was looking at Non-Evo M3 diffs ... but they're quite expensive for a second hand part when Quaife kits are circa £5-600 ... but it is my everyday car so i don't want to really start messing with it too much.
Which is why I though give a welded diff a go for the sake of £75 ... if I don't like it I can always take it back out again.
phelix said:
A welded diff?! for the street? A welded diff means massive understeer and rear tyre wear in the dry.
Is that from actual experience of what you have read on the internet? Only I have seen lots and lots of different views on the subject ... and the one you have seems to be from people who haven't actually tried it?? A welded diff means massive understeer and rear tyre wear in the dry.carlosvalderrama said:
Oh and welded diffs are only good for Banger racers and if you want it to drive like a quad bike.
If that means it goes sideways in a controlled fashion then its fine by me!Edited by John Laverick on Friday 14th December 12:49
I think in your case, expensive though it is, I'd persevere with the quaife option, and speak to them directly about your requirements. They'll know what to offer you.
Probably the best alternative is to find a scrapped 328 Sport with an LSD and nab that. You need to be careful here though, because firstly; they're quite rare and secondly; you might find that a well worn LSD has turned itself into an open diff and you'll need to have it rebuilt.
Edited by Gad-Westy on Friday 14th December 13:43
Edited by Gad-Westy on Friday 14th December 13:44
I have to admit that I've never driven a car with a welded diff.
But think about it. In a turn the rear wheels rotate at slightly different speeds and a welded diff will not allow this. All other things being in equilibrium the inside wheel will be forced to rotate a bit faster and the outside wheel a bit slower, scrubbing the tyres v rapidly. And the car won't want to turn in readily at all. The car might be fun some of the time but a real sod most of the time.
But think about it. In a turn the rear wheels rotate at slightly different speeds and a welded diff will not allow this. All other things being in equilibrium the inside wheel will be forced to rotate a bit faster and the outside wheel a bit slower, scrubbing the tyres v rapidly. And the car won't want to turn in readily at all. The car might be fun some of the time but a real sod most of the time.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I know how a diff works ... and realise the welded diff is a compromise ... from reading people's experiances who have actually used one on the road they claim it is only intusive during VERY tight turns at low speed [i.e. parking etc.]. I realise tyre wear will be increased but I'm not that fussed about that.
I think for the sake of £75 before spending £600 on a Quaife it might be worth a go .. could always sell it on to a drifter if its no good.
Edited by John Laverick on Friday 14th December 17:01
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