How much oil does a E46 diff take?
Using a good fluid pump, fill the differential with 75W-90 synthetic gear lubricant until it overflows out of the fill hole. The differential will take approximately 1.5 quarts to fill. When differential is full, Install a new fill plug.
Are all E46 diffs the same?
E46 is a large case diff and is different to all the other diffs in relation to how it bolts to the rear subframe – at two points instead of one.
When should I change my BMW differential oil?
Differential oil lasts for a fairly decent amount of time. But our certified mechanics here at Jesse’s Garage recommend having the differential oil on your BMW assessed and changed every 20,000-50,000 miles to keep your differential running at peak performance and to avoid larger more costly repair issues from arising.
How do I identify my BMW differential?
The numbers you need to identify your diff are on a small metal tag attached to one of the rear cover bolts. The first three numbers will be the ratio (e.g. 3 45 xxx..) , or if the numbers are preceded by an ‘s’ (e.g. S3 45 xxx..) then you have a limited slip diff.
Are BMW differentials interchangeable?
There are a wide variety of BMW differentials and mostly the components are not interchangeable between generations. Generally early differentials are fitted with taper bearings, and most post 2006 units are fitted with ball bearings.
How much oil does a BMW diff take?
For 4 cylinder cars, you will want to measure out 1.2 quarts of oil. For 6 Cylinder models, you will want to measure out 1.8 quarts of oil. BMW recommends you use BMW SAF-XO Synthetic Oil for differentials without limited slip, or use BMW SAF-XLS Synthetic Oil for differentials with limited slip.
What is differential oil?
Differential oil is sometimes referred to as gear oil and is found in the axle housing. Lubricates clutch packs, gears and bearings. Lubricates the ring and pinion gears that move power to the wheel axles from the driveshaft. Cools and lubricates the differential.
How much oil does a BMW differential take?
Next you will want to measure out the correct amount of fluid for the differential. For 4 cylinder cars, you will want to measure out 1.2 quarts of oil. For 6 Cylinder models, you will want to measure out 1.8 quarts of oil.
What differential does BMW use?
There are two types of differentials found in BMWs. In the majority of non M cars, the differential that came in your vehicle from the factory are called an open differential. In most M cars, your vehicle came from the factory with a limited slip differential.
How do I know if my differential is e30?
Identification. To identify an LSD one can first check for the presence of the tag on the rear casing. The ratio on this will be prefixed with an S for LSDs. Alternatively one can jack up one rear wheel, ensure the car is out of gear and hand-brake is off then turn the raised wheel.
How do you find the diff ratio on a BMW?
The diff ratio is typically stamped on a stainless steel tag attached to one of the upper rear cover bolts. If not, it’s still pretty easy to determine. If the diff is out of the car, place a mark at the 12 o’clock position on the input flange and on one of the axle flanges.
How does the rear differential work on BMW 325i?
Inside the differential, the axis of rotation is turned 90 degrees. Using specially designed planetary gears, the differential also splits the power in order to accommodate cornering: the two rear wheels must be allowed to rotate at different speeds in a turn.
When to do a BMW E46 differential change?
A BMW E46 differential fluid change should be part of a regular maintenance schedule on your 1998-2006 3 series. Performing a BMW E46 differential fluid change is one of the most overlooked maintenance items in the drivetrain…and arguably one of the most important.
What kind of oil do you put in a BMW 325e?
If no label is present, the official recommendation is any GL-4 gear oil. Our favorite is the Red Line MTL. However, some transmissions will have an orange ATF label and you should use a Dexron III ATF fluid. The 1984-1986 325e/528e should have a green “Special Oil” label on the transmission.
How long does BMW rear differential oil last?
The oil in your rear differential is considered lifetime by BMW. This does not mean you shouldn’t service it. When a vehicle manufacturer refers to a component as lifetime, the time period is usually 100,000 miles or so. So your differential oil lifetime is 100,000 miles, what does this mean when it comes to servicing?