I'm looking for a 210mm rear diff with super low (numerically high) gears. Likely sources would be early 6 cylinder R129 or W140 with ASR.
Let me know if you have any leads.
Let me know if you have any leads.
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WANTED WTB 3.45-3.91 210MM Differential
- Thread starter Beater400E
- Start date
Do you need a diff with ASR, or without? I assume you want with ASR for your R129 Baja Edition. 
Assuming you are looking within USA:
1992-1995 6-cyl gas 140 chassis (140.032/.033) should have 3.45-3.69 gears, however as of approximately 1995 USA model year the sensors in the diff were eliminated. It may be possible to use 1995 diff if the axle speed sensors are relocated to the outer CV joint, but that's a ton of work to swap the rear wheel carriers.
Somewhere around 1996 (not sure of the break point, it's a chassis number, not model year?) the diff changed to a 198mm or something, and I'm not sure if that can be easily retrofitted - and, would require the outboard wheel speed sensors. I believe the "wrong" diff has 3.45 gears so definitely avoid those, may be as of 1996? ASD (locking diff, LSD carrier) was optional equipment but ASD diffs only have a pinion sensor (photos here), so this would also need the outboard wheel sensor conversion if you wanted LSD.
There's a bunch available on car-part.com, some as low as $50, but most are on the wrong coast... shipping won't be cheap. Some yards post photos of the car, click on the photo for more info, some will show the VIN so you can verify if it has ASR or not. Or, some post a photo under the hood which also works to verify ASR vs non-ASR (like this example, bet those 2-pc wheels are long gone). Engine photo is less help on the 140 as the ASR pump is under a plastic cover.
Finally - your 129.067 has a "reinforced" 210mm diff which is an oddball, where almost all the parts are different vs standard 210mm diff, including the axle shafts and flanges. I don't know what potential issues you might run into swapping in a 3.xx-ratio standard in place of your reinforced diff. Click here, see posts #540 and #549. You may need different axle shafts with the 3.xx diff.
Assuming you are looking within USA:
1992-1994 129.063 (300SL/SL320) should have 3.69 gears
1992-1995 6-cyl gas 140 chassis (140.032/.033) should have 3.45-3.69 gears, however as of approximately 1995 USA model year the sensors in the diff were eliminated. It may be possible to use 1995 diff if the axle speed sensors are relocated to the outer CV joint, but that's a ton of work to swap the rear wheel carriers.
1992-1993 140.032 = 3.69 gears
1994 140.032 = 3.46
1994 140.033 = 3.46
Somewhere around 1996 (not sure of the break point, it's a chassis number, not model year?) the diff changed to a 198mm or something, and I'm not sure if that can be easily retrofitted - and, would require the outboard wheel speed sensors. I believe the "wrong" diff has 3.45 gears so definitely avoid those, may be as of 1996? ASD (locking diff, LSD carrier) was optional equipment but ASD diffs only have a pinion sensor (photos here), so this would also need the outboard wheel sensor conversion if you wanted LSD.
There's a bunch available on car-part.com, some as low as $50, but most are on the wrong coast... shipping won't be cheap. Some yards post photos of the car, click on the photo for more info, some will show the VIN so you can verify if it has ASR or not. Or, some post a photo under the hood which also works to verify ASR vs non-ASR (like this example, bet those 2-pc wheels are long gone). Engine photo is less help on the 140 as the ASR pump is under a plastic cover.
Finally - your 129.067 has a "reinforced" 210mm diff which is an oddball, where almost all the parts are different vs standard 210mm diff, including the axle shafts and flanges. I don't know what potential issues you might run into swapping in a 3.xx-ratio standard in place of your reinforced diff. Click here, see posts #540 and #549. You may need different axle shafts with the 3.xx diff.
With ASR. You got it. The 30 inch tall tires killed a bunch if low end torque, which makes low speed offroading way more difficult. Climbing hills in particular sucks with these gears.Do you need a diff with ASR, or without? I assume you want with ASR for your R129 Baja Edition.
Yeah, I've been looking there. The $50 example says "no shipping" because I called and tried to buy it but couldn't convince them to ship it. They updated their notes to say no shipping after that. I may try calling some others but when I went through this on my 400E not many were willing to ship.
I thought that might be the case. It'll be interesting to try to figure that out.
Yeah, getting places to ship can be a hassle. If they agree, ask nicely if they can please double-box, and/or stuff the box with thick packing paper / cardboard reinforcement. The last diff I had shipped, arrived with the box nearly falling apart... and it did fall apart when I pulled the diff out!
The 3.06 diff I got for the 400E was nicely packed. The same yard in Massachusetts that had that 3.06 does have a 300SE diff that I could probably get for $300 shipped. I may go that route if I can't find anything closer/cheaper.
