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      03-31-2009, 11:47 PM   #1
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3.46 diff installed

ok 4 hour install with my mechanics friend. Not too complex, just a bunch of shit to remove to get to it.

Great upgrade. Feels like 20 more HP or so. Kinda embarassing, but I got caught offguard and missed the 1-2 shift a few times. It just revs really fast. Second gear feels like first and a half, and third feels like second gear and a half. best way to describe it. Traction in corners is more of an issue than I thought, actually an LSD WOULD have been beneficial. If I stomp on it in first gear from a roll, with traction half off, it still tries to spin the tires, on 255 wide Michelin ps2s. Basically the car's now really fun off the line. Second gear ends at around 55mph. at 80mph, I'm at 3100 or so rpm.

Honestly, its a great upgrade, but leaves you a little dissapointed that its an open diff, cause at that point, traction in 1-2 gears is now an issue in corners, especially with the on-off like sport mode. I'm sure I'll adjust
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      04-01-2009, 08:54 AM   #2
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Upgraded gearing is a great mod. By far, the best mod I have done to date. Congrats!
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      04-01-2009, 09:39 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle View Post
Honestly, its a great upgrade, but leaves you a little dissapointed that its an open diff, cause at that point, traction in 1-2 gears is now an issue in corners, especially with the on-off like sport mode. I'm sure I'll adjust
Welcome to what an M is like when u turn off DSC You'll learn to drive it quick, just roll the throttle on instead of punching it...
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      04-01-2009, 10:17 AM   #4
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wonder if I'll be able to break the 14 sec mark in the 1/4 mile now. Have lighter seats and battery, worth about 90 pounds less
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      04-01-2009, 10:42 AM   #5
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I save nearly 60lbs on tires/wheels...that is another great place to lose weight. Also, seat swap for pole postions can net another 60lbs or so. Just trying to help you spend so more coin
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      04-01-2009, 10:53 AM   #6
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Waffle,

Where did you get your diff?

I want to get the 4.10 for my Z4M coupe, but would prefer to install it myself to save some coin. How difficult was the swap out....???
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      04-01-2009, 03:59 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4MCJJ View Post
Waffle,

Where did you get your diff?

I want to get the 4.10 for my Z4M coupe, but would prefer to install it myself to save some coin. How difficult was the swap out....???
swap is faily simple, but my friend is a mechanic with air tools
Just removing heat shield, 2 braces that twist away to the sides, another metal brace, and rear sway bars. Some things are a PITA to reach though without proper tools. Had to transfer the finned rear cover from my old diff and change the 2 quarts of oil inside

got it used on e46fanatics.com, its an oem part.
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      04-01-2009, 04:01 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burt Reynolds View Post
I save nearly 60lbs on tires/wheels...that is another great place to lose weight. Also, seat swap for pole postions can net another 60lbs or so. Just trying to help you spend so more coin
I have sparco torinos, 36lbs each. battery is 16lbs. stock 28lb wheels are next to go, you're right. Hard to find good looking/light 18s though. I love BBS CH and CK, but they're no lightweights
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      04-01-2009, 04:03 PM   #9
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By the way, I never drove it with sport mode off before, but tried it today. The car is actually enjoyable without sport mode with the new diff, it doesn't feel as unresponsive as before at partial throttle. At full throttle... well.... full throttle never feels slow in the first 2 gears. Basically its a good idea to turn off sport mode for the corners for better throttle control.

pretty much same MPG as before too
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      04-01-2009, 04:04 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burt Reynolds View Post
I save nearly 60lbs on tires/wheels...that is another great place to lose weight. Also, seat swap for pole postions can net another 60lbs or so. Just trying to help you spend so more coin
Should've gone with the TCK coilovers. You could've saved another 14lbs~15lbs of unsprung weight compared to the KW V3's which are HEAVY (4lbs heavier than stock).

I had both the TCK's and KW V3's at the same time and weight was a major reason I ended up keeping the TCK's and re-selling the KW V3's. Swappable spring rates was another.
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      04-01-2009, 04:16 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle View Post
I have sparco torinos, 36lbs each. battery is 16lbs. stock 28lb wheels are next to go, you're right. Hard to find good looking/light 18s though. I love BBS CH and CK, but they're no lightweights
18" BBS RGR's FTMFW.
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      04-01-2009, 08:20 PM   #12
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What do the RGRs weigh?
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      04-01-2009, 11:23 PM   #13
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per tirerack:

For the 18" BBS RGRs
F 18.6lbs
R 21.2lbs

For 19"s

F 20.3 lbs
R 22.0 lbs
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      04-02-2009, 09:15 AM   #14
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GP20- I may be switching coilovers but would like to keep these as they are stainless and will not rust with the salt on the roads up here. Also, just to rub it in back at ya...my wheels weigh much less than yours Take that- ha ha
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      04-02-2009, 12:21 PM   #15
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No problem. Mine are BBS. And now I have the 18's so the rotational mass is closer to the wheel centers.

BTW, TCK D/A are also stainless just like the KW's.
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      04-11-2009, 07:19 PM   #16
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after driving the car for a while now:

gas mileage is the same. Probably offset by the fact that I'm getting up speed faster, and then putting it into a higher gear

3rd and 4th gears are very good for merging onto a highway

I used sport mode 99% of the time, now I use it maybe 10% of the time. I only use it for highways (makes 6th gear acceleration better), and when I know I won't be taking corners anytime soon. The car is really good with sports mode off in the corners, allowing more control than with it on. Its still easy to flick the rear out in second gear on dry roads with traction control half-off without sport mode!
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      04-19-2009, 05:38 PM   #17
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more updates:

With a passenger, and an outside temp of 74*F, the car no longer feels fast enough. Its fine with no passenger though. Hmm, I guess I'll be itching for an M sooner than I though. I got 2 more years of payments though. I'm really feeling the lack of LSD in the corners too...
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      04-20-2009, 11:51 AM   #18
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yeah I want to an upgraded diff I am running 12.97 all day...I want low 12 but I think if I go this route Ill be slide everywhere...
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