Correct Differential / LSD Oil

[youngsj]

Here's my follow-up after the change of the LSD oil from the incorrect 094 to the correct 583...

I can confirm that they put in "83 22 2 282 583" (SAF-XJ + FM booster), because that is now stated on the invoice.

I've driven the car a few hundred miles since the change and I can also confirm that I am no longer getting the grinding noise while taking slow sharp right turns

But unfortunately I am still getting the differential whine at 43-46 MPH

The whine is pretty quiet when I first drive the car cold...then becomes pronounced after a few minutes of driving...and gets louder when everything is really warmed-up...like after some spirited driving. Dealer tells me this is normal, and that he's had some M3's that the whine at 43-46 is very subtle, and others (like mine) that is quite loud.

It does not appear to affect performance in any way...eg: cornering is pristine and is almost a religious experience, and there does not appear to be any friction or drag that I am aware of. Just a whine at 43-46.

I'm not sure what I'm gonna do, because this is definitely going to affect resale value. A year or two from now when any Joe who is thinking of buying my car gets in and drives is gonna be like, "what is that noise...is the transmission failing?".

Dealer is obviously telling me to go away, and I have no clue how to escalate.

[miamie92m3]

are they also supposed to replace the transmission fluid/oil and air filter on the car? THats what the manual says but I did not notice that on the invoice after my service.

[Davinhci]

Originally Posted by miamie92m3

are they also supposed to replace the transmission fluid/oil and air filter on the car? THats what the manual says but I did not notice that on the invoice after my service.

look at the thread you started

[kbk_75]

When my E92 M3 went in for it's 2000 Km first service some months ago, they put the regular transmission fluid into my LSD, if the invoice and my service manager are to be believed. I made a big noise about this and insisted that they get SAF-XJ for my car. I finally got a call from the dealership telling me to bring my car in because they had got the correct fluid for my LSD.

Picked the car up this evening and apparently they have used 83 22 9 407 870. The description is Final-Drive Gear Oil MSP/A. 60L. I gather this is a 60 litre can of "final drive gear oil". I am a bit concerned, that this may not be SAF-XJ. I know that part # 83 22 9 407 809 is SAF-XO which is only recommended for non-LSD differentials.

If anyone can confirm what 83 22 9 407 870 is I'd be glad to know. I'm gonna be really annoyed if they've put the wrong fluid in my LSD TWICE!

[ihyln]

I just got my 1200 mile service done and just like saymthree and skierman my invoice shows 83-22-1-467-993 which my SA said is the -583 but in 1L form. Phew!

The guys did a great job over at BMW in Morristown, they know their shit.

[mattwhite]

Originally Posted by youngsj

...an update from my earlier post to this thread on 7/9...

My E90 6MT is at the dealer today to have my diff fluid replaced with "83 22 2 282 583" (SAF-XJ + FM booster)...confirmed by the Service Foreman during drop off - I'm loving life in a Chevy Cobalt loaner for the day.

When I dropped my car off this morning I was able to get a copy of the invoice from my previous 1,200 mile service visit, so I was finally able to take a look at the print-out to see what diff fluid they put in. In my previous post, I wrote that while on the phone with the service advisor he had told me they used BMW Part Number "83 22 0 002 94"...I can now see that this number was missing a preceding zero in the last two numbers - the invoice actually says "83 22 0 002 094". The line item on the invoice print-out reads as follows: "QTY 6 - 83 22 0 002 094 - 1/2 LTR DIFF OIL". I suppose this means they put in six half-liter bottles of the 094 fluid (3 liters in total)?

While searching I found another post in May from a guy named "mattwhite" who also had this 094 fluid, but no one seemed to know what the fluid was in his thread either: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2813831

I also came across this recent thread, but don't know how valid it is because it is from 2004 and refers to the 094 fluid as a European Castrol SAF-XO (non-LS) dealership fluid...and I'm in Massachusetts (with LSD): http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/arc...p/t-54836.html

This leads me to believe that rmashman is right that my dealer put in a standard 3-series non-LSD fluid...but the only problem is that the 094 part number does not match up to the one rmashman listed (83 22 9 407 768) - Does anyone know for sure what the "83 22 0 002 094" fluid is?

