Upgraded differential cover with cooling fins and drain plug!

therealm3 · 11-16-2010, 03:24 PM

Hello,
As most of you know the differentials on E9X’s and 1 series don’t have a drain plug. Not that big of a deal if you buy into the “lifetime” fill that BMW follows these days. I personally plan to keep my car long term and would like to be able to change the fluid without the hassle of a pump. As the time has approached for a fluid swap in my car I started doing research on swapping a different cover from the BMW parts bin or possibly having the stock cover tapped for a drain. My search came up empty so I contacted a shop that I know has the knowledge and facilities to make something quality and performance oriented: VAC Motorsports. They were very excited about the idea and have put together a prototype that will be tested over the next few weeks. I am told it will be made from billet. No word on pricing yet but the pictures below look very promising. In my opinion this is going to be an excellent upgrade for both street and track cars due to the ease of draining and filling fluid and the additional cooling fins. What do you guys think?

vasillalov · 11-16-2010, 03:34 PM

Looks pretty awesome indeed! ...but my 2008 E90 has both drain and fill plugs in the differential housing...

I do like the cooling fins and I will definitely look for an item like this when I get LSD

forza1976 · 11-16-2010, 03:38 PM

wow, that is some sweet ass machine work! Cool item.

BrianMN · 11-16-2010, 03:46 PM

Looks good, if the price is right I'd buy it.

casemagic · 11-16-2010, 03:55 PM

Looks awesome, will those cooling fins decrease ground clearance?

mycoupe · 11-16-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casemagic

Looks awesome, will those cooling fins decrease ground clearance?

Dude, seriously? The fins face the back ofthe car.

IlChengis · 11-17-2010, 08:20 AM

Looks really good!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mycoupe

Dude, seriously? The fins face the back ofthe car.

What if you're entering an obscenely steep driveway?

-Walter

bigdaddycane · 11-17-2010, 09:17 AM

That's a really nice piece....hopefully the machining will not drive the price up too much.

Please post back when you get it test fitted and if there is a target price.

NM_BMW · 11-17-2010, 09:44 AM

Very cool!

therealm3 · 11-17-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vasillalov

Looks pretty awesome indeed! ...but my 2008 E90 has both drain and fill plugs in the differential housing...

I do like the cooling fins and I will definitely look for an item like this when I get LSD

Really? that is strange. Can you snap a pic? i'd like to see it cause if that is the case, then there is a factory cover out there we can use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlChengis

Looks really good!

What if you're entering an obscenely steep driveway?

-Walter

I am a little concerned about this as well and will bring it up.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

ar design · 11-17-2010, 12:58 PM

That looks trick!

zsapphire7 · 11-17-2010, 01:04 PM

looks nice..... but it also looks really expensive...

stressdoc · 11-17-2010, 02:29 PM

Interested but poor...

vasillalov · 11-17-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealm3

Really? that is strange. Can you snap a pic? i'd like to see it cause if that is the case, then there is a factory cover out there we can use.

Yeah, I'll try to do it this weekend if the weather is good.

David1 · 11-17-2010, 03:20 PM

Over done for its pupose. Just give me a cheaper cast part. I have a pump that will suck it out so it really isn't that hard to change the fluid.

TRICKE90 · 11-17-2010, 05:06 PM

I'm a C.N.C.programmer, I wish I could get a blueprint of this I would make my own. When I see stuff like this I get WET! But it needs to be bead blasted and anodized, otherwise it would get scratched just looking at it plus it would eventually start to oxidize with all the road salt & junk we have on our roads and look like shit. Definitely overkill for its purpose but really cool anyway.

itsbrokeagain · 11-17-2010, 05:33 PM

count me in for one

lpphreakx06 · 11-17-2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Interested but poor...

Truth

Bimmer This · 11-17-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mycoupe

Dude, seriously? The fins face the back ofthe car.

There's nothing wrong with that design. The fins are there just to dissapate heat. I've seen that design a lot.

fdriller9 · 11-17-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mycoupe

Dude, seriously? The fins face the back ofthe car.

Like the guy above me said there is nothing wrong with that. If you had the fins in front then the wind would blow hot air back onto the diff....

roadkillrob · 11-17-2010, 06:11 PM

Looks awesome, a bit scared of how much it will cost though, if it is half the price of an LSD then I will have an LSD and a less convenient oil change!

mycoupe · 11-17-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmer This

There's nothing wrong with that design. The fins are there just to dissapate heat. I've seen that design a lot.

I was saying that in refference to the other poster who thought they were on the bottom. And of course you have seen that design a lot...that's they way they are ALL made.

