Narrow body / wide body

[Alan W]

Have seen reference on this forum to wide body / narrow body but unsure what this actually relates to?

Does this translate into pre-facelift / facelift?

If so the cars don't physically look any wider to me although I can see differences in the shape of the rear wings?

Someone put me out of my misery....

[kkkrisss]

4 cyl - narrow body
6 cyl - wide body

[Robert T]

Almost - correction in blue:

4 cyl pre-facelft - narrow body
6 cyl & 4 cyl facelift - wide body

(Image shamelessly stolen from another thread - post by XVar)

Cheers R.

[Jonttt]

The pre facelift widebody always looks wider than the facelift widebody though (due to the slimmer hips lol)

Of course the ///M has the best of both worlds ie pre facelift wide body and narrow body rear axle = massive dish to rear wheels

[Alan W]

Thank you all... that makes perfect sense.

Next question... how interchangeable are the diffs between different Z's and indeed normal 3 series cars?

[Southernboy]

The 4 cyl cars have a small diff...the 6cyl cars have a larger diff...some cars were fitted without LSD's and some were fitted with LSD's...I've read posts that suggest all UK models were fitted with LSD's and I've read that it isn't the case...Best is to check the diff you have on your car, and then find out which models use the same diff. The interchangeability also depends on the diff carrier. The smaller diffs have a different carrier and the diffs have different mounting positions relative to the larger diffs and their carriers. The larger diffs are 188's and I think the smaller ones are 168's.
Several models of 3, 5 and 7 series used the same diffs (generally through the same production years). Some e30 diffs were common to the e36 range but I believe the diffs on later e36's may have been different with regard to the innards but not the casings.

I have a non LSD diff (188) but it can be converted to an LSD using the same casing, but replacing the innards, which is what I am in the process of doing. I sourced the compatible LSD innards off eBay, and I'm hoping the conversion will be done later this week....I'm waiting on a specialist to do the fitting into the case for me...been waiting 4 weeks now, but he's a specialist, so worth waiting to ensure it's set up 100%. I'll strip out and re-fit the diff under the car...he just does the innards set-up. The LSD unit I sourced is originally off an e 36 3 series. I've purchased new bearings and cups so that they are a matching set either side of the LSD unit. The "old" bearings are still on the LSD, but the original cups didn't come with it, and I'm told these things are made in sets...the cups are matched to the bearings.

[Alan W]

some cars were fitted without LSD's and some were fitted with LSD's...I've read posts that suggest all UK models were fitted with LSD's and I've read that it isn't the case...

Thanks for your very informative answer southernboy.. nice to know that if my diff were to ever fail that there is likely to be plenty of secondhand ones available!

Re above, the previous owner of my car told me he understood it had an LSD ... but how do I confirm this... do they look different from non LSD's or are there some markings on the casing?

Just curious.

Alan

[Southernboy]

The marking on the case should have LS and some numbers...alternately, you can raise the rear wheels off the floor, and turn any of the wheels..the opposite wheel should rotate in the opposite direction.

[Jonco]

... but how do I confirm this... do they look different from non LSD's or are there some markings on the casing?

You may find this of interest http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 18&t=14162

If you go into your local dealer and give him your VIN or Reg he should be able to give you a print out of your original installation. I did this for mine to confirm prior to fluid change. This advice also appears in one of the knowledge base items.

HTH

[c_w]

MZ3 LSD is clutch pack so you can test by jacking up the rear and both wheels will turn in the same direction.

The above method does not work for non-M Z3 LSDs [Torsen] fitted to some 2.2/2.8/3.0 cars. They are difficult to test as they act like open diffs without pre-load/traction on one wheel. All Z3 diffs I've seen just have small stickers on the top side, not the big "S" like the older diffs. The partnumber is 1 lower than the BMW part number off realoem, as the +1 means a re-manufactured part.

Straight swap diffs, it's E30, E28, and some other older 1980s cars only. E36 diffs are a different type, but as mentioned the inside differential unit itself (the oil bits) are interchangeable.

[BladeRunner919]

If you go into your local dealer and give him your VIN or Reg he should be able to give you a print out of your original installation. I did this for mine to confirm prior to fluid change. This advice also appears in one of the knowledge base items.

HTH

You can get the info from your vin at http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

[Alan W]

You can get the info from your vin at http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

Thanks for that Bladerunner, really useful link.

Put in my VIN and my car is listed as having the following spec:

S209A Sperrdifferenzial Differential lock 25%

Is that a limited slip diff?

[Robert T]

Short answer: Yes

Cheers R.

Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2

[XVar]

(Image shamelessly stolen from another thread - post by XVar)

Cheers R.

I can't take credit for that image, this post by Emek pre-dates mine by at least 5 years

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 39#p178539

[Southernboy]

IMO the derrier of the Z3 should be like a well figured woman...with a nice flare of the hips....