[Coupes33]

Hi Guys,
I was wondering if any of you have experienced issues with your diff. My diff began whining after 90,000km. This is the first vehicle that I have had diff issues with after 45yrs of driving. I thought the best thing to do was to get new bearings and seals installed. This is when the fun began. I got in touch with Diff Lapping to inquire whether they could do the job but was informed that for some BMW diffs, bearings were impossible to get. I soon found out that the 335 diff fits into this category. After searching the internet and getting no pleasure, I was left with one solution and that was to purchase a new diff for $3k. The first dealer that I approached also required my old diff as well as the $3k. I had a Quaife LSD fitted to the old diff and wasn't going to give them that. I tried another dealer who only required the money so I purchased the diff and had it installed. I began dismantling the old diff to remove the Quaife LSD. Once I had the bearings removed I went to CBC to see if they could get replacements. They contacted the German manufacturer ING but was told that they can only sell these bearings to BMW. BMW obviously have it set up that you cannot get your diff repaired other than by them. If anyone knows of a business that can repair these diffs please let me know.

[DR-JEKL]

Hmm that's a bugger, have you tried to buy a used diff?

Do you have the part numbers for the bearings?

I recall another forum member on here 12-18 months ago had diff issues, but was unsure what rectification was done to replace it..

I will have my bolted large pumpkin diff up for sale soon, as im going for a m3 driveline upgrade.

[Coupes33]

The bearings are ING F-237543.

[Coupes33]

Sorry I meant INA bearings not ING.

[DR-JEKL]

Hmm have you tried a bearing distributor who stock F A G (thats the manufacturer of that bearing!)

I got some prices of some wheel bearings and they were $89 for F A G, BMW wanted $300 odd for the same bearing!

Also try contacting M-Factory on this forum as i believe they sell the bearings with new LSD centres they sell! (they have a GB thread in the australian classifieds section)

[Scotty89]

Don't get parts from BMW, that's the biggest mistake.

They wanted $2500 for a flywheel in my e46. Got it for $700 shipped across the globe from Pelican Parts.

BMW dealerships are a joke.

[Coupes33]

Thanks for your comments. Initially, I made contact with SCHAEFFLER who are the Australian agent for F A G & INA bearings. They got me to contact CBC who are the distributors for F A G & INA bearings. They contacted the manufacturer in Germany who told them that these bearings can only be sold to BMW. I took your advise and made contact with the Australian Agent for MFactory but he could not help me either. MFactory do not have new bearings for these diffs. Although I could get the Quaife LSD installed into my new diff, I would prefer to get the old diff overhauled and then swap diffs over. I will try the BMW Corporate Office and see what happens.

[LotusBMW]

MFactory will sell you the bearings for $260. This was part of an LSD buy so they may be more on their own and with freight but it's an option.

[Coupes33]

Hi Guys,
An update on where I am with trying to source bearings for my diff. Although being informed by the MFactory Australian agent that MFactory don't sell bearings for my diff, I emailed them directly and got an initial response that they do have the bearings and will forward me the price. However, the following email stated they may not have the bearings and were sourcing more information. That is where I am at the moment with MFactory.

I also send an email to BMW Group Germany asking for the policy on stopping the bearing manufacturer from selling to the public to be lifted for a vehicle now 8 years old. They acknowledged my email and followed it up with an email from BMW Group Australia stating that the individual parts I required were not available and only a complete diff could be purchased. I called them to discuss the matter and was told that under the current policy, parts are only released to the public after the vehicle is 10 years old. I will keep you updated on any future developments.

[Coupes33]

Update on trying to get bearings for my diff. I received an email back from MFactory who said they cannot supply the bearings for my diff. I believe that I have exhausted all possible means of purchasing bearings. I will have to wait until 2017 before BMW will allow the bearing manufacturer to supply these bearings to the public. So guys, I hope no one else has bearing issues with their diff because the only way to fix it will be through purchasing a new diff for $3,000 from BMW or a used one, if you can get one that suits your car and is in good condition (risk).

[DR-JEKL]

This seems ridiculous!

I work for a large manufacturing co that have been in business for almost 100 years and we have a lot of old equipment. When bearings fail on machines that are 50+ y.o there is no off the shelf spares, so we have them made up or use a bearing to suit the dimensions and application.

Perhaps you can talk to a bearing manufacturer/supplier and see what else is out there? I.e a diff bearing from a E46 may fit or even from another manufacturer such as MB, GM etc?

Purely just an idea i dont have experience with bmw diff bearings...

[DR-JEKL]

Alternatively i will have a large pumpkin bolted diff rear end up for sale hopefully by the new year when i slot my m3 rear end in my 335i

[MFactory]

You can contact one of our dealers in the US, who has the large diff bearings in stock (reconditioned oem): www.diffsonline.com

[Coupes33]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

This seems ridiculous!

I work for a large manufacturing co that have been in business for almost 100 years and we have a lot of old equipment. When bearings fail on machines that are 50+ y.o there is no off the shelf spares, so we have them made up or use a bearing to suit the dimensions and application.

Perhaps you can talk to a bearing manufacturer/supplier and see what else is out there? I.e a diff bearing from a E46 may fit or even from another manufacturer such as MB, GM etc?

Purely just an idea i dont have experience with bmw diff bearings...

When I took the bearings into CBC and was told that the manufacturer could not supply them, I asked if there was any other bearing manufacturer that could supply bearings of the same specification and size. They said there was no other bearings that could be used.

[Coupes33]

Originally Posted by MFactory

You can contact one of our dealers in the US, who has the large diff bearings in stock (reconditioned oem): www.diffsonline.com

I have sent diffsonline an email and will let you know the results.

[Coupes33]

Update on my endeavours in purchasing some bearings for my diff. I received a reply to my email from Dan at diffsonline who said they had some pinion bearings but no spare carrier bearings. As the carrier bearings in my diff looked OK, I thought I will take the pinion bearings. I have sent 2 return emails to Dan stating that I will purchase the pinion bearings but have received nothing in reply over the last couple of weeks. Whether because I stated I lived in Australia has frightened him off I am not sure. I cannot do anything more but wait and see anything eventuates.

[Socket]

So is your car outta action while you are trying to sort this out Coops??

[Coupes33]

Originally Posted by Socket

So is your car outta action while you are trying to sort this out Coops??

No. I replaced my diff with a new one ($3,000) but wanted to repair the old one as it has the Quaife LSD. I would prefer to do this and change the diffs over rather than get the Quaife installed into the new diff that is in the car now. However, my options are almost exhausted as far as repairing the old diff so I may have to do that anyway.

[Socket]

What a giant pita i can't believe that no one stocks a suitable bearing or that no one can make a custom bearing. sounds easier to find a replacement kidney
GL Coupes