< 4,000 KM.....getting new diff

TFO · 05-25-2012, 08:32 PM

After about a month of hearing an odd metallic clang under different situations (usually at low speeds when letting off the throttle but beginning to hear in other situations), my dealer has ordered a new differential. I have been dealing with the lead technician at my local dealer (who has been awesome) and he seemed to know as soon as he heard the sound that the diff was not right. He has seen the issue in numerous older cars, never one with such low km. I might not ever know exactly what the problem is, as apparently BMW doesn't pay to have the technician take the diff apart and see whats going on....they just replace it (worth just under $5K CAD according to the technician).

Definitely seems a bit odd as I was very careful and followed all break-in procedures. Also, this is not at all the sound many M3 owners used to complain about (grinding sound while turning, etc) that has been handled by the friction modifier.

Anyway, will let everyone know more if I ever learn more.

///M1 · 05-25-2012, 11:29 PM

I'm assuming the diff fluid was changed at 1,200 miles, and equally important - with the correct fluid?

theblackangus · 05-26-2012, 06:51 AM

Hmmm... I think I may have the same issue, but I was thinking it was clutch related. When the car is cold and Im driving at low speeds, Ill shift from 1st to 2nd and get a clunk from the rear. (Cant really tell if its from below the middle or from behind it.)

That match what you were having?

Dan Parker · 05-26-2012, 07:01 AM

Proof you should NEVER follow break in procedures by the book!

Alino · 05-26-2012, 07:25 AM

Buddy of mine had to change his diff also. He had a e90 M3. But it had more than 4000km

He had 50 000km I think and it was replaced free of charge
What are the symptoms that your diff has to be changed? Because I thought the noise at low speed cornering was pretty normal.

Thanks for the info

Dan Parker · 05-26-2012, 07:36 AM

Alino,
Read post #1. He's pretty detailed.

Alino · 05-26-2012, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Parker

Alino,
Read post #1. He's pretty detailed.

Yes I saw that but as I said, on other topics at the forum they have mentioned these sounds at low speed cornering and there they say it is pretty normal.

So where is the difference?

OrangeCrush · 05-26-2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblackangus

Hmmm... I think I may have the same issue, but I was thinking it was clutch related. When the car is cold and Im driving at low speeds, Ill shift from 1st to 2nd and get a clunk from the rear. (Cant really tell if its from below the middle or from behind it.)

That match what you were having?

I get a very light thunk or a "donk" sound from 1st to second. Is that what you are hearing? Doesn't sound metallic, more like hitting an underside of a bucket sound once. I am just over 4500 miles.

Dan Parker · 05-26-2012, 09:07 AM

An odd metallic clang when lifting is new to me. Maybe I missed something.

blotto649 · 05-26-2012, 10:27 AM

I often find that starting off in first gear, getting up over roughly 2500 RPM and abruptly letting off will induce a muted, metallic "thud" from what sounds like the diff. Normally only happens once or twice after a cold start and then goes away. Is this the same symptom or is this one of the more common ones?

This of course will also happen if I'm letting off to make a shift into second gear, but if I begin to clutch in and simultaneously let off the throttle (rather than an a more abrupt lift, followed by depressing the clutch) then I can keep the noise from happening, so it will only occur on a sudden reversal of the direction of load. Make sense?

Sometimes with new cars/new models, service managers make bad calls. I was an early adopter of a Mini Cooper S in '02 when they came out and those cars were known for having leaky coolant overflow bottles where a seam met in the middle. A simple design flaw was diagnosed by 2 separate dealers as needing a new head gasket(!)

Thoughts?

TFO · 05-26-2012, 11:33 AM

They definitely used the correct fluid....I was pretty obsessive with making sure!

As I mentioned originally, this is not that sound at low speed while turning that M3 owners have complained about.

As far as the comments from a few people about the "thud" at low speeds...this is definitely not that. I think I know what you are referring to and I believe its related to the clutch delay valve...fairly common BMW issue. I find if you keep a touch of throttle on while engaging the clutch at low speeds you wont get the thud. Although I haven't noticed it at higher speeds as some mentioned here....just when parking, etc.

theblackangus · 05-26-2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

I get a very light thunk or a "donk" sound from 1st to second. Is that what you are hearing? Doesn't sound metallic, more like hitting an underside of a bucket sound once. I am just over 4500 miles.

yeah, exactly.
Seems to go away once the car is warmed up tho.

rapter · 06-14-2012, 06:25 AM

Update on mine

Had the low sleep grinding which evolved into high speed grinding (such as when on an on ramp).

Diff oil addictive was added which removed the grinding in about 800km however started hearing other metal meshing noises at speed and cornering.

New diff ordered for my car this week.

HALOTHANE · 06-14-2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblackangus

Hmmm... I think I may have the same issue, but I was thinking it was clutch related. When the car is cold and Im driving at low speeds, Ill shift from 1st to 2nd and get a clunk from the rear. (Cant really tell if its from below the middle or from behind it.)

That match what you were having?

Dual mass flywheel normal operation is what you are sensing.

