DIY Diff oil change?

[JuniorDee]

Is it a simple drain and refill?

[alpineweissM3]

Yep. Just make sure you remove the fill plug first.

[Sticky]

Which oil should be used?

[JuniorDee]

I will be getting oil from the dealer.

Part # 83-22-1-467-993

[B-52Gunner]

Which is the drin hole on the rear end and which is the fill hole? and what are the torque specs?

Thanks

[Kenyon]

drain hole is on the bottom, fill hole is on the top.

[Ant Man]

Pls post DIY and pics.

[tudernos]

Yes please post DIY if you have. Thanks!

[Silvertige]

A DIY would be great.

[elp_jc]

You can't screw up that job folks. There're only TWO bolts on the differential folks, and both are on the passenger side, facing the front of the car: one is the fill, and the other the drain. You need to ALWAYS loosen the FILL bolt first for obvious reasons . If you're skinny like me, there's no need to even lift the car to do this job, but it'd be tight for sure.

Since bolts are facing front, you can drain diff with rear lifted, no problem. But you have to fill it up with car level. You can always lift rear to put a hose and route it over the rear tire (I use 1/2" clear tubing), lower car, and fill until fluid drains out. Manual says 1.25L, so go real slow when you get to that level. And if you can't fit under there, you'd have to lift car from the FRONT this time when fluid starts running out to stop the flow, and reinstalling drain bolt.

Another option is to place a level on trunk (by spoiler), mark level, remove rear right tire, and lower car to that marked level when it's time to fill the differential. However, if you do this, DO NOT get under the car unless there's proper support under a non-moving cross-member, like wood blocks or something, in case jack fails (common sense here folks). Hope this helps.

[bobbyd1961]

i had the dealer do it car was making noise during slow turn. this took care of it . i thought they had to pump in the fluid? from bottom

[JimD]

Pumping in the fluid is normal because of the limited access. If you could get the bottle of fluid above the fill hole, you could pour it in (more realistically squeeze the bottle to put it in). Normally there is not enough room to fit the bottle in so you pump the fluid in with a pump (I use a manual, there are electric). I've done it both ways on various cars but the pump is the easiest and least messy.

[rldzhao]

Is the oil the same between 6MT and DCT?

[elp_jc]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

Is the oil the same between 6MT and DCT?

They wish . DCT is about 20 times more expensive, for what I hear.

I've never used a pump on differentials; gravity is your friend . But you can certainly use one if you want. I have squeezed the fluid in most of my cars, but on the M3 I suspect will have to run a clear hose above the rear tire and pour it from there. I have a Royal Purple bottle with the pointy tip I use to squeeze fluid into the differential or into the clear hose; no mess... until fluid starts coming out, that is. No rocket science folks; you just have to be creative to fill the unit while flat, and get to the fill plug ahead of the rear axle.

[rldzhao]

^I mean the 6MT diff oil vs. DCT diff oil.