Differential & Gearbox Oil recommendations for UK

Y

Yamiuchi

Member
 Colchester, Essex
Hi All,

I have the well known rear diff clunk that has been mentioned on this forum, so I have organised to get it fixed with the BMW grease (part number 83 22 0 443 864). Since the car is going to be up on the ramp I thought I should get the transmission/gearbox fluid and differential fluid changed as its at 60K (2003). I am also going to do the coolant and engine oil since I have use of the ramp and a good mechanic to help me.

My question and recommendation I would like from you peeps that have done this, is what to use as I have searched on here and on the web for a couple of hours and there are no real recomendations, the things that I have come across are from the USA and I wondered if there were differences in car spec or if they are the same?

I also read that the non "M" cars dont have a LSD so the options below are for us non LSDs :)

These are a few that I have come across. I found a site Opie Oils that seem pretty spot on, anyone used them?

I know some of you might say go with OEM, but from what I have researched BMW only sell this stuff in 5ltr option and charge alot of money for it, which seems pointless.

So.....

Differential Oil Options:

Castrol Syntrax Longlife 75-90W (Formely SAF-XO 75w-90) (BMW Approved)
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-737-castrol-syntrax-longlife-75w-90-formerly-saf-xo-75w-90.aspx

Red Line Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90NS GL5
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1017-red-line-synthetic-gear-oil-75w-90ns-gl5-non-limited-slip.aspx

Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission & Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-9090 API GL-4
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60092-a...sion-transaxle-gear-lube-75w-90-api-gl-4.aspx

Transmission/Gearbox Oil Options

Castrol Syntrans B 75W (BMW Approved)
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-69413-c...thetic-gear-oil-for-bmw-manual-gearboxes.aspx

probably more I read about Redline MTF?

As for engine oil and coolant any recommendations

I could be getting confused with things here but hell its the right place to ask to get help with this sort of thing!

thanks in advance for any help :thumbsup:
 
Can't comment on the oil recommendations but can say Opie are a great supplier. When you sign up say you're a member of this forum or Pistonheads and they class it as an "owners club" and give you a further discount if I recall. I get all my M specific motor oil from them and save a small fortune on dealer prices, although that's probably true of all online suppliers!
 
Update:

Spoke to a BMW main dealer and asked about the differential fluid.

Gave them my reg number and they told me that any fluid that is 75w-90w will be fine which i was suprised about as i expected them to say our fluid only, I mentioned the castrol one above and he said that would be ideal.

I did however buy some gearbox oil from them, it was £22 a litre.

thought i would let you know.
 
I just ordered the Castrol Syntrax from Opie for my rear diff.

Opie said it was 1.2 litres so I ordered 2 litres... plenty for spillages and top-ups haha.

I also ordered new drain/fill plugs and washers from BMW for the diff which came to about £10.


So it looks like you just drain right down, replace lower plug, fill till it's level with the refill hole, then replace fill plug. Job done.


Anyone know the torques for the drain plugs upon replacement?


Thanks

Dave
 
That's what I did on mine.

I undid the top one first, just in case anything went wrong opening the bottom one.

They were pretty damn tight.

Someone may be able to get hold of torque figures. I just tightened them up with my calibrated elbow.

Good luck

Cheers

Andy
 
I think I'll get the gearbox oil too. Anyone know the quantity to use?

I guess TIS might have the torques for the plugs if we have a dig around.


Hmmm, coolant change, might do that myself as it was quite easy iirc! May as well do it and then it's had all the fluids swapped and ready for some summer hoonage :D

Dave
 
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