Rebuilding and Fixing BMW M3 Differential Clunk, Grinding, Leaking! Free play delete! DIY Tutorial

This video shows you how to remove and rebuild your BMW E46 M3 limited slip differential to get rid of any clunking, grinding, and whining noises. We replace all of the bearings and seals along with all of the friction discs/ clutch pack from Racing Diffs. This will greatly reduce the M-Clunk and get your Limited Slip differential back to peak performance. Everything used in the video is linked down below. Thanks for watching!
Motul 75w140 Gear Oil:
click.linksyne...
E-Torx Wrench:
click.linksyne...
Side Cap O-Ring (Qty 2):
click.linksyne...
Differential Rear Cover Gasket:
click.linksyne...
Drain/Fill Plug (Qty 2):
click.linksyne...
Front Diff Bolt:
click.linksyne...
Input Flange Dust/Securing Plate:
click.linksyne...
Curil T2 Sealant:
click.linksyne...
Diff Rebuild Kit from Racing Diffs:
racingdiffs.co...
Nord Lock Washer for Front Diff Bolt:
amzn.to/4aWJ30V
Beam Style Torque Wrench 0-9nm:
amzn.to/45cnSa1
Bearing/Seal Driver Kit:
amzn.to/4bNNixd
Sleeve Kit for Bearings/Press:
amzn.to/3VBRw5q
20 Ton Hydraulic Press:
www.harborfrei...
E46 M3 Torque Specs Guide:
drive.google.c...
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[@michaelriccardi424]

Holy shit the amount of subs you have now is crazy. Last time I watched a video It was around 15-20k. You deserve it for sure

[@f308gtb1977]

Love your stuff. I don’t have an M3 but I always learn things watching your videos. You’ve helped us more than you can know with our 330 and 540.

[@ShopLifeTV]

Appreciate you watching and supporting!

[@DiceFarrugia]

You are my go too E46 KZbin channel. Over the past 15 years I have owned 3 330's and now finally an M3. It's funny, as soon as I have an issue with anything I check your channel and sure enough. You have a clear, concise and enjoyable video detailing every part, tool, and process to get it sorted. I live in a small coastal town in Australia and no one knows how or wants to work on BMW's. So if I want to own them. I have no choice but to do it myself. Thank you for all your time and effort, and keep them videos coming. You are a valuable asset to the global BMW community.

[@egiles]

I purchased the same kit for my '04 M3, but I had someone at an independent BMW shop do the work as it was a service they were going to start offering. My diff had 127k miles, had the M clunk as well as loud pinion bearing whine. Once it was finished, I replaced the three diff bushings with OE bushings (E36 bushings in the rear cover). The diff is now perfectly quiet, with zero noise and no clunking at all.

[@arthurtapia7465]

How much did the shop charge you and did they rebuild the entire diff as or just install the new parts from the kit?

[@TonmoyGhosh]

Yeah how much did this run you in labor?

[@pamsali]

Hi bro, what kit purchased? I need! Thanks

[@tanvirhussain6106]

In the UK about £2k labour for a good honest place. So imagine in the US to be about 1700-2800 dollars​@@arthurtapia7465

[@larsjjj]

I had the kit installed on my 137 000 km driven e46 M3 and 52 000km driven M3 CSL. Great gains in both! Both SMG.

[@xtwo1clrhotx]

first off great job on the video and straight to the point i had a few FYI bits for you listed in the BMW repair tightening torques it lists fasteners M-# and gives you a general torque specification for those items. if you do some post production editing and add torque overlays to each thing to help the viewers out who choose to do this it would be greatly appreciated. last but not least Guibo, is pronounced Jewboh common mistake sincerely a BMW enthusiast

[@Recon77]

Im so thankful for your page, I have only had my E46 for a year and I come here for lots of info and help, so TY

[@oscararnesen699]

Nice video man! I’ve had the howling/blowing noise. For me it was actually the CSB. I can hear the exact same noise you have. I’ve had to replace with an original one, instead of the “Febi Bilstein” one. After install of the Febi, I had ton of howling, and it didn’t go away. I there for decided to replace it, and put “Butyl” some sticky noise/vibration isolation on top of the CSB, and I have almost no howling sound. The howling can also be a damaged or defect CSB bearing. Because it is a closed bearing, there is no way of knowing if it has enough fluid/lube to lubricate it. That’s just my 5 cent😁

[@PRAGEETHKARUNADHEERA]

Thanks for this detailed guide mate. I'm planning this myself soon.

