Driver side differential flange popped out?

[MathewM3]

Noticed an oil leak by the driver side flange. Got underneath the car to replace whatever needed to be replaced and realized that the flange was loose and coming out of the differential.


Turns out that the "Flange Snap Ring" was no longer attached to the output flange, instead, to my surprise, sitting inside the differential where it is supposed to lock the output flange into the differential?

Obviously, I need to replace the snap ring (33141206439).

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id=BL93-USA-04-2002-E46-BMW-M3&mg=33&sg=05&diagId=33_1065&q=33141206439

The flange itself seems to be in good shape. no damage as far as I can tell.

I drained the oil and it is free of metal shavings.

See attached pictures of the parts.

Is it anything else I need to consider?

Has anyone seen this before?


Matt

[sapote]

Noticed an oil leak by the driver side flange. Got underneath the car to replace whatever needed to be replaced and realized that the flange was loose and coming out of the differential.


Turns out that the "Flange Snap Ring" was no longer attached to the output flange, instead, to my surprise, sitting inside the differential where it is supposed to lock the output flange into the differential?

Obviously, I need to replace the snap ring (33141206439).

It's normal for the lock ring to stay inside the diff, not on the output flange. The ring to provide a detent action, not a locking action, as the output flange can be pulled out any time with a little force.

You need to investigate why the driveshaft pulled the flange out, not why the ring didn't lock the flange.

[MathewM3]

It's normal for the lock ring to stay inside the diff, not on the output flange. The ring to provide a detent action, not a locking action, as the output flange can be pulled out any time with a little force.

You need to investigate why the driveshaft pulled the flange out, not why the ring didn't lock the flange.

As far as I could see everything looked normal except for the oil leak. The differential was rebuilt awhile back and has probably around 1K miles on it.

I am not sure what to look for.

Any input welcome

[bigjae46]

Possible that the stub wasn’t seated correctly.