Freel2,

I wanted to share what I found with respect to my rear differential magnet.


First here is my magnet for my rear differential fill plug on my LR2





Wiping off the steel particles on a white sheet of paper





Next I wanted to share what I found in my other car's rear differential (2015 328i)






And again wiping off on the same piece of white paper





The comparison is not apples to apples

The LR2 magnet had been cleaned many times and the 328i magnet had never been cleaned.

I did another check a few thousand miles after cleaning and the particles captured by the magnet are similar.

So it's not just Land Rover differentials that are problematic.


Because of this message board my LR2 is still running on the original differential pinion bearing and my 328i is fine as well.

Thanks and take care

Paul

PS the take away is that the magnet on the fill plug is essential for longer bearing life.

Last edited by p_gill on 6th Aug 2019 4:55 pm. Edited 1 time in total

I've corrected your last line. I don't think any of us get "long" bearing life in the diff.

PS the take away is that the magnet on the fill plug is essential for longer bearing life. MY13 Santorini Black SD4 HSE

Agreed

A longer bearing life.

I was surprised that my BMW also had a lot of metal particles in the diff oil.


For my LR2 here is the history of my Pinion bearing on my Rear Diff

For reference (approximate mileage)

40,000 miles I first hear the noise of the bearing the dealer indicates that they can't duplicate the problem

50,000 miles warranty ends, I change the fluid in the differential (the old fluid is full of small air bubbles, it should have been changed sooner)

55,000 miles I place a strong magnet on the fill bolt of the differential (some magnetic particles are attracted to the bolt)

80,000 miles switch to a drain plug with the magnet built in (clean periodically to remove magnetic particles)

90,000 miles the drain plug magnet is nearly free of magnetic particles

116,000 miles and the magnet appears to have made all of the difference (Steel particles are still being generated but the rate is not increasing)

Someday I will have to change my rear differential

Take care

Paul

Ours is still on the original diff at 115K mile..........that’s it, I’ve b0ll0cked it now!  Regards

David

Lovely i6 has now gone, but not me......

Please let me know if anything in my post offends you, as I may wish to offend you again......

Probably.

Mine went at 85K miles with the PTU 5K later. I probably helped it on its way by driving dirt tracks around Europe. MY13 Santorini Black SD4 HSE

I can say this now as I have sold the car so I can't jinks it.

Mine had the nose bearing done at the first service in 2009 (Thanks Guy Salmon Stockport), it then was still working fine at 185k miles, so they can last.
Granted a drain plug was fitted at 50k and the oil changed every service Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner