E36 328 diff bolt snapped

[redlined]

Well this is something i have never heard of before.

Was driving about on saturday when i decided to give it quite a hard time round a corner...the next thing i hear was a weird sort of vibrating noise.....ok i'l back off then. Car still drove fine, just noticed a clocking coming from the diff....nice i thought,that will probably be a diff bush just about to go or a worn prop shaft.
I got it up on the trusty axel stands and found that i had managed to snap the main bolt which holds it to the chassis (there's a big bracket coming off of the chassis,which the diff bolts onto). This is where i am now like

I assume this must have been caused by someone not doing the bolt up tight in the first place, or my car could have had a worn bush and just gave up.

So any way,the bolt has sheered off inside the diff and i cant get anything in the space to attempt to get it out.
I'm now going to have to take the diff out (which doesn't look too bad) and go from there.

I was going to attempt it a min ago as i have just got in from work....but its started raining...maybe tomorrow!

So i just thought i would share this with you lot and i know your probably thinking "oh he drives like a w*nker he deserves it" but i dont,i just drive it hard, like alot of you im sure. I have seen people treat these cars like arsehole's in the past though, esapecially seeing people rag there cars when they have a nice cold engine. anyway...

Just like to know if anyone has heard of this before.

Thanks

dave

[r5gttgaz]

Has the diff oil ever been changed?

[redlined]

I would assume so, its got full bmw service history. That wouldn't cause the bolt to snap anyway because the diff runs fine, unless you know something i dont?

Cheers

[MitchT]

redlined said:

So i just thought i would share this with you lot and i know your probably thinking "oh he drives like a w*nker he deserves it" but i dont,i just drive it hard, like alot of you im sure.

Given that it's suppsed to be the 'ultimate driving machine' I for one would be more inclined to think you were a w*nker if you weren't giving it some beans every now and then!

[redlined]

MitchT said:

redlined said:

So i just thought i would share this with you lot and i know your probably thinking "oh he drives like a w*nker he deserves it" but i dont,i just drive it hard, like alot of you im sure.

Given that it's suppsed to be the 'ultimate driving machine' I for one would be more inclined to think you were a w*nker if you weren't giving it some beans every now and then!

I thought i read it wrong then, glad to see someone else has the right attitude

Still havent had the chance to take the diff out. It's a shame because we should be expecting snow tomorrow (well apparently). I will just have to settle for the van instead!!

[peaktorque]

redlined said:

MitchT said:

redlined said:

So i just thought i would share this with you lot and i know your probably thinking "oh he drives like a w*nker he deserves it" but i dont,i just drive it hard, like alot of you im sure.

Given that it's suppsed to be the 'ultimate driving machine' I for one would be more inclined to think you were a w*nker if you weren't giving it some beans every now and then!

I thought i read it wrong then, glad to see someone else has the right attitude

Still havent had the chance to take the diff out. It's a shame because we should be expecting snow tomorrow (well apparently). I will just have to settle for the van instead!!

You will be fine in the snow in the "Kangoo" Dave, it has skinny wheels that will slice through the snow!