Fees + Services

Fees, Assembly and Repair

Competitive pricing is offered on assembly. Often the cost of assembling a differential plus freight to and from the workshop in Ormeau is equal to the cost to build a differential locally. As it usually won't cost you any more, there is no reason why you can't have the very best differential assembly for your vehicle.

Work Priority

The workshop exists primarily to serve the amateur and semi-professional motorsport community. These customers have priority over customers seeking repairs for road vehicle driveline components. Road vehicle differentials will be moved down the queue if there are upcoming motor racing events and differentials are needed for these events. Servicing and upgrades for road vehicles will proceed when time permits. Delivery times can be guaranteed for race events.

Regarding Quotes

Differentials are not disassembled to provide free quotes on repairs. Due to a heavy workload, only a full rebuild of the differential can be provided. Work can only proceed as a paid job, and repairs are never quoted individually. A complete rebuild is the only service available for a damaged or noisy differential. Partial rebuilds, and quotes on repairs, are not available. The owner of the differential understands that if a differential is sent in, a fully repaired differential will be provided in return and priced according to the customer's requirements. The customer has access to all current pricing online, and work will proceed on that basis. Customers who are receiving a full rebuild are aware of this before sending in the differential. All items in need of remedy are repaired to the highest standard, and work will not be performed any other way. Customers should not send in a differential if they do not want it repaired. Quotes are given on a complete job only, based on certain assumptions about the condition of the differential.

Generally there are no surprises, and the amount charged matches the quoted price. If there is a major discrepancy between the quoted rebuild price and the estimated final cost (for example, the differential has a broken carrier or broken gears), the customer will be notified. In rare situations where the customer receives bad news that a rebuild is not possible, or would be cost-prohibitive, all costs may be waived and the differential disposed of.

Regarding Exchange Differentials

Work is performed on the customer's original differential, or on an exchange basis, at the workshop's discretion. If the original differential cannot be repaired, an exchange differential may be supplied. The broken differential is not returned to the customer in this case — there is never a scenario where a customer orders differential repairs and receives two differentials back. The customer receives an exchange or repaired differential only, and has no rights to receive both. If a used exchange differential is supplied, the broken unit is not returned.

Exchange differentials must be returned within 14 days of the invoice date for that exchange unit, with strictly no exceptions. After 30 days, the customer owns the differential and it is not required back; the deposit will be used to replace the unit that was not returned in a timely manner. If the differential is returned after 30 days no core refund is given since the customer forced a replacement purchase to keep the business running. Freight on exchange differentials is the customer's responsibility, though freight can be organised on request.

Fully Refundable Deposits for Exchange Differentials (no rear cover)

  • E30 / E36 188mm: $700
  • E36 / E39 M3 / M5 210mm: $3,000
  • E46 M3: $2,000
  • F1X/F2X M140/M135i/M235i/M240i: $800
  • F80/F82/F87 M3/M2/M4: $2,000
  • E8X/E9X 135/335: $800

Exchange Differential Procedure

  1. Drain the old differential thoroughly while it is still installed in the vehicle.
  2. Remove the old differential, soak in degreaser and pressure wash.
  3. (Finned differentials only) Remove the rear cover and install onto the new differential with Loctite grey or blue sealant.
  4. Install the new differential and fill with the supplied or recommended oil (most units use 75W140 limited slip). Tighten both plugs.
  5. Completely drain the old differential by placing it upside down, and spray inside with brake cleaner. Allow to dry.
  6. Place the old differential into the box supplied, and strap it to the pallet supplied. The pallet must be returned or a replacement will be charged.
  7. Return the old differential by TNT only, within 14 days. Bookings can be made online without an account.

Fees for Labour inc GST

  • Standard Differential Assembly — $760
  • Differential Assembly with Race Contact Pattern — $860
  • Differential Assembly where customer supplies 25%–100% of parts — $800
  • Differential Assembly where a person has already tried their best to DIY, but has fallen hard on their buttocks instead — POA
  • Standard Ball Bearing Differential Assembly + add drain — $860
  • Ball Bearing Differential Assembly with Race Contact Pattern + add drain — $960
  • BMW 188/215 K/L LSD Centre Swap + Add Drain — $760
  • Standard LSD Installation only (188/210mm) (LSD purchased from us) — $330
  • Standard LSD Installation only (188/210mm) (LSD not purchased from us) — $440
  • Rust Removal + Painting — $185
  • Differential Oil Drain and Disposal — $69
  • Differential Cleaning — $185
  • Differential Cleaning of a disgusting mess of filth and horror — from $185
  • Differential Disassembly and Disposal — $90
  • Re-Stocking Fee — 15% of item's listed value
  • Call Out to any location for immediate assistance — from $220
  • CNC Machining for welded ring gear — $1450

Additional Fee Information

Differentials which are dirty, oily or greasy will attract a cleaning fee. Differentials which are not drained will attract an oil disposal fee. Differentials which are too rusty to work on require a 24-hour rust removal bath and will attract a fee. Removal of a ring and pinion from a differential attracts a small disassembly fee, which includes disposal of the case and other unused items. Items which are special-ordered at the customer's request and are no longer wanted will attract a 15% re-stocking fee. A call-out fee applies for on-site attendance outside normal deliveries. Deliveries can be made at any time during business hours.

Free packaging is offered for freight, with no handling charges. Differentials are plastic wrapped, bubble wrapped, with protective foam added on the cooling fins, all free of charge. Courier pickups of differentials can also be organised at no extra charge on top of the freight cost.

Assembly Time

Custom differentials which require CNC machine work take longer than standard differential builds which don't require CNC machine work. These are 135i 6 spd Auto + Manual, 235i Manual, 335i Manual and 435i Manual. Any other differentials with welded crown gears (F2X 125i/135i/140i/235i/240i, F8X M2/M3/M4, E82 135i DCT) have longer lead times. Often these are available on exchange for an immediate change-over. If they aren't, they are processed in batches and may take 2-3 weeks before the batch is complete. The 188L and 215K sized differentials fitted with Superlock LSDs are generally kept in stock for immediate exchange. Customers will be informed up-front if there is no exchange differential available. Once work has begun on a differential, there is no way to re-assemble the unit after the ring gear has been cut off the carrier — work must proceed with the LSD fitment in order to make the differential functional again. There is no financial compensation available if a customer cannot wait for CNC work to be completed once the differential has been committed to that process.