Diff ration change in E38 - QUICK opinions please!!

[M5James]

Hopefully I can get this answered this morning, bit I have the option or replacing my stock 2.93 diff with the following as my pricing and options:

DAN with DIFFONLINE
3.45 lsd for $2400
3.64 lsd for $2045 - he recommended this for real fun!

Koala Motorsports
3.15-3.64 lsd for $2750-2850

VAC - rude on the phone, wasn't very helpful
3-15-3.45 lsd for $2500 +/- 200

Now, seeing that I am coming from a 91 M5 to this vehicle, the speed, handling, and and rear drifting of the car is completely different. Without giving me crap for the size of the car, I would like to be able to slid the back out every once in a while, do burn out's like I was able to before, and not be a one legger either. Since I have done the motorwork to the car, I have no bottom end anymore (personal opinion) and would like to regain that and more. Going to the stock 3.15 that comes in the 740 Sport/M5 would be fine for most...which is why in this heavier car I feel fine won't be enough. I don't mind losing gas mileage or topend as my bike will get 40mpg and do 180. I wanna stomp people on the streets, have a daily driver, and be a total sleeper for now. In yours guys opinions, what would be too aggressive or just right for the person who wants a fat ass luxo barge, but is still trying to be sensible also. Thanks alll!!

[James]

I say go with the 3.45 from DiffsOnline. I have spoken with more than a few people who are very happy with Dan's diffs, and a few that were "less" happy who went with Koala. 3.64 could be fun, but I think 3.45 would be more than adequate and still leave you with some longer legs for the highway.

[M5James]

Sorry for the delay on the update, but here goes. I will tell the story A-Z.

Called around about diff pricing, and decided on DiffsOnline after getting a much better response that others. Called around to various shops in the area about doing the work. There was some indy in Marysville, but never got a return call or anything, even after two messages left on his machine. Car Tender wouldn't do the work unless payment was recieved up front, which I was not about to front myself. After speaking with Eastside, who has worked on my diff before who flushed and filled it when it started its initial clunking that eventually forced its replacement a couple months later. Spoke with Ken on the phone, told him of my plan of upgrading the diff to another ratio with LSD, gave him the appropriate pricing of the diff, which happened to be the best and cheapest priced on the market. Car was towed to their shop on 5/16 after all agreements were made about what was to be done. Adjuster for the warranty company finally came out and confirmed that the diff was in fact broken and covered, and the ball finally started to roll. All this time I had been speaking with Dan discussing and deciding on which ratio to build and just waiting for the green light start the diff assembly. About one to two weeks passed, with calls between the warranty company, Eastside, and Dan. Things started getting ugly when come to find out Eastside had instead told them the price of a rebuilt diff through their own vendor instead of using Dan because Eastside was determined to convince me that the custom diff was not a bolt in item, and that at least an additional two+ hours would be needed to change over the half shafts. BS, confimed by Dan himself, who's own special manufacturing process makes the custom diff a complete drop-in item. At this point, the warranty deemed that the amount for the diff supplied by Eastside's own vendor would cost roughly $1500, plus $400 for labor...all rough estimates. Ater getting angry with Eastside, I tried flexing other options to continue with my plan of getting my custom diff, all which were tossed out the window thanks to Ken at Eastside, and apparantly the owner who has no flexibility nor enough excess money to float $1200 for a week. I asked Ken to continue ordering the diff from Dan since they were already getting a check from the warranty company for the parts and labor anyways, and just float the difference until I came to get the car. The only reason why I went this route is because that is the same thing BMW of Fife did for me with the motor swap and mods, and then I just had to pay for the difference of the mods and my deductible minus the warranty check to Fife when I took delivery. Ken said they couldn't do that for me on such a large amount, so I offered to give them the difference in cash upfront, have them use the check for the warranty to pay for the remainder, and the labor would stay the same as confirmed. I once again got my goals shot down, as floating the total amount minues my $1200 up front would apparantly bankrupt Eastside while the waited for the remained of the money from the check that was in the mail. Fuckin rediculous!! The icing on the cake was when Ken told me that even if they were to do the aftermarket diff, they would have to charge me additional fees for using an outside vendor, causing an arguement betwen Ken and I...he had NEVER mentioned any additional fees for outside vendor parts, Fife didn't charge me for outside vendor parts...so all total bullshit from Ken and Eastside Bavarian. Once the vehicle finally got the rebuilt diff put in, I received a call telling me it was done. Unfortunately I was not able to get the vehicle on that Tuesday because they couldn't release the car until they recieved payment. I asked how long that would take, and was quoted up to a month or two!! So these shits wanted to keep my car even longer! At this point I was furious, but the check arrived within 1 week. I finally got the car back from Eastside Bavarian on 6/22 around 5pm. The car was still on the lift even after I told them I was coming, battery was dead, and the car was dirty covered in dust and finger prints. I get into the car to find that they broke the side panel on the seat that holds the position controls, the harness had popped out, not allowing to move the seat back off the steering wheel from the 5'1" guy working on it. I get the harness conected after pulling it off the lift and out the bay to move the panel out of the way to squeeze my fingers into, and as I look up...they broke my radar detector mount that was mounted next to the rear view mirror! No explanation for the seat or why they even had to touch the radar detector in the first place, no offer to fix the seat, and a half ass apology for the condition of the parts inside. All in all, I will NEVER go there again. SIGH....so if anybody wants to buy a new stock diff, let me know so I can offset the cost of buying the diff that was supposed to be installed in the first place. Sorry for the rant.

[James]

Man - I am sorry to hear that. Sounds like the warranty coverage should've more than paid for the swap - yet because you went with an outside supplier they did their best to screw you over.

Let us know if you ever get the diff installed as I am curious to see how it turns out. Once I save up the funds I will be installing a diffsonline 3.45 into my 540/6. I'll be sure to post my impressions.