PROBLEM!

JPerfect · 11-01-2006, 07:09 PM

So the bozo mechanic said I needed a new differential bushing. I took a closer look at the car, and noticed not only was he too lazy to put my good rotor on the hub/trailing arm assembly that I bought... but the diff wasn't sitting right on the bushing. What's with this, I asked myself, there's space underneath the bushing between the bushing and the circular bracket... so i reach my hand over, and yeah, the bracket is broken and the diff is holding on to the bushing for dear life by about a centimeter on each side. (See illustration)

(red part is broken off completely)

I can't believe this guy told me I could drive the car. "Just get a bushing in the next month, and I'll install it. Go easy on her till then."

Is there anything I can buy, like a cover or something that I can replace instead of getting a whole new diff?

Car's a manual transmission by the way, and I don't have LSD, but it's not out of the question if I have to buy a new one.

Any advice?????

mohaughn · 11-01-2006, 07:30 PM

Yes, you can buy just the differential cover. Most of the time they come with a bushing already pressed it. Just make sure it is the e30 type differential cover. It only has the one bushing support arm sticking off to the left side if you are looking at the diff from behind the car. You can even upgrade to a finned differential cover which has the extra fins for cooling. They are less than 200 bucks, and it looks like a fairly easy task.

You can find some threads on here where people have upgraded that part. I think there are some clearance issues that you not to look out for if you upgrade the diff. cover. Or you can always find a junk yard and just get an OEM diff cover.

bullmand · 11-01-2006, 07:47 PM

If you buy a new cover it should come with a new bushing. If you get a junkyard cover, I'd still put a new bushing in there since your doing it anyway. Any indication of how this happened?

JPerfect · 11-01-2006, 07:51 PM

So you're saying something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-F...spagenameZWDVW

JPerfect · 11-01-2006, 08:03 PM

When my car was hit, I'm guessing the diff took a hit from the halfshaft. Works fine, just clunks like a mofo when going over bumps because the diff is actually bouncing since it's not really attached to the bushing.

Bluebimma · 11-01-2006, 08:13 PM

Or you can get a stock one from the dealership for about 90$....very easy job to do.

JPerfect · 11-01-2006, 08:21 PM

awesome, thanks!

mohaughn · 11-01-2006, 08:23 PM

You can get that finned one for 189$. But unless you are in the habit of running your car really hard I wouldn't think you need it. If you can get the stock part for 90$ from the dealer that would be the best way to go.

DustenT · 11-01-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohaughn

You can get that finned one for 189$. But unless you are in the habit of running your car really hard I wouldn't think you need it. If you can get the stock part for 90$ from the dealer that would be the best way to go.

Finned diff cover = SEXY!

JPerfect · 11-01-2006, 08:59 PM

i just called the dealer, they said 160 plus gasket, which is like 3 bucks.

that's park ave bmw on rt 17 in maywood, nj.

anyplace anyone know of where I can get it cheaper?

If i cant get it cheaper than that, i'm goin for the finned one.

pnosker · 11-01-2006, 09:32 PM

Try Flemington BMW, they got me a water pump for $67 OEM.

**J!m** · 11-03-2006, 03:10 PM

Be aware: The finned cover may not allow clearance for the spare tire (if you have one).

My diff cover is finned and larger than the ti one (M Roadster), and the spare does not fit. This is OK, since the spare does not fit over the brakes anyway...

Just check this before you buy.

L84THSKY · 11-03-2006, 04:03 PM

I wanna get this cleared up, since it is talked about alot. The M-coupe finned cover will not work on a stock Ti diff. That is unless I am totally missunderstanding something. The M-coupe came ONLY in a 6 cylinder version. That means the diff is a widebody. That being true, the M-coupe cover is too big to mount on a stock Ti diff. I could have confirmed this for sure, when I removed my diff, but didn't feel like opening up my stock diff to find out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohaughn

You can even upgrade to a finned differential cover which has the extra fins for cooling. They are less than 200 bucks, and it looks like a fairly easy task.

Panzer_M · 11-03-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

I wanna get this cleared up, since it is talked about alot. The M-coupe finned cover will not work on a stock Ti diff. That is unless I am totally missunderstanding something. The M-coupe came ONLY in a 6 cylinder version. That means the diff is a widebody. That being true, the M-coupe cover is too big to mount on a stock Ti diff. I could have confirmed this for sure, when I removed my diff, but didn't feel like opening up my stock diff to find out.

Bingo: you need a 188mm diff casing for the M coupe diff cover...on the small Ti diff, buying the finned(Which is a sexy cover true) is just buying a paperweight.

JPerfect · 11-03-2006, 05:01 PM

Yeah, I did some research on that, and I already bought a stock Diff cover from Flemington BMW. They're shipping it to me by next week.

There are no fluids involved, right?

To install it, support the diff with a jackstand, unbolt cover and bushing bracket, install new, remove jackstand and viola???

Now i need rotors and body work done. Woe is me.

Thanks guys, you saved me over 50 bucks on that diff. (shipped rather than picked up also)

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