BMW M3 E46 Differential Fluid Change

Written By: Danielle (and one other contributor)
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Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

6

Time Required

02:00:00

Sections

1

Flags

0

Introduction

The BMW Differentials tend to get noisy as the fluid ages, this should help maintain the diff and keep it quite.

  1. Parts: 3 bottles of SAD-JX + FM booster(Part# 83222282583), crush washer (part # 07-11-9-963-355) OR new plugs with O-Rings: part # is 33117525064 OR 2 new O-Rings: part # 07-11-9-963-355. Steps: 1. Go for a drive and warm up your car, it helps old fluid to drain completely. and 2. Jack up your front and rear end of car on 4 jack stands. Steps: 1. Go for a drive and warm up your car, it helps old fluid to drain completely. and 2. Jack up your front and rear end of car on 4 jack stands.

    • Parts: 3 bottles of SAD-JX + FM booster(Part# 83222282583), crush washer (part # 07-11-9-963-355) OR new plugs with O-Rings: part # is 33117525064 OR 2 new O-Rings: part # 07-11-9-963-355.

    • Steps: 1. Go for a drive and warm up your car, it helps old fluid to drain completely. and 2. Jack up your front and rear end of car on 4 jack stands.

    Edit

  2. Use 14 mm (or 12mm) hex to unbolt fill bolt first. When I unbolted fill bolt, little bit of fluid started draining a little bit, so make sure to have towel or oil pan ready to catch old fluid.

    • Use 14 mm (or 12mm) hex to unbolt fill bolt first. When I unbolted fill bolt, little bit of fluid started draining a little bit, so make sure to have towel or oil pan ready to catch old fluid.

    Edit

  3. Unbolt drain plug and let it drain for 30 ~ 45 minutes.

    • Unbolt drain plug and let it drain for 30 ~ 45 minutes.

    Edit

  4. According to Bentley service manual, torque spec for drain/fill bolts are: With O-ring: 60 Nm (44 ft-lb) and With sealing washer: 65 Nm (48 ft-lb).

    • According to Bentley service manual, torque spec for drain/fill bolts are: With O-ring: 60 Nm (44 ft-lb) and With sealing washer: 65 Nm (48 ft-lb).

    Edit

  5. Cold fluid is more like jelly, so it's time consuming process, but make sure to pump until it's dripping from fill hold. I ended up using 2.6 bottle of new fluids.

    • Cold fluid is more like jelly, so it's time consuming process, but make sure to pump until it's dripping from fill hold. I ended up using 2.6 bottle of new fluids.

    • Fill till fluid is right below the fill plug

    Edit

  6. Put fill bolt on with washer and tighten it to 48 ft-lb. I had hard time fitting torque wrench for fill bolt, so I had to use combination of some adjustments shown below.

    • Put fill bolt on with washer and tighten it to 48 ft-lb. I had hard time fitting torque wrench for fill bolt, so I had to use combination of some adjustments shown below.

    • Lower your car and go for a test drive.

    • Check for leaks once fluid and differential are warm

    Edit
Finish Line

Author

with 1 other contributor

Danielle

Member since: 12/24/2015

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