Stupid Diff

MJM3 · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:34:07 PM

heres the story:

like most M3,s my rear diff was leaking a little bit. I took it in for repair under warranty about a year ago.
about 8k miles later, she starts to leak again. I took it in again for the same problem, they replaced it under warranty, problem solved.

I'm on the freeway this morning going to work and all of a sudden i feel my car losing power. I gave it a little gas and the car starts to steer to the right and loses power again.

After I get off the freeway I start noticing a scraping sound in the rear along with a loss of a lot of power. I have no SES light or any engine problems. I look under the car and the same seal is busted again but seemed a little more severe this time.

Could a low diff oil level cause only one wheel to engage on the LSD?

thanks a bunch guys. I'm about to call the dealer but I wanna do my homework done before they assram me with BS.

Highpower11 · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:43:50 PM

Sorry to hear about this. I would first inspect for leaks and then check the diff oil level myself before taking it to the dealer to see where it is at. I hope the internals were not starved of fluid causing a partial lockup of your diff.... bad news in an case. Let's hope it's still covered under warranty.

swc · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:55:33 PM

How do we check the diff fluid level?

55fanatic · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:56:55 PM

Over the last couple days I have been hearing a grinding noise when I take hard right or left turns... about back at the end of June I replaced my diff fluid... wondering if something might be going on

MJM3 · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 05:10:21 PM

man.. i wish i could check the level right now.

no tools.. no jack.. im sucking.

J02 M3 · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 05:36:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swc

How do we check the diff fluid level?

Depending on the year, its eithier a 12 or 14mm Allen head socket (or wrench)
you will need to take out the plug above the drain. Pull the plug and (have the car on a level surface) the fluid level should be right at the bottom of the plug.

.333 snubnose · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 05:41:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 55fanatic

Over the last couple days I have been hearing a grinding noise when I take hard right or left turns... about back at the end of June I replaced my diff fluid... wondering if something might be going on

possibly...but that could also be a wheel bearing.

swc · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 06:42:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J02 M3

Depending on the year, its eithier a 12 or 14mm Allen head socket (or wrench)
you will need to take out the plug above the drain. Pull the plug and (have the car on a level surface) the fluid level should be right at the bottom of the plug.

Sorry but that didn't answer my question. That's how much fluid supposed to be at. I meant how I can check the level of current fluid in the diff case.

MJM3 · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 06:46:54 PM

if your fluid level is good, you should be able to feel it when u remove the the fill cap (upper cap) and stick your finger in it,.

HuffE46M3 · Fri, Sep-18-2009, 07:00:44 PM

I had a grinding noise when i made hard turns...I replaced my diff fluid with bmw SAF-XJ (Part # 83-22-2-282-583-M9). When I got a tune up/inspectionII I had mentioned the grinding noise; the mechanic used redline 75/90. This did not help at all, so I requested the bmw SAF-XJ. Sometimes I still hear a slight noise, but sounds much much better than before.

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:34:07 PM	#1
MJM3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 183 Reputation: 0 Location: San Diego / Los Angeles	Stupid Diff heres the story: like most M3,s my rear diff was leaking a little bit. I took it in for repair under warranty about a year ago. about 8k miles later, she starts to leak again. I took it in again for the same problem, they replaced it under warranty, problem solved. I'm on the freeway this morning going to work and all of a sudden i feel my car losing power. I gave it a little gas and the car starts to steer to the right and loses power again. After I get off the freeway I start noticing a scraping sound in the rear along with a loss of a lot of power. I have no SES light or any engine problems. I look under the car and the same seal is busted again but seemed a little more severe this time. Could a low diff oil level cause only one wheel to engage on the LSD? thanks a bunch guys. I'm about to call the dealer but I wanna do my homework done before they assram me with BS. __________________ I do RTAB/FCAB/Coilover installs and CDV deletes for the SD area. http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ight=rtab+tool

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:43:50 PM	#2
Highpower11 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 608 Reputation: 0 Location: NH	Sorry to hear about this. I would first inspect for leaks and then check the diff oil level myself before taking it to the dealer to see where it is at. I hope the internals were not starved of fluid causing a partial lockup of your diff.... bad news in an case. Let's hope it's still covered under warranty. __________________ ___________________ 06 /// M3 ZCP, 6MT, Interlagos Blau Metallic \ M-Alcantara\ Volk RE30\ VMR 701 (winter)\ CDV delete\ ESS ECU Tune\ RPI Scoops\ BMC Filter\ Turner aluminum Race Pedals\ Rogue FR 10mm spacers\ Rogue RSM\ Vogtland Springs\ \ V1 Hardwire\ DICE/iPhone\ Smoked corners\ painted reflectors\ ZHP illuminated Alcantara shift knob\ HID fog's\ LightWerkz TFX\ Nav, Power seats & Sunroof delete\ Coming Soon: Euro Headers & Cats

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:55:33 PM	#3
swc Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,524 Reputation: 0 Location: Lansdale PA	How do we check the diff fluid level? __________________ 02 M3 vert AA SC...(Gone) 06 C6 Z06...(Gone) 02 M5...(Current) 07 997 turbo mods begins

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 04:56:55 PM	#4
55fanatic I drive the competition Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,799 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 0 Location: Boston	Over the last couple days I have been hearing a grinding noise when I take hard right or left turns... about back at the end of June I replaced my diff fluid... wondering if something might be going on __________________ "Making friends, one state trooper at a time" mods: Eibach lowering Springs, OEM 19s(summer for now), OEM 18s(for winter + track), 330d shifter lever, goodridge SS brake lines, HP Plus brake pads, Delsa CSL Diffuser, VIS CF hood, Flat black kidneys, DDM 55W xenon retrofit(hi and low beams), MyCarr 60+ LED Angel Eyes, Depo Smoked Corners, Alpine flip out, Alpine BlackBird Navigation, Alpine Blue tooth module, Escort 8500 hardwired, 20% tint, Vanilla Pine tree air freshner

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 05:10:21 PM	#5
MJM3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 183 Reputation: 0 Location: San Diego / Los Angeles	man.. i wish i could check the level right now. no tools.. no jack.. im sucking. __________________ I do RTAB/FCAB/Coilover installs and CDV deletes for the SD area. http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ight=rtab+tool

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 06:46:54 PM	#9
MJM3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 183 Reputation: 0 Location: San Diego / Los Angeles	diff fluid if your fluid level is good, you should be able to feel it when u remove the the fill cap (upper cap) and stick your finger in it,. __________________ I do RTAB/FCAB/Coilover installs and CDV deletes for the SD area. http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ight=rtab+tool

Fri, Sep-18-2009, 07:00:44 PM	#10
HuffE46M3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 30 In the garage: '01 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Lancaster	I had a grinding noise when i made hard turns...I replaced my diff fluid with bmw SAF-XJ (Part # 83-22-2-282-583-M9). When I got a tune up/inspectionII I had mentioned the grinding noise; the mechanic used redline 75/90. This did not help at all, so I requested the bmw SAF-XJ. Sometimes I still hear a slight noise, but sounds much much better than before. Last edited by HuffE46M3; Fri, Sep-18-2009 at 07:10:01 PM. Reason: More info

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