rear diff replacement
 

I had a strange vibrating in the car after hitting a pot hole 2 weeks ago. Thought it was a balance alignment problem and also change new tires. Vibration didn't go away till 3 days ago on Friday, a loud bam followed by continious metal clinking sound. Car towed to dealership and was advised today that rear diff need replacement.

Has anyone have any similar problems? Stealership said rear diff will cost AUS$4800 to repair.:yikes:

Brake off some teeth? Does it need new ring and pinion gears or a whole new housing?

Apparently the whole new housing. The angle of the shaft on them are off and do not align straight or something. Im not expert in cars so cant really tell much regarding extent of damage.

Dame! BMW won't do any good will as car is over 100,000ks and 6 year old even thou differential arent suppose to fail that soon. I though diff usually last the life of the car.

Got some photo of the damage.

The drive shaft has actually come off the differential. It is actually sitting on an angle to the differential.:wow:

Judging by the limited response in this thread, Im assuming no one has seen something like this before.

Looks like the lock ring on the shaft seal popped off; bent the dust cover.

Edit: just noticed you said it was the driveshaft. But it looks like an axle shaft in the pic? Looks like they discontinued a shaft seal after the e53 was out of production.. Maybe a faulty part?

You might not have to drop the diff; but it depends on whether or not the drive shaft did any damage. Probably wont be able to tell until you start pulling off parts.

This is the 4.8is diff:
not sure if they're the same or not..

http://realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/e/f/121.png

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.8is DIFFERENTIAL-DRIVE/OUTPUT

Your r right there. It is the axle shaft. I'm no mechanic so I thought they are all called the same thing. So if it is just the locking ring, is there a chance to get a new lock ring and re-attached the axle shaft back on to diff?

Im now waiting for insurance company to give final ok for the claim. Dealership will order the part interstate the we will see how bad it is damage inside.

Not sure how serviceable this diff is. Apparently it has a lifetime oil that never needs to be changed? e53s are brand new to me so I'm not that familiar..

No worries. Thx for feedback

I actually went back last nite to have another look at the pot hole. It was MASSIVE:wow:. I think what must have happen is that the whole area near the drain must have been wash away during the heavy rain. So underneath the bitumen, the road base has washed away which why there are still so many cracks surrounding the hole. And the fact that being so close to the drain means that all the water in that area would have rush in at high volume during the heavy rain which would have continuously dug the hole deeper and deeper.

Seriously, a hole that deep and that large would justify that it did the damage to the diff. I dont think insurance can said no to this claim. Fingers cross!!!

Excuse the crappy iphone photo…

Gave up on insurance.....

Paid for a new diff which i imported from state to Aus. Car is now back on road.

Cost me around AUD$3000 to fix which is roughly the same as USD$3000 with today currency.

hey guys!! I have a 2005 X5 4.8is and I'm having some troubles with my rear diff, took it to the dealership and they said to me that it needs to be changed.. they said that the 2005 X5 3.0d rear diff is the same one as the 4.8is and that they can instal that one.

do you know if this is true!??

thanks for the help!