I still don't understand why they wouldn't have simply used one of the two standard fluids we're seeing from other M3 owners in the poll..."83 22 2 282 583" (SAF-XJ + FM booster) or "83 22 1 470 080L" (SAF-XJ)

I'll post back with results of 43 MPH diff whine and right-cornering diff chatter/grind when I get the chance to road test after picking it up.

They put the 094 part # on my invoice. This was at the same time they replaced my tranny fluid with M-DCT fluid so I was suspicious. The dealer swears that this # correlates to XJ fluid. I had BMW NA research this and they confirmed this - apparently old part #s are sometimes reused internally, and the non-xj fluid that used to be associated with this number is no longer made. Who knows, but my diff is acting fine and making no noise.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Right checked with the dealership and they put SAFX6 in mine, anyone know what this is?.

[saeedg48]

..LSD lol

[trev.p]

A BIG THANK YOU FOR THIS THREAD.

I joined the board as I'm a first time M3 owner, and after sending mine in to have new seals fitted to the rear diff it developed the grinding noise from the back end. I took the car back the same week and after a few different mechanics had spoken, and one came out and drove the car, they told me I needed to run in the LSD clutch plates again as they would need recoating with oil, and it would take upto 1000 miles for this to go away. I was told to do some hard cornering! I read up about them doing this from new on the forums, so thought there must be some truth in it, even though my diff clutch plates had not been replaced. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and took the car away.

Anyhow after a few hundred miles, no change, but my rear tyres were starting to look like they had been on a track day.

Up to 500 miles and still exactly the same grinding noises, but by now my rear tyres were completely shot. They had done less than 1500 miles since being fitted, so I decided I couldn't just throw another set on without resolving why the diff was still making the grinding noises and operating like a 4 wheel drive with diff lock engaged and breaking traction on the inside wheel.

That's when I came across this post. I had googled M3 DIFF OIL as that had been one of the few things that had been replaced and I figured that perhaps there could lie the problem.

To stop a long story getting even longer, I purchased the 83222282583 with FM Booster at a cost of £80 for 1.5l from BMW, and had the indepandant garage replace the diff oil.

Within about 100 miles the grinding noises had completely gone away. I changed the rear tyres, and have run another 500 miles since and the car is spot on. No grinding, no rolled rubber on the rear tyres. I am over the moon with the car again, as it was a real headache for me at the time.

So really I felt I owed it to this forum to join and share my experience with the other members, and I wanted to say a huge thank you to you guys who started the post, and all that have replied, as without it I am sure I would of ended up breaking something in the diff, not to mention the cost of replacement tyres for what turned out to be the incorrect oil being fitted.

A BIG BIG THANK YOU :-)
From one happy new member!

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Right checked with the dealership and they put SAFX6 in mine, anyone know what this is?.

You can always ring Castrol and speak to their Technical Support dept who are usually very helpfull. Google doesn't give any result so I would guess its a typo and it should be SAFXJ.

[VanM3Lover]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

My diff noises started after the first siervice when they installed (2) 83-22-1-470-080 SAF-XJ diff oil. Went back recently at 3,154 miles and they installed (3) 83-22-2-282-583 final drive gear oil. The noise is virtually gone.

The exact same thing happened to me.

[VanM3Lover]

Mine grinded so bad that it drove like a 4WD with locked diff. When turning, it makes the car sort of like stop and go and stop and go. Had the oil replaced with 583 and problem solved, but I'm still a little concerned if and damage has been done to the diff.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by VanM3Lover

Mine grinded so bad that it drove like a 4WD with locked diff. When turning, it makes the car sort of like stop and go and stop and go. Had the oil replaced with 583 and problem solved, but I'm still a little concerned if and damage has been done to the diff.

