Two quick questions about diff oil change

[02Pilot]

I was about to change the diff oil on my car when I realized that I didn't have the properly sized allen socket for the plugs. Does anyone know the size off the top of their head? (I'm still waiting for my Bentley manual.)

Second, the fill plug seems quite low on the diff compared with other BMW diffs I've encountered. Is there a special procedure for filling it, or is the oil level really supposed to be that low?

Thanks, guys.

[swiftpete]

its a 14mm allen. I filled til it started dribbling out of the fill hole, put the bolt back in and started driving. No probs! The smell of the oil did make me heave though and I nearly vomited when i got some on my t shirt and drove around smelling it.

[02Pilot]

Thanks. I'll make sure I hold my breath through the entire procedure so as not to induce hurlage.

[swiftpete]

:)

[landcruisermike]

The only good thing about the stench of gear lube is that you know for sure when you have a leak. Your nose knows.

[applecran]

i put my car on ramps on the same side as the fill hole and left it on the ground on the other side, having the tilt allowed me to get just a bit more oil in there, just to make sure.

I also bought a 17mm allen for the tranny because bently said that iwould need it, did not need it, now i have a 20 dollar allen key that i may never use.

[BlackSapphire]

This would have been a good purchase for you:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93193

Hard to beat for $15 bux.

[applecran]

This would have been a good purchase for you:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93193

Hard to beat for $15 bux.

Yes that would have been great, unfortunatley not a singel automotive or hardware store had any ratchet allen sets, would have made things much easier.