Rear Differential Axle Seal Replacement DIY - Help - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

BimmerHead · 16th December 2006, 01:18

Hello,

For the past several months I have been keeping an eye on the rear diff axle seals (they are seeping). But, now I am starting to see fuild on the exhuast and gas tank.

So, the time to replace the seals has come. I called a few places around me and I'm getting quotes in the $500 range. I did a search on the board and saw that some members did this job themselves.

Since I can get access to a lift I am now thinking of doing this myself (the parts are cheap and so is my labor).

Can anyone provide a step by step instruction guide on how to replace the seals?

Thanks...

KirklandM5 · 16th December 2006, 08:06

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/mainte...tial_seals.asp

dcaron9999 · 17th December 2006, 18:52

Did you get this done? How did everythig go? Are E34/E39 diffs identical? Where are the bolt Torque Specs? This is something I'll have to do if I purchase a 2002 M5 I'm seeking this week, because it has a leaking diff too.

Lscman · 17th December 2006, 20:21

Old E34 is different....E39 L6 is different....E39 540i is different....E39 M5 is different.

The E39 halfshafts are not easy to remove. This may require you to remove the wheel bearing which is a real pain.

The closest relatives to E39 M5 differential are E38 7 series and E46 M3. The procedure may be in BMW TIS.

BimmerHead · 18th December 2006, 02:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcaron9999

Did you get this done? How did everythig go? Are E34/E39 diffs identical? Where are the bolt Torque Specs? This is something I'll have to do if I purchase a 2002 M5 I'm seeking this week, because it has a leaking diff too.

Not yet.. I'm still waiting for one more place to call me back with an estimate. If it's still high then off to my friends garage I go.

I'll post once I get it either fixed or do it myself.

BTW, signed up for BMWTIS and didn't find any instructions on how to do this job.

If anyone knows where they are on that site, please let me know and I'll pay for another 24hrs.

dcaron9999 · 18th December 2006, 03:05

These repair codes might help you ...

27120037 Output flange to rear axle differential (incl. rotary shaft seal) Loose
27120048 Output flange to rear axle differential (incl. rotary shaft seal) Leaking
271200XX Output flange to rear axle differential (incl. rotary shaft seal)
33110048 Rear final drive housing Leaking
33110148 Rear axle differential breather Leaking

KirklandM5 · 18th December 2006, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lscman

Old E34 is different....E39 L6 is different....E39 540i is different....E39 M5 is different.

The E39 halfshafts are not easy to remove. This may require you to remove the wheel bearing which is a real pain.

The closest relatives to E39 M5 differential are E38 7 series and E46 M3. The procedure may be in BMW TIS.

Procedure is pretty much the same, but you need an external torx socket for the E39 M5 (probably an E12) for the half shaft. Also, the TIS sez to loosen the rear section of exh...

other than that pretty much the same, and torque for the half shaft is 135nM