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331-2
Final Drive
This repair group covers removal and repair informat~on for
the final drive (differential), axle shafts.
CV joints, CV joint
boots, and final drive seal replacement.
Internal repairs of the differential assembly are not covered in
this manual.
Special tools
BMW recommends some special tools for the removal of the
drive axles as well as the installation of rear differential input
and output drive flange seals. Some common pullers and
drifts can often be substituted for these tools.
4 Drive flange holder
(Tool No. BMW
2 30 020)
< Drive flange puller
(ToolNo.BMW31 2101 131 2102131 2103131 2104)
< Drive pinion set
(Tool No. BMW 33 1 340)
4 Clamp~ng tool set
(ToolNo.BMW332101 13321021332103)
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Final Drive
4 Output shaft tool set
(ToolNo.
BMW332111 1332114/332115/3321161
33211713321181332119)
4 Trailing arm tool set
11 (Tool NO BMW 33 3 331 I 33 3 332 1 33 3 333 133 3 334)
4 Final drive mount set
(ToolNo.
BMW334151 /334152/334153/334154/
3341551334156133415713341581334159)
< Differential mount press set
(Tool
No.BMW334161 1334162133416413341651
33 4 166)
33 4 161
Q Differential mount press set
(ToolNo.
BMW334171 /334172/334173/3341 174)
. .
33 4 181 4 Differential mount press set
33 (Tool No. BMW334181 133418213341831334184)
Support tube set
(ToolNo.BMW334191133419213341931334194)
33 4 192
33 4 191
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331-4
Final Drive
4 Final drive output shaft seal tool
(Tool No.
BMW 33 4 250)
4 Pulling set
(Tool No.
BMW 33 4 401 / 33 4 402 / 33 4 403 133 4 404 /
33 4 405 / 33 4 406)
Aluminum suspension components
In order to reduce vehicle weight, aluminum suspension com-
ponents are
~sed in some models. A tesl wlh a magnet wi.1
eas'ly reveal lhe metal Lseo. If working with a umin~m com-
ponents, be sure to read and follow the cautions below.
CAUTIOI\C
Due to the chemical and corrosion characteristics of alumi-
num, do not bring into contact with battery acid.
Do not use wire brushes with brass or iron bristles.
Only use brushes with stainless steel bristles.
Do not expose to flying sparks from grinding/cutting op-
erations.
Do not subject to steel welding splashes.
Do not expose to temperatures over
80°C (176"F),
even for short periods. Temperatures in painting facili-
ties are not a problem.
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Final Drive
Final drive, removing and installing
- Raise rear of car.
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place the jaclc stands beneath struc-
tural chassis
~oints. Do not i lace iaclc stands under
( suspension barfs.
Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System.
Disconnect drive shaft from final drive. See
260 Driveshaft.
Remove drive axle CV joint bolts (arrows) at left and right
sides. Suspend drive axles from body using stiff wire.
4 Support final drive with BMW special tool 33 4 390.
* Remove front final drive mounting bolt.
Remove rear final drive mounting bolts
(2).
Carefully lower final drive unit.
- To install, use BMW special tool 33 4 390 to lift final drive into
place.
CA UTIOP&
The following sequence must be used when installing the fi-
nal drive to prevent torsion stress on the final drive during in-
Install mounting bolts and finger tighten only.
Remove final drive support.
Tighten both rear mounting bolts.
Tighten front mounting bolt.
NOTE-
Use new self-locking nuts.
- Check differential oil level. See Differential oil level, check-
ing.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
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Final Drive
Tightening torques
F~nal drive to rear axle carrier 105 Nm (77 it-lb)
Driveshaft CV joint to final drive flange
- MlO (Torx bolt) 70
Nm (51 ft-lb)
- M8 (compression nut) 32 Nm (24
ft-lb)
Drive axle to final drive
ilange
Torx bolts (M10) 83 Nm (61 ft-lb)
Torx bolt with
rlbbed teeth (M10) 64 Nm (47 ft-lb)
Torx bolt
wlth ribbed teeth (MI0 sliver) 80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Torx
bolt with ribbed teeth (M10 black) 100 Nm (74 ft-lb)
* Torx bolt with ribbed teeth (M12) 135 Nm (100 ft-lb)
Differential oil level, checking
The E39 differential is filled with lifetime oil that ordinarily
does not need to be changed. BMW recommends using only
a specially formulated synthetic gear oil
(SAF-XO) that is
available through an authorized BMW dealer parts depart-
ment. For additional information on this lubricant and any oth-
er lubricants that may be compatible, contact an authorized
BMW dealer service department.
< Check rear differential oil level at filler plug (arrow).
- Check lubricant level with car on a level surface:
Level is correct when fluid just reaches edge of filler hole.
If necessary, top up fluid.
* Replace filler plug sealing ring.
Install and tighten oil filler plug when oil level is correct.
NOTE-
Use either a 14 mm or 17 mm Allen socket to remove the
drain plug.
If car is raised in the air. it should be level when
checkino " or filling final drive fluid level.
- Tightening torque -
Filler plug to final drive housing 70 Nm (52
ft-lb) -
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Final Drive
Final drive input shaft seal, replacing
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System
- Remove drive shaft. See 260 Driveshaft.
< Lift out collar nut locking plate (arrow).
4 While counterholding drive flange with special BMW tool 23
23 0 020 0 020 loosen and remove collar nut.
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331-9
Final Drive
Coat drive flange sealing area and seal lip with differential oil.
* Install drive flange on pinion shaft.
Using
BMW special tools 23 1 300,33 1 341 and 23 1 302
press drive flange on to pinion shaft only to extent as to al-
low collar nut to be installed.
4 Tighten collar nut only until previously marked points are
aligned (arrow).
CAUTION-
Do not underany circumstances tighten collarnut beyond the
markedpoints,
othe~lise clamping sleeve will have to be re-
placed.
- Using a suitable drift, install new collar nut locking plate
Stalte plate in place.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
- Check and, if necessary, set differential oil level. See Differ-
ential oil level, checking.
Tightening torque Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
MI0 (Torx bolt) 70 Nrn (51 ft-lb)
ME (compression nut) 32 Nrn (24 ft-lb)
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. .
Final Drive Final drive output shaft seals, replacing
- Remove exhaust system (if necessary). See 180 Exhaust
System.
Remove drive axle
CV joint bolts
axle from body using stiff wire. (arrows).
Suspend drive
4 Drive out final drive output flange using soft faced hammer.
4 Remove seal using BMW special tool 00 5 010 and 32 1 060
or equivalent.