How many miles does a differential normally last for ?

[161BMW]

Mine needs replacing @150000 miles.
Is 2000 E46 323Ci Coupe.
Is this normal ????
How many miles do they usually last for ?

[simon1987]

149999 miles, without fail. everytime

[Mave]

Depends on the type of driving, but I would have said unusual to fail that early.

[DocArbathnot]

161BMW said:

Mine needs replacing @150000 miles.
Is 2000 E46 323Ci Coupe.
Is this normal ????
How many miles do they usually last for ?

Has the oil ever been checked/changed? How has the car been driven, has it been towing? How long is a piece of string.

[Mermaid]

Mave said:

Depends on the type of driving, but I would have said unusual to fail that early.

Never had a diff failure, even on cars I did 200k miles in. I suppose the oil has to be changed as prescribed.

[DocArbathnot]

Mermaid said:

Mave said:

Depends on the type of driving, but I would have said unusual to fail that early.

Never had a diff failure, even on cars I did 200k miles in. I suppose the oil has to be changed as prescribed.

There's the rub no oil change/check required by the manufacturers service schedule. So just luck if it lasts really.

[davepoth]

150,000 miles is what a lot of manufacturers are designing as a life span on cars, so it's not unexpected. If it's an LSD and the car has been used for a fair bit of sideways action then probably a bit less would be likely.

[Mermaid]

davepoth said:

... If it's an LSD and the car has been used for a fair bit of sideways action then probably a bit less would be likely.

Doubt the car mentioned has an LSD

[DocArbathnot]

davepoth said:

150,000 miles is what a lot of manufacturers are designing as a life span on cars

Really?

[s m]

davepoth said:

150,000 miles is what a lot of manufacturers are designing as a life span on cars, so it's not unexpected. If it's an LSD and the car has been used for a fair bit of sideways action then probably a bit less would be likely.

Standard diff won't be LSD on a non-M E46

[161BMW]

DocArbathnot said:

161BMW said:

Mine needs replacing @150000 miles.
Is 2000 E46 323Ci Coupe.
Is this normal ????
How many miles do they usually last for ?

Has the oil ever been checked/changed? How has the car been driven, has it been towing? How long is a piece of string.

Yes I had this changed in about 100k miles in 2008.
Is not a LSD :-( is open diff.
Owned from new by my old man and then me.
Is London car so mixture of journeys from short, medium and motorways.
Changing diff oil is NOT on E46 service schedule from memory unless you have E46 M3.
Not been used for towing.

[Mermaid]

Are you after BMW goodwill?

[s m]

161BMW said:

Mine needs replacing @150000 miles.
Is 2000 E46 323Ci Coupe.
Is this normal ????
How many miles do they usually last for ?

What are your actual symptoms? A whine? Clunking at low speeds? You may find it is something else ( mount bushes etc )
Who has told you it needs replacing?

[GroundEffect]

Most components in most cars will be designed to last around 150,000 miles. That sounds reasonable.

[161BMW]

Mermaid said:

Are you after BMW goodwill?

Don't think they will do goodwill.

Went to a Dealer / Stealer for diagnosis and was told was the diff and they quoted £2.5k ?! Obviously, that is alot of money for a vehicle of this age especially not being an LSD.

Quaife LSD is cheaper but with 170bhp in E46 I don't know how much fun will be going sideways in this ?

[s m]

161BMW said:

Mermaid said:

Are you after BMW goodwill?

Don't think they will do goodwill.

Went to a Dealer / Stealer for diagnosis and was told was the diff and they quoted £2.5k ?! Obviously, that is alot of money for a vehicle of this age especially not being an LSD.

What are the symptoms? Whining? Clunking at low speeds/gear changes?

[161BMW]

GroundEffect said:

Most components in most cars will be designed to last around 150,000 miles. That sounds reasonable.

I counted the number of spaces for BMW Service stamps in the book the other day. There are 19 spaces. Assuming 1 service per 12 months means designed to last 19-20 years.
Assuming service intervals of 10k - 15k indicates lifecycke mileage of 190000 (@10k service intervals) to 285000 (@15k service intervals).

Currently have 13 service stamps all by BMW Dealers. So would only be 6 left to complete the service book.

[GroundEffect]

161BMW said:

GroundEffect said:

Most components in most cars will be designed to last around 150,000 miles. That sounds reasonable.

I counted the number of spaces for BMW Service stamps in the book the other day. There are 19 spaces. Assuming 1 service per 12 months means designed to last 19-20 years.
Assuming service intervals of 10k - 15k indicates lifecycke mileage of 190000 (@10k service intervals) to 285000 (@15k service intervals).

Currently have 13 service stamps all by BMW Dealers. So would only be 6 left to complete the service book.

No point in having a diff that would expected to last 285,000 miles when I can guarantee you that many of the other components wont get close to that. Would be wasting money on BMW's part.

[s m]

161BMW said:

GroundEffect said:

Most components in most cars will be designed to last around 150,000 miles. That sounds reasonable.

I counted the number of spaces for BMW Service stamps in the book the other day. There are 19 spaces. Assuming 1 service per 12 months means designed to last 19-20 years.
Assuming service intervals of 10k - 15k indicates lifecycke mileage of 190000 (@10k service intervals) to 285000 (@15k service intervals).

Currently have 13 service stamps all by BMW Dealers. So would only be 6 left to complete the service book.

Is it whining at motorway speeds? Clunking at low speeds?

[161BMW]

GroundEffect said:

161BMW said:

GroundEffect said:

Most components in most cars will be designed to last around 150,000 miles. That sounds reasonable.

I counted the number of spaces for BMW Service stamps in the book the other day. There are 19 spaces. Assuming 1 service per 12 months means designed to last 19-20 years.
Assuming service intervals of 10k - 15k indicates lifecycke mileage of 190000 (@10k service intervals) to 285000 (@15k service intervals).

Currently have 13 service stamps all by BMW Dealers. So would only be 6 left to complete the service book.

No point in having a diff that would expected to last 285,000 miles when I can guarantee you that many of the other components wont get close to that. Would be wasting money on BMW's part.

Which other components wouldn't get close to that besides brakes and the routine servicing consumables ?
And what are there typical life cycle mileages ?