Went in for an oil change last week and the dealership recommended a Coolant flush and to replace my rear differential fluid. I have an 04 coupe with 50K never had a coolant flush, but had my rear differential fluid changed at 25K. Should I get this done?

If I were to do this myself what brand of fluids should I use?

Peter

 

My dealer has told me it is 5 year coolant in the car from the factory and contrary to the info in the owners service manual does not need changing any earlier. I would get the rear diff fluid changed again at your 50K to something synthetic.

 

And IIRC the diff fluid change is not a difficult DIY; I plan to do my own soon as well, and change it to something like this:

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/fgr.aspx

A quick search will also net you plenty of other choices.

 

yes that's top drawer stuff.

Draining it is easy along with cleaning off the plug/magnet. Filling it is a PITA though.

 

A hand pump is the best way to fill.
Here's a DIY (it's a Bimmer but the process is the same)

 

go little diy

 

I have one. I've changed my diff 3 times and my trans twice now with it. I still find it's a messy job.

EDIT:

I obviously need a different type of pump.

 

+1 on the hand pump

Mine had a clear hose long enough for you to pump from the side of the wheel well, so you can lower the jack and have the car leveled.

 

how many quarts or gallons needed?

 

Evidently the one you brought with you when you moved from Winnipeg is not state of the art:



BMW drivers swear by the 'Swedish' one, not sure what that means.

 

have you ever had your coolant drained/filled? flushed is a little different than a drain/fill from what i understand.

as far as the diff, you should be able to find a place to do it for $50+cost of oil...it's easy to do but if you don't want to jack up the car or do the manual pumping, then i would just bring it to someone and fork up the $50 bucks or so

 

That's Sweedish twins that we swear by....
but I guess that could be the same thing

 

From my quick search, looks like 1.5 qts for the diff. Probably buy 2 and take one back if you don't happen to need it. Anybody know the exact amount?

 

got it, around 1.5 quarts for diff. thanks

 

LOL, could have used that at our last home for extra water when our well used to run dry or we had power outages. Moved from the 'Peg 27 years ago.