BMW Dynamic Performance Control Guide
The Dynamic Performance Control rear differential, built by BMW as a three-chamber unit with two servo-controlled overriding gears, can send different torque to the two rear wheels. BMW's service literature calls its control unit QMVH, the German abbreviation for rear axle lateral torque distribution. This page covers the cars the parts catalog ties to it, its oils and its service.
Part of the BMW differential guide. To look up a particular car, use the E-series lookup or the F and G series lookup.
Quick read
- What it is: a rear differential extended by two overriding gears that can set a torque difference between the rear wheels of up to 1800 Nm, per BMW's functional description.
- Which cars: E70 X5 M, E71 X6 and X6 M, F15 X5 and F16 X6 with the part lines listed below, F85 X5 M and F86 X6 M.
- Oil: SAF Carbon Mod in the outer chambers and OSP or SAF-XO in the centre chamber.
- Fill: the parts catalog lists 2.12 L for the E70 X5 M, the E71, the F85, the F86 and the 50i versions of the F15 and F16.
- Main watch item: do not change the outer chamber oil; BMW's bulletin says only the centre chamber is changed at service.
Dynamic Performance Control At a Glance
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| How many oil chambers? | Three: one for each overriding gear and one for the differential gear, with shared ventilation. |
| Is it standard equipment? | On the E71 X6, yes: BMW's introduction material for that car lists the system, sold as Dynamic Performance Control, as standard. For the other models the parts catalog lists its parts, but whether every car has it is not established. |
| How is it controlled? | By the QMVH control unit, which has two processors and drives three-phase servomotors on each overriding gear. |
| Which oils? | SAF Carbon Mod for the left and right chambers and OSP or SAF-XO for the centre chamber. |
Cars With the Servo-Controlled Differential
| Model | Built | Final drive ratio | Rear fill | Rear oil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E70 X5 M (S63) | 07/2009-06/2013 | 3.91 | 2.12 L | OSP (07/2009-07/2011), SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers), G1 (07/2011-06/2013) |
| E71 X6 M (S63) | 07/2009-06/2014 | 3.91 | 2.12 L | OSP (07/2009-07/2011), SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers), G1 (07/2011-06/2014) |
| E71 X6 xDrive35i (N54) | 01/2008-03/2010 | 3.64 (from 04/2009); 3.91 (to 04/2009) | 2.12 L | OSP, SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers) |
| E71 X6 xDrive35i (N55) | 04/2010-06/2014 | 3.15 | 2.12 L | OSP (04/2010-07/2011), SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers), G1 (07/2011-06/2014) |
| E71 X6 xDrive50i (N63) | 07/2008-06/2014 | 3.15 (from 04/2010); 3.64 (to 04/2010) | 2.12 L | OSP (07/2008-07/2011), SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers), G1 (07/2011-06/2014) |
| F15 X5 xDrive35d (N57N) | 12/2013-06/2018 | 3.15 (no gearbox condition, Adaptive suspension package 'Dynamic'); 3.15 (no gearbox condition) | 0.9 L | G3 |
| F15 X5 xDrive35i (N55) | 08/2013-06/2018 | 3.15 (no gearbox condition, Adaptive suspension package 'Dynamic'); 3.15 (no gearbox condition) | 0.9 L | G3 |
| F15 X5 xDrive50i (N63N) | 08/2013-06/2018 | 3.15 (no gearbox condition, Adaptive suspension package 'Dynamic'); 3.15 (no gearbox condition) | 2.12 L | G3 |
| F16 X6 xDrive35i (N55) | 08/2014-05/2019 | 3.15 (no gearbox condition, Adaptive suspension package 'Dynamic'); 3.15 (no gearbox condition) | 0.9 L | G3 |
| F16 X6 xDrive50i (N63N) | 08/2014-05/2019 | 3.15 (no gearbox condition, Adaptive suspension package 'Dynamic'); 3.15 (no gearbox condition) | 2.12 L | G3 |
| F85 X5 M (S63R) | 12/2014-06/2018 | 3.15 | 2.12 L | OSP, SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers) |
| F86 X6 M (S63R) | 12/2014-05/2019 | 3.15 | 2.12 L | OSP, SAF Carbon Mod (outer chambers) |
Service Parts at a Glance
| Part | BMW number | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SAF Carbon Mod oil, 0.5 L | 83 12 0 445 832 | current |
| OSP oil, 1 L | 83 22 2 365 987 | current |
| Servomotor, rear differential, left | 33 10 7 586 237 | current |
| Servomotor, rear differential, right | 33 10 7 586 238 | current |
| Replacement rear axle differential QMV, ratio 3.64 | 33 10 7 582 389 | current |
Known Failure Points and Service Items
01 Three-chamber service on the X5 M and X6 M
BMW bulletin 00 60 14 (199) says the F85 and F86 differential has three oil chambers with different oils, only the centre chamber is changed, at the running-in check and every third engine oil service of about 90,000 km.
Watch for mixed oils if the outer chambers are drained; BMW says mixing must be prevented.
Common Questions
What is QMVH on a BMW?
BMW's literature says QMVH is the German abbreviation for rear axle lateral torque distribution, the control unit of Dynamic Performance Control.
What oil does an X5 M rear differential take?
SAF Carbon Mod in the outer chambers and SAF-XO in the centre chamber, per BMW's bulletin.
How much torque difference can it set?
BMW says up to 1800 Nm between the left and right rear wheels.
How many oil chambers does it have?
Three, with shared ventilation.
Sources
- BMW repair literature, functional description of rear axle lateral torque distribution.
- BMW service information 00 60 14 (199) and 33 01 96 (149).
- BMW parts catalog data to December 2019.
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