Updated the m3 page again. Pics of my UUC clutch/flywheel and also of my front diff support.

www.maximumpsi.com/m3.html

Very cool on the diff. support..lemme know how it works out, I may try it if it does. Where'd you source a bolt that large?

Nick

Barnett tool supply in Kenilworth, NJ. It is only a grade 8.8 due to the size/pitch. I am going to contact ARP and see if they can set me up with a better grade fastener. I think it is still much stronger even with the lower grade bolt since the bolt attaches to the diff in two spots. It no longer has the bending force where the bolt threaded into the stock diff housing.

Cool, keep us updated on it.

i bent a grade 8.8 bolt that went through the entire diff. I then turned to the AA DSB and have had no problems. Again i had to use a slightly stronger,( i believe it was a grade 9.8), bored the diff slightly larger and used a long enough bolt to extend beyond the diff. On the outer end i grinded the nut to fit tightly against the diff and secured some loctite. I have never even herad or felt a single noise or chatter from that area ever since.

i bent a grade 8.8 bolt that went through the entire diff. I then turned to the AA DSB and have had no problems. Again i had to use a slightly stronger,( i believe it was a grade 9.8), bored the diff slightly larger and used a long enough bolt to extend beyond the diff. On the outer end i grinded the nut to fit tightly against the diff and secured some loctite. I have never even herad or felt a single noise or chatter from that area ever since.

My setup should be stronger than using the AA support, even with the lower grade bolt. The only thing that will convince me is some launches at the track.
:D

I have the AA DSB right now, I'm curious as to how your own setup works out.

Updated the m3 page again. Pics of my UUC clutch/flywheel and also of my front diff support.

www.maximumpsi.com/m3.html

That is hardcore. (and awesome). :buttrock

http://www.maximumpsi.com/images/land/turbo/m3/install/diffmount1.jpg

http://www.maximumpsi.com/images/land/turbo/m3/install/diffmount2.jpg

Let us know how it holds up.

That is hardcore. (and awesome). :buttrock

http://www.maximumpsi.com/images/land/turbo/m3/install/diffmount1.jpg

http://www.maximumpsi.com/images/land/turbo/m3/install/diffmount2.jpg

Let us know how it holds up.
Hey Mike you gonna try to break it this weekend? :D

Mike!

Kudos man!! Keep up the good work and mad props for the progression of the project. Its lookin damn good man in a short amount of time! :buttrock

I have to update the page some more. I redid the cold side IC piping and removed the seconary butterfly for the factory traction control. I have been swamped with work so I haven't installed the methanol injection that is sitting in the trunk. Soon enough...

so what happens when you break the diff and it needs to come out? cut the bracket off?

so what happens when you break the diff and it needs to come out? cut the bracket off?


It comes out without removing the support.

just making some observations...
is that spacer u made in close tolerance w/the bolt (diameter wise), b/c i just see this setup as putting added stress on the same bolt furthur away from its support, basically it will bend easier...but if the spacer is not loose on the bolt it MIGHT work.
claiming it is stronger than the AA piece is a pretty tall order, considering how well people praise its functionality and just by seeing how it is engineered (i.e. taking most of the stress off that bolt). tell me what u think,or anyone else for that matter...

just making some observations...
is that spacer u made in close tolerance w/the bolt (diameter wise), b/c i just see this setup as putting added stress on the same bolt furthur away from its support, basically it will bend easier...but if the spacer is not loose on the bolt it MIGHT work.
claiming it is stronger than the AA piece is a pretty tall order, considering how well people praise its functionality and just by seeing how it is engineered (i.e. taking most of the stress off that bolt). tell me what u think,or anyone else for that matter...
The bolt fits perfectly in the spacer. It is drilled out to fit the 12mm bolt.

I am not bashing the AA support in any way. It is a great bolt on modification. I am a DIY kind of person, and a fabricator. When I see a weak point that can be improved on my car, especially on the cheap, I go for it.

I am not a mechanical engineer, so please excuse my ms paint-quality diagrams...

http://www.maximumpsi.com/images/land/turbo/m3/install/stockdiffmount.jpg



http://www.maximumpsi.com/images/land/turbo/m3/install/mydiffmount.jpg

nice diagrams!

I'm no picasso but I think they get the point across, lol.

Wow :wow Can I sell my AA DSB and hire you? Dayamn! :eyecrazy

if i break my diff bolt with the AA DSB bracket in i will be PISSED

The AA support still adds more support than stock, but I was looking for a solid setup that should be able to handle abuse at the drag strip. Keep in mind the AA support is a true bolt-on mod, and mine needs to be welded to the diff.

