Searching for anyone who has installed the 650i differential cover

Pig Farmer · 11-12-2014, 06:11 PM

Looking for anyone who has installed the OEM 650i finned differential cover on a MT 135i. From an outward appearance, all of the bolt holes on the 650i cover line up, and the drain plug is at the same level. The only visible difference (other than the fins and cross bracing) is the thickness of the cover where it bolts to the rear differential bushing. The 135i cover is thicker and extends back about 1/2". I'm wondering if a spacer is needed between the cover and the bushing, or whether the bushing will pull in and meet the differential cover. These pictures may help show what I'm describing.

Pig Farmer · 11-12-2014, 06:17 PM

More pictures...

Pig Farmer · 11-12-2014, 06:18 PM

More...

Dackelone · 11-12-2014, 06:18 PM

A friend of mine, Elsabor67 has installed one.

Pig Farmer · 11-12-2014, 06:19 PM

More..

Pig Farmer · 11-12-2014, 06:20 PM

Last one. Sorry guys.

Pig Farmer · 11-12-2014, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

A friend of mine, @Elsabor67 has installed one.

Great. I'll shoot him a PM.

TheSt|G · 11-12-2014, 06:24 PM

I have it, yet to install it. Same as what Quaife sells for the car.

Dackelone · 11-12-2014, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pig Farmer

Great. I'll shoot him a PM.

From what I remember him telling me... it was a relatively easy bolt on.

mcmn · 11-12-2014, 07:41 PM

what is the actual purpose?

gap · 11-12-2014, 09:52 PM

Increased surface area of the fins dissipates heat faster plus it looks great.

Elsabor67 · 11-13-2014, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmn

what is the actual purpose?

Exactly what gap said. Like the ///M diff covers, this one helps dissipate heat by use of the fins that extend down. Works fine for me and I regularly track my car.

Other versions/models like the VAC Motorsports one, costs more than a arm and a leg........although they do look great.

Yeineken · 11-14-2014, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

Exactly what gap said. Like the ///M diff covers, this one helps dissipate heat by use of the fins that extend down. Works fine for me and I regularly track my car.

Other versions/models like the VAC Motorsports one, costs more than a arm and a leg........although they do look great.

I'm changing my diff fluid soon. Should I go with OEM 650i or Quaife? Any part # for the 650i?

Oh and I have a DCT. Not sure if they have a different diff.

Doing some searching. I found this one ECS: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E63-650...ntial/ES56046/
Is that the correct one? Looking to make this nice little upgrade while Im working on the diff.

Pig Farmer · 11-14-2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeineken

I'm changing my diff fluid soon. Should I go with OEM 650i or Quaife? Any part # for the 650i?

Oh and I have a DCT. Not sure if they have a different diff.

Doing some searching. I found this one ECS: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E63-650...ntial/ES56046/
Is that the correct one? Looking to make this nice little upgrade while Im working on the diff.

I'm not sure whether the DCT has the large or small differential case. The MT has the large case (215) and the AT has the small case (188). The 650i has the large case.

What I'm learning is that you need a spacer between the 650i differential cover and the 135i rear differential bushing, and possibly a longer bolt. I did some rough measurements, and the spacer needs to measure 20mm long, 36mm OD, and 15mm ID. I plan to take a closure look this weekend.

Yeineken · 11-14-2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pig Farmer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeineken

I'm changing my diff fluid soon. Should I go with OEM 650i or Quaife? Any part # for the 650i?

Oh and I have a DCT. Not sure if they have a different diff.

Doing some searching. I found this one ECS: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E63-650...ntial/ES56046/
Is that the correct one? Looking to make this nice little upgrade while Im working on the diff.

I'm not sure whether the DCT has the large or small differential case. The MT has the large case (215) and the AT has the small case (188). The 650i has the large case.

What I'm learning is that you need a spacer between the 650i differential cover and the 135i rear differential bushing, and possibly a longer bolt. I did some rough measurements, and the spacer needs to measure 20mm long, 36mm OD, and 15mm ID. I plan to take a closure look this weekend.

Can you tell visually? I can take a pic in the morning when it's light out.

Elsabor67 · 11-15-2014, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeineken

I'm changing my diff fluid soon. Should I go with OEM 650i or Quaife? Any part # for the 650i?

Oh and I have a DCT. Not sure if they have a different diff.

Doing some searching. I found this one ECS: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E63-650...ntial/ES56046/
Is that the correct one? Looking to make this nice little upgrade while Im working on the diff.

Yes, that is the one. I will be taking some pics tomorrow of mine while I do my suspension and will try to remove that spacer and measure it.

Yeineken · 11-15-2014, 09:40 AM

Heres a quick pic of the DCT diff. I can get a better picture but it would require me to put the car up on the lift.

Pig Farmer · 11-15-2014, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeineken

Heres a quick pic of the DCT diff. I can get a better picture but it would require me to put the car up on the lift.

That's the large differential. Look's like this may be an option for the DCT drivers too.

