E39 LSD options

[Driftit 1971]

Am interested in any options my 540 may have for an LSD. Obviously not a fan of the horrid open diff.

Is there any other diff units or internals I can use other than the M5 unit ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) or a custom unit?

Apparently the E34 diff is not compatible.

[greenday-rulz21 5]

http://www.performancegearing.com/live/

I believe the only options are Custom or M5.

You've probably seen this info.

Here is what you need for the complete M5 conversion:

1988 750i rear diff spindles (required from the M5 diff to the 540 axles)

Existing 540 axles

E39 M5 diff

E39 M5 drive shaft

Install is about 5-hours

[Driftit 1971]

Wow that seriously sux.

For a start the M5 diff is around $1200USD. Presume the drive shaft would be over $600USD. Then trying to find 1988 750 diff spindles, yeah right.

Bugger.

[greenday-rulz21 5]

Some very good info.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt...ht=e39+lsd+swap

[CamB 48]

If (and its a big if) the internals are a standard BMW medium case ZF LSD you could swap in any medium case centre.

****IF**** thats the case.

[Guest Simon*]

Goddam I heart my E34 today

Jeebus that's inconvenient. So it'd be safe to assume that the E39 540i6 came without LSD or has the option of the M5 one from factory?

[BM WORLD 1265]

i have a large case e32 750i lsd diff and a large case e34 540i diff . both 2.93 ratio .

but might have other options on ratios

if that helps with the bits you need.

021433600

[DRTDVL 0]

talk to Palmside about some Quaife yummieness

[CamB 48]

So are the 540i medium case or large case? Or neither?

Hmmm - more research suggests possibly neither, in which case disregard my previous post.

[pjay 8]

Lock it

[Driftit 1971]

talk to Palmside about some Quaife yummieness

Cheers that has helped a bit.

I might look at the Quaife unit. As finding second hand E39 M5 parts in NZ..... Well.

Looks like this is only going to happen if I really want to spend some coin. I miss Nissan's sometimes. Anything from anything will bolt to anything in a Nissan.

Would have thought there would be an easy internal swap. Why did these cars not come with an LSD. Instead they just set the traction control to be overactive. lol.

Cheapest I have found is $850USD on Ebay for an M5 unit. They can also do the driveshaft. Would end up around $2500NZD by the time I finish.

Edited May 11, 2009 by driftit

[Guest Ari Gold]

A quaife ATB (torsen type) prices at:

QUAIFE ATB Diff. Conversion Kit +

Application : 530d,535i, 540i

Installation cost : £337.90

Parts cost : £829.06

[Driftit 1971]

Excluding VAT? I think I will go for the quaife unit once I can put enough money aside. Suspension will come first though. Well a full service is first.

[BM WORLD 1265]

Excluding VAT? I think I will go for the quaife unit once I can put enough money aside. Suspension will come first though. Well a full service is first.

and this is why i sold my 540iT , you cant mod them easy like a e34