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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Powertrain and Drivetrain Discussions > NA Engine (non-turbo) / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > 330i 3.15 to 3.64 gears question



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      05-04-2014, 11:32 AM   #1
ff54976
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330i 3.15 to 3.64 gears question

I have read thread after thread with no definitive answer about this.

(what i have) 06 330i manual with 3.15 gears

I want to buy a 06 330i AUTO diff and swap them out.

1. Are the drive shafts the same for the manual and auto?

2. If the drive shafts are the same does everything else line up with out modification?

3. If i cant swap diffs because of compatibility issues can i take the 3.64 gears out of the auto diff and put them in my manual diff?

From what i understand and correct me if im wrong all the na motor e90's have the small diff while the 335i diffs are larger and will not fit. The 330i both auto and manual have bolted gears and not welded like the 335i manuals. So in theory this should work but......
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      05-04-2014, 04:25 PM   #2
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I had a 3.64 lsd before the 3.38s... It was ok around town, but 1st was obviously really short, and 3,000 rpm at 74 mph kinda was on the buzzy side, other than that it is pretty street able, no real downsides other than what I mentioned.

I find the 3.38 to be a better all around gear.

If 6th gear in these things was like a GM 6 speed and more reasonably tall, I wouldn't have switched. To me, a .85 6th is stupid. %th should be .85 and 6th should be .60 or so.
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      05-04-2014, 05:03 PM   #3
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bump.. I'm looking into this mod
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      05-04-2014, 07:42 PM   #4
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Driveshaft is different length because the manual trans is probably a little shorter, but the hookup at the differential looks the same. Both look like the hook up using the flex disk. Shouldn't be a problem, but check out realOEM and figure it out.


I did it with my 325i manual with 3.23 final drive and switched to a 3.73 328i auto. Would have preferred a 3.64 of the 330i, but that would have required getting the driveshaft as well for me (another $80ish). The 3.73 was a direct swap. FYI, the 330i auto or manual uses two flex disk. The driveshaft hooks up to the transmission and differential via a flex disk. The 325i and 328i uses one flex disc where it attaches to the transmission, but is a solid hook up at the differential.

I wish I could get a final drive at 3.5. I am going to put a better clutch in when I get some time and see how it feels then, cause right now I have too much clutch slip to really judge.
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      05-05-2014, 08:41 AM   #5
ff54976
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stealyourface- what are your rpms at 70 with the 3.38's?

casca- then i should be able to get the auto diff and driveshaft and everything should line up?
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      05-05-2014, 01:56 PM   #6
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also i was reading on bok choy's site that the 325i xdrive and 328i xdrive have 3.38 gears. If i get the diff and matching drive shaft, would that work?
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      05-05-2014, 03:26 PM   #7
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If you have a 330i with the manual diff, you should be able to use the 330i auto's diff fine with no driveshaft change. If you were to try to use a diff from a 325i or 328i, then you will have to change the driveshaft or the input flange on the diff. Take a look at realOEM and confirm for yourself, I am not saying anything for certain.
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      05-05-2014, 06:56 PM   #8
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Isnt there a 3.46 available from the 335i side of things that would work on a 330i, obvs not on a 328i/325i. The 3.46 was also featured on the 130i
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      05-05-2014, 07:46 PM   #9
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i wonder if your could use 335i gears? They are a different size diff than a 330i so im not sure. I dont see the actual gears being physically larger but i dont know. I know production dates after march 2007 manuals have welded diffs but the autos were still bolted.
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      05-05-2014, 08:10 PM   #10
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I've had a 3.38 LSD from Diffsonline for about 5-1/2 years. I used to track my car pretty heavily and it made a tremendous difference. On the street it works great too. It really allows you to use all of the car most of the time. The added traction with our engine is unbelievable. Unless you're making a hard turn from a stop, the tires really hook up and push you forward, especially out of lower speed turns. It was very hard to get oversteer in my 330 on the track with R-comps (basically I had to trail brake LATE to unbalance the car to get the back end to slide around - throttle oversteer was/is non-existant).

I'm not sure what rpm's I'm running at 70mph, but cruising at 80mph is no issue at all. The car really pulls hard in 6th at that speed too.

I wanted to go with a 3.46 too, but there weren't any available. I know swapping in a 335 rear diff has more issues due to mounting bolts and the actual size of the rear diff as well.
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      05-06-2014, 07:02 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TSM330i View Post
I've had a 3.38 LSD from Diffsonline for about 5-1/2 years. I used to track my car pretty heavily and it made a tremendous difference. On the street it works great too. It really allows you to use all of the car most of the time. The added traction with our engine is unbelievable. Unless you're making a hard turn from a stop, the tires really hook up and push you forward, especially out of lower speed turns. It was very hard to get oversteer in my 330 on the track with R-comps (basically I had to trail brake LATE to unbalance the car to get the back end to slide around - throttle oversteer was/is non-existant).

I'm not sure what rpm's I'm running at 70mph, but cruising at 80mph is no issue at all. The car really pulls hard in 6th at that speed too.

I wanted to go with a 3.46 too, but there weren't any available. I know swapping in a 335 rear diff has more issues due to mounting bolts and the actual size of the rear diff as well.

The issue with using the 335i carrier is the drive shaft. If I remember correctly, we had to use the back part from an e36 M3 to make it work.
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      05-08-2014, 06:16 PM   #12
ff54976
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any body know if you can put 335 gears (not diff) in a 330 diff/carrier?
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      05-08-2014, 06:29 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ff54976 View Post
stealyourface- what are your rpms at 70 with the 3.38's?

casca- then i should be able to get the auto diff and driveshaft and everything should line up?
With 265/35-18 tires I'm turning 2600rpm at 70mph and 3000rpm at 80mph.
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      05-10-2014, 06:18 PM   #14
ff54976
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thats pretty good @ 70. After this thread im going 3.38 or 3.46 ( which ever one i can find for a reasonable price).Are the driveshafts easily to splice together, is there any fabrication needed?

Last edited by ff54976; 05-15-2014 at 08:41 AM..
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