Pig Farmer · 11-15-2014, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

Yes, that is the one. I will be taking some pics tomorrow of mine while I do my suspension and will try to remove that spacer and measure it.

That would be awesome! If you are able to remove the bolt/spacer, can you measure the bolt as well? The original bolt is an M14 bolt 100mm in length. I could be wrong, but I suspect we will need a longer bolt (i.e. 100mm+the spacer length).

Yeineken · 11-15-2014, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pig Farmer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeineken

Heres a quick pic of the DCT diff. I can get a better picture but it would require me to put the car up on the lift.

That's the large differential. Look's like this may be an option for the DCT drivers too.

yes! I guess now we just need to figure out the spacer issue. How do you plan to create the spacer?

Pig Farmer · 11-16-2014, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeineken

yes! I guess now we just need to figure out the spacer issue. How do you plan to create the spacer?

I took some additional measurements today, and here's what I found...

Laying the differential covers machined side down, the distance from the machined face to the bushing mounting surface is 67.5mm deep on the 135i cover and 52.0mm deep on the 650i cover. So we will need a spacer 15.5mm in depth. The mounting surface is 32mm OD, and 15mm ID. I was surprised that the ID was 15mm which is a bit loose for an M14 bolt. Doing the conversion from metric to imperial, I think we can use a 1-1/4" OD and 9/16" ID spacer which may be easier to source.

I believe you will need a longer M14 bolt to pass through the diff bushing. ESCtuning carries a M14x1.5x120 hex bolt that should be perfect.

One last thing, the 135i differential cover is held on with 6 short bolts and 2 long bolts. The 650i uses 7 short bolts and 1 long bolt, so you will need to order an additional short bolt (PN 33117521292).

Hopefully @Elsabor67 can confirm these measurements.

Elsabor67 · 11-16-2014, 02:02 PM

Sadly and thanks to our Auto Skills shop here in Stuttgart, Germany, I had to do my suspension the old fashioned way. Floor Jack and Stands. Anyways I was able to snap 2 pics the best I could of the spacer. I do plan though to go again as soon as I can so I can measure the spacer.

11-12-2014, 06:11 PM	#1
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Searching for anyone who has installed the 650i differential cover Looking for anyone who has installed the OEM 650i finned differential cover on a MT 135i. From an outward appearance, all of the bolt holes on the 650i cover line up, and the drain plug is at the same level. The only visible difference (other than the fins and cross bracing) is the thickness of the cover where it bolts to the rear differential bushing. The 135i cover is thicker and extends back about 1/2". I'm wondering if a spacer is needed between the cover and the bushing, or whether the bushing will pull in and meet the differential cover. These pictures may help show what I'm describing. Attached Images Last edited by Pig Farmer; 11-12-2014 at 06:16 PM.. Reason: Pictures
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11-12-2014, 06:17 PM	#2
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	More pictures... Attached Images
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11-12-2014, 06:18 PM	#3
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	More... Attached Images
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11-12-2014, 06:18 PM	#4
Dackelone European Editor 10532 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	A friend of mine, Elsabor67 has installed one. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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11-12-2014, 06:19 PM	#5
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	More.. Attached Images
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11-12-2014, 06:20 PM	#6
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Last one. Sorry guys. Attached Images
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11-12-2014, 06:24 PM	#8
TheSt\|G Resident Tamed Racing Driver 298 Rep 4,697 Posts Drives: 911, 130is, E39 M5, E36 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Outside Philly iTrader: (2)	I have it, yet to install it. Same as what Quaife sells for the car. __________________ 2005 E46 M3 Interlagos/Cinnamon with Sunroof Delete
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11-12-2014, 07:41 PM	#10
mcmn Captain 28 Rep 693 Posts Drives: MY10 AW 135i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	what is the actual purpose?
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11-12-2014, 09:52 PM	#11
gap First Lieutenant 105 Rep 376 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: MS iTrader: (1)	Increased surface area of the fins dissipates heat faster plus it looks great.
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11-15-2014, 09:40 AM	#17
Yeineken Colonel 1301 Rep 2,093 Posts Drives: '11 135i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Delmarva Peninsula iTrader: (3) Garage List '11 135i [8.20] '16 Ford Hatchback [0.00] '15 X5 [10.00]	Heres a quick pic of the DCT diff. I can get a better picture but it would require me to put the car up on the lift. Attached Images
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11-16-2014, 02:02 PM	#22
Elsabor67 aiming for 450..... 303 Rep 2,910 Posts Drives: Totaled :-( Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (28) Garage List 2009 135i [10.00]	Sadly and thanks to our Auto Skills shop here in Stuttgart, Germany, I had to do my suspension the old fashioned way. Floor Jack and Stands. Anyways I was able to snap 2 pics the best I could of the spacer. I do plan though to go again as soon as I can so I can measure the spacer. __________________ Quote from Ezeedee regarding car mods: "you're only done when you sell the car "
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