Final Drive and Differential Qs

TechE92 · 03-27-2015, 12:13 AM

Hey guys, I have a question regarding the differential for the 328i. I am currently interested in upgrading my e92 6MT to the e90 3.73 AT differential and possibly an MFactory LSD down the road. Currently a little confused.

1. Carrier is also the same as a pumpkin?
2. Carrier/pumpkin holds the final drive and LSD?
3. Is it best to do both at the same time?
4. Easy to DIY? I installed the 3 stage IM myself, about to get the AA tune

Thanks

MFactory · 03-27-2015, 02:25 AM

1) Carrier, Pumpkin, Pig Snout etc All refer to the same thing
2) Carrier refers to the entire asssembly. The carrier "housing" holds the LSD & Final Drive
3) You have a bolted diff, so install is very straightforward. However, if you do not know how to check backlash etc, it's usually easier to have a professional install the LSD into the carrier housing for you. Typical labour around $400-700, depending on how the installer rebuilds it for you
4) Yes and no. Do you have a lift? PITA on jack stands. Do you have a dial gauge and know how to measure backlash? If not, then you can't install it (well you can, but not properly). Do you know how to shim a diff? If not, then you can't install it (well you can, but not properly)

Just depends on whether you want to do it yourself and save a few hundred $'s, or pay a professional to do it for you

If you purchase a pre-built carrier, then it is a straight forward swap of old for new. Again, is easy if you have the correct tools, PITA if you don't.

TheSt|G · 03-27-2015, 10:02 AM

^^^

Accurate assessment of the project and work involved.

Tom Droze · 03-27-2015, 10:15 AM

^^^

And that's an accurate statement!

TechE92 · 03-27-2015, 10:34 AM

Thanks for clarifying. I'm probably gonna get it professionally done when the time comes.

Tom Droze · 03-27-2015, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechE92

Thanks for clarifying. I'm probably gonna get it professionally done when the time comes.

That's what I did even though I'm very DIY oriented. Since I had never been inside a differential, I figured there were way more things that could go wrong than right. You can always save a few hundred dollar$ if you R&R the differential yourself and have the LSD professionally installed.

M-Steep · 03-27-2015, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFactory

1) Carrier, Pumpkin, Pig Snout etc All refer to the same thing
2) Carrier refers to the entire asssembly. The carrier "housing" holds the LSD & Final Drive
3) You have a bolted diff, so install is very straightforward. However, if you do not know how to check backlash etc, it's usually easier to have a professional install the LSD into the carrier housing for you. Typical labour around $400-700, depending on how the installer rebuilds it for you
4) Yes and no. Do you have a lift? PITA on jack stands. Do you have a dial gauge and know how to measure backlash? If not, then you can't install it (well you can, but not properly). Do you know how to shim a diff? If not, then you can't install it (well you can, but not properly)

Just depends on whether you want to do it yourself and save a few hundred $'s, or pay a professional to do it for you

If you purchase a pre-built carrier, then it is a straight forward swap of old for new. Again, is easy if you have the correct tools, PITA if you don't.

Knowing how to shim a diff is another matter entirely from having the appropriately sized c-clips and shims to do so. These clips and shims are *not* readily available.

With all due respect.

MFactory · 03-28-2015, 01:48 AM

They will be very shortly

M-Steep · 03-28-2015, 01:56 AM

Excellent news.

Tom Droze · 03-28-2015, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFactory

They will be very shortly

My backlash before the disassembly was 0.005, and after the LSD install it was 0.003. While a little on the tight side, the tech believed it would be okay.

MFactory · 03-30-2015, 02:17 AM

The backlash should be from 0.003" to 0.009", depending on application and driver preference.

Yours is on the tighter end of the scale, but is still within the manufacturers tolerance

03-27-2015, 12:13 AM	#1
TechE92 Enlisted Member 20 Rep 35 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Final Drive and Differential Qs Hey guys, I have a question regarding the differential for the 328i. I am currently interested in upgrading my e92 6MT to the e90 3.73 AT differential and possibly an MFactory LSD down the road. Currently a little confused. 1. Carrier is also the same as a pumpkin? 2. Carrier/pumpkin holds the final drive and LSD? 3. Is it best to do both at the same time? 4. Easy to DIY? I installed the 3 stage IM myself, about to get the AA tune Thanks
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03-27-2015, 02:25 AM	#2
MFactory Major 581 Rep 1,421 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Dimas, CA iTrader: (2)	1) Carrier, Pumpkin, Pig Snout etc All refer to the same thing 2) Carrier refers to the entire asssembly. The carrier "housing" holds the LSD & Final Drive 3) You have a bolted diff, so install is very straightforward. However, if you do not know how to check backlash etc, it's usually easier to have a professional install the LSD into the carrier housing for you. Typical labour around $400-700, depending on how the installer rebuilds it for you 4) Yes and no. Do you have a lift? PITA on jack stands. Do you have a dial gauge and know how to measure backlash? If not, then you can't install it (well you can, but not properly). Do you know how to shim a diff? If not, then you can't install it (well you can, but not properly) Just depends on whether you want to do it yourself and save a few hundred $'s, or pay a professional to do it for you If you purchase a pre-built carrier, then it is a straight forward swap of old for new. Again, is easy if you have the correct tools, PITA if you don't.
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03-27-2015, 10:02 AM	#3
TheSt\|G Resident Tamed Racing Driver 298 Rep 4,697 Posts Drives: 911, 130is, E39 M5, E36 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Outside Philly iTrader: (2)	^^^ Accurate assessment of the project and work involved. __________________ 2005 E46 M3 Interlagos/Cinnamon with Sunroof Delete
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03-27-2015, 10:15 AM	#4
Tom Droze Major 413 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i (e92) Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona iTrader: (0)	^^^ And that's an accurate statement! __________________ 2012 Jet Black 328i Coupe / ESS Tuning Gen. 2 Supercharger / Evolution Racewerks Oil Cooler / BMS Oil Catch Can / BMW Performance Exhaust with Dinan Y Pipe / Eibach Pro Kit Springs / Koni FSD Shocks / MFactory LSD & Differential Bushings / Performance Rear Trailing Arms / BMW Performance Strut Brace / Stop Tech Slotted Rotors / Hawk HPS 5.0 / SS Brake Lines / Brass Guide Pins / M3 Front Control Arms, 28 MM FSB, Engine Cowl, and DCT Paddle Shifters / Michelin PSS / APEX ARC-8
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03-27-2015, 10:34 AM	#5
TechE92 Enlisted Member 20 Rep 35 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for clarifying. I'm probably gonna get it professionally done when the time comes.
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03-28-2015, 01:48 AM	#8
MFactory Major 581 Rep 1,421 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Dimas, CA iTrader: (2)	They will be very shortly
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03-28-2015, 01:56 AM	#9
M-Steep Private First Class 23 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 2009 E93 M Sport Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (1)	Excellent news.
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03-30-2015, 02:17 AM	#11
MFactory Major 581 Rep 1,421 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Dimas, CA iTrader: (2)	The backlash should be from 0.003" to 0.009", depending on application and driver preference. Yours is on the tighter end of the scale, but is still within the manufacturers tolerance
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