"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
01/17/2014 at 15:18 • Filed to: None
4
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"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
01/17/2014 at 15:18 • Filed to: None | 4
| 4 |
I have an E46 M3. You have an E46 M3. We both want the same thing: gears, head'ers and sex. But since its you that's reading this, we know you primarily want to a set of gears. A set of 3.91 or 4.10 final drive gears, to be exact. The problem for most of us is that upgrading the E46 M3 gears from the factory 3.64 to a Motorsport 3.91 or 4.10 is expensive.
A new BMW Motorsport final drive gear can set you back close to $1000. Then you factor in supporting replacement hardware — the carrier bearings, races, etc to rebuild your diff. Add another $250-300. Need a replacement limited slip while you're at it? Oh, this is adding up quick. But what if you could obtain the 3.91 or 4.10 gears for a fraction of the cost if you sourced them from another model? We might have found a way to cut those costs by hundreds of dollars. By all means, continue at your own risk.
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How it's Done.
Here's the deal —
BMW used two different sized differential housings. Lower powered
vehicles came with the 188mm sized differential while the performance
models used the beefier and stronger 210mm size. The E46 non-M3 uses
the 188mm differential while the E46 M3, E39 M5 and various other models
use a 210mm gear set. This is why non-M owners who want a limited slip
differential can't simply swap in an M differential.
What I understand is that the E46 M3 should accept a final drive gear set any other BMW model with a 210mm differential. Note that not all gears are the same quality. Some have special coatings designed for Motorsports use. Do you NEED to use a gear set with a special coating? Probably not. Many performance models come with gears without fancy coatings. That said, it is a good idea to contact a BMW specialist such as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! if you have questions. They also have the supporting hardware needed to do the job. Bearings, races, and such.
Below are a list of models that came with or had a trim that included a 210mm final drive gear set. Be sure to do your own research before making any purchase.
Models with 210mm Gear Set and Final Drive Ratio
E34 M5 Euro before 6/94: 3.91:1 Final Drive
E39 M5: 3.15:1 Final Drive
E60 M5: 3.62:1 Final Drive
E53 X5 4.6is: 3.91:1 Final Drive
E53 X5 4.8is: 3.91:1 Final Drive
E90 M3: 3.85:1 Final Drive
There may be more models with 210mm gear sets but looking at this short list the clear winners are the X5 4.6is and 4.8is. If you are lucky enough to find a used differential on Ebay or your local salvage yard it may be a save you a half dozen Benjamins or more. If you are comfortable working on your own car and have experience rebuilding differentials then you might be able to upgrade your E46 M3 gears for less than $600.
Sources:
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HiredDriver
> RightFootDown
01/17/2014 at 15:23 |
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THE BMW PERFORMANCE SHOPS WANT THIS POST REMOVED.
Nihilati0n
> HiredDriver
01/17/2014 at 15:25 |
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Or they welcome the extra business to repair all the fucked up differentials.
04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches.
> HiredDriver
01/17/2014 at 17:08 |
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THIS IS SLANDER AND PREPOSTEROUS LIES! YOU CAN ONLY PAY OUR OUTRAGEOUS SHOP FEES TO HAVE THIS DONE!
WHO WOULD DARE DIY A BMW?!?!
oz4
> RightFootDown
02/15/2014 at 12:16 |
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It would make sense that you can a final drive from a truck to make an E46 M3 better.