E89 2.3 2009 diff

[JohnE]

Is the E89 diff a sealed unit?

Just had a very uneventful run from the North West to Bath and back for a couple of nights R&R.

Roof down for the outward trip on Monday and for part of the return journey today. When the roof was closed I detected a slight noise from the diff on overrun at around 60 mph. Not enough noise to warrant taking it out etc but it occurred to me that the oil may need replacing or topping up as the car has now done just 54K. There are no leaks that I can see so I was just wondering if its a worthwhile exercise

 

[Nictrix]

After my visit to an indy earlier in the year I was told that there is no drain plug on the diff of our 23i.
To change the oil it would require the diff to be taken off the car and turned upside down draining it through the fill plug, or possibly a suction type device could be used to suck the oil out.

 

[flybobbie]

After my visit to an indy earlier in the year I was told that there is no drain plug on the diff of our 23i.
To change the oil it would require the diff to be taken off the car and turned upside down draining it through the fill plug, or possibly a suction type device could be used to suck the oil out.

Think that is pretty standard on diffs, never seen a drain plug.

 

[JohnE]

ok thank you. I have seen a video of the oil being sucked out and gently re-filled so I will probably leave it alone

 

[mcbutler]

ok thank you. I have seen a video of the oil being sucked out and gently re-filled so I will probably leave it alone

My 23i had a whine that I initially thought was the gearbox, very difficult to diagnose as the box is so close to the diff.
My indy changed the diff oil, takes around half an hour, they pump it out of the fill hole.
I still had my whine after a diff oil change and gearbox internal inspection and rebuild.
REMEMBER the propshaft despite being about as long as a matchstick has a centre bearing, if the oil change does not fix it, change this bearing (around £45 plus fitting) its so close to the diff it could easily be this.

 

[JohnE]

Thank you. The box feels and sound's ok but the whine, which is minimal, is on overrun so my guess is the diff but I will get the oil changed first and then move on but thanks for the heads up on the bearing