What diff works in my w201 190D

[Proctor750]

What diff's will work in a 190D 12/85 (so 86') manual 2.5L from canada? I was looking at a few on ebay, can someone give me some part numbers of compatible diffs?

[pawoSD]

Pretty sure any diff from a W201 series will work on any W201. Exceptions possibly being the cosworth limited slip units...but they might work too. I am sure others will comment if that is not the case.

[Walkenvol]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Pretty sure any diff from a W201 series will work on any W201.

I know the '87 2.5 DT's and understand the 2.6 gassers have a physically larger differential than your '85. They will still swap over if you also use the matching rear section of the drive shaft and the rear axles - a lot of extra trouble and probably too tall of a diff anyway for your car.

Are you asking what models had the same differential ratio as your '86 2.5 manual? If so, post the number stamped on the side of your current differential so you will know the ratio your after.

[Proctor750]

I'd like to get the same ratio or longer final would increase mpg so that's cool too. But I'd like to stick to what it came with otherwise.

The number on the side reads what looks like an A followed by: 2013511401








Here's a picture I took:


































http://www.mbpartsworld.com/p/Mercedes_1983_190-ESedan/AXLE-CASING-AXLE-HOUSING/7988781/2013511401.html

[Proctor750]

I jacked up the car at the diff so both wheels were in the air. I marked the drive shaft with spit and stared at the "P" on the tire. One rotation of the driveshaft gave me one half of a rotation at the wheel. So it was a 1:.5 ratio or 2:1 driveshaft:Tire rotation.










And then I found this:











Mine would be the "M5" block so it looks like the only other car with my diff is the 1.8 190E...

[pawoSD]

There is no such thing as too tall a diff.

I am running the original 2.85 from the 190e 2.3 setup with my om601 2.2 engine. Its certainly not fast, but far from unusable. Not sure if there was a taller one than that offered, the 2.6 gasser or 2.5 turbo diesels may have had a 2.65....


My 190d can cruise all day long at 75-80mph around 2900-3000rpm. And thats with 73 horsepower.

[Proctor750]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

There is no such thing as too tall a diff.

I am running the original 2.85 from the 190e 2.3 setup with my om601 2.2 engine. Its certainly not fast, but far from unusable. Not sure if there was a taller one than that offered, the 2.6 gasser or 2.5 turbo diesels may have had a 2.65....


My 190d can cruise all day long at 75-80mph around 2900-3000rpm. And thats with 73 horsepower.

No kidding, gotta love that. Is yours manual? I would imagine you can get away with taller gearing being able to select your shifts.
So I should be able to swing by my local merc salvage yard and pic up a 2.3's diff? Or really any 190 diff for that matter? From that graph it appears I will probably only find taller which is fine by me.
I know they denote a difference in diffs between manual and auto but should that matter?

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by Proctor750

No kidding, gotta love that. Is yours manual? I would imagine you can get away with taller gearing being able to select your shifts.
So I should be able to swing by my local merc salvage yard and pic up a 2.3's diff? Or really any 190 diff for that matter? From that graph it appears I will probably only find taller which is fine by me.
I know they denote a difference in diffs between manual and auto but should that matter?

Where did you find that chart on the ratios? I found a different chart a while back that said my car has a 2.85 (190e 2.3) and the way it drives it certainly seems like it....not a 3.27 as that chart claims.

I have the auto box in mine because the gas car had a freshly rebuilt one in it already so big $$ savings vs manual conversion, I drive it like a clutchless manual though, can't let it go to any gear too early! Its a unique way to drive, that is for sure.

[Proctor750]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Where did you find that chart on the ratios?

190D diff. ratio vs. 190E?????? - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

[pawoSD]

Interesting, this is the list I found:

W201 Differential Gear Ratios [Archive] - 190 Revolution

I'll have to physically check the ratio stamp to see which it is. I am quite sure from the rpms I see when driving that its a 2.85 on mine however. I'd be way over 3000 rpm on the freeway at 75mph if I had the 3.27 that that chart claims...

The car is presently in 22F weather under 8 inches of snow so that won't be anytime soon.

[Proctor750]

The 1.8
('91) 1.8 Auto- 3.46


The 2.0s
('83) 2.0 Carb Auto- 3.23
('83) 2.0 Fuel Injection Auto- 3.25


The 2.3 8Vs
('84-Sept.'88] 2.3 8V Auto & Manual US Spec- 3.23 Non-LSD
('84-Sept.'88] 2.3 8V Auto & Manual Euro Spec- 3.27
(Oct.'88-?) 2.3 8v Auto & Manual Euro Spec- 3.46
('90-?) 2.3 8V Auto US Spec- 2.85
('90-?) 2.3 8V Manual US Spec- 3.27 Non-LSD
('85) 2.3 8V Manual Cosworth- 3.46


The 2.3 16Vs
('86-'87) 2.3-16V Auto & Manual US Spec- 3.27 LSD
('86-'87) 2.3-16V Auto & Manual Euro Spec- 3.07 LSD


