HELP: 95 M3 diff. in a 95 318is!

[Spikep]

i just picked up a 3.23 m3 diff. today because the stock 318 one failed me.

i made sure the drive shaft flange was the same 4 bolt.

but the out put shafts for the axles are bigger then my 318!

how can i run this diff. in my 318?

[GKR_17]

how can i run this diff. in my 318?

You don't if you want to be legal.

[JoshS]

You don't if you want to be legal.

I don't know much about the E36 diffs (but ask me about E30 diffs ...), but I would think that they would be the same diff case as each other, so it should be a legal swap.

You probably just need to swap the output flanges between the two diffs. They just pop out. Take a long screwdriver, position it between the output flange and the case, and give it a little pop. Just swap the 318 flanges for the M3 flanges.

[Doc Bro]

Sorry to tell you but you bought the wrong diff. The 318 takes the 168mm diff same as the 1.9 Z3 which is lovingly known as the "small case" diff. All the other 3 series (e36) take the "large case (182mm) diff. Bottom line is that diff won't be legal, although the gears are all the same regardless of case size. You need to find a "small case " diff from a 1.9 Z3 or an e30 318. BTW, the Z3 diff requires an output flange change to work in your car. Very easy to do, just take a small pry bar and push them gently out, you wont even have to change the seals.

R

[Spikep]

well the out put flanges on the m3 diff are longer then my 318's.

one side the 318 flanges go in all the way. on the other the flange is about half and inch off from being completely snug to the diff.

oh im not worried about being legal guys, this is for a street/ daily driver

[robits325is]

All you have to do is knock out the output flanges with a big pry bar and swap them from your 318i diff to the M3 diff. Piece of cake as long as both diffs are on the floor.