Diff Fluid Change Interval?

[MDORPHN]

Just re-read the sticky on fluid replacement, but couldn't find reference to the interval for changing the diff fluid.

Mine was properly changed at the 1,200 mile service, but I'm now at 22,000 miles and will be bringing my car to the dealer in for an indicated "condition-based" oil service.

Per BMWNA service bulletin, my tranny fluid will also be changed (since it's my 3rd oil service), but I'm trying to figure out whether I'm also due for new diff fluid.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Neil

[flzrider]

Also interested in this.

[Dackelone]

The diff fluid should be changed at 1,200 miles and then every third oil change. So that would be at 45K miles. I would change it sooner - say at 30K. MDORFN, since you don't realy know IF yours was changed... I would change it now. I would also change the trans fluid at the same time as well.


Bellow is what my trans fluid looked like after 35K miles(left), new MTF-LT4(for my car) center, and new Redline ATF-D4 far right.




I deicded to run Redline fluids bc they just seem to work better than BMW fluids do. But IF your under warranty... you should stick with BMW fluids. Btw... when I switched over to Redline ATF-D4 I noticed my shifter was MUCH smoother. Much like many 1M owners report after they put in the proper MTF-LT-5 trans fluid. You want to use the Castrol SAF-XJ+FM fluid for your diff.


Dack

[MDORPHN]

Dack -

You misunderstood. I KNOW that my diff fluid was changed at 1,200 miles.

Since I'm now due for my 3rd oil change, I'm also now due for new tranny fluid.

My question was simply whether I'm also due for diff fluid. And, from your response, it seems that the answer is yes.

Is there any BMW service bulletin that references this interval?

Thanks.

Neil

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by MDORPHN

Dack -

You misunderstood. I KNOW that my diff fluid was changed at 1,200 miles.

Since I'm now due for my 3rd oil change, I'm also now due for new tranny fluid.

My question was simply whether I'm also due for diff fluid. And, from your response, it seems that the answer is yes.

Is there any BMW service bulletin that references this interval?

Thanks.

Neil

Sorry, yes - diff and trans fluid changes every THIRD oil change (ie: 45K miles). Like I said... I would change the fluids more often though.

I think in Mr.Metak2you 's thread he covers that... Or maybe it was Drivehard who said about the (diff and trans) fluids should be changed every third oil change. I know that is the way it is with the M3 and I am pretty sure that is the way it is with the 1M.

CORRECT 1M Fluids List [Engine, Transmission, Differential]
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620282

[bluecat]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Sorry, yes - diff and trans fluid changes every THIRD oil change (ie: 45K miles). Like I said... I would change the fluids more often though.

I think in Mr.Metak2you 's thread he covers that... Or maybe it was Drivehard who said about the (diff and trans) fluids should be changed every third oil change. I know that is the way it is with the M3 and I am pretty sure that is the way it is with the 1M.

CORRECT 1M Fluids List [Engine, Transmission, Differential]
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620282

How much Redline fluid do I need to buy? Does that cover that transmission as well?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by bluecat

How much Redline fluid do I need to buy? Does that cover that transmission as well?

I used AFT-D4 in my manual trans. I used Redline's 75w90 GL5 hypod oil in my diff. But some also use Redline's MTL for the diff.



For a 135i N54 (N55)

trans holds 2.1L (1.2L)
diff holds 1.3L (1.3L)

I think on the 1M the diff holds more fluid though. ?



See my post #70...

DIY: manual transmission and diff fluid change
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...+change&page=4


I would buy three liters of trans oil and two liters of diff oil for a 135i - service. Maybe three liters for the diff IF you have a 1M.

[bluecat]

Thanks Dackel, helpful as always.

[Dan Parker]

Mines been changed 3 times.

13K miles & 4 DE's

Maybe it's overkill but the diff gets a work out.

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Sorry, yes - diff and trans fluid changes every THIRD oil change (ie: 45K miles). Like I said... I would change the fluids more often though.

I think in Mr.Metak2you 's thread he covers that... Or maybe it was Drivehard who said about the (diff and trans) fluids should be changed every third oil change. I know that is the way it is with the M3 and I am pretty sure that is the way it is with the 1M.

