[AlexKoast]

Tried doing a search with no success - I'm curious if this has been done or even attempted? Do the pumpkins themselves fit in the casing and if yes do the gears bolt up? Or would I be better off just buying a diff online?

Cheers,
Alex

[Hobbs64]

The answer is yes. the entire pumkin fits. I have a Z4M LSD in my E90 cradle.

[AlexKoast]

Originally Posted by Hobbs64

The answer is yes. the entire pumkin fits. I have a Z4M LSD in my E90 cradle.

Ah very interesting, did it require any modification? I take it this was the Z4m pumpkin alone that was swapped into your 328i case while re-using the original gear? I'm looking at LSD options without going Quaife/Wavetrac/Mfactory route. If a pumpkin from an e46 M3 or Z3M/Z4M can be used in n52 case + gears then that might be a pretty good solution for me.

[AlexKoast]

For example, if the pumpkin fits, would the e90 diff flanges fit inside the z4m or e46 m3 pumpkin (since they're slightly different)? Pic for reference:

E90 330i diff flange:


E46 M3 diff flange:

[AlexKoast]

So I spoke with a member and it looks like the M pumpkin + M flanges would need to be used in the original e90 diff. Still trying to do more research before pulling the trigger on this.

[e90dum]

please keep us updated looks like you could at least save me a lot of time

[AlexKoast]

So it looks like the flange diameters are different from e46m3/z4m and e90 diff. The axle/output shaft diameters on e46 M3/Z4m are LK = 94mm whereas the e90 330i LK = 86mm.

E46 M3 / E86 Z4M LK = 94mm


E90 330i LK=84mm


This complicates things a little bit lol. I highly doubt the drive flanges are interchangeable.

[AlexKoast]

Some more digging around and I learned the LSD diff from e36 non-m with cold weather package has same diameter flanges as e90 (LK 86mm)

[max_330i]

Seems like a lot of work just to research if it will fit. I know you said you wanted LSD, and I'm about to suggest an open diff, but... you could take a look at the 3.64 diff from the automatic 330i-- it is a perfect fit and offers a better final drive ratio instead of the 3.15 that comes stock with the manual 330i. No LSD but more torque to the rear wheels and it shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred bucks when all is said and done.

[AlexKoast]

Originally Posted by max_330i

Seems like a lot of work just to research if it will fit. I know you said you wanted LSD, and I'm about to suggest an open diff, but... you could take a look at the 3.64 diff from the automatic 330i-- it is a perfect fit and offers a better final drive ratio instead of the 3.15 that comes stock with the manual 330i. No LSD but more torque to the rear wheels and it shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred bucks when all is said and done.

Thats already on the list, already sourced one locally for a good price

[max_330i]

Originally Posted by AlexKoast

Thats already on the list, already sourced one locally for a good price

You won't regret it... extra torque really makes the car pull harder through the full range of RPM's... from a dead stop, from a 60mph roll, whatever. LSD is nice but unreasonably expensive for our (relatively old) cars. Cheers

[breakingpoint]

sorry for grave digging old threads, but quite near to me someone is selling an E46 M3 pumpkin as well. I have a EU 330i. There is an E46 M3 diff casing that he sells seperately but what I conclude from this thread I won't be having issues buying the pumpkin alone.

Anyone else has experience with this?
My differential is starting to go anyway, so I'm looking at either this or an automatic 3.73 diff.

It seems I could use my old flanges and insert them in the casing?

[breakingpoint]

anyone else with some input, would be appreciated.