E30 Zone

What are people's views on fitting a 3.64 LSD onto a 320i?

Is this ratio suitable or not?

I'm greatful of any advice.

It will make the car a nice motorway cruiser with maybe a slightly higher top speed but probably slower away from the lights. I think standard 320 diffs are around 4.14:1.

Has anyone fitted one to a 320? I don't want it to make it a complete slug! Someone must have tried it!!

iirc the standard 2.0 dff is a 4.10...

so a 3.64 isnt gonna be too 'tall' but as monsport says, you'll trade accelleration for lower revs on the mway (and better fuel consumption ) and a higher top speed (on a private track. officer )

I had a 3.38 diff on my 320 touring for a while. It was great for the motorway, but a bit poor off the lights.

A 3.64 would be fine.

I had done exactly that in the past and it took an age to get going with 205/55 15 tyres. Great on the motorway but it was absolutely drinking it around town so nothing was gained, the top speed was exactly the same because the engine just didn't have the guts to reach the red line.
I got pissed off with it in the end and went back to a 4.10:1 open as i wasn't on the motorway as much.
Had a right laugh stripping the tyres with the limited slip though

I have a 3.64 in my 320i 4 door. Excellent motorway cruiser but 4th and 5th are useless for performance. The old 4.1 was a bit revvy and I've got a chip and big 325i throttle body on mine - that imroved it but to be honest it wants a 3.7 or a 3.9 to make it go.
Pre August 85 cars had a 3.45 but they did have 60 profile tyres.

4.10:1

I wondered why my 320i revs its guts out.

I'm converting it to 2.7 so I had better change the diff. So I'll be looking for a 3.64 open diff going cheap

what was the standard diff in a 325i ?

I THINK pre facelift cars had 3.64 and later ones had 3.9x so I have been told..

Andyboy1 wrote: but they did have 60 profile tyres.

That would make the effective gearing even longer!!!

essbee wrote:When I get 'round to it, I want to try a 3.73 in my 320i Touring. I don't fancy going any further than that personally, I think that going too far beyond 3.91 I'll loose too much accelleration.

UPDATE I've bought a 3.64 for the Touring. When I get 'round to fitting it, I'll post my thoughts on the Zone.
Stuart.

i have a 3.64 in a 318is and it does 102 mph in 3rd whereas before it woul;d only pull about 80 mph and it has added an extra 50 miles to a tank of fuel so its not all bad. i would like to put in a 4.10 lsd to get mine back to how it should be

2 years ago i popped on a 4.41 diff on the sport for a laugh. It was quick around town, I could set off in second really easily. It was flat out @ 124mph bouncing off the limiter in 5th. lol.
It sounded like I was breaking the sound barrier all the time.
BUT!!! after about 50mph the car is quicker on the standard diff where the torque can put the power down into speed.
I presume then it will be the opposite way round for the 320 with 3.64 diff fitted

Andy_magic wrote:

4.10:1

I wondered why my 320i revs its guts out.

I'm converting it to 2.7 so I had better change the diff. So I'll be looking for a 3.64 open diff going cheap

A new zoner is selling a 3.64 lsd goin for Ԛ£120, in the for sale parts
Would put it on mine but might make my 318i a bit gutless, any suggestions what lsd will still make my chariate fun?

Cheers,
Jon

jonbuoy wrote: Would put it on mine but might make my 318i a bit gutless, any suggestions what lsd will still make my chariate fun?

If you're put off by the 3.64, then you're looking at a 3.73 or a 3.91. 3.91 LSD will probably be easier to find, and anyone selling one will be looking for upwards of Ԛ£150 I would have thought.
Stuart.