CORRECT 1M Fluids List [Engine, Transmission, Differential]
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620282

yes it was me and it still holds true as of this moment.. and metaks info also

1200 miles
engine oil and diff

approx 16,200 ( 15 k interval or as soon as your CBS tells you )
engine oil, air filter

approx 31,200 ( 15 k interval or as soon as your CBS tells you )
engine oil, vehicle check, diff, manual gear box, spark plugs

approx 46,200 ( 15 k interval or as soon as your CBS tells you )
engine oil, air filter

approx 61,200 ( 15 k interval or as soon as your CBS tells you )
engine oil , vehicle check

approx 76,200 ( 15 k interval or as soon as your CBS tells you )
engine oil, vehicle check, diff, manual gear box, spark plugs

ADD to this every two years from production ..brake fluid and micro filter to be added to closest engine oil service ( cbs takes care of "connecting " it )


THIS IS ( as or 7/24/2012 ) IT !!! no other versions are to be accepted..

all prior posted bulletins dated july, 2011 are still valid with there appropriate pdi info sheets that are attachments..

and yes the 1200mile service counts as an "oil service"

Hope this helps...

Regards ..
Alex !!!

p.s. if OP ( Mdorphn) is ready for his third oil service at 22k.... he is having ALOT of fun with that car and burning thru alot of gas...

[nachob]

You can't do wrong changing it early but you CAN do wrong going too long. The diff in our car gets more work than M3 because of much more torque earlier in the power band and non-linear power surge that causes the diff to transfer traction more in daily situations than an M3 IMO. Personally I will change my transmission and diff fluid every two years or about every 22-24k miles. It's so easy and pretty inexpensive yet could save you a lot of money and aggravation. I hope that helps.

[flzrider]

Now here's the question: Which fluid should one change to if you are not experiencing any diff. noises? Obviously if you have the noise you should change to the FM fluid, but what if you don't have any noise?

Thoughts?

[nachob]

Just use the regular stuff as recommended. Hopefully you won't get diff noise then. If you change it often you can always go the FM route later

[MDORPHN]

Update:

I couldn't find BMWNA Service Information bulletin, but did find one from BMW Canada (SI B00 01 10 dated May 2011).

It includes a chart showing the service operations needed at the approximate mileage, linked to the CBS' internal counter.

CBS service counter 1 was the break-in service, 2 was an engine oil service and 3 is referred to as a "vehicle check." It includes engine oil service, vehicle check, differential oil (SAE-XJ), manual transmission fluid (MTF-LT-5), and replace spark plugs.

The "Approx. CBS mileage" is 50,000 -- and I am considerably below that -- but, presumably due to the high number of HPDE's in which I've participated, I am now due for my 3rd CBS service so I imagine that all of the above should be performed.

Neil

[Em/1]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

The diff fluid should be changed at 1,200 miles and then every third oil change. So that would be at 45K miles. I would change it sooner - say at 30K. MDORFN, since you don't realy know IF yours was changed... I would change it now. I would also change the trans fluid at the same time as well.


Bellow is what my trans fluid looked like after 35K miles(left), new MTF-LT4(for my car) center, and new Redline ATF-D4 far right.

Attachment 726232


I deicded to run Redline fluids bc they just seem to work better than BMW fluids do. But IF your under warranty... you should stick with BMW fluids. Btw... when I switched over to Redline ATF-D4 I noticed my shifter was MUCH
smoother. Much like many 1M owners report after they put in the proper MTF-LT-5 trans fluid. You want to use the Castrol SAF-XJ+FM fluid for your diff.


Dack

That is cool; I wanted to switch to Redline for trans, but I emailed them back when BMW put wrong stuff in and they were uncertain as to which product to use even tho they had one posted on their website (they took it down for a while after that!), but I guess they now are confident?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Em/1

That is cool; I wanted to switch to Redline for trans, but I emailed them back when BMW put wrong stuff in and they were uncertain as to which product to use even tho they had one posted on their website (they took it down for a while after that!), but I guess they now are confident?

I don't know for sure - I would ask the tech dept at Redline oils in California.

All I know is I have used Redline ATF-D4 in older BMW's of mine(in manual transmissions) and never had a problem. In those past BMW's the trans called for MTF-LT-2 fluid.

For my 135i... BMW first used MTF-LT-3 and then LT-4 . When I first changed the trans fluid... I used LT-4... but there was only a modest change in "feel'. After ~18K kms, I changed to Redline's ATF-D4, and was really surprised on how much smoother my manual trans shifted.

Some say to use Redline's ATF-D6 (which is a lighter, thinner grade oil) in the manual trans. I thought it would be best to stick with what worked for me before. So that is why I am running Redline AFT-D4. IF you look up the DIY trans and diff fluid change for a 128i.... user Wolfe - also went with Redline's AFT-D4. I think this fluid works just fine in our manuals.


Dack

[Groundpilot]

Anyone knows what is diff fluid part number?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Groundpilot

Anyone knows what is diff fluid part number?

Try reading the FIRST page... post #1

CORRECT 1M Fluids List [Engine, Transmission, Differential]
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620282