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      09-02-2020, 05:41 PM   #111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
Just check part numbers on the service invoice afterwards, or go to a good dealer. I've personally never had any bad experiences with my dealer and I really hate dealerships.

Also if you don't let them do the run in service you have to make sure you deactivate the run in feature yourself. Also you're gonna have a difficult time getting warranty in the future.
Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be careful with my steps and documentation for sure, but at this point I've had enough problems with dealers from all brands that I feel more at ease wrenching my own cars.

Performance tuning shops though, are different. Folks who run such shops are usually just as picky if not more so than owners. I trust them to do things I can't do on my own.
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      09-02-2020, 05:49 PM   #112
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Originally Posted by KillerExcessive View Post
Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be careful with my steps and documentation for sure, but at this point I've had enough problems with dealers from all brands that I feel more at ease wrenching my own cars.

Performance tuning shops though, are different. Folks who run such shops are usually just as picky if not more so than owners. I trust them to do things I can't do on my own.
No problem, but be aware that they will still hassle you regardless of documentation.

Tbh just find a good sa and request them to use all the proper fluids. My sa is quite knowledgeable and she always puts my feedback onto the service order so the correct fluids are always used. Plus my dealer is actually quite good so I'm not worried.
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      09-09-2020, 03:20 PM   #113
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Got the correct diff fluid put in today. They said they strongly assumed it was a typo on my service sheet, but seeing as how it was 3 years ago there was no way to check and be sure. Fortunately, they decided to change it anyway just to be safe (without me having to put my foot down). Wouldn't have checked my break in service work order if it wasn't for this thread so a big thank you to everyone here for making me paranoid, lol. Hopefully my diff doesn't implode in the near future.
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      09-09-2020, 03:53 PM   #114
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Originally Posted by AndrewC1989 View Post
Got the correct diff fluid put in today. They said they strongly assumed it was a typo on my service sheet, but seeing as how it was 3 years ago there was no way to check and be sure. Fortunately, they decided to change it anyway just to be safe (without me having to put my foot down). Wouldn't have checked my break in service work order if it wasn't for this thread so a big thank you to everyone here for making me paranoid, lol. Hopefully my diff doesn't implode in the near future.
Glad they didn't hassle you, what oil did they put in for you SAF-XJ?


Also a side note I'm going to be doing a differential fluid flush in a few days time so I will take pictures of the MSP/A bottle for anyone that is interested.
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      09-09-2020, 03:57 PM   #115
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post

Glad they didn't hassle you, what oil did they put in for you SAF-XJ?


Also a side note I'm going to be doing a differential fluid flush in a few days time so I will take pictures of the MSP/A bottle for anyone that is interested.
Worksheet says 83-22-2-357-992
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      09-09-2020, 04:00 PM   #116
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Worksheet says 83-22-2-357-992
Ah SAF-XJ. Not technically the bmw specified fluid, but it was indeed the correct fluid before BMW made the switch so you should be fine.
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      09-09-2020, 04:30 PM   #117
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What are you guys being charged for diff fluid service at the dealer? I'm pretty sure I got quoted something ridiculous like $340.
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      09-09-2020, 04:40 PM   #118
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What are you guys being charged for diff fluid service at the dealer? I'm pretty sure I got quoted something ridiculous like $340.
I just diy, because it is really really simple just a drain and fill until it over flows. You don't even need a lift, just grab some wood and that will give you enough clearance.
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      09-09-2020, 05:07 PM   #119
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When and where is it acceptable to 'grab some wood' when conducting 'servicing'?

Asking for a friend...
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      09-09-2020, 05:12 PM   #120
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When and where is it acceptable to 'grab some wood' when conducting 'servicing'?

Asking for a friend...
Lolololol, no comment.


But what I meant was some 2x4 wooden boards.
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      09-10-2020, 12:53 PM   #121
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For any of you guys that are interested in what real (since there are alot of weird looking bottles online with weird part numbers attached as well) MSP/A looks like here are some pictures of a 1L bottle I picked up at the dealer.


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Last edited by F87source; 09-10-2020 at 01:24 PM..
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      09-22-2020, 07:26 PM   #122
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Changed my trans (MTF-LT-5) & diff (MSP/A) a couple of days ago @ 66500km. Immediately noticed it was smoother going into gears (can really feel it with the bronze linkage bushings of the Auto Solutions SSK). It's a simple diy so will do the next earlier @ 40K
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      09-25-2020, 02:39 PM   #123
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Seems like it's sold here as well: https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...3-22-2-365-988 , has anyone bought from this retailer before?

Last edited by KillerExcessive; 09-25-2020 at 03:07 PM..
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      09-25-2020, 03:44 PM   #124
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerExcessive View Post
Seems like it's sold here as well: https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...3-22-2-365-988 , has anyone bought from this retailer before?
I've never bought anything from those guys.

But what I have also noticed is that the USA products like MTF and diff oil are relabeled to a "USA" format with different stickers and such and I believe made in USA as well, while all Canadian products like MTF and MSP/A are all as is from Germany with the German labels and made in Germany and such. This is weird because I thought we all used the same products but now I think there are variations despite similar product numbers.
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      09-25-2020, 03:52 PM   #125
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
I've never bought anything from those guys.

