Bosch offers the exact parts for the x35d now. $275 at FCP. You can get the kit on Amazon for ~$25 cheaper but I verified with the wife that she wants to keep this truck. No more having to use the VW parts. The tank was too small on that kit, don't know if that ever caused issues to anyone who did it. I got the tank rebuilt and ready to go back in but figured while I'm most of the way there (pulled front bumper, SCR tank, SCR bracket left access to the headlight bracket and headlight) let me pull the headlights for a refinish. A real PITA but they needed it.

Today I ordered a set of Lamin X headlight PPF to protect the hours of work that went into getting this off and then refinished. It's not perfect, but it's 95% there and 1000x better than it was. Sanded with 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and finished with Meg's Plastic Polish. Sealed with 50/50 Minwax and mineral spirits.

https://i.postimg.cc/zXfW4TC4/Headlights-01.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/SxBMX5Bp/Headlights-02.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/XJ3BL5NH/Headlights-05.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hP3xnhMv/Headlights-03.jpg

I'm debating whether to refinish my headlights, buy new and/or track down an amber corner set along with amber taillights. Not even sure they make amber versions.

For the E70 you can just buy new lenses for ~$100. I will do that if these don't stay the way they are. At least they offer affordable lenses. The lenses for the E53 are $400+. :wow:

Mine didn't die completely but when I would rev up to higher RPM while driving my rear diff would whine. Was debating to sell my X5 3.5 as it was now at 200K kms but said i'll replace it and fix some other issues while under it.

Found a used one rear diff with 40K kms on it ($600 canadian) and replaced my rear diff , replaced rear driver side CV shaft ($200 canadian from RockAuto as was leaking grease on boot so whole thing to be replaced) and then I replaced the oil gasket pan ($50).

The oil gasket pan was the hardest of all 3 as everything in the front had to come down to replace it ie. front diff, sub frame, cv shafts etc.

Hopefully no more major repairs for a bit , now sitting at 206K kms.

Just prepaid about $400 for a used diff with 82k miles.

Sent you A PM ^ there isn’t much info on how to remove the rear differential.

ouuuchhh. Sorry to hear that! Mine's started to whine I believe. You have the normal gas i6?!

Yes, n52 I believe. Though, I had xdelete on so almost all power to rear wheels only.

Have you drained the fluid recently?

Quesion- what had to be removed to get the front diff removed? I'm considering swapping ratios if I need to do a new rear diff, so that would require me putting a different front in too.

Mind posting here about teh rear diff experience? I don't really see any DIY's, but I kind of assumed it would be unbolt CV's, driveshaft, and mounts. Then lower it down.

I've got the fluyid, I'm just looking for the time. I'm doing front and rear fluid, and if within 1000 miles it doesnt quiet down, I think I'll starting looking for differentials.

As far as power through the rear, I recentlydrove about 2k miles in rwd, and I'm a deleted and tuned diesel. There are a few diesel guys who use RWD mode for all of their driving. I'm in stock mode for the snowy season but I'm considering just staying stock for snow storms and going to the "snow" rwd biased mode for normal days. I spun the wheels all the dang time in full rwd mode, but I'm on 255 wide light truck tires. in it for the mpg's and low noise levels.

Ah I see. Must’ve been the 175k mile wear on the likely, 13yo diff.

For anyone else that needs more context on how to disconnect the driveshaft from the diff: https://youtu.be/sL2XEKPc3Pk