Doc007

I’m quite irritatingly OCD but managed to shorten my existing S3 armrests to fit my Trackday cage in such a way that I find them acceptable. Takes about 10mins per side and uses a short length of IVA trim hammered over the trimmed end.

I’m changing the gearbox oil on my 2016 Duratec engined 7 with a Mazda 5 speed gearbox but don’t have the torque value for the drain plug. Or the fill plug for that matter! And the plug comes with a silver (aluminum?) washer for which I don’t have a replacement. Can it be reused?

FYI I ordered the above diff plug and it was too small for the BMW diff.

No harm done, Colin. Thanks for the advice. I’ll look into the race team route. But if anyone on hear wants it…!

I may be completely wrong and am happy to be corrected, but is piggy-backing on my For Sale thread not a massively dickish move??? If you have items for sale then list them. Don’t try and take a sale from me. Even though you dress it up with a suggestion that race teams may want an LSD. If so, why don’t you sell your LSDs to them?

FOR SALE £600. Titan limited slip differential fitted with sintered plates. Recently removed from Caterham BMW differential. Before removal the preload was 33lbft. Removed and found to be in good health by Ollie at Road and Race. Prefer collection from Surbiton/Surrey but can arrange delivery.

Do you have to weld the QR part to the top of the steering column?

Thanks Chaps. Yes, the ratchet strap goes through the boot floor that I removed. But they won't be able to raise the diff as there isn't enough ratchet-travel, so-to-speak. I don't have an engine hoist though, thinking about it, it might be the best option as it will allow you to get underneath to get the washers in. I have removed both drive shafts leaving the calipers hagning by zip ties to the shocks. DeDion still in place.

With car at current height the jack can’t lift the diff high enough. I’ve got it out by putting the jack on a few bits of wood but gor putting it back in I’d rather not lower the car because A) It would be more difficult for me to get under to put bolts in and, B) The diff on the jack would be too high to get under the deDion. I used bits of wood to raise the whole jack/diff ensemble up so that it would reach to allow it to be lowered but for putting it back in it would be harder. Used a ratchet strap to steady/lower it. Any clever tricks?

Does anyone know if this magnetic diff plug (Gold Plug Magnetic Plug M22 x1.5 AP22) will fit a BMW diff plug? The one that comes with the diff has a tiny O-ring and the Gold one just has a washer? With the replacement plug would the washer need to be replaced each time it is undone?

Thanks Daz. I removed the diff quite a few years ago but don’t recall it terribly well. You only really only need access to one side, right? Is there a preferred side? Take the driveshaft out one side and then pull the diff off the other driveshaft which stays attached to the other side? Remove A-frame. I DO recall removal/ reinstalling of the handbrake cable being a massive ballache!

Podger??? I assumed that was a fat mate to do the heavy lifting!

Yes. So I replaced the boot cover. I hear that some use pipe lagging to take up the space.

I fitted a Longacre 14” to my S3. It fits perfectly in between the Double-D of my trackday rollcage. It tucks up out of the way much less intrusively than the photos above. I fitted it using rubber mounted P-clips and small L-brackets. I doubt an SV is wide enough to accommodate this in this out-of-the-way position.

I got a half hood 7 years ago. Removed the hoodsticks a couple of months ago as I hadn’t used the full hood in…7 years. Completely understand your reservations about doing away with the option to have a full hood but there’s a good chance that in about….7 years you’ll get rid of yours too.