Diff oil replacement

Vin

Member
BMW claim that it is lifetime oil but we all know there is no such thing. How often should the diff oil be replaced and is this a big job? I have a strange whining noise ever since I bought my car sounds very much like its coming from the diff.
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
I would change it every 100 000km not a big job its pretty much the same as an engine oil change only no filter :)
 

griffen

///Member
Doesnt diff oil changes depend on whether its an M car with an LS Diff?
I changed diff oil 3 times on my E36 M3, owned it for 35 000km

I know the E36 M3s gearbox oil is lifetime ... and never changed that.
 

Sankekur

///Member
Unless you drive through deep water very often (or you just like changing things) it isn't really needed to change the diff oil.

Unless the fluid is low I doubt whether changing the oil will stop it from whining.

Best thing to start off is to check the fluid level, this and replacing the fluid is not that hard.
 

Mr.k

Member
i have never changed the diff oil in my car, what oil to you fill it up with?? e36 318is
 

tman

Well-known member
Reviving an ancient thread:

Looking at recommendations / experiences with changing a "non M" 3 series Differential oil.

From the research I've done BMW sells "SAF X0" oil for R585 for a liter.

Has anyone used anything else, or is that fine?
 

Rotinaj

Active member
tman said:
Reviving an ancient thread:

Looking at recommendations / experiences with changing a "non M" 3 series Differential oil.

From the research I've done BMW sells "SAF X0" oil for R585 for a liter.

Has anyone used anything else, or is that fine?

Castrol/LM litteraly anyone with the correct weight oil will work just fine.l
 

Iceman12596

///Member
No Such thing as "Lifetime"

In my eyes, cant hurt to change it and can only be good for the car.
Even though mine does not need changing ima change it anyways as i don't know when or even if it was ever changed same goes for my gearbox oil.
 

tman

Well-known member
johndoe said:
Lifetime Oil :hammerhead:

dr-evil-meme-lifetime-oil_7627899842.jpg
 

Dhp507

///Member
every inspection two OR 60 000 km

check the level OR change the diff oil. If its still has the original colour and not all black / thick

make sure you use the correct type I believe it is GL4

Dont use GL4 / GL4+ OR GL4/GL5

These are hybrids of sorts.

Its around R200 a liter
 

tman

Well-known member
Dhp507 said:
make sure you use the correct type I believe it is GL4

Dont use GL4 / GL4+ OR GL4/GL5

These are hybrids of sorts.

Its around R200 a liter

heh? do or dont?
 

Dhp507

///Member
tman said:
Dhp507 said:
make sure you use the correct type I believe it is GL4

Dont use GL4 / GL4+ OR GL4/GL5

These are hybrids of sorts.

Its around R200 a liter

heh? do or dont?

Thats how its marked as use for both specs..............get the one that says GL4 only
 

96328i

Member
How do you check the oil level on a M diff? So is it worth changing the oil when the diff is out of the vehicle? Might save you having to do it later...or is it unneccessary?
 
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