Differential fluid change bmw e66

[Lukas28]

Greetings Gents
I am writing cause come up with a problem which occurs rear diff fluid change. I was looking at most forums trying to find the answer. My car has done 138000 mls and from all the receipts, even previous owners could not find records if it had been changed or not. Most answers I found its bmw says it's lifetime, some people say no need some recommended every 100000 mls. If it's recommended what OEM fluid should I get? Pls advice me cheers

[helix402]

BMW say lifetime oil, if you want to change it let me know your chassis no, last 7 digits, and I'll let you know the required oil.

[Lukas28]

But have you ever changed on yours or anyone else did cause what to know if it's recommended or not

[Locknut]

The BMW filled-for-life sticker is on the gearbox. There is no such sticker on the differential but most people assume the same applies, I don't think so.

An oil change can do no harm. In the E90 the grade is 75w90 and the specification is API GL5. I think the same would do for your car.

I am going to change both the gearbox and diff oil at 50k miles which is coming up soon. (75w80 for the gearbox). There are Castrol stickers in one or two places on the car suggesting that it's the brand to use. However some research on the 'net suggests that the original factory fill is Fuchs oil and that's what I have bought.

[Lukas28]

That's the problem I have at the moment, trying to find what grade of oil should get. And if it's for all bmw the same. Besides thought about getting OEM one but whenever I look on the net they are all sorts of different. Could not find anything on owners manual. Do you know where should I look or check it

[juliann]

I haven't looked it up but assuming it's a ZF diff, they do recommend changing the oil after about 60k. I've had it done , together with an autobox flush at ZF in Dortmund. You could try emailing them. [e-mail]

English is ok - not brilliant

[Dannbodge]

Personally I'd change it. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that "Lifetime" means 100k.

Opie Oils is a very good site for finding the correct oil for cars.

[Lukas28]

Cheers gents maybe will give a try with Dortmund besides will look through opie oils and hopefully find sth. Besides see what my Indy says or ask them for a quote.

[Locknut]

The new Opie website is useless because they don't give recommendations. Here's what they say about BMW gear oils:

Opie Oils said:

BMW - Gear Oil

Opie Oils stock a very wide variety of BMW gear oil, BMW differential oil plus both manual transmission fluid and automatic transmission fluid for BMW cars. Choosing the right gear oil for your BMW can be complicated. Please feel free to contact us for a recommendation.

Opie Oils sells oils suitable for BMW cars and meeting BMW oil specifications, but Opie Oils is not an approved BMW dealer and is not connected with BMW AG.

Here's the Fuchs Oil "chooser", you will find it more useful:
http://fuchs-eu.lubricantadvisor.com/default.aspx?...

[E65Ross]

I had my gearbox serviced and had some internals changed and I'm also considering getting the diff oil done as well....

My specialist said it certainly won't harm it but also said diff issues are really rather rare and SOME diffs don't have a drain hole, yet some do meaning it can be tricky doing it on some cars.

I'm umming and arring but if it's something like a £40-50 job I'll probably get it done. Might make things even smoother, who knows.