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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing / TSBs and Service Bulletin > Confusion with which diff fluid to use
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      01-20-2021, 12:31 AM   #1
dook303
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Confusion with which diff fluid to use

Hi guys,
I have a f32 435ix . Last thing on my maintenance/ tune up is to change diff/transfer case fluids. I've already did the front using LM 75w90 gl5, but finding which rear diff fluid had me guessing. I've read people saying to use redline 75w90 or 75w85 GL4 , fcp says LM 75w90 GL5 can be used front and rear, redlines website says 75w90 GL5, bimmerworld (I think) says to stay with GL4 to be compliant with BMW. Which is it? I have (1) bottle of LM 75w90 GL5 on hand, and (2) bottles redline 75w85 GL5. Can I use GL5 or get GL4 ?

Apologies if this topic comes up often but I've read and searched all over forums, websites and watched YouTube. Lol Much thanks in advance!
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      01-21-2021, 03:40 PM   #2
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Simple answer, ‘officially’ you need to use 75W85 GL-4. But since there seems no real technical reason why BMW switched from GL-5 to GL-4(normally they are not interchangeable), a GL-5 oil will work as well, both 75W85 GL-5 or 75W90 GL-5.

So safest choice: 75W85 GL-4
Probably best choice(from technical point of view): 75W85 GL-5
Cheapest choice: 75W90 GL-5
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      01-21-2021, 03:51 PM   #3
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      01-21-2021, 07:49 PM   #4
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Doing the change tomorrow. Going with redline 75w85 gl5 . Wish me luck. Thanks guys!
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      05-13-2021, 05:56 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dook303 View Post
Doing the change tomorrow. Going with redline 75w85 gl5 . Wish me luck. Thanks guys!
Hey any update on how the car feels after doing both gl-5? will also be doing this next week and ordered both gl-5 without knowing before hand and it might come in after I am done
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      05-16-2021, 03:58 AM   #6
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You will never feel any difference with new or old diff-oils, even with minor different viscosity or GL-spec. Differences, if any, will only present themself in the long run (durability related).
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      06-24-2021, 04:58 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmert View Post
Simple answer, ‘officially’ you need to use 75W85
Strictly speaking, if you got the standard front and rear diffs you need to use the BMW parts as they are the only ones on BMW's list. There is no manufacturer-approved diff oil, unlike engine oil where BMW publishes 3rd-party oils compliant to their LL-XX specs.

Front: BMW/Mini 83 22 2 413 511
Rear: BMW/Mini 83 22 2 295 532

That said, RedLine's 75W-85 explicitly states that product is compatible with above two part numbers. It's one thing to claim compatibility, but its another to be authorized by the car's manufacturer. Vendors like FCP Euro have already blessed this fluid for the rear diff, so take that for what it's worth.

Chemically speaking, the difference is between GL-4 and GL-5 on the rear. The latter has double the sulfur/phosphorous additives of the former, but doing so wreaks havoc on certain metals in transmissions. If you're going to put GL-5 in the rear diff, make sure it wont react to any of the components in the that diff.

https://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf
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