But what I have also noticed is that the USA products like MTF and diff oil are relabeled to a "USA" format with different stickers and such and I believe made in USA as well, while all Canadian products like MTF and MSP/A are all as is from Germany with the German labels and made in Germany and such. This is weird because I thought we all used the same products but now I think there are variations despite similar product numbers.
Might be some import/export regulations designed to promote domestic production/consumption, or something along those lines.

Either way, I'm sure I'll find a way to get my hands on the exact correct oil.
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      09-25-2020, 03:56 PM   #126
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Not to keep beating a dead horse, but during my research, I'm astounded by how many break-in procedures were done with the wrong diff fluid, just check out the order sheets throughout the thread:

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1007985

Put that together with the thread below this one on vibrations: https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1492544, and it makes for a hilariously maddening reality.

One of the most expensive consumer products damaged by what is possibly one of the simplest and most basic procedures.

Last edited by KillerExcessive; 09-25-2020 at 04:03 PM..
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      09-25-2020, 04:03 PM   #127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerExcessive View Post
Might be some import/export regulations designed to promote domestic production/consumption, or something along those lines.

Either way, I'm sure I'll find a way to get my hands on the exact correct oil.
Maybe, I really do not know.

If you live close to the Canadian boarder you could just buy it from Canada, or you can use a reshipping service and the BMW Canada online shop.

Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerExcessive View Post
Not to keep beating a dead horse, but during my research, I'm astounded by how many break-in procedures were done with the wrong diff fluid, just check out the order sheets:

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1007985

Put that together with the thread below this one on vibrations: https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1492544, and it makes for a hilariously maddening reality.

One of the most expensive consumer products damaged by what is possibly one of the simplest and most basic procedures.
If they are using SAF-XO or SAF-XJ + FM then yeah that is the wrong oil, if they are in the USA and using SAF-XJ that is fine because that is the only diff oil available in US bmw dealers which is unfortunate.


But yeah it is unfortunate they keep messing up such a simple job.
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      09-25-2020, 04:12 PM   #128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
Maybe, I really do not know.

If you live close to the Canadian boarder you could just buy it from Canada, or you can use a reshipping service and the BMW Canada online shop.
Good point. Gonna try calling up Vancouver and see if I can get a bottled mailed to me.


Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
If they are using SAF-XO or SAF-XJ + FM then yeah that is the wrong oil, if they are in the USA and using SAF-XJ that is fine because that is the only diff oil available in US bmw dealers which is unfortunate.


But yeah it is unfortunate they keep messing up such a simple job.
At the end of the day, I guess it's a tough problem to solve. It's a high performance part that naturally will only ever be a very small segment of a technician's training, and designing in higher tolerances in the diff for non-spec oils is not a cost effective engineering task. And then lastly, not everyone notices a problem.

It is what it is.
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      09-25-2020, 10:07 PM   #129
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Originally Posted by KillerExcessive View Post
Good point. Gonna try calling up Vancouver and see if I can get a bottled mailed to me.




At the end of the day, I guess it's a tough problem to solve. It's a high performance part that naturally will only ever be a very small segment of a technician's training, and designing in higher tolerances in the diff for non-spec oils is not a cost effective engineering task. And then lastly, not everyone notices a problem.

It is what it is.
Yeah call around to a few different Canadian dealers, some might some might not. I recommend calling dealers in Alberta to avoid provincial sales taxes.


In regards to oil mix ups, technicians should look at ista and follow it more carefully. There literally is no excuse for a mistake unless they decide to go from memory.
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      09-27-2020, 09:11 AM   #130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerExcessive View Post
Seems like it's sold here as well: https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...3-22-2-365-988 , has anyone bought from this retailer before?
I got my M2C mirrors from them. 0 issues.
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      01-18-2021, 01:25 AM   #131
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was anyone able to test the different oils to see what was added/removed? if every car in the US is filled with XJ fluid, there would be a lot of problems by now if it were not up to spec right?
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      01-18-2021, 02:45 AM   #132
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was anyone able to test the different oils to see what was added/removed? if every car in the US is filled with XJ fluid, there would be a lot of problems by now if it were not up to spec right?
This is how I think of it, the old SAF-XJ was used prior to the diff recall without too many issues. But after the large amount of diff failures and the whole recall fiasco bmw updated the fluid spec to MSP/A. There are a few reasons why, I believe it was to help dealers not confuse SAF-XJ for the newer E diffs with SAF-XJ + FM on the older E9X m3's that would kill the new gen diffs if mis used, because dealers tend to think M cars all use the same stuff. The second thing I think occured with the fluid change was a slight different formulation as the fluids have a different viscosity, maybe it has a more robust additive package - I am not sure unless people do VOA's on both oils (VOA being virgin oil analysis).

Overall IMO if you can get MSP/A that is the way to go, if not then use SAF-XJ, and make sure your dealer did not do a colossal mess up and fill with SAF-XJ + FM or even worse SAF-XO (for open diff cars).
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