[w5xz]

grabbed a great deal on a low mileage 2011...my old mercedes ml430 needed a transfer case oil change every couple years..whassup with this beast? TIA, dan

[brissim]

Interesting question. The first generation E83 X3 was notorious for problems with its transfer case. One of the great claims about the current generation F25 X3 over the E83 is that the xDrive transfer case is greatