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Tech Forum : Changing diffs, gas efficiency decline?

- BMW E21 Community
   - Tech Forum
      - Changing diffs, gas efficiency decline?
  Posted Monday, Jun 11th 1:56am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 171


my stock 3.25diff is leaking bad, thinking about replacing it with a 3.91 LSD. My top speed will go down, and so will my gas mileage no? but it will be more fun around town? Just want to check on these things, anyone have a guestimate on how much my gas mileage will go down?

  Posted Monday, Jun 11th 2:15am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 184


There have been different views on this, but I don't like the 3.91 with the m20. It makes it too high strung, especially with a 4-speed. It was better after I installed the 5-speed, but low end traction suffered. Too much gear for an effective launch. MPG will suck with a 4gear unless it's all in-town driving. My opinion only, does not necessarily reflect the opinions of this forum.
--Dennis

  Posted Monday, Jun 11th 5:18am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 1127


I am 100% with Dennis on this. I have a 4 speed with the 3.45 and I cannot imagine the 3.90. First gear will be near useless.

  Posted Monday, Jun 11th 6:26pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 287


U would probably get wheelspin with the 3.91.

Since your 3.25 is leaking, why not replace the seals/gaskets? Are the parts not available where you are?

  Posted Monday, Jun 11th 8:13pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 133


3.25 on a e21???

  Posted Monday, Jun 11th 9:28pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 172


I have the dogleg sports 5speed gearbox and im assuming that came with the 3.25 no?
I want an LSD,

I would be happy if i can find a 3.45 on ebay and will look. I think It would be significantly easier for me to buy a 3.45 LSD on ebay and have it installed than to fix the one i have unfortunatly.

Fixing the one i have would be around 400usd with lost acess to car for a day-harsh-im in California in the Valley.

Installation of a new one would be 100dlls, and an LSD off ebay i can get i think for 300 or less.

3.45LSD with the dogleg then? good combo? could it be that i already have a 3.45, or did the dogleg always come with the 3.25. I dont know if this matters but i have the 323i sports suspension, ie the bigger sway bars and the stock bilsteins-i believe the car came this way...

  Posted Tuesday, Jun 12th 4:15am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 184


Again, the BMW ETK shows no reference whatsoever to a 3.25 ratio in the diff. It shows all 323i's to have a 3.45. I am not sure where this rumor started, but I have never seen evidence that it is true. You likely have a 3.45 diff.
--Dennis

  Posted Tuesday, Jun 12th 5:00am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 62


I'll chime in on this one. Having the dogleg attached to a 4:75LSD I can say 1st isn't useless, but it will redline quick if you aren't watching.
I made a video of my car and you'll get the idea what range the rpm's run normally. It's fun, but long distance interstate driving can make for a stiff back.
I'd think the 3:90 would be a good overall choice, without losing that much in gas vs what you gain in fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNS63mTx_jY

  Posted Tuesday, Jun 12th 9:55pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 173


About the 323i
The 323i also came standard with a 4-speed gearbox, however most 323i are equipped with a 5-speed overdrive gearbox. A dogleg close-ratio sport gearbox was available as an option.
The 323i has a 3.45:1 ratio on the differential. If fitted with a sport gearbox, the ratio was 3.25:1.

source- http://e21.tricord.be/e21/about/m20/gearbox-info.php

What is the part number on the seal that is probably leaking, i cant find the right diagram on realoem, anybody ever had one of these leak before. Its leaking from the front.

-g323

  Posted Tuesday, Jun 12th 11:11pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 1129


I am not aware of a 3.25 for the e21.

  Posted Wednesday, Jun 13th 2:41am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 363


Disregard, I'm an idiot.

  Posted Wednesday, Jun 13th 4:50am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 1130


Hartge82H3 wrote:
I'd think the 3:90 would be a good overall choice, without losing that much in gas vs what you gain in fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNS63mTx_jY

To each their own but I don't see it. Most of the m20 engines here aren't making much power past 5300 rpm. The 3.91 is going to put you out of the fat torque band.

  Posted Wednesday, Jun 13th 9:33am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 51


g323 wrote:
About the 323i
The 323i also came standard with a 4-speed gearbox, however most 323i are equipped with a 5-speed overdrive gearbox. A dogleg close-ratio sport gearbox was available as an option.
The 323i has a 3.45:1 ratio on the differential. If fitted with a sport gearbox, the ratio was 3.25:1.

source- http://e21.tricord.be/e21/about/m20/gearbox-info.php

What is the part number on the seal that is probably leaking, i cant find the right diagram on realoem, anybody ever had one of these leak before. Its leaking from the front.

-g323

yeah its definatly short through the gears...

OT: love the exhaust note

  Posted Friday, Jun 15th 12:56pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 531


It's a roughly linear relationship, according to an extensive vehicle study I did.

On a manual transmission car, a 10% numerically taller Final Drive ratio will improve fuel economy on motorway ahd highway cruises by about just under 6%
A 10% shorter FD ratio will decrease fuel economy by about just under 6%.


An automatic transmission shows less sensitivity, although it must be said that the study was carried out in 1997 and with alot of American vehicle data. Mainstream yank cars have/had prehistoric automatic transmissions compared to the state of the art Euro stuff, however this means it is probably quite relevant to our E21.

I did researh on the 3.25 rear end in an E21 and I think it was probably a myth propagated by the Haynes workshop manual for LSD cars.
Assuming it is a myth- going from 3.45 to 3.91 represents about a 13% change. So you can probably expect about a 7% drop in fuel economy.

  Posted Friday, Jun 15th 3:23pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 1271


BruceH wrote:
Hartge82H3 wrote:
I'd think the 3:90 would be a good overall choice, without losing that much in gas vs what you gain in fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNS63mTx_jY

To each their own but I don't see it. Most of the m20 engines here aren't making much power past 5300 rpm. The 3.91 is going to put you out of the fat torque band.


I am going to find out. I have a 3.91 LSD that I am going to put in with a 4 speed.

Should scream off the line. I dont plan for highway driving anyway. Top end speed is overrated. Shift, turn, accellerate, shift is where the fun is.

  Posted Friday, Jun 15th 10:48pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 194


May not be an issue in this case, but don't forget to factor in any pending tire/wheel diameter changes - I went from a 3.64 open diff in a US spec M10 320i with an OD 5 speed to a 3.91 LSD and replaced the 13" wheels and 185/70s with staggered 15's (15x6 & 185/60 front, 15x7 & 205/60 rear) at essentially the same time.

The end result was virtually zero change in rpm vs speed - the larger diameter wheel/tire combo exactly offset the lower diff gearing.

  Posted Saturday, Jun 16th 6:35am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 1056


i would argue that unless you're running an M20 with webers and a 300 degree duration camshaft a 3.91 is a complete waste of effort compared to the stock 3.45.

I think the 3.25 myth was propagated because of the E30 323i. I think (but haven't checked in ETK) the the E30 323i was equipped with a 3.25 when it had the dogleg box.

jamie

  Posted Sunday, Jun 17th 7:05pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]

Post nr. 63


MayanArch wrote:
Should scream off the line. I dont plan for highway driving anyway. Top end speed is overrated. Shift, turn, accellerate, shift is where the fun is.


That's what I'm talking about.....


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