If you are wondering why anybody should buy a differential from diffsonline.com (Dan), versus buying from a junkyard or from a private individual, please read my experience below.

I've been looking for a 3.38:1 LSD differential for my SC 95 M3 for quite some time. At the time in March 2005, most of the private sellers and local junkyards were charging from $600-$1100 for a 3.38 LSD E36 differential. Price was acceptable but the seller reputation was equally important in case the diff had problems.

Then I saw Dan's ad in the forsale section for a 3.38 E36 LSD. I called him up and asked him if he could do some custom prepping on the diff for me. I needed a 6-bolt input flange instead of the standard 4-bolt, I asked him to put one on and pre-torque it properly. He was glad to do this if I was willing to leave a core deposit and send back my own 6-bolt flange after I get my old diff off my car. He included the 4-bolt flange loose in the packaging so I can swap the 6-bolt flange out for the 4-bolt. I asked for this because I was not sure if I knew how to properly torque the crush washer on the input flange, and Dan was an expert so I felt better having him do the diff so that it was totally PnP when I got it. Everything sounds good, I give Dan my Discover numbers and it was a done deal.

Dan was also very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and professional over the phone and subsequent email corrospondences.

About a week later, a horribly crumpled box with a LARGE gash on the side arrived via UPS Ground. The diff was inside but the 4-bolt input flange that was supposed to be shipped loose was missing. Also, one mount of the rear diff cover cracked clean off and the diff was not mountable. I freaked out and called and emailed Dan right away. He was unavailable immediately so I left messages and waited for a call back.

During the wait time, I was wondering if I was going to get screwed with the shipping or if I had to go through UPS insurance or do a bunch of horribly time consuming and unplesant things to get this fixed.

Dan called me back in about 15 minutes. Dan was very professional and calming. Dan suggested that I use my original diff cover in the mean time, and he will be sending me a replacement cover as well as a gasket for the cover. He also sent another 4-bolt input flange so that I could return my 6-bolt flange for a core charge. He did all of this without asking for an additional penny of compensation.

To sum it up: My diff cover broke in shipping, Dan offered (and did) fix it immediately without any hassle or complaints. The replacement parts arrived within a week, and I got the diff installed on my car without issues.

The 3.38 diff was CLEAN. I mean, not a spot of dirt anywhere. It looked NEW. The broken diff cover looked sandblasted clean and the aluminum was white and spotless. This is much different from the dusty and dirty diffs you get from private sellers or junkyards. The diff was smooth and problem free and the LSD was solid. No leaks, no issues. Just what I was looking for.

I returned the the core input flange and got a refund core-deposit check within a week.

So if you are wondering why you should purchase from diffsonline.com, it is because you are guaranteed a rock solid product, as well as someone who will stand behind what he sells you. If I purchased my diff from anyone else and these same issues arose, I could have been totally screwed with this transaction.

I give Dan Fitzgerald and Diffsonline.com my highest recommendation for service and professionalism. I will be going back to Dan for all future BMW differential needs. Thanks so much Dan for the great service and wonderful experience.

I totally agree with you. I had the same problem when my diff. arrived all JACKED up from UPS. I email Dan and not even waiting for the claims with UPS to finish. He sent me another unit within week.


I would do business with him again :alright

I've met them personally before they opened up the shop when they worked at Rimpro, and seem cool. They hang out at the New England Forums on dtmpower.net

I also had a great experience with Dan....more than willing to help out before a sale, lots of information, plenty of advice....and in the end, a very reasonably priced diff. Plus, he even bought back my old blown diff.

They are a great bunch of guys, and great buisness men.
I will pass this on to Dan since I don't think he browses here much.

dan is great, and extended me a good discount

fast service, great communication, etc.

Yeah no doubt about it Dan's the man :)

It never ceases to amaze me that people ship very heavy metal things in cardboard boxes and are surprised when the box doesn't survive the trip.

Thanks for the praise. It goes a long way to hear that treating someone as you want to be treated works :)

Ed's diff was one of 2, and the other guy is in this thread also, out of #300 plus units shipped how I do it. I have since gone to a triple walled box (2nd only to 1/2" plywood). If you use wood, UPS charges much more, and it would force me to charge my customers higher shipping charges. I would honestly rather make things right when ups fails me.

Just wanted to say thanks guys!

DiffsOnline rocks. I even got to see my 3.46 get put together before it was installed in my car. I highly recommend Dan's diffs, and getting the full polished internals is definitely a good thing (you can feel the difference turning the input flange by hand; it's almost effortless with polished internals, even with no diff fluid in the case).