I Fear My Differential Is Being Stripped To Death - BMW Forum

bitcore · 01-31-2005, 05:13 PM

Ok, on my way home, I took a turn under some moderate power and I felt areally large jolt in the driveline that felt like it was coming from the left rear wheel like it had locked up or something.... this tells me my differential is going out. I didn't roll over anything and I've had a feeling that the diff was acting very strange for quite some time.

In case it does start to really grind to pieces, I need to know the ratio that my stock car uses so I can go ahead and just buy one.

1998 323is Automatic

I'll probably just crap out and get a used one since I simply CANNOT afford an upgrade to an LSD, Let alone a brand new stock differential!

This guy looks pritty good, decent feedback rating and he's done a whole bunch of sales, I guess I'll give him a ring sometime and see what he's got.

Any suggestions? and what's my ratio?

Furious · 01-31-2005, 06:19 PM

not sure, what the ratio is in your car. but are you positive its your diff?

thekid · 01-31-2005, 07:27 PM

Vines automotive is a great salvage yard (if this is the one in Alabama). I highly recommend them. They also have a website if you do not want to go through Ebay. They'll treat you right.

bitcore · 01-31-2005, 08:29 PM

Well, it happened really hard when I took a turn and stomped it at the same time... I took it easy the last 5 minutes of the way home.

mixalot · 01-31-2005, 08:53 PM

Possibly a bad wheel rotor. Both mine went bad within the last 6 months, on an 1994 325is. Although, you would have heard it grinding before it would start to seize like that.

A bad wheel rotor will stop making noise when you roll away from that side on a corner.

bitcore · 01-31-2005, 11:15 PM

hmm, I was thinking the wheel bearing after it happened, I had my right one replaced, but not my left.
I do hit some very very high speeds for quite a while and sometimes on a daily basis. (I-40, where it's like 7 lane and no traffic at 7:00) So the bearing has taken a beating so to speak compaired to other daily drivers...
I did start hearing a squeaking noise that's associated with speed. Not a high pitched squeak, more like a massive piece of metal grinding against another massive piece of metal. That noise could have been my E-brake shoes acting up again, I'll do my little reset trick tomorrow and see if it goes away.

Would a failing wheel bearing cause a THUD noise and feeling like that? just freaking SEIZE up like that? It happened after I got off the highway... so... yah.

Who knows, The real test is coming up in about 6 hours when I hop in my baby agin.

I'm still fairly confident my diff caused that jolt... I did slide into a curb, ruin a control arm, axle, shock, rim and rtab and the passenger side airbag deployed, so the diff has experienced some trauma. I wuoldn't put it past it for it to be failing now.

jrhaile · 01-31-2005, 11:48 PM

what is the ratio on your diff? I have a used 345 that works great I'll let go for cheap since it's just sitting in my basement.

bitcore · 02-01-2005, 10:02 PM

Thats what I was asking in the first place lol.
I think the auto trannys have a high ratio so the diff is somewehre in the low 4.X's...

I read that some long time ago in the forums and can't find it easially, I thought I'd just ask

Damn I want an LSD. I need to call vines...