325i 6mt diff swap

LaCross · 10-08-2014, 02:10 PM

I've been doing some research on a diff swap for my car.

My question is, will a diff from an auto 330i bolt right up? Or will I need to modify something?

smellthebeans · 10-19-2014, 11:57 PM

No the N52 and N54/55 based engines use different sized differentials.

hassmaschine · 10-20-2014, 08:17 AM

uh the 330i is an N52..

approximate · 10-20-2014, 10:47 AM

direct-fit

BudVlad · 10-20-2014, 11:19 AM

I installed 335i diff on my 325i (N53) – direct fit. All I had to do is use 335i drive shaft.

andrey_gta · 10-20-2014, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudVlad

I installed 335i diff on my 325i (N53) – direct fit. All I had to do is use 335i drive shaft.

What about the Small shafts to the rear Knucle carriers?

BudVlad · 10-20-2014, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

What about the Small shafts to the rear Knucle carriers?

It fits. I used the original half shafts. I had to use 335i drive shaft because it has different coupling to the diff.

andrey_gta · 10-20-2014, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudVlad

It fits. I used the original half shafts. I had to use 335i drive shaft because it has different coupling to the diff.

Do you know if your 325i has the rear brakes & hand brake diameter same as 330i/335i or the Xi models?

That can explain if you had such an easy solution.

The e82 123d coupe is a hybrid - it has the large diff ie 335i/135i and small diff 328i/128i/325i/323i style all based on Auto/Manual config as a rusult it has different half shaft part numbers into the 135i/335i style rear Knucles. This could be useful for someone maybe

BudVlad · 10-20-2014, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

Do you know if your 325i has the rear brakes & hand brake diameter same as 330i/335i or the Xi models?

That can explain if you had such an easy solution.

The e82 123d coupe is a hybrid - it has the large diff ie 335i/135i and small diff 328i/128i/325i/323i style all based on Auto/Manual config as a rusult it has different half shaft part numbers into the 135i/335i style rear Knucles. This could be useful for someone maybe

Original 325i had small brakes and small hand brake shoes when I did the swap. Later when I was installing performance rear brakes I had to use 335i wheel carriers, 335i hand brake shoes, 335i half shafts ( because of larger bearings) and 335i ABS sensors.

StealYourFace · 10-20-2014, 05:01 PM

I have a 335i carrier with 3.38 gears and lsd, They had to use part of my old driveshaft and part of an e36 m3... or something like that I can't remember it's been so long.

smellthebeans · 11-01-2014, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

uh the 330i is an N52..

The 330i 188mm carrier will not bolt up to a 335i (215mm carrier) as indicated in the original posters current profile.

If I made any mistake, I probably should have asked for clarification.

Some additional food for thought if this swap is intended for a 335xi (or any x-drive car). I dont know what the impact would be of changing gear ratios on the rear with out making a similar adjustment to the front. Seems like drive shafts turning at different speeds could cause additional wear to the viscous coupling (clutch plates) in the transfer case.

hassmaschine · 11-01-2014, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smellthebeans

The 330i 188mm carrier will not bolt up to a 335i (215mm carrier) as indicated in the original posters current profile.

If I made any mistake, I probably should have asked for clarification.

Some additional food for thought if this swap is intended for a 335xi (or any x-drive car). I dont know what the impact would be of changing gear ratios on the rear with out making a similar adjustment to the front. Seems like drive shafts turning at different speeds could cause additional wear to the viscous coupling (clutch plates) in the transfer case.

he didn't ask about a 335xi, he asked about a 330i diff into a 325i.

otherwise you're absolutely correct

andrey_gta · 11-01-2014, 01:24 PM

a 325i MT can use a 325i AT Pumpkin as a direct swap. Same applies to 323i and 328i, same small pumpkin 188mm.
The issue is going from 3.23 to 3.73, you essentially lose the 6th gear. Try driving in 5th to get an idea of the new 6th.
Ideally you want the 3.38 or 3.43 as some 330i and 130i had.

There may be a solution of using a 2004/5 e60 final drive 188mm - I havent looking into the gearing #'s.
(Edit -auto pumpkin 33107516882/33107560603 has 3.46/3.64 gearing respectively but its mounting and drive shaft connector may be different)

over all I am confused how a 335i drive shaft fits, because of maybe different transmission lengths or drive shaft lengths. So confused

BudVlad · 11-01-2014, 04:19 PM

I had to cut the end of my 325i driveshaft and weld on end of 335i driveshaft:

10-08-2014, 02:10 PM	#1
LaCross Second Lieutenant 67 Rep 243 Posts Drives: e90 335xi Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	325i 6mt diff swap I've been doing some research on a diff swap for my car. My question is, will a diff from an auto 330i bolt right up? Or will I need to modify something?
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10-19-2014, 11:57 PM	#2
smellthebeans Lieutenant Colonel 87 Rep 1,555 Posts Drives: LPCs Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (2) Garage List 1990 325i [0.00]	No the N52 and N54/55 based engines use different sized differentials. __________________
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10-20-2014, 08:17 AM	#3
hassmaschine Major General 3987 Rep 7,212 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	uh the 330i is an N52..
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10-20-2014, 10:47 AM	#4
approximate Bavarian Idiot 29 Rep 183 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 325i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria iTrader: (0)	direct-fit
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10-20-2014, 11:19 AM	#5
BudVlad Old Geezer 376 Rep 1,193 Posts Drives: 08 E92 N53B30 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Budweis iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 N53B30 [10.00]	I installed 335i diff on my 325i (N53) – direct fit. All I had to do is use 335i drive shaft. __________________
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10-20-2014, 05:01 PM	#10
StealYourFace Lieutenant Colonel 265 Rep 1,794 Posts Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY iTrader: (1)	I have a 335i carrier with 3.38 gears and lsd, They had to use part of my old driveshaft and part of an e36 m3... or something like that I can't remember it's been so long. __________________
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11-01-2014, 01:24 PM	#13
andrey_gta Brigadier General 318 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	a 325i MT can use a 325i AT Pumpkin as a direct swap. Same applies to 323i and 328i, same small pumpkin 188mm. The issue is going from 3.23 to 3.73, you essentially lose the 6th gear. Try driving in 5th to get an idea of the new 6th. Ideally you want the 3.38 or 3.43 as some 330i and 130i had. There may be a solution of using a 2004/5 e60 final drive 188mm - I havent looking into the gearing #'s. (Edit -auto pumpkin 33107516882/33107560603 has 3.46/3.64 gearing respectively but its mounting and drive shaft connector may be different) over all I am confused how a 335i drive shaft fits, because of maybe different transmission lengths or drive shaft lengths. So confused __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is Last edited by andrey_gta; 11-01-2014 at 02:24 PM..
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11-01-2014, 04:19 PM	#14
BudVlad Old Geezer 376 Rep 1,193 Posts Drives: 08 E92 N53B30 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Budweis iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 N53B30 [10.00]	I had to cut the end of my 325i driveshaft and weld on end of 335i driveshaft: __________________
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