Don't know part number am I screwed

My bimmer wagon has another models 4.10 limited slip diff on it, not the seals are leaking like a fountain. So I need to change them. The issue is now. I have no idea what model diff comes from. I purchased seals for the model which it was advertised as coming from (Ebay years ago), now I don't know how to go about getting the right ones.

I thought I could use the numbers stamped onto the seals, but OEM.com and Pelican don't recognize them. The Dealer goes by model and specifically your vin.

How can I get the correct part number for this diff? Please help me : )

Take the seal to someone like Bearings and Drives. They should be able to take some measurements off of it and match up one to fit.

Thanks Would I then use a generic seal or try to find it at BMW based on size?

It seems the dealers parts counter is being a little lazy here.

Post some pics and the numbers you have. I'm sure somebody here can cross-reference them.

I would be surprised if BMW made the seals to start with. Tell them what it's going in and they should be able to give you a seal that works as good a OEM. Ask for a USA, German or Japanese made seal. Some of the Chinese made stuff is borderline. I usually ask for Timken stuff. Their quality has always been top notch.

This is not a problem. First thing, need to know what model BMW, you swapped in an LSD 4.10. Then, which seal. You can buy an entire seal kit for the diff, and while you are in there... If it an e30, it is probably all the same seal kit. The only real challenge would be if you did some other parts swaps at the same time.

If it is an e36 my knowledge peters out; but other folks can fill in.

But let us know what you have, and we can tell you where you got it from.

This is where I run into the problem I purchased the lsd from Ebay with a discription that was not accurate. I am sure some breaker had a pile of them and just guessed which car. This is an e34. I am thinking it is a e34 325 diff.

It is the input shaft seal But I will change them all since the diff will be off the car

As I do bit of cross referencing I maybe able to base this on size. Now I am checking the axles flange seals

Timeormoney wrote: This is not a problem. First thing, need to know what model BMW, you swapped in an LSD 4.10. Then, which seal. You can buy an entire seal kit for the diff, and while you are in there... If it an e30, it is probably all the same seal kit. The only real challenge would be if you did some other parts swaps at the same time. If it is an e36 my knowledge peters out; but other folks can fill in. But let us know what you have, and we can tell you where you got it from.

Pull the seal there should be numbers cast in to the rubber. like 65x55x8 would be 65mm OD with 55mm ID and 8mm wide. Go to any bearing distributor house and buy new seals.

44

You should have a medium case diff compatible with e34 - 525i and 535i or e32 735i only.

The 4.10 came in the 89-91 525i with an automatic transmission.

Bam! right on Thanks 44Dwarf. I measure the size of the seals and the numbers matched that. Order the size via Pelican Parts

The everyone you guys are the best. Folks on the Bimmer Forum are kids playing around campared to you guys. Real info real results as usual

44Dwarf wrote: Pull the seal there should be numbers cast in to the rubber. like 65x55x8 would be 65mm OD with 55mm ID and 8mm wide. Go to any bearing distributor house and buy new seals. 44

Toyman01 wrote: Take the seal to someone like Bearings and Drives. They should be able to take some measurements off of it and match up one to fit.

Every Bearing shop I ever visited would look at the seal or bearing, and first look CLOSELY for a manufacturer's number. Sometimes they're very small and in inconvenient places, like between the lips of a double-lip seal, or on the backside (oil-side) of the lips, but they're almost always SOMEplace. BMW prolly didn't make the pieces; it was prolly somebody like Fafnir or FAG or SKF or whoever, under contract to BMW. And it's prolly just a re-box of an existing seal that 'whoever' already has on the shelf, or in the books.

The moral here? There IS an interchange, but it's going to take a counter'person' to look it over and look in their books. Seals are listed by size (3 dimentional size), AND by part number, AND by number of lips. A good counter'person' can use either way, and eliminate 'maybes'. My own approach would be to take it to a Bearings and Drives, and say "Nobody has been able to help me with this, but it just seems there SHOULD be some way....". At that point let the counter'person's' pride in its job take over and let it (counter'person') do its job.

And thank the person when you're done. It'll be appreciated, speaking as a former counter'person'.

Mikey52, thanks for the info and great psycology lesson. Thank you and that makes lots of sense

Mikey52_1 wrote: The moral here? There IS an interchange, but it's going to take a counter'person' to look it over and look in their books. Seals are listed by size (3 dimentional size), AND by part number, AND by number of lips. A good counter'person' can use either way, and eliminate 'maybes'. My own approach would be to take it to a Bearings and Drives, and say "Nobody has been able to help me with this, but it just seems there SHOULD be some way....". At that point let the counter'person's' pride in its job take over and let it (counter'person') do its job. And thank the person when you're done. It'll be appreciated, speaking as a former counter'person'.