11-16-2010, 03:24 PM	#1
therealm3 Lieutenant Colonel 630 Rep 1,649 Posts Drives: F30 340 MSport Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CA, USA iTrader: (7)	Upgraded differential cover with cooling fins and drain plug! Hello, As most of you know the differentials on E9X’s and 1 series don’t have a drain plug. Not that big of a deal if you buy into the “lifetime” fill that BMW follows these days. I personally plan to keep my car long term and would like to be able to change the fluid without the hassle of a pump. As the time has approached for a fluid swap in my car I started doing research on swapping a different cover from the BMW parts bin or possibly having the stock cover tapped for a drain. My search came up empty so I contacted a shop that I know has the knowledge and facilities to make something quality and performance oriented: VAC Motorsports. They were very excited about the idea and have put together a prototype that will be tested over the next few weeks. I am told it will be made from billet. No word on pricing yet but the pictures below look very promising. In my opinion this is going to be an excellent upgrade for both street and track cars due to the ease of draining and filling fluid and the additional cooling fins. What do you guys think? Attached Images
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11-16-2010, 03:34 PM	#2
vasillalov Mad Linux Guru On The Loose 1121 Rep 5,396 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Sedan, 2023 M3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (5) Garage List 2023 BMW M3 [0.00] 2008 335i E90 [8.00]	Looks pretty awesome indeed! ...but my 2008 E90 has both drain and fill plugs in the differential housing... I do like the cooling fins and I will definitely look for an item like this when I get LSD __________________ 6MT \| COBB \| AR \| AE \| Forge DV \| HPF \| P3 Gauge \| Hybrid Intake \| O.S.Giken TCD \| All M3 bits \| TCKLine \| StopTech \| UUC \| ER \| SPEC
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11-16-2010, 03:38 PM	#3
forza1976 Major General 3398 Rep 6,589 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 49417 and 60610 iTrader: (13) Garage List 2022 BMW M3X [10.00]	wow, that is some sweet ass machine work! Cool item.
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11-16-2010, 03:46 PM	#4
BrianMN Banned 114 Rep 2,428 Posts Drives: 4 Door Family Sedan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (7)	Looks good, if the price is right I'd buy it.
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11-16-2010, 03:55 PM	#5
casemagic Enlisted Member 7 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 7 335s Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: philadelphia iTrader: (2)	Looks awesome, will those cooling fins decrease ground clearance?
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11-17-2010, 09:17 AM	#8
bigdaddycane I even mod my cereal 246 Rep 3,441 Posts Drives: 11 ZCP DCT M3 14 328d 21 GT4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Va iTrader: (53) Garage List 2021 Porsche GT4 [0.00] 2014 BMW 328d Xdriv ... [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	That's a really nice piece....hopefully the machining will not drive the price up too much. Please post back when you get it test fitted and if there is a target price. __________________ 2011 Mineral White M3 ZCP - Opticoat, Ventureshield, some CF, B&B exhaust, AFE Intake Vorsteiner VFF 101s Ohlins 2014 Mineral White 328d Xdrive Wagon - Opticoat, Ventureshield, B8s, H&R, Apex SM-10s Hawk Pads 2021 718 Cayman GT4 - Fire extinguiser
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11-17-2010, 09:44 AM	#9
NM_BMW Vishnu Powered 68 Rep 2,205 Posts Drives: 335xi, S1000RR Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Proceding iTrader: (7)	Very cool! __________________ 2008 335xi Sedan \| Titanium Silver \| Black Dakota PROcede v5 \| Vishnu Exhaust \| BMS DCI \| AR Catless DPs \| Helix FMIC \| Stett Charge w/ Tial BOV \| MORR VS8s \| KWv3
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11-17-2010, 12:58 PM	#11
ar design 297 Rep 4,408 Posts Drives: 04 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (9)	That looks trick! __________________ -Critter
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11-17-2010, 01:04 PM	#12
zsapphire7 Colonel 104 Rep 2,368 Posts Drives: 08 e92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (21)	looks nice..... but it also looks really expensive...
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11-17-2010, 02:29 PM	#13
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Interested but poor... __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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11-17-2010, 03:20 PM	#15
David1 Brigadier General 814 Rep 3,953 Posts Drives: 09 E92 09 X5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (1)	Over done for its pupose. Just give me a cheaper cast part. I have a pump that will suck it out so it really isn't that hard to change the fluid. __________________ 2021 M2 Comp Sunset Orange \|Black with orange Stitching Dakota Leather\|Executive Pkg\|DCT Last edited by David1; 11-17-2010 at 03:25 PM..
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11-17-2010, 05:06 PM	#16
TRICKE90 Private First Class 3 Rep 182 Posts Drives: 2008 335i coupe, montego blue, Join Date: May 2006 Location: carson city,nv iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e92 335i coupe [0.00] 2008 335i coupe [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	I'm a C.N.C.programmer, I wish I could get a blueprint of this I would make my own. When I see stuff like this I get WET! But it needs to be bead blasted and anodized, otherwise it would get scratched just looking at it plus it would eventually start to oxidize with all the road salt & junk we have on our roads and look like shit. Definitely overkill for its purpose but really cool anyway.
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11-17-2010, 05:33 PM	#17
itsbrokeagain 310 Rep 15,745 Posts Drives: 1999 528iT, E53 X5, E46 325xi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Strong Island iTrader: (7)	count me in for one
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11-17-2010, 06:11 PM	#21
roadkillrob Major General 866 Rep 5,450 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (15)	Looks awesome, a bit scared of how much it will cost though, if it is half the price of an LSD then I will have an LSD and a less convenient oil change! __________________ 2022 X3M Brooklyn Grey 2008 E93 335i FBO 2012 Mercedes C63 Black Series Alanite Grey
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