[casdm9901]

So, my front diff decided to blow up from the inside out. Maybe this is why I haven’t liked the AWD so far - lol. Honestly, I consider myself pretty in tune to issues going on with my cars but I must have really missed some warning signs. I heard no noise, no fluid leaking, no vibrations. Just an explosion going maybe 15 to 25 mph.

My question for the AWD experts is can I expect this to have caused any other issues in the drive train? The shop said it could have cracked the oil pan but they felt that was not likely. There is no way for them to tell though without $500 of work to pull everything in that area apart. They are going to clean up the fluids and try to run a scope to see if they can tell anything but there are no promises of course.

I find it really hard to believe that this thing blew up bad enough to blow a hole in it without causing other issues…

[AWD Addict]

This is some crazy carnage. You're scaring me.

[Suvorovo]

Do you have manual transmission? I have a 3.23 front diff, and out of curiosity, I found it VERY difficult to source. It's probably cheaper to swap out both for different ratios than source just the front diff.

Luckily, the previous owner was on top of fluid changes and when I did it again at 120k miles, it came out mint.

[AWD Addict]

It's too bad there aren't great upgrade options for that. I'd love to upgrade that little bugger.

[casdm9901]

Originally Posted by AWD Addict

This is some crazy carnage. You're scaring me.

You’re telling me. Never experienced anything like this without some sort of warning sign. Even the mechanic was stumped. They originally thought I hit something in the road when they first saw it. I’m pretty sure I would have known that lol.

Will know more in a week or so when they start tearing into it. I still find it hard to believe something like this could happen and not damage anything else in the area.

[casdm9901]

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

Do you have manual transmission? I have a 3.23 front diff, and out of curiosity, I found it VERY difficult to source. It's probably cheaper to swap out both for different ratios than source just the front diff.

Luckily, the previous owner was on top of fluid changes and when I did it again at 120k miles, it came out mint.

Yes I have a manual. They were able to source one seemingly pretty easily from BMW but I haven’t decided what direction I’m going to go yet (upgrades vs stock). Replacing it is definitely going to be $$$

[Suvorovo]

Originally Posted by casdm9901

Yes I have a manual. They were able to source one seemingly pretty easily from BMW but I haven’t decided what direction I’m going to go yet (upgrades vs stock). Replacing it is definitely going to be $$$

Sorry, just clarifying, yeah you can buy them new for $1500-$2200, but all the used ones are for auto trans.

[Brian86]

I'd be surprised if anything else was damaged, so long as you didn't drive very long in that condition.

Check out:

www.car-part.com

I just pulled a rear carrier for for my 325xi MT about 2 months ago from a local salvage yard in western PA. I'd imagine the front one is still on the car.

They are less common, but definitely still out there.

I doubt the driveshaft is damaged. In the unlikely chance it needs half-shafts, I've had a set of el-cheapo GSP Chinese front halfshafts on the car for 70k. They are fine for daily driving.

[Suvorovo]

Originally Posted by Brian86

I'd be surprised if anything else was damaged, so long as you didn't drive very long in that condition.

Check out:

www.car-part.com

I just pulled a rear carrier for for my 325xi MT about 2 months ago from a local salvage yard in western PA. I'd imagine the front one is still on the car.

They are less common, but definitely still out there.

I doubt the driveshaft is damaged. In the unlikely chance it needs half-shafts, I've had a set of el-cheapo GSP Chinese front halfshafts on the car for 70k. They are fine for daily driving.

How'd you search for xdrive parts? Seems like the selection only filters RWD

[Brian86]

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

How'd you search for xdrive parts? Seems like the selection only filters RWD

Just punch in your VIN number.

It's a software package licensed to salvage yards, so it can be hit-or-miss depending on how well any individual yard inventories their cars.

Use your VIN number, and select 'carrier' as the part. Next screen will allow you to select front/rear MT/AT.

Car-part will cross reference against the VIN numbers sitting in junk yards. Then give the yard a call to ask about availability and condition.


I just did a search around western PA and found 11 units within 250 miles. The one at Marsh's is probably still the same donor car that provided me with a rear carrier back in December.

-----------------Ninja Edit

The normal disclaimer, do your homework. Car-part is pretty good but I wouldn't trust them 100%. You should have 3.38 ratios. Real OEM was a little ambiguous.

A 325xi MT should have the same ratios as any 325 MT or 328xi MT up to a certain year.