Front Differentials BMW X5 E53

IDENTIFICATION

CHASSIS & ENGINE IDENTIFICATION

DESCRIPTION & OPERATION

The front axle differential transfers power from the front drive shaft to the front axle shafts. Manufacturer recommends replacing entire unit if differential is faulty.

LUBRICATION

CAPACITY

FLUID CAPACITY

FLUID TYPE

Use SAF-XO fluid.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

Note. See appropriate table in TROUBLE SHOOTING article in GENERAL INFORMATION.

Removal

1. Lower front axle support. See appropriate SUSPENSION article.
2. Disconnect battery, grounding strap to body.
3. Lift engine hood into assembly position. Gently raise retaining clip and simultaneously push upwards. Hold engine hood and unhook damper on hood. Open hood fully and reattach damper with special tool (51 2 170) to hood. (Scheme 1)
4. Detach sealing strips (1). (Scheme 2)
5. Turn toggles approximately 90 degrees. (Scheme 3)
6. Lift out cover (1). Unfasten screws and pull out heater bulkhead (2). (Scheme 4)
7. On M54 vehicles, remove cover for fuel injectors. Remove upper section of suction filter housing with mass air flow sensor.
8. On M62 vehicles, remove acoustic cover by turning fasteners 90 degrees counterclockwise.
9. On M54 vehicles, assemble special tool (00 0 200) and special tool (00 0 201/202/204/208) and attach. Secure special tool (11 0 020) to special tool (00 0 200). (Scheme 5)
10. On M62 vehicles, assemble special tool (00 0 200) and special tool (00 0 201/202/204/208) and attach. Secure special tool (11 0 200) to special tool (00 0 200). (Scheme 6)
11. On all vehicles, secure special tool (11 0 020) or (11 0 200) to front and rear engine suspension eyes. The supports (1) of special tool (00 0 208) must make contact with the screws on the side walls. (Scheme 7)
12. Tighten down screws (1 and 2). (Scheme 8)
13. Release nuts at top on right and left engine mounts.
14. Using special tool (00 0 200), raise engine approximately.2 inches (5 mm) on M54 vehicles or.4-.5 inches (10-12 mm) on M62 vehicles.
15. On all vehicles, unscrew bolts (1 and 2) and remove reinforcement plate. (Scheme 9)
16. Remove front splash guard.
17. Remove front drive shaft. See «FRONT DRIVE SHAFT»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials).
18. Unfasten steering spindle from steering gear. See appropriate POWER STEERING article.
19. Remove left and right swivel bearings and axle shafts as a unit. It is not necessary to press axle shaft out of drive flange. See appropriate AXLE SHAFTS article.
20. Support front axle support with special tool (00 2 030) together with special tool (31 2 220) and a block of wood. (Scheme 10)
21. Detach front axle support from engine carrier. Screw in special tool (31 1 150) in place of original screws approximately.8 inches (20 mm) and lower front axle support. (Scheme 11)
22. Remove left engine mount.
23. Detach vent hose (1). (Scheme 12)
24. Release screws (1) and remove front axle differential. Carefully feed out differential towards bottom. (Scheme 13)

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

Scheme 6

Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

Scheme 10

Scheme 11

Scheme 12

Scheme 13

Installation

1. Coat new sealing ring (1) with anti-friction agent and insert in groove. (Scheme 14)
2. Push on assembly ring (1) up to sealing ring. (Scheme 15)
3. Install front axle differential on the oil sump. The assembly ring is forced over the sealing ring and remains fitted. The assembly ring ensures that the sealing ring is not damaged when the front axle differential is installed on the engine oil sump.
4. Tighten axle differential screws to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials__torque-specifications).
5. Installation is reverse of removal.
6. When installing heater bulkhead, check rubber seals and replace if necessary. Coat rubber seals with rubber protection coating agent. Heater bulkhead is guided at sides by guide channels. Clean guide channels and coat with rubber protection coating agent.
7. There is no need to perform a front axle alignment check.
8. Open filler plug (1) and check fluid level in front axle differential. Fluid level should be to lower edge of filler plug. Replace sealing ring. (Scheme 16)
9. Tighten filler plug to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials__torque-specifications).

Scheme 14

Scheme 15

Scheme 16

Removal & Installation

1. Unfasten screws. (Scheme 17)
2. Push drive shaft back. Remove flexible disk with centering flange. (Scheme 18)
3. Remove drive shaft from transfer case. (Scheme 19)
4. Check centering mount (1). (Scheme 20)
5. Replace centering mount if necessary. Grease centering mount.
6. Check sealing ring and replace if necessary. (Scheme 21)
7. Fit flexible disk in such a way that arrows point to flange arms. (Scheme 22)
8. Installation is reverse of removal. Tighten all screws to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials__torque-specifications).

Scheme 17

Scheme 18

Scheme 19

Scheme 20

Scheme 21

Scheme 22

1. Remove front drive shaft. See «FRONT DRIVE SHAFT»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials).
2. Lift out retaining plate (1). Mark position of nut with respect to shaft with punch marks. (Scheme 23)
3. Brace drive flange with special tool (23 0 020) and release nut. (Scheme 24)
4. Pull drive flange off drive shaft with special tool (33 1 150). (Scheme 25)
5. Use a screwdriver (2) to lever radial seal (1) out of front axle differential housing. (Scheme 26)
6. Coat sealing lips of new radial seal and drive firmly home with special tool (31 5 130). (Scheme 27)
7. Clean drive flange and attach. Tighten down nut until punch marks on nut and shaft match up. Install new retaining plate. (Scheme 23)
8. Install front drive shaft. See «FRONT DRIVE SHAFT»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials).
9. Check front axle differential fluid level. Fluid level should be to lower edge of filler plug. Replace sealing ring. (Scheme 16) Tighten filler plug to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/bmw/x5/e53-1999-2003/remont/differentials-drive-axles/#front-differentials__torque-specifications).

Scheme 23

Scheme 24

Scheme 25

Scheme 26

Scheme 27

DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY

Manufacturer recommends replacing differential assembly as a unit.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Scheme 28

Scheme 29

Scheme 30

Scheme 31

Scheme 32

See also:
• FLUID TYPE
• FRONT DRIVE SHAFT
• TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS