BMW differential: Filling Plug removal

[PINGUY]

Anyone already tried to remove the filling plug on a BMW Diff, while Diff is on the car ?
It's very close to De Dion Tube, I wonder if it's possible to remove the plug ?

[downsman]

I have the Ford diff, so I don't know the answer, but how much clearance do you have when the weight is off the back wheels?

[PINGUY]

Do not know exactly but not more than approx. 2 cm.

It depends on how long the plug is.....

[amk]

hi, yes,
the plug is a 14mm allen key, but you can esily find a bolt head that is the right size to fit it. I got an appropriate bolt, tapped a hole through a piece of scrap steel flat bar, put the bolt thru, cut off the exess thread and tack welded it, giving me a ultra low profile spanner. After id done this i realised a simpler way is just to cut down the thread of the bolt with a saw, then file 2 flats on either side so you can just turn it with mole grips or a spanner. you only need the spanner for the tightening/loosening - the rest of the thread on the filler plug is only finger tight.

cheers
adam

[PINGUY]

amk said:

hi, yes,
the plug is a 14mm allen key, but you can esily find a bolt head that is the right size to fit it. I got an appropriate bolt, tapped a hole through a piece of scrap steel flat bar, put the bolt thru, cut off the exess thread and tack welded it, giving me a ultra low profile spanner. After id done this i realised a simpler way is just to cut down the thread of the bolt with a saw, then file 2 flats on either side so you can just turn it with mole grips or a spanner. you only need the spanner for the tightening/loosening - the rest of the thread on the filler plug is only finger tight.

cheers
adam

My question was not, if there is enough space to put a key in the nut.
My question is, on a Seven with BMW Diff, if there is enough space between the diff filling nut and the De Dion Tube, to be able to unscrew and remove the plug before the plug head is touching the De Dion.

Anybody tried ??

Edited by PINGUY on Thursday 22 March 20:21