Differential Swap

[Project_E30]

Hello all, 1st post here. Would like to say this site has helped out a lot for the short time i've been here. So thanks to all who have given so much to it.
Anyway, on to the good stuff.

87 325i with 2.93 Diff making a tone of noise and some vibration. Had a local mom & pop BMW shop put it up on a rack and make sure thats what it was.
T'was. So....
Was looking to see what i should expect in this swap, would like to go to the 3.73. Will i need any extra seals, driveshafts yadda yadda...?? Plus would like to do a M50 swap in the near future (4-5 months) Should i go an diff direction than the E30 3.73 gears?

THX all and a Happy Monday to ya!

Mike

[gotKRAUT]

why does your 325i have a 2.93?

only the M20B27 (325, 325e, 325es) came with that gear ratio in 1987..which in fact is the ideal ratio for a M50B25, you want no more than a 2.93 or 3.25 with the M50 transmission gearing...with the M20B25 (E30 325i, 325iS, 325iC) they run a 3.73 stock, or if its auto a 4:10...

[Project_E30]

In that case i have to assume that it has been swapped before. Diff has the little tag that has 2.93. At least thats what the shop said. I'll have to look again to make sure.
But thx for the info about the m50

[JoeMadoo]

How fast can you go in first? At 6000 RPM do you go about 27 or about 35?

[gotKRAUT]

just out of curiousity also, what's your engines redline?

[Project_E30]

Only reads to 6000rmp, but relines at 4.5
3000 in 1st i'm going about 20mph. Not sure if this helps.

[gotKRAUT]

dude you have a 325, 325e, 325es not a 325i your car has an M20B27 which is the Eta motor, thats why you have a 2.93:1 diff

[Project_E30]

Ok this question might be stupid BUT any reason at ALL why i would have 325i emblems on an 325 325e 325es ???? Other that some retard replaced them? used:

[gotKRAUT]

no, not usually retards do it all the time so they can charge more
the title is the answer, what does it say? have you ever done a car fax on it?

the 325i motor redlines at 6500 and has a 7000rpm tach

[Project_E30]

Nada on the Car Fax.
Title has
Year-1987,
Make-BMW,
Body type model-SD,
Class-AL ..........Thats about it.

Just bought the car from a private party two weeks ago.
Pretty much a done deal. Thinking i should do some backgroud checken. See what comes up. Go from there.
Cars clean. Besides the Diff....but now this makes me wonder about a lot of things.
Does the Class or Body Type mean anything to ya? Starting to feel like Sherlock...

Thank you much for the info, i owe ya one.

Mike

[gotKRAUT]

weird my title actually says 1987 BMW 325es

something is fishy, run the vin through www.carfax.com

being taken for a fool sucks, and its a pretty big tuning/performance difference, the motor you have is really made just for fuel economy and long life, not for modification or racing. So if that was your plan you have a good case to make the seller give your money back because you were miss informed.

the 325i motor on the other hand is gread for modifying and driving hard

the E motor has around 121hp and 172tq but with dinan chip sits around 144hp and 195tq(approximately) with a 5300-5500rpm redline
the i motor has around 165hp and 162 tq but with chip sits around 175hp 175tq (approximately) with a 6900-7000rpm redline

but the differnce is thats about all you will get power wise out of the 2.7L 325e motor without major internal work, the 2.5L 325i motor has a lot more tuning potential

[Project_E30]

Carfax came back with 325e 2.7L

Well at least the 2.93 diff makes sence.
Hope a lot of people read this post, at least if their looking for a used car.
This sucks....

Bad side, someone bull#$&^!$ me,....good side...lots of room for improvment on the car.

See what the last owner has to say tomorrow.... $100 says it's (I didn't know)

[gotKRAUT]

lol ya probably, whats the plans for the car? motor swap? M50/S50 swaps are all the rage these days

lets get some pics!

Edit: oh ya you said M50 swap anyway

the diff ratio you have now is good for the M50, ideal would be a 3.25:1 for either the 2.7 or the M50. The M50 transmission is geared a lot different, they come stock with a 2:79 rear diff i believe...

So ya keep your eyes peeled for a 3.25 diff, makes for good times

[Project_E30]

I'll try and post the pics later today. I have a sick urge to rip the I off though.
Or add an E and confuse the hell out of BMW owners.

Plans for the car are an engine swap for sure. But i have to read up a lot about whats the best way to go. Edjumacate myself. Seems to be a few options for different motors. m50 s50 ect... I guess whatever would get me into the 250-300hp range. Torque from what i have learned so far is always there on the M50's Even the M20's as well.
Not looking to overpower the car just make it a lot of fun to drive.
Daily 250-300hp E30 sleeper (kinda) Clean moreover.

As i said,....need to learn.
It's Wed, I'm out.

Once again THX!
My 1st post and i find out i got screwed! used: ...

Good Bloody @$%ing Times!!

[gotKRAUT]

hahaha no worries it happens to the best of us, actually you should just remove all the numbers and letters, looks best smooth and clean