Nope, they'll hold on the rear cover.
Check out figure 4 - do you have that?
https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-3-Series-E46/35-TRANS-Rear_Differential_Fluid_Replacement/35-TRANS-Rear_Differential_Fluid_Replacement.htm
I thought the E46 and e85 diffs were the same, apart from the back casing/cover