e46 Diff clicking.

[Maz]

Afternoon Fellas.

Quick question, we have a E46 320d Touring on an 05 done about 51k miles.

When engaging any forward motion or backward motion there is a click coming from the diff.

Replacement of the diff is big bucks, I'm wondering if anyone knows of such a place that will recondition the original diff?

I'm reluctant to put a used diff in the car because of the possibility that it might be worse than this one, the click is annoying but not unbearable.

 

[Maz]

Are you sure its coming from the diff? A common failure is the propshaft centre bearing. This goes 'clunk' when you take up power.

We've already had the propshaft taken to a specialist who found nothing wrong with it and there really wasn't any play from that bearing, we then had someone operate forward and reverse gears whilst someone was under the car on the ramp narrowing down where the noise is coming from.

Defo not from the gearbox end, can't be the propshaft and the noise is defo coming from the diff.

Reading the USA bm forums apparently it's a common problem for there to be a little play on the splines on the input shaft going into the diff, they recommend putting some form of thread lock on the splines.

The click isn't a constant clicking, it clicks when changing rotation or accelerating after lift off.

The rear sub frame and all bushes look to be in good order and there is no play in them at all.

The guibo is also in excellent condition and there was no play at all in any off the fitting bolts.