05-25-2012, 08:32 PM	#1
TFO New Member 19 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	< 4,000 KM.....getting new diff After about a month of hearing an odd metallic clang under different situations (usually at low speeds when letting off the throttle but beginning to hear in other situations), my dealer has ordered a new differential. I have been dealing with the lead technician at my local dealer (who has been awesome) and he seemed to know as soon as he heard the sound that the diff was not right. He has seen the issue in numerous older cars, never one with such low km. I might not ever know exactly what the problem is, as apparently BMW doesn't pay to have the technician take the diff apart and see whats going on....they just replace it (worth just under $5K CAD according to the technician). Definitely seems a bit odd as I was very careful and followed all break-in procedures. Also, this is not at all the sound many M3 owners used to complain about (grinding sound while turning, etc) that has been handled by the friction modifier. Anyway, will let everyone know more if I ever learn more.
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05-25-2012, 11:29 PM	#2
///M1 Brigadier General 275 Rep 3,164 Posts Drives: Many Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North of 7K RPM iTrader: (1) Garage List 2020 BMW M2 CS [0.00] 1994 Audi RS2 Avant [0.00] 2021 Audi RS6 Avant [0.00] 1988 BMW E30 M3 [0.00] 2011 BMW 1///M [0.00] 2017 BMW F80 M3 30 ... [0.00] 2018 Porsche 991.2 GT3 [0.00] 2015 Porsche Macan ... [0.00] 1998 Porsche 993 C4S [0.00] 1994 Lancia Delta I ... [0.00] 2008 Audi RS4 [0.00]	I'm assuming the diff fluid was changed at 1,200 miles, and equally important - with the correct fluid? __________________ *2011 BMW E82 1///M: AW, all options; Renntech, Akrapovic, Forge, P3, RevoZ CF bits, many mods 1988 BMW E30 M3: Hennarot, S14, stock 2018 Porsche 991.2 GT3: PtS, CXX, LWBS, PCCB 1998 Porsche 993 C4S: Zenith Blue, last aircooled widebody, Bilstein PSS10, Fister II + Fabspeed exhaust 2008 Audi B7 RS 4*: Sprint Blue, Audi Exclusive Euro Bucket Interior, Premium+Titanium, many mods
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05-26-2012, 06:51 AM	#3
theblackangus Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2011 1M Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	Hmmm... I think I may have the same issue, but I was thinking it was clutch related. When the car is cold and Im driving at low speeds, Ill shift from 1st to 2nd and get a clunk from the rear. (Cant really tell if its from below the middle or from behind it.) That match what you were having?
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05-26-2012, 07:01 AM	#4
Dan Parker Major 79 Rep 1,421 Posts Drives: 2012 Golf R Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Proof you should NEVER follow break in procedures by the book! __________________ Dan Parker
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05-26-2012, 07:25 AM	#5
Alino Enlisted Member 3 Rep 30 Posts Drives: VO BMW 1M Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Antwerp iTrader: (0)	Buddy of mine had to change his diff also. He had a e90 M3. But it had more than 4000km He had 50 000km I think and it was replaced free of charge What are the symptoms that your diff has to be changed? Because I thought the noise at low speed cornering was pretty normal. Thanks for the info __________________ BMW 1 ///M Coupe. It is legen...wait for it...dary
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05-26-2012, 07:36 AM	#6
Dan Parker Major 79 Rep 1,421 Posts Drives: 2012 Golf R Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Alino, Read post #1. He's pretty detailed. __________________ Dan Parker
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05-26-2012, 09:07 AM	#9
Dan Parker Major 79 Rep 1,421 Posts Drives: 2012 Golf R Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	An odd metallic clang when lifting is new to me. Maybe I missed something. __________________ Dan Parker
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05-26-2012, 10:27 AM	#10
blotto649 Private First Class 16 Rep 137 Posts Drives: '04 996 GT3/'88 911 Carrera Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Between Toronto and Ottawa iTrader: (0)	I often find that starting off in first gear, getting up over roughly 2500 RPM and abruptly letting off will induce a muted, metallic "thud" from what sounds like the diff. Normally only happens once or twice after a cold start and then goes away. Is this the same symptom or is this one of the more common ones? This of course will also happen if I'm letting off to make a shift into second gear, but if I begin to clutch in and simultaneously let off the throttle (rather than an a more abrupt lift, followed by depressing the clutch) then I can keep the noise from happening, so it will only occur on a sudden reversal of the direction of load. Make sense? Sometimes with new cars/new models, service managers make bad calls. I was an early adopter of a Mini Cooper S in '02 when they came out and those cars were known for having leaky coolant overflow bottles where a seam met in the middle. A simple design flaw was diagnosed by 2 separate dealers as needing a new head gasket(!) Thoughts?
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05-26-2012, 11:33 AM	#11
TFO New Member 19 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	They definitely used the correct fluid....I was pretty obsessive with making sure! As I mentioned originally, this is not that sound at low speed while turning that M3 owners have complained about. As far as the comments from a few people about the "thud" at low speeds...this is definitely not that. I think I know what you are referring to and I believe its related to the clutch delay valve...fairly common BMW issue. I find if you keep a touch of throttle on while engaging the clutch at low speeds you wont get the thud. Although I haven't noticed it at higher speeds as some mentioned here....just when parking, etc.
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06-14-2012, 06:25 AM	#13
rapter Lieutenant 71 Rep 485 Posts Drives: 1(M)other f*^#er of a car Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Update on mine Had the low sleep grinding which evolved into high speed grinding (such as when on an on ramp). Diff oil addictive was added which removed the grinding in about 800km however started hearing other metal meshing noises at speed and cornering. New diff ordered for my car this week.
	Appreciate 0 Quote