4.1 or 4.4 ratio diff wanted for e46 BMW

You could also use a limo diff from e32 and modify casing or get one which is modified already.
Last piece which was sold on ebay was priced at 450. P&P

Ye see this is why I'm asking for advice, every time I research it I find conflicting opinions. I've done some enquiring in a few places but it seems BMW lads don't really want to share much. Been chatting to Colm Murray who was very helpful but he went with a big money gtr back end and I'm not up for that as il probably never get further than a track day but would still like it reliable

A welded small case diff is plenty strong but depends if you entisols go supercharging the S54 :p
Small case diffs only break when they aren't welded completely or when left open or LSDs. Weld the output flanges solid with the diff center and you'll have no worries :)


I'd still go with an M3 rear axle really and 3.91cwp myself with either the M-var diff center or uprated M5 one depending on what worked better.


X3 diff sounds the best value to go for though :)
There's loads of people in Eastern Europe drifting E46s as much as we use E36s and they are definitely not all M3s or big money builds... Only Lukas can understand what they say in how they go about stuff though :p

Upto a few years ago, changing a diff in a BMW for better acceleration or drifting was unheard of in Ireland. Now you have lads in 318iSes at it and being one of the first things they do so all it takes is a few people to mess about with the E46s and see what might work :)

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Originally Posted by DaveM-sport

A welded small case diff is plenty strong but depends if you entisols go supercharging the S54 :p
Small case diffs only break when they aren't welded completely or when left open or LSDs. Weld the output flanges solid with the diff center and you'll have no worries :)


I'd still go with an M3 rear axle really and 3.91cwp myself with either the M-var diff center or uprated M5 one depending on what worked better.


X3 diff sounds the best value to go for though :)
There's loads of people in Eastern Europe drifting E46s as much as we use E36s and they are definitely not all M3s or big money builds... Only Lukas can understand what they say in how they go about stuff though :p

Upto a few years ago, changing a diff in a BMW for better acceleration or drifting was unheard of in Ireland. Now you have lads in 318iSes at it and being one of the first things they do so all it takes is a few people to mess about with the E46s and see what might work :)

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I've came across a lad in the north that has a good stock of BMW stuff so I should pick up an Evo diff set up there. So then the best thing is just to weld it then after that?

Evo setup??? Not sure but you'll need a bit of swapping around to fit that too.


You could just fit a complete 3L M3 rear axle onto it too of course and just use the usual 4.1, 4.4 or whatever diff suits then.

Thing the trailing arms might fit without too much bother so just need a work out a way to fit the subframe and things.