e46 Diff clicking.

Maz · 9 Oct 2011 at 14:24

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.

[TW]Fox · 9 Oct 2011 at 15:19

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

toyotacelicagt4 · 9 Oct 2011 at 15:22

Or could be rear trailing arm bushes. My 325i had the same symptoms and turned out to be the bushes.

shoes · 9 Oct 2011 at 16:36

Weld it. Have fun

daveydave · 9 Oct 2011 at 16:51

As per Fox's post, are you sure it's the diff? I was always under the impression diffs 'whine' rather than 'click' when failing or requiring oil.

Lashout_UK · 9 Oct 2011 at 16:52

Clicking is generally attributed to worn CV joints.

Conanius · 9 Oct 2011 at 18:04

And whilst its a totally different car, s2000 click when the hub nuts need tightening. Have you checked the oil level in the diff?

paradigm · 9 Oct 2011 at 18:06

I imagine that it will be the propshaft donut, as per fox's post.

Common problem, had it on both the e36 325i, and the e46 330d.

Dabbles · 9 Oct 2011 at 18:27

Would this also happen with the rear sub frame breaking?

paradigm · 9 Oct 2011 at 20:12

Dabbles said:
Would this also happen with the rear sub frame breaking?

It does, yes, but it's a more pronounced thud as opposed to a clicking. You will also feel it through the chassis.

It's a common problem on early e36 6-pots and on early e46 6-pots, but not with facelifts of either.

Maz · 9 Oct 2011 at 22:08

[TW]Fox;20260962 said:
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.

nucastle · 9 Oct 2011 at 22:42

My e46 M3 had a 'clonk' from the diff every time you changed gear and put the gas on, unless you were VERY careful with it (yeah right).

It did my head in LOADS, since it was my first ever 'fast' car, but it wasnt anything more than an annoyance and a known issue.

Apparently a change of diff oil (which they once said never needed to get done, but they now include it in their condition based servicing) can fix it.

Expensive mind, so it's a case of whether or not you can be bothered with the outlay, for the fact it aint causing any proper damage.