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Old 03-08-2015, 02:23 PM
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Transfer Case & Rear Differential Fluid Change Today

2011 35d, 100K miles.

Very easy to do the transfer case and rear differential fluid change. Had to cut a 1" piece of 14mm allen wrench to fit between the transfer case drain plug & transmission crossmember. Both TC plugs and the single diff plug used a 14mm allen wrench. Then I replaced the transfer case & rear diff plugs with magnetic plugs. There is no drain plug on the rear diff and you'll need to use a means to suck that dry. I used a tube on a big syringe and it worked great.

First pic is of the difference between the magnetic and original drain plugs. No clearance issues even though the magnetic ones are longer.

2nd pic is of the location of the fill plug on the transfer case on the drivers side. I have the 14mm allen wrench socket in the fill plug. The fill plug is facing the front of the car up higher & the drain plug is facing the rear near the bottom. Both towards the drivers side of the TC.

3rd pic is of the 14mm allen wrench piece I cut to fit so I could remove the drain plug in the TC. Replaced that plug with a magnetic one so now it can be removed with a box-end wrench.

4th pic is of the fluid bottles. For both the rear diff & TC, just when the pump started to spit air when pumping, they were full so they both used about 95% of the liter.

Easy to do and recommend doing this. Do it yourself and get the added satisfaction of ownership by working on your own car vs. paying someone to do it.
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Last edited by Lambeau; 03-08-2015 at 07:33 PM.
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Old 03-08-2015, 07:12 PM
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Nice job there! Love it when folks post pictures of what and how they did it.

How was the fluid that came out after 100K miles?
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Old 03-08-2015, 07:31 PM
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The fluid that was in the transmission was not "black" as others have stated their trans fluid looked. It was a medium amber colored. The transfer case fluid looked medium in color also. The rear diff fluid didn't look much darker than the new fluid.

I know my X had the front driveshaft replaced just before I got it but didn't see any service done for any of these fluids. Having over 100K miles it was mostly long highway drives which is going to be much easier on the trans, TC, & diff's.

If anyone is going to do this and you're apprehensive, just PM me and I'll give you my cell # and we can talk & I'll help in any way.
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Old 03-28-2015, 03:30 PM
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[QUOTE=bdcanetti;1032422]Just wanted to add a tip but first, thanks for your post. I changed my transfer case fluid today on my 2007 4.8I Sport. Now I realize these all are a bit different but instead of cutting up my brand new 14mm hex socket I found an easy way.

Remove drivers side wheel and just aft of the axle shaft you will see the 14mm hex plug. From here it looks like a straight shot but there's a metal line just barely in the way.

From underneath drop the engine skid plate and follow the line. Right near the transfer case you will see two brackets securing that line. One is held on by a 10mm nut and the other a 10mm bolt. Remove those and that loosens the line just enough where you can use a 14mm 1/2" drive hex socket, 6" extension and ratchet and its a piece of cake
Hope this helps someone.[/QUOTE
Any pictures?
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Old 03-29-2015, 11:10 AM
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I didn't have to cut up an allen socket, I just cut a short piece off of an allen wrench. I'm quite sure it took me less time to not have to remove and replace the wheel and the line brackets as I was right there working underneath anyway. It's just a matter of putting the allen wrench piece in the fill plug and loosening it with a 14mm box-end wrench. It was very, very easy.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming: "WOW! WHAT A RIDE!!"

2007 M6
2018 Chevy 2500HD Diesel Alaskan Edition
2011 X5 35d
1972 Chevy K20 4X4
1972 Ford F-600
1959 Chevy Viking 60 Dump Truck
2015 CanAm Outlander XT 1000

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Old 04-07-2015, 12:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lambeau View Post
The fluid that was in the transmission was not "black" as others have stated their trans fluid looked. It was a medium amber colored. The transfer case fluid looked medium in color also. The rear diff fluid didn't look much darker than the new fluid.

I know my X had the front driveshaft replaced just before I got it but didn't see any service done for any of these fluids. Having over 100K miles it was mostly long highway drives which is going to be much easier on the trans, TC, & diff's.

If anyone is going to do this and you're apprehensive, just PM me and I'll give you my cell # and we can talk & I'll help in any way.
Great write up! If you replaced the tranny fluid, did you get a new transmission pan as well? I'm trying to plan out this service for my X.

Also, I noticed a 14mm plug on the bottom of the engine in front of the engine oil pan. Do you have an idea what that one is for?
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Old 05-04-2015, 02:28 PM
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what did you use to cut the allen wrench? I tried the tool from ECS (Search SiteSearch Driveline Tool - ecst007 - BMW 14/17mm Service Wrench - ES#2162537) but the allen part is too long to fit into the plug hole due to the crossmember being in the way. So, I just ordered an allen wrench and it arrives today. I was planning on holding it in a vise and using my sawzall to cut it.
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Old 05-04-2015, 06:13 PM
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I just used a grinder with a cutting wheel to cut it but anything would work if you can then file it smooth after cutting. A sawzall should work.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming: "WOW! WHAT A RIDE!!"

2007 M6
2018 Chevy 2500HD Diesel Alaskan Edition
2011 X5 35d
1972 Chevy K20 4X4
1972 Ford F-600
1959 Chevy Viking 60 Dump Truck
2015 CanAm Outlander XT 1000


Last edited by Lambeau; 05-04-2015 at 09:17 PM.
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Old 05-06-2015, 04:28 AM
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Dear Lambeau,

Sorry for the silly questions.
Where did you get the magnetic plugs from?
How many Litres were used for both TC and Diff?
And how do you know you have filled enough? is it based on overflow from fill hole?

I will need to do this in the next couple thousand miles.

TIA
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Old 05-08-2015, 06:14 AM
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You'll need 3 if you're going to use them for each differential and the transfer case. Dimple BMW M22X1.5X9 Low Profile, Super Magnetic Oil Drain Plug - Differential - Track Studs All 3 are the same.

1 liter for each diff & 1 liter for the T.C.

Yeah, just fill until it comes out the fill hole.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming: "WOW! WHAT A RIDE!!"

2007 M6
2018 Chevy 2500HD Diesel Alaskan Edition
2011 X5 35d
1972 Chevy K20 4X4
1972 Ford F-600
1959 Chevy Viking 60 Dump Truck
2015 CanAm Outlander XT 1000

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