correct diff fluid?

[mav]

Which is the right diff fluid to use in an 07 M Coupe? I'm at the dealer and they insist on using p/n 83221467993 while various BMW forums recommend the 583 SAF-XJ + FM Booster diff fluid. The dealer insists that they only use the 583 fluid if your dif grinds and that it only applies to the E46 M3, not the E86 Z4 M Coupe. I thought the M Coupe shares the same diff as the E46 M3?

[pbdm4k]

Why not go aftermarket fluid and use Redline, Royal Purple or Motul.
Get the full synthetic stuff. Much better than anything the dealer would use.

[Caddyshk]

Courtesy Ron Stygar:

1200 mile service changes out the following fluids.

Engine oil: Castrol 10W60, 1 liter
07 51 0 009 420 $8.95r
I purchase the 12 pack from Jay Lilley.

Tranny Fluid: Castrol MTF-LT-2, 5 liter
83 22 0 309 031 $128r
I purchase the 5 liter jug from Jay Lilley.

Diff. Fluid: Castrol SAF-XJ, 55 liter
83 22 1 470 080 $800r, 1 liter = $14.55r
The one liter charge out number 83 22 1 467 993 used to be for 1 liter. Same number is now 1/2 liter I'm told.
I bring a gallon jug to the dealer and have them fill it up.
Make sure that you see them fill it up with the proper stuff.

[mav]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Diff. Fluid: Castrol SAF-XJ, 55 liter
83 22 1 470 080 $800r, 1 liter = $14.55r
The one liter charge out number 83 22 1 467 993 used to be for 1 liter. Same number is now 1/2 liter I'm told.

From posts on other M3 forums, many claim that the 080 diff oil is the wrong one and to use 83 22 2 282 583 Castrol SAF-XJ + FM Booster. Can anyone confirm this?

Does anyone here have grinding noises at low speed turns (90 degree or u-turns) coming from their differential? If so, what diff oil are you using?

[mav]

Anyone else?

Most here must have had their 1,200 mile service done. What diff oil did the dealer put in yours? Does anyone else care if they put the wrong one???

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by mav

Anyone else?

Most here must have had their 1,200 mile service done. What diff oil did the dealer put in yours? Does anyone else care if they put the wrong one???

I have no grinding so the fluid was Castrol SAF-XJ part #83 22 1 467 993. IMHO; I'd be more concerned about a noisy Diff with only 1,200 miles on the car than the type of fluid going in to correct it...

[mav]

Well I took my car back to the dealer today and after talking to the shop foreman and the service advisor, they replaced the 83221467993 oil with the correct 83222282583 SAF-XJ + FM Booster differential oil. I showed them a few SIB's and threads pertaining to the E46 M3, E60 M5 and E64 M6 and E37/8 Z3 M Roadster and M Coupe that recommend updating the differential oil to the 83222282583 SAF-XJ + FM Booster differential oil.

I feel better now that I've probably avoided a huge problem in the future.

You guys should really catch up on some reading pertaining to the M3 differentials and 583 oil - http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=86605

I'm surprised that this thread wasn't more popular.

[KevinC]

Just had my 1200 mile service done today, and they used 83-22-1-470-080, which from the M3 forums does appear to be the wrong stuff. I'll email my SA and see what he has to say.

[mav]

From my experience most dealers don't know anything about this because it pertains to the E46 M3, even though the M Coupe shares the same differential. In my research, I found out that the 080 oil is for the regular BMW non-M differentials. The M differentials require the 583 oil.

You should ask your SA to flush out the bad 080 oil and replace it with the 583 one.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by mav

You should ask your SA to flush out the bad 080 oil and replace it with the 583 one.

No reply to my email sent Friday night. If he doesn't reply by tomorrow, I'll go to the service manager. VERY annoying if he doesn't even show me the courtesy of replying in some manner.

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by mav

Well I took my car back to the dealer today and after talking to the shop foreman and the service advisor, they replaced the 83221467993 oil with the correct 83222282583 SAF-XJ + FM Booster differential oil. I showed them a few SIB's and threads pertaining to the E46 M3, E60 M5 and E64 M6 and E37/8 Z3 M Roadster and M Coupe that recommend updating the differential oil to the 83222282583 SAF-XJ + FM Booster differential oil.

I feel better now that I've probably avoided a huge problem in the future.

You guys should really catch up on some reading pertaining to the M3 differentials and 583 oil - http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=86605

I'm surprised that this thread wasn't more popular.

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2594789

[mav]

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2594789

The E86 M Coupe shares the same M differential with the E46 M3, so why wouldn't the same oil that was recommended for the E46 M3 differential be recommended for the E86 M Coupe as well?

There was a prior service bulletin recommending the 583 oil for the prior generation M Roadster and M Coupe.

BTW, according to an engineer from BMW USA, our cars come from the factory with the 583 oil.

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by mav

The E86 M Coupe shares the same M differential with the E46 M3, so why wouldn't the same oil that was recommended for the E46 M3 differential be recommended for the E86 M Coupe as well?

There was a prior service bulletin recommending the 583 oil for the prior generation M Roadster and M Coupe.

BTW, according to an engineer from BMW USA, our cars come from the factory with the 583 oil.

Bulletin 33 01 02 dated May 2007 refers to E46-M3 through December 2003 if grinding. Z4-M is not part of this bulletin.

What prior bulletin number and date are you refering to? Z3 diff is different and uses SAF-XJ according to bulletin 33 01 92 dated December 1999.

Not according to BMW operating fluids Group 33 dated February 2007.
Do you have his name?

[mav]

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

Bulletin 33 01 02 dated May 2007 refers to E46-M3 through December 2003 if grinding. Z4-M is not part of this bulletin.

What prior bulletin number and date are you refering to? Z3 diff is different and uses SAF-XJ according to bulletin 33 01 92 dated December 1999.

Not according to BMW operating fluids Group 33 dated February 2007.
Do you have his name?

The bulletin is worded incorrectly and is the source of confusion between the dealers and M owners.

All M3's manufactured from 12/2003 and forward come with the 583 oil from the factory. All M3's from manufactured between 2001 to 12/2003 should have their diff oil updated to the 583 version, regardless if you are grinding or not. The confusion stems from the bulletin stating to only switch to the 583 IF you grind which doesn't make sense if all M cars (M3, M5, M6 and M Coupe) come from the factory with the 583 oil and the 080 oil is the reason why it grinds in the first place.

[Ron Stygar]

You haven't convinced me. You have no bulletins to support it.

[mav]

Well I'm not out to convince you or anyone else. I'm just making you guys aware of a potential service issue.

For me, it just boils down to some logic and common sense. However I could be very wrong.

In the end, it's your car and your choice as to how you maintain it.

The difference b/w the 080 and 583 isn't great. Both are based on the same Castrol SAF-XJ oil. The 583 adds the FM Booster which is an addictive that apparently decreases diff grind.

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by mav

However I could be very wrong.

That's the problem.

[chuck159]

Thanks for the helpful information mav!

[wrh3]

E85/86 is now included on the revised SIB:

http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/...p/B330102g.htm