The AA support still adds more support than stock, but I was looking for a solid setup that should be able to handle abuse at the drag strip. Keep in mind the AA support is a true bolt-on mod, and mine needs to be welded to the diff.
Hard launches with 5psi of boost at 5k+ rpm...I think I will send your pictures to my fabricator and sell my AA DSB.

Thank you very much!:thanks:

The AA support still adds more support than stock, but I was looking for a solid setup that should be able to handle abuse at the drag strip. Keep in mind the AA support is a true bolt-on mod, and mine needs to be welded to the diff.

well im a welder/fabricator too for my shop here in georgia... do have some good plans you could email me, mail me USPS or something?
shoot me a PM... i want my stuff in there good :)
ill weld whatever!!!

There are two threads going on about the same thing. Other thread here:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=489904

I made about 30 pieces for whoever is interested, contact info is in the thread.

have you seen the aa diff bracket in person? your picture doesnt seem to represent it quite accurately.

EDITED:

I removed the pic of the AA support. I did not show the bolt that was holding the diff from torquing upwards. I now see that the AA brace "sandwiches" the diff against the subframe. This is definately going to be stronger than a stock setup, but If you are not worried about a full bolt-on setup, you will have less vibration with my weld-on bracket.

Mike I like the drawing great job.
The AA DSB is pretty damn strong I had mine on over a year and have not bent a bolt or broke a diff ear since If I cant break it most likly wont break

Thanks for the feedback and support. I am definately going to be pushing the drivetrain, maybe not as much HP as you, but definately by launching agressively.

I love it :buttrock
AINT SKEERD!

Mike I like the drawing great job.
The AA DSB is pretty damn strong I had mine on over a year and have not bent a bolt or broke a diff ear since If I cant break it most likly wont break
Oh well damn, in that case I'll just install the AA DSB that I have. Thanks! :wave

I've got my order in! Looking at Mike' nice diagrams, I cant see how the AA DSB can allow the diff to move becuz the L-shaped piece bolts to the subframe. I guess you're saying the subframe can move too?

Feel free to correct me. From the pics on AA's site, and from pics of installs it looks like two bolts secure the diff support to the bottom of the rear subframe, and the diff bolt goes through the support, then the mount, then threads into the diff. My above drawings aren't exactly 3D or drawn to scale.

this is a good pic off their site:
http://www.activeautowerke.com/drivetrain/main.php#e36dsb

well behind the very HIGHEST point... that little tower thing is another bolt... it has a bolt with a lock washer on it... you tighten down the bolt to a flange on the side of the diff... turn it 1/2 a turn more to tighten it down... then you tighten the hell out of the lock washer to make sure it doesnt backout...
so there is ONE more mount to secure it to the diff :)
i didnt get a picture of it

M3alpine99, are you refering to the item I circled on the right?

What's the seperate piece I circled on the left do?

M3alpine99, are you refering to the item I circled on the right?

What's the seperate piece I circled on the left do?

yes the item on the right is what i am talking about...
the item on the left sits inside th subframe and gets tightedened with DSB itself

Thanks for the clarification. That would definately add some more strength to the AA design. I still think mine will work better for my intended use, and I still end up with a functional front diff mount, instead of tying the diff mount bolt into the subframe.

yes the item on the right is what i am talking about...
the item on the left sits inside th subframe and gets tightedened with DSB itself
werd. the piece on the left is supposed to look like this installed (little diff support sandwich)

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/618000-618999/618522_208_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/618000-618999/618522_209_full.jpghttp://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/618000-618999/618522_209_full.jpg

I edited my previous post with the pictures.

As far as brackets, I have shipped them out to whoever has paid. I still have a bunch available if anyone else wants one. Ron(themadhatter) the diff killer now has one on his car, and I just sent one out to George @ICS to try out as well.

The brackets come with the support bracket, a spacer, and a M12x100x1.5 grade 10.9 bolt. If your threads are damaged or stripped, I have a longer M12x120mm bolt that you will need to do the same thing that we did on Ron's car: CLICK HERE (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499460). We drilled the threads out to have a 12mm bolt go through the previously threaded ear on the diff, and grinded a spot for a nut to fit.

I just pulled out the temporary diff bolt last night and installed the new bolt that Mike supplied me.

the swap took more time to raise the car on a jack stand then it did to actually do the swap. I am very impressed with this setup and I do believe that BMW should have produced these cars like this from the beginning.

special thanks go to Mike in making this happen! :clap

Bringing back a dead thread to say thanks for the 3 brackets you sent me (1 for me, 1 for 3literheater, and 1 for fishforlife). Looking forward -in a sick way- to installing this and the diff bushings. Probably gonna be a bitch to get the old bushings out but oh well another project done.

Thinking about picking one up soon.