Rear diff. Fluid

Gecko123 · 02-22-2020, 05:03 PM

What’s the proper weight for rear differential fluid for a 2011 328 xdrive.

Called Bmw and they sell 0.5 litres for $67. Wtf
Parts guy said the weight is not on the bottle.

Welcome to NBA Jam · 02-22-2020, 05:11 PM

75w90

krhodes1 · 02-22-2020, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gecko123

What’s the proper weight for rear differential fluid for a 2011 328 xdrive.

Called Bmw and they sell 0.5 litres for $67. Wtf
Parts guy said the weight is not on the bottle.

You can get the exact same Castrol oil from a Land Rover dealer for ~$15.

Efthreeoh · 02-23-2020, 07:49 AM

Castrol Syntrax 75W-90. Either limited slip oil or non-limited slip oil; it comes in both flavors.

And, just saying, but 15 years into the E9X being on the market and E90 post being around as long, it's been covered here about 300 times already.

Gecko123 · 02-23-2020, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Castrol Syntrax 75W-90. Either limited slip oil or non-limited slip oil; it comes in both flavors.

And, just saying, but 15 years into the E9X being on the market and E90 post being around as long, it's been covered here about 300 times already.

Yes thanks but the reality there are only so many topics. New people join with different ideas etc.

How many threads are not repeated

I’m sure the top are coolant change, oil change, valve cover gasket, OFHG, etc. Oh and don’t forget tires.

Efthreeoh · 02-23-2020, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gecko123

Yes thanks but the reality there are only so many topics. New people join with different ideas etc.

How many threads are not repeated

I’m sure the top are coolant change, oil change, valve cover gasket, OFHG, etc. Oh and don’t forget tires.

Okay, but the manufacturer specs SAF-XO, which is Castrol Syntrax 75W-90. If you want to learn about your car become familiar with newtis.info. Asking about opinions on oil on this Forum is like asking everyone's favorite color, be it engine, transmission, or differential. Most everyone thinks they know better than BMW. I go by BMW spec. It has never failed me.

TunafishE93 · 02-23-2020, 03:14 PM

The SAF-XO is just GL-5 specs. And if we want to "learn" about our cars diff how bout giving all the facts.. 75W-90 was used till 7/2011 and 75W-85 (GL-4) from 7/2011 but its just diff oil! My Explorer diff is filled with water since last summer and I pulled a boat with it all summer.. Just put some gear oil in it and forget about it.

Tambohamilton · 02-23-2020, 04:33 PM

While I agree that open diffs aren't sensitive devices, I don't see the point in putting any old oil in it, when the manufacturer's spec doesn't break the bank, and you'll only want to do it once every 100k miles at the most. It's good to know what you can get away with, and understand what the basic requirements are, but neither of those are a good reason to deviate from spec.

TunafishE93 · 02-23-2020, 04:43 PM

I agree you can get GL-5 which is the spec from Wal-Mart for seven dollars which don't break the bank..

924er · 02-23-2020, 09:22 PM

I thought it's lifetime fluid

Tambohamilton · 02-24-2020, 01:32 AM

Exactly the same as tranny fluid is lifetime.......

CTinline-six · 02-24-2020, 08:13 AM

Any decent 75w90 will work, synthetic is probably a good idea depending on the change interval. I use Redline 75w90 because I also use it in my Jeep's axles and have a decent amount of it on hand. I plan on changing it every 50k.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-24-2020, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunafishE93

The SAF-XO is just GL-5 specs. And if we want to "learn" about our cars diff how bout giving all the facts.. 75W-90 was used till 7/2011 and 75W-85 (GL-4) from 7/2011 but its just diff oil! My Explorer diff is filled with water since last summer and I pulled a boat with it all summer.. Just put some gear oil in it and forget about it.

Exactly the only specs you need to meet is the GL one and weight, not the brand specifically.

1.5 years ago I put in some ROWE 75W-90 Hightec Gear Oil and all has been fine since. And I've beat on my diff a lot.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-24-2020, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 924er

I thought it's lifetime fluid

Yeah.... "lifetime" of the lease right.