I wouldn't worry about it...these are ultra heavy duty units built to last the lifetime of the car.

[albertM3]

Originally Posted by ihyln

I just got my 1200 mile service done and just like saymthree and skierman my invoice shows 83-22-1-467-993 which my SA said is the -583 but in 1L form. Phew!

The guys did a great job over at BMW in Morristown, they know their shit.

I was able to look at the paper work from BMW at my dealership and the 993 fluid is the 080L (SAF-XJ) without the booster supplied in larger quantities. This is the standard replacement fluid for the M cars. They will be at customer requests if any report of noises will replace it with the 583 with the booster which comes in small bottles. Any benefit fo having then replace it with the booster fluid? It is more expensive so, the dealer must have a complaint from the vehicle in order to perform the service bulletin and then be compensated for the cost of the fluid by BMW NA. This is why the dealer will not just put in the 583 booster fluid routinely.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

You can always ring Castrol and speak to their Technical Support dept who are usually very helpfull. Google doesn't give any result so I would guess its a typo and it should be SAFXJ.

Done this and it's the enhanced stuff

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by albertM3

I was able to look at the paper work from BMW at my dealership and the 993 fluid is the 080L (SAF-XJ) without the booster supplied in larger quantities. This is the standard replacement fluid for the M cars. They will be at customer requests if any report of noises will replace it with the 583 with the booster which comes in small bottles. Any benefit fo having then replace it with the booster fluid? It is more expensive so, the dealer must have a complaint from the vehicle in order to perform the service bulletin and then be compensated for the cost of the fluid by BMW NA. This is why the dealer will not just put in the 583 booster fluid routinely.

The tech is also supposed to test ride the car to verify the noise complaint.
And yes, the FM Booster fluid is a LOT more expensive. Many dealers don't even stock it.

[genuity]

Link to the TSB

http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/...p/B330102g.htm

http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/bulletin_graphic_temp/B330102g.htm

Part Number Description Qty.
83 22 2 282 583 Special differential oil kit 1

Contains 3 bottles - .5 liters (.53 quarts) each

SI B33 01 02
Rear Axle January 2009
Technical Service

This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B33 01 02 dated March 2008.

Rear Axle Fluid
SAF-XJ
+FM Booster

Note that the kit contains three bottles. Some stealerships and even part guys think they can sell you only one bottle; but some actually sell it correctly as 1 kit containing three bottles. You need a total of 3 bottles to correctly fill an M3 differential. Why the stealerships break up the kit, is only to say that we do not call them stealerships for nothing

[Bokke]

Grinding noise started last week, got a service appointment in two days. I hope this is the solution....

15 months and 16,230 miles for the issue.....

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

The tech is also supposed to test ride the car to verify the noise complaint. And yes, the FM Booster fluid is a LOT more expensive. Many dealers don't even stock it.

Mine is starting to make the diff noise when leaving the garage (full lock) first time in the morning when cold. Want to do it myself, so asked Tischer and Evan said $48 A PINT, and we need 3. That's ridiculous. And I know dealer will send me back home if I take it now anyway.

Has anybody put anything other than OEM fluid in there? You can buy top quality stuff for $15 a QUART. I might pay twice as much for OEM, but SIX TIMES more is simply highway robbery. This time I'll probably put Amsoil, Royal Purple or Redline fluids in the tranny and diff, even if nobody else has done it. Even if those fluids don't last as long, with my low mileage, I end up putting only 8K miles in 2 years, so even those fluids are overkill IMO. I'll keep using TWS for the engine, even when 5/40 would be much better where and how I use the car, but at twice the price of typical synthetics, it's within reason. The price of BMW diff and tranny fluid is simply insane. Can't imagine how much DCT oil is (yikes!).