 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | looove 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 0 Replies, 1,956 Views | |  | | View Poll Results: Have you had any issues with your stock differential? | | Rebuilt because it was damaged. |     | 0 | 0% | | Replaced because it was damaged. |    | 10 | 11.63% | | Still running strong. |    | 76 | 88.37% |
 |  | |  06-23-2006, 03:21 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 |  Differential Problems?
I'm just curious to see how many of us have had problems with our diffs. It seems to be a recurring theme lately and I'm starting to worry a little about the lifespan/reliability of these things. |  |  | | 06-23-2006, 03:26 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
Well, I did replace it a couple years ago.
With the 2.8, my LSD lasted 4 years. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 06-23-2006, 05:10 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 |
mines still running strong (1995)
you might should add an option "replaced to upgrade"
there might be a few people who upgraded with a better differential even if their original wasnt damaged...not sure though __________________ 1995 318ti Active
Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | | | 06-23-2006, 06:33 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 528 |
Mine is on it's way out...haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. Probably get a new gear set. | | | | | 06-23-2006, 12:06 PM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by robcarync you might should add an option "replaced to upgrade"
there might be a few people who upgraded with a better differential even if their original wasnt damaged...not sure though | I almost put that in, but I'm more interested in finding out how many people replaced them because they had to. Knowing how many people replaced them because they wanted to is not really relevant to finding out if there are high failure rates. Thanks for the input though. | | | | | 06-23-2006, 02:18 PM | #6 | | doesn't care about you. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,925 |
I'm curious how many people have changed the fluid in their differentials?? It's basic maintenance, just like changing your oil.
I think diff failure and failure to change the oil is directly related. __________________ 
'99 Dinan M3 | | | | | 06-23-2006, 02:36 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greece Athens Posts: 302 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by DustenT I'm curious how many people have changed the fluid in their differentials?? It's basic maintenance, just like changing your oil.
I think diff failure and failure to change the oil is directly related. | Good point! __________________
Alpina front lip spoiler,ACS roof spoiler,OEM clear rear-side lights,In-Pro blackchrome front indicators,Lummar tinted glasses,318ti.org decalls,Eibach Sportline 45mm/30mm springs,Bilstein Sprint shocks,16mm rear sway bar,front eccentric wishbone bushes,E46 conv. RSMs,5mm rear lower spring seats,OMP alloy strut brace front,racing24 carbon/alloy strutbrace rear,x brace,K&N panel filter,L&W back box 2x84mm,BBS RK 8x17,Fulda Carat Exelero 225-45-17Y,Brembo drilled front rotors | | | | | 06-23-2006, 03:42 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 2,525 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by DustenT I'm curious how many people have changed the fluid in their differentials?? It's basic maintenance, just like changing your oil.
I think diff failure and failure to change the oil is directly related. | I had mine serviced at a little over 100k miles. It was leaking a little fluid so it was opened up and inspected. Gaskets replaced, new fluid added. I think a lot of people don't do it because of the so called "life-time" fluid that BMW uses. The difference that servicing the differential made was huge... I plan on replacing the fluid every two years now. I'm looking to do it again in August or September as I think that is roughly two years since I last had it serviced. Are their any issues with switching from oem type fluid to something like the redline synthetic fluid? | | | | | 06-23-2006, 04:25 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by mohaughn Are their any issues with switching from oem type fluid to something like the redline synthetic fluid? | I hope not since I've had Red Line in mine for about 20K miles. I suspect it's like anything else. As long as you maintain it with a quality lubricant it should be fine. I have no particular reason, but the "lifetime" fluids just don't seem to pass the common sense test. | | | | | 06-23-2006, 04:26 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Athens, Ohio Posts: 121 |
Mine is out right now; you've maybe seen my other posts. I replaced my fluid a little less than 2 years ago and had planned on doing it a couple months ago but got tied up; you know how things go and oops...clunk, clank. Lesson learned. DustenT is exactly right that maintenance is probably the critical piece of the puzzle here. And he has me convinced that this should be a once a year operation, not every two years. When I did it last, I was surprised by how easy it actually is. I have my Redline ready to go for when I get my new...sniff...diff.   | | | | | 06-30-2006, 05:32 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 1,022 |
Over 130k miles and no diff problems. | | | | | 07-12-2006, 03:40 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 234 |
yea diff fluid change should be on the maintenance checklist just like the regular motor oil. (although not as often). its one of those hundreds of dollars mistakes that you always forget about but could have been prevented. __________________  | | | | | 07-29-2006, 12:06 AM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CA Posts: 104 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by mrnine Mine is out right now; you've maybe seen my other posts. I replaced my fluid a little less than 2 years ago and had planned on doing it a couple months ago but got tied up; you know how things go and oops...clunk, clank. Lesson learned. DustenT is exactly right that maintenance is probably the critical piece of the puzzle here. And he has me convinced that this should be a once a year operation, not every two years. When I did it last, I was surprised by how easy it actually is. I have my Redline ready to go for when I get my new...sniff...diff. | any walkthroughs? how do you do it? and what model/viscosity you use? | | | | | 08-27-2006, 09:23 PM | #14 | | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5 |
I'll be honest... I have no idea exactly what the symptoms of a busted/damaged diff would be, but the folks at Bimmerhaus were pleased with the overall condition of my car post-college. So I think it's fine. | | | | | 11-27-2006, 02:28 AM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Laguna Beach Posts: 357 |
I've been told that the diff bushings are cracked and need replacement. If I find a LSD, then I will probably replace it with the bushing all at once. | | | | | |
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