Drivetrain Mounts and Upgrades for BMW E30 M3 S14 2.3L

Designed for track drivers, drift enthusiasts, and drag racers alike, this all-in-one driveline upgrade eliminates the factory weak points and reinforces your drivetrain for high-performance abuse. Whether you're laying down 500HP, clutch-kicking through corners, or launching hard at the strip, this cover keeps your differential secure, cool, and ready for battle.

The stock E30 differential cover features a single mounting provision—fine for a stock M20, but guaranteed to fail on your boosted high-horsepower M5X build. After years of broken covers, mounting tabs, and dreams, our team of E30 enthusiasts engineered the ultimate fix.

Unlike the brittle OEM cast aluminum cover, our upgraded differential cover is CNC-machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminum, offering a 30% increase in material strength alone. More importantly, a secondary mounting ear has been integrated into the design for added support, drastically improving stability and driveline shock absorption. The secondary mount is tied into the chassis using a reinforced sheet metal bracket and a billet aluminum plate, allowing for bolt-on installation or welding for ultimate rigidity.

Another major flaw of the factory E30 differential cover is its lack of any cooling provisions, leading to overheated fluid and premature wear. Our engineers solved this issue by incorporating advanced cooling features into the design. Large external fins have been added to the cover, and are optimized using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis to efficiently dissipate heat, reducing overall fluid temperatures. By maintaining a more stable differential temperature, this cover ensures consistent performance and extends the lifespan of your differential fluid. A built-in air duct assists in cooling by increasing airflow around the differential, further preventing heat-related failures. Our cover features optional -6AN fittings, allowing for easy integration of an external fluid cooler if desired. Finally, a 1/8 NPT port is included with the kit to ensure compatibility with fluid temperature monitoring systems.

Precision-machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminum and finished with a black hard coat anodizing, this cover is built to withstand hard use. Despite its robust construction and superior durability, this differential cover retains factory mounting features. This means any E30 188mm differential cover bushing can be installed, allowing you to tailor our upgraded cover to your build. The cover also accommodates large rear sway bars, ensuring fitment on cars with upgraded suspension. Our proprietary removable air duct provides easy access to sensor bungs, fill plugs, and drain plugs, making differential service a breeze.

FEATURES

Unmatched Strength & Durability - Heavily reinforced mounting locations are designed to withstand extreme horsepower, torque, and shock load. Secondary Differential Mount - A built-in secondary mount, integral sheet metal bracket, and billet adapter plate make this the strongest E30 differential cover on the market. Bolt-On or Weld-On Installation - The secondary mount is designed for easy bolt-in installation or can be welded to the chassis for ultimate rigidity. Optimized Cooling - Large external fins, designed using CFD analysis, dissipate heat efficiently, reducing overall differential fluid temperatures. Integrated Breather System - An integrated breather system reduces internal cavitation by properly venting built-up pressure. Enhanced Fluid Management - Includes a 1/8 NPT sensor port for real-time fluid temperature monitoring, and optional -6AN fittings for adding an external fluid cooler. Aerodynamic Air Duct - The included aerodynamic air duct further reduces fluid temperatures, increasing fluid service life and reliability. KIT CONTENTS

Dual Mount Differential Cover Assembly Includes the cover, sheet metal mounting bracket, billet aluminum mounting plate, and aerodynamic air duct. Installation Hardware Kit Includes everything you need to install this masterpiece on your E30! Differential Gasket Choose between a Genuine BMW paper gasket or make your own gasket with Loctite 5970. Optional -6AN fittings (2) for adding an external fluid cooler. Differential Cover Bushings Choose between Powerflex, OE MOOG, and Genuine BMW, or add your own (two E30 188mm differential cover bushings required for installation). Gear Oil Choose between Liqui Moly, Redline, and Genuine BMW, or supply your own fluid for reassembly.

Differential bushings are responsible for keeping the differential in solid alignment while dampening drivetrain vibration. While OE rubber bushings are fine when they are new from the factory, aged and worn out rubber bushings create a multitude of issues that can range from annoying to dangerous. As a factory bushing ages, it begins to harden and become brittle. When this happens the bushing will actually shrink and allow for movement at the differential mounting point. At this point, the differential is free to shift under load causing a noticeable clunking noise under acceleration and deceleration and massively increasing the stress on the driveshaft and axles. Manual transmissions suffer the worst from this as it can make shifting difficult since the differential will shift when the clutch is engaged and disengaged.

By replacing these bushings with full polyurethane, the movement is eliminated since the mounting point is supported by a much stiffer material that will not harden or shrink over time. This means less stress on the driveshaft and axles and greater longevity of supporting components. 

Engineered to perform, Powerflex performance polyurethane differential bushings offer a supreme level of control, while still providing enough comfort for the street, with advanced polyurethane that reduces NVH that often accompanies lesser bushings. Expect improved acceleration response, more direct shifting feel and overall improved drivetrain composure with Powerflex performance polyurethane bushings.

Poweflex is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspension bushings. Using state of the art design and manufacturing, all replacement bushings are engineered to out-perform and out-last the ones that came in the car. Each line of bushings is meticulously tested and then re-tested to ensure perfect fitment and enduring quality through the life of the vehicle. A full lifetime warranty backs every one of their products and demonstrates the level of confidence and commitment Powerflex has to their customers. 

Sway bars transmit cornering forces from the outside wheels to the inside wheels, helping to keep the vehicle flat during cornering. This, in turn, reduces body roll and improves the driver's cornering confidence. OEM rubber sway bar bushings are designed with comfort in mind, allowing the sway bar to articulate while permitting additional movement, leading to less-than-ideal bar retention and causes unnecessary body roll.

Powerflex polyurethane sway bar bushings are firmer than factory rubber bushings, reducing body roll and keeping sway bars in check. Polyurethane bushings won't slop around like OEM bushings, allowing sway bars to function at their fullest potential.

Poweflex is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspension bushings. Using state of the art design and manufacturing, all replacement bushings are engineered to out-perform and out-last the ones that came in the car. Each line of bushings is meticulously tested and then re-tested to ensure perfect fitment and enduring quality through the life of the vehicle. A full lifetime warranty backs every one of their products and demonstrates the level of confidence and commitment Powerflex has to their customers. 

This part fits the following BMWs:
 

Rubber seals are often hardened and damaged by excessive heat and constant temperature changes causing them to become brittle and crack or split. If your seal has split, replace it with a new Elring seal for long reliability and to prevent further problems.

Elring is one of the biggest OEM names in the manufacturing of high quality gaskets that are available for very affordable prices. Elring has supplied many automotive names for years with the gaskets that seal your car's components from day 1 so you can rest assured that these components will last for a long time to come!

Fits the following BMW engines:
E30 318i/is 325e 325i/ix M3
E36 318i/ic/is/ti 323i/is 325i/is 328i/is M3
E28 524td 528e 533i 535i
E34 525i 530i 535i
E24 633CSi 635CSi
E23 733i 735i
E32 735i/iL
Z3 1.9 2.5 2.5i 2.8 3.0i M Coupe/Roadster