The 2.5 16Vs
2.5-16V Manual US Spec- 3.27
2.5-16V Manual Euro Spec- 3.07


2.6s
(?-'89) 2.6L Auto US Spec- 3.27
(?-'93) 2.6L Auto Euro Spec- 3.07
('90-'93) 2.6L Auto US Spec- 2.87 Non-LSD
('90-'93) 2.6L Manual US Spec- 3.27 Non-LSD
(?-Aug.'89) 2.6L Manual Euro Spec- 3.27
(Sept.'89-?) 2.6L Manual Euro Spec- 3.92


Evos
Evo I Manual- 3.27
Evo II Manual- 3.46


AMG
AMG 3.2- 2.87


The Diesels
Turbo Auto- 2.65
Turbo Manual- 3.46
2.5 5 Cyl. Auto- 3.07
2.5 5 Cyl. Manual- 3.64
2.5 5 Cyl. Manual "taxi" version- 3.67
('89) 190D Manual- 3.91 or 3.92 Non-LSD
190D- 3.23 or 3.27 or 3.42

I wonder what the difference is between the 2.5 5cyls and the "190D" at the bottom? The 2.5 5cyls ARE 190D..


But either way unless anyone objects I think I will just throw in whatever I find out of another D or E up at the merc yard. Seems to me unless I bump into a taxi I won't find anything shorter so that's good. I will miss the peppiness of such a close ratio though..

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by Proctor750

I wonder what the difference is between the 2.5 5cyls and the "190D" at the bottom? The 2.5 5cyls ARE 190D..


But either way unless anyone objects I think I will just throw in whatever I find out of another D or E up at the merc yard. Seems to me unless I bump into a taxi I won't find anything shorter so that's good. I will miss the peppiness of such a close ratio though..

They are talking about the early 190d's with the om601 2.2 non turbo engine.

[Walkenvol]

Originally Posted by Proctor750

The number on the side reads what looks like an A followed by: 2013511401

I think that number is the diff housing number, not the R&P # which I think is stamped on the passenger side of the diff housing on a flat machined edge. There are pictures on this forum but I don't have them book marked.

Again, be careful grabbing just any differential out of any 190 as they are not all physically the same size and your axles and drive shaft will not bolt up to the larger differential.

[Dr. Sternschnuppe]

Type 201.126 (190 D 2.5) rear differential ratios.

1) Standard rear axle, without ASD and with or without ABS.

• 5-speed manual transmisson - 3,64:1 (Crown wheel diameter 168 mm, oil volume 0,7 l).
• 4-speed automatic transmisson - 3,07:1 (Crown wheel diameter 168 mm, oil volume 0,7 l).
• North American versions (code 491 [US-version] or 494 [California-version] or 495 [CND-version]), only MY1986-1987 - 3.42 (Crown wheel diameter 168 mm, oil volume 0,7 l).

The "small" (168 mm/0,7 l) rear axle housing.
-------------------------------------------
2)Rear axle with ASD and ABS.

• 5-speed manual transmisson - 3.67 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).
• 4-speed automatic transmisson - 3.07 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).
• North American versions (code 491 [US-version] or 494 [California-version] or 495 [CND-version]), only MY1987 - 3.46 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).

The "mid size" (185 mm/1,1 l) rear axle housing.
-------------------------------------------
3) Rear axle with or without ABS, for version "TAXI", code 450, from 11/1988.
From chassis Nr. WDB201XXXXF561385, produced only on Bremen plant.

• 5-speed manual transmisson - 3.67 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).
• 4-speed automatic transmisson - 3.07 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).

The "mid size" (185 mm/1,1 l) rear axle housing.

4) Rear axle with or without ABS, version for North America (codes, which has:
3.42 with or w/o ABS for MY1986-1987 (crown wheel diameter 168 mm, oil volume 0,7 l).
and




Ciao!

[Proctor750]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sternschnuppe

Type 201.126 (190 D 2.5).

1) Stadnard rear axle, without ASD and with or without ABS.

• 5-speed manual transmisson - 3,64:1 (Crown wheel diameter 168 mm, oil volume 0,7 l).
• 4-speed automatic transmisson - 3,07:1 (Crown wheel diameter 168 mm, oil volume 0,7 l).

The "small" (168 mm/0,7 l) rear axle housing.
-------------------------------------------
2)Rear axle with ASD and ABS.

• 5-speed manual transmisson - 3.67 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).
• 4-speed automatic transmisson - 3.07 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).

The "mid size" (185 mm/1,1 l) rear axle housing.
-------------------------------------------
3) Rear axle with or without ABS, for version "TAXI", code 450, from 11/1988.
From chassis Nr. WDB201XXXXF561385, produced only on Bremen plant.

• 5-speed manual transmisson - 3.67 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).
• 4-speed automatic transmisson - 3.07 (Crown wheel diameter 185 mm, oil volume 1,1 l).

The "mid size" (185 mm/1,1 l) rear axle housing.


Ciao!

It appears all three graphs depict mine as a 3.64:1 "small" diff.
So I guess now the question is what can PHYSICALLY bolt up? I imagine the flanges are the same on most of them, even with larger housings...
I'm not going to find another of mine, so I need the next best thing that's readily available. Does anyone know what will work if mine is #1 in the last list? I'm guessing I need something with the same crown wheel diameter? Anything else have 168mm?

also: I am curious how it's a 3.64 yet today I noticed at 70 MPH I was turning around 2,600 RPM's...
My M3 has a 315 with 1:1 final is about 3,100 RPMS at 70 MPH...