Swap 188mm auto pumpkin for 215mm? Diff cover options?

[tsk94]

Thanks guys. Disappointing to hear but not overly surprised.

 

[doublespaces]

Thanks guys. Disappointing to hear but not overly surprised.

The guts are physically larger, so while you could potentially swap entire pumpkins, you wouldn't be able to change just the internals

 

[ornicar]

Just FYI:

I swapped from a 215 Diff to a 188 Diff, without changing anything!
The 188 is a Little bit shorter, like seen on the Pictures, but you can pull the driveshaft a Little bit.
At first i wasn´t sure if that is working, but i had 2 track day´s and everything works fine, so you can say it´s no Problem.

Hi, since all this time is it always OK with your 188 diff? Do the 215 CV axles are Ok (they don't developp noises or clunks)?

 

[CalvinNismo]

Hi, since all this time is it always OK with your 188 diff? Do the 215 CV axles are Ok (they don't developp noises or clunks)?

I have run the 215 axles on a 188 diff’ for 10,000+ miles on the the wife’s 125i, no issues. What’re you thinking of doing @ornicar?

 

[ornicar]

I have run the 215 axles on a 188 diff’ for 10,000+ miles on the the wife’s 125i, no issues. What’re you thinking of doing @ornicar?

Hi Calvinismo! Thanks for your feedback. I have sometimes a strange hard clunk in the rear since a loooong time now. It reduced after i changed the subframe screws, but it comeback again My idea is that it can be the axles. Big money from Bmw. The only serious OE supplier is GKN / Lobro but they are out of stock everywhere. So if i can use the 215 axles (~24mm shorter than the 188) it could be a good/easier solution.