z3 m diff cover?

Post Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:59 pm

does the z3 m diff cover make a big difference to cooling on a lsd diff for racing?

Post Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:49 pm

also keen to know.

Post Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:15 am

Na.. BMW fitted it for fun..

Post Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:03 pm

alright i no it sounds like a stupid question! no need for sarcasm

Post Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:18 pm

well, will it be effective enough to use only the Z3 cover for a 12 hour race, or do I need a diff oil cooler. (keeping in mind there is a S50B32 on the other end)

Post Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:35 am

Jamez wrote:well, will it be effective enough to use only the Z3 cover for a 12 hour race, or do I need a diff oil cooler. (keeping in mind there is a S50B32 on the other end)

If you don't measure the temperature you will never know for sure.
Are you running on slicks? Sticky tyres will make the LSD working hard and this generates the most heat IMHO

Post Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:51 pm

yeah, running slicks

Post Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:17 pm

Jamez wrote:yeah, running slicks

do you have the ability to fit a diff oil cooler? I mean all the parts etc?
I would fit one for a 12 hour race, I even consider fitting one just for my track day car. Too much heat kills everything.

But with all new fitted stuff without testing, it's always a risk to go into a race meeting without a shake down before hand just to make sure it works / no leaks etc.

Just to be nosy, what race are you attending?

Post Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:44 pm

This is going to be OT but this thread isn't that alive anyway.....so

the car has been running in 8 lap clubsport race's with 8 race's over two days, but next year we are thinking of entering the annual 12 hour race that takes place at Hampton Downs (in New Zealand.)

Just want to get the best longevity out of the car as this year the placing's went

1. Ford GT40 Endurance Car (499 laps)
2. BMW E30 320i (~470 laps)
3. Toyota somthing with a supra twin turbo (~450 laps)

Only reason the e30 could keep up was because the Ford and toyota both had overheating/mechanical problems, the e30 had none at all.

The Toyota also had no clutch at the 11 hour 45min mark, so they somehow coasted to the pits, filled the bell-housing with screws, droped it into gear and drove across the pitlane finish line when the clock hit 12 hours the the first place getter passed the line.

A Le Mans 2004 VW Jetta also competed but also had to pull out at 4 hours due to mechanical problems ( it has competed two 24hr race's prior with no problems)

Also 2 Honda's and 1 mistsi lost front left wheels round the 2 hour mark. All on the same corner (this big sweeper)

With all these problems i'm just trying to get the car as reliable as possible, as being reliable with 130hp can get you 2nd, so being reliable with 300hp should get us 1st?

few pics from the day.....

1st place getter.....

2nd place getter....

Post Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:23 am

Jamez wrote:
Only reason the e30 could keep up was because the Ford and toyota both had overheating/mechanical problems, the e30 had none at all.

That's what I was talking about in my previous post. Untested parts for an endurance race can backfire big time and your quest for making the car more reliable can be detrimental because it may start to leak after 6 hours.
Very difficult to sufficently "test" your car, there is nothing as hard as the real race.
Have you thought about a PS cooler? I have seen a lot of S50's on the Nuerburgring with the fluid boiling over.
If you look through the BMW parts cataloge you can see that even on some 325's BMW fitted a PS cooler. And that is intended for road use!

Post Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:00 pm

Don't know if you need to be a member on S14.net to see the posting.

FOR SALE: VAC diff cooler complete kit for $400!

http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42529

Post Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:40 am

I feel that a diff cooler is a good idea, however like UweM3 has already said, without testing it will be very hard to identify whether it will leak or not. Having said that, have you tested your current diff setup over 12 hours? In the end I think it comes down to a risk either way.

I run a finned diff cover on my E30 and couldn't tell you whether it helps or not. Personally, I would very much consider fitting a diff cooler, particularly if entering an endurance event.

I have also heard about the power steering coolers as well but have never seen one. Be interested to hear if you, or someone follows that through and how effective it is.