[@ClutchMuchAirsoft]

I tried installing the conical shim but replaced nothing else and it did briefly improve the clunk. Ultimately I had to replace the whole diff to truly fix the issue though. Adjusting the backlash is crucial to getting it right

[@peterferreira9386]

Love your videos keep up the good work just wondering I've watched a lot of other people disassembling and reassembling diffs and they usually check end play was just wondering if that was necessary

[@wot48320]

Looking forward to the updates on the diff.

[@WilloW0024]

Thank you for the informative video. I'm about to go through this and your video helps a lot.

[@zayunique2873]

Came from Amazon headlight restoration kit doesn’t look like it held up well. How ling till it started fading?

[@gerardwalsh4724]

Just wondering if you need to set backlash after an entire rebuild like this?

[@Nico_335i_DCT]

Great Job guys! Thanks for sharing. Have a good one. Dutch regards Nico.

[@gio_ziraqa]

Hi Jason, i saw you did great with marking pinion seal nut to make sure pinion depth was correct but what about preload, backlash and contact mesh? im want to rebuild mine by my self but i dont know how to set backlash and preload correctly

[@joebenson658]

How is this kit holding up ? What are you thoughts on it. Just curious I’m debating rebuilding mine myself I’ve heard good and bad things about racing diffs What is your honest advice?

[@projectadrii7441]

Hey bro love the vid! I recently went through and did the job on my car as well. I noticed that you skipped the big shim in 20:10 . I added that big shim on top of the clutch stack before putting the final cap on. I am not sure if that is the right or wrong way to do it, but that's the way that Racing Diff's installation video had it too. Just incase you were wondering what to do with that shim.

[@atrainshoes6367]

How should you break in the diff and for how long. Do you have to break in anything if you only change diff fluid?

[@rokey121]

Theoretically, if the clunk doesnt bother me, will it eventually cause my diff to blow?

[@DavidMartinez-wg4tn]

I know this is off subject but my smg is giving me some codes p1717 p944 transmission codes… i’ve been watching your videos for years btw This is my fifth E 46 and I finally have m3 vert 04. I need some help troubleshooting. Thank you

[@saulflores8050]

Would this be the same Process with e92 m3 differential with Racing Diff kit?

[@herbertlopezsr6440]

Hello love what you do for BMW owner. Please I .need your help and an opinion I am the original owner of 2003 BMW 325i with 168.000 miles my car needs a head gasket replacement it is good to do the job or install another engine . I am prefer to do the head gasket please what is your opinion .Thank you

[@tjkadar]

...if you ever want to do another E90 oil pan gasket and/or MILVs install, I will happily volunteer my 2006 330i! 🙂

[@kleemanjad]

You need to collab with M539 restoration.. i think he is experiencing the clunk lol LeClunk

[@nikolastijelja9796]

Bro, i watched all the videos of yours... or at least most of them from the very first time. I have only 1 request: Repaint that car, you are embarrassing the vehicle and all m3 owners. Dont get me wrong farewell

[@ShopLifeTV]

😂 I hate it too, once it’s running as it should, we will get it sorted. Already have a new top for it that needs to be installed as well.

[@donaldwashington9017]

Stop doing figure 8's

[@ShopLifeTV]

😂

[@m5p944]

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with diff making grinding noise when making sharp turns in slow speeds. It’s called limited slip diff for a reason. All M models specially E9x is notoriously known for that.