Tambohamilton · 02-24-2020, 09:01 AM

To be fair, when the oil is no longer functional as a lubricant, the end of the life of the component will follow shortly after... So it's quite an accurate statement, but not for a good reason.

Efthreeoh · 02-24-2020, 10:43 AM

I've changed diff and trans fluids between 85,000 to 120,000 miles. Just a data point.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 02-24-2020, 11:47 AM

I personally am going to do my diff and manual trans fluids every 100k km, it's just a few bucks.

Tambohamilton · 02-24-2020, 12:07 PM

Mine's on 135k miles and counting...I need to get around to doing it!

02-22-2020, 05:03 PM	#1
Gecko123 Private 16 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328xi Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Rear diff. Fluid What’s the proper weight for rear differential fluid for a 2011 328 xdrive. Called Bmw and they sell 0.5 litres for $67. Wtf Parts guy said the weight is not on the bottle.
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02-22-2020, 05:11 PM	#2
Welcome to NBA Jam Is it the shoes!? 3884 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: (Sold) 2011 E92 335i ZMP 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	75w90
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02-23-2020, 07:49 AM	#4
Efthreeoh General 17309 Rep 18,733 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Castrol Syntrax 75W-90. Either limited slip oil or non-limited slip oil; it comes in both flavors. And, just saying, but 15 years into the E9X being on the market and E90 post being around as long, it's been covered here about 300 times already. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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02-23-2020, 03:14 PM	#7
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	The SAF-XO is just GL-5 specs. And if we want to "learn" about our cars diff how bout giving all the facts.. 75W-90 was used till 7/2011 and 75W-85 (GL-4) from 7/2011 but its just diff oil! My Explorer diff is filled with water since last summer and I pulled a boat with it all summer.. Just put some gear oil in it and forget about it.
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02-23-2020, 04:33 PM	#8
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3058 Rep 3,909 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	While I agree that open diffs aren't sensitive devices, I don't see the point in putting any old oil in it, when the manufacturer's spec doesn't break the bank, and you'll only want to do it once every 100k miles at the most. It's good to know what you can get away with, and understand what the basic requirements are, but neither of those are a good reason to deviate from spec.
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02-23-2020, 04:43 PM	#9
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	I agree you can get GL-5 which is the spec from Wal-Mart for seven dollars which don't break the bank..
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02-23-2020, 09:22 PM	#10
924er Colonel 352 Rep 2,050 Posts Drives: e92 335i '10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	I thought it's lifetime fluid __________________ '10 e92 N54 DCI intakes, ER chargepipe, TIAL BOV, VRSF 5in FMIC, BMS Downpipes COBB e30
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02-24-2020, 01:32 AM	#11
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3058 Rep 3,909 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Exactly the same as tranny fluid is lifetime.......
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02-24-2020, 08:13 AM	#12
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6836 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	Any decent 75w90 will work, synthetic is probably a good idea depending on the change interval. I use Redline 75w90 because I also use it in my Jeep's axles and have a decent amount of it on hand. I plan on changing it every 50k. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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02-24-2020, 09:01 AM	#15
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3058 Rep 3,909 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	To be fair, when the oil is no longer functional as a lubricant, the end of the life of the component will follow shortly after... So it's quite an accurate statement, but not for a good reason.
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02-24-2020, 10:43 AM	#16
Efthreeoh General 17309 Rep 18,733 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I've changed diff and trans fluids between 85,000 to 120,000 miles. Just a data point.
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02-24-2020, 11:47 AM	#17
TheMidnightNarwhal Major General 2657 Rep 6,289 Posts Drives: 11' 335is DCT Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gatineau, Quebec iTrader: (0)	I personally am going to do my diff and manual trans fluids every 100k km, it's just a few bucks.
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02-24-2020, 12:07 PM	#18
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3058 Rep 3,909 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Mine's on 135k miles and counting...I need to get around to doing it!
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