XSeries-forum

As the auto box is a GM i am assuming BMW also bought in the diffs rather than design & manufacture themselves??

Anyone know the OEM for them if that is the case.

Also where can parts be obtained from rather than just general replacement????

As far as I recall the front diff is a VAG ( volkswagen audi group ) diff .
I have info somewhere but don`t know when I`ll have time to search .
rear diff may be usual bmw supplier , not sure on that .

[quote=""amacman""]As far as I recall the front diff is a VAG ( volkswagen audi group ) diff .
I have info somewhere but don`t know when I`ll have time to search .
rear diff may be usual bmw supplier , not sure on that .[/quote]

Are you saying it's made by VAG, or are you saying VAG and BMW both get them from the same 3rd party company?

The E53 front diffs were made by the Dana Corporation in the US from at least 2004 and possibly earlier, can't tell you if they made them or 'assembled' them from supplied part kits. If you can, get under the car and see if there is a factory label or mark in the case casting for the rears? It's possible that the rear may also be a Dana unit.

I can't remember how much of the X5 is covered with protective shields (the X6 is completely enclosed underneath and has a ZF/GKN Driveline system at the back).

Front diff is a VAG174 . I think the V is the German word vorderachse meaning front .
Rear diff is a HAG188K . I think the H is the German word hinterachse meaning rear .
see pages 28-30 on attached document

Drivetrain-Final Drives
The final drives for the front and rear axles are conventional differentials. The DSC system
provides anti-spin/slip control for both the front and rear axles on the X5.
The rear differential is the HAG 188K
(compact) unit with a ratio of 3.64 : 1
The front differential is the VAG 174
unit with a ratio of 3.64 : 1.
26530006
26530007

http://www.bawarec.ru/manuals/x5/e53/ma ... e53-10.pdf

I can`t say who actually manufactures the diffs .