Gents,
The previous owner of my vehicle notified me that the differential fluids were changed at 30k miles and recommended another service at 60k miles. I ran 15k miles late on the change, but finally got it done. The fluid didn’t look terrible:
Notes: I used 75W90 gear oil after speaking with a redline representative about applicable oil for our M Active Differential. The engineer recommended I use 75W90 oil in all three chambers. You are supposed to replace all 6 drain/fill plugs when servicing the differential…I only used 3 new ones and put them in the drain holes. I did this with the vehicle on the ground, but was a tight squeeze and my truck is not lowered and I’m a small guy.
DIY: E70 X5M Rear Differential Fluid Service
NOTE: I RECOMMEND THAT ALL MAINTENANCE IS COMPLETED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC;This DIY is merely a record of what I did to complete this vehicle maintenance; I DO NOT RECOMMEND COMPLETING THIS YOURSELF.
PARTS:
OE Fluids:
2 x Hypoid axle oil G1 – PN: 83222295532 (You may need 3 x to fill appropriately)
3 x Final-drive unit gear oil SAF Carbon Mod – PN: 83120445832
or
Redline Fluids:
3 x Qt 75w90 Gear Oil
6 x Differential Drain/Fill Plugs – PN: 33117525064
TOOLS:
3/8” Drive Ratchet
3/8” Drive Extensions
3/8” Drive Torque Wrench
3/8” Drive Universal Joint
14mm Allen Socket
Fluid Pump
Container with measurements
Shop Towels
STEP 1: Loosen Fill Plugs
a) Loosen Fill plugs using 14mm allen socket and universal joint
STEP 2: Drain Fluid
a) Place drain pan under differential drain plugs
b) Loosen and remove differential drain plugs using 14mm Allen Socket
c) Allow to drain completely
d) Install new drain plugs using 14mm allen socket and torque to 37ft lbs
STEP 3: Fill Differential Fluid
Note: I referenced this:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...-drive/Pk9i8JT
a) Clean around fill plugs and remove fill plugs
b) Prepare fluid container with measurements. (I used a Rubbermaid container with metric measurements and marked where the fluid level should be for each section) Tip: when using a container ensure that you overfill the container by the lowest measurement available then only pump fluid into the differential until the container level lowers to that lowest measurement. This will ensure the pump can actually pull enough fluid up. Example: My container’s lowest level was 200ml, right section takes 580ml, fill container to 780ml, stop pumping fluid when the container gets to 200ml.
c) Pump appropriate level of fluid into each section: Driver’s Side: 540ml, Center: 950ml, Passenger side: 580ml.
d) Replace Differential fill Plugs using 14mm Allen Socket and Universal Joint then torque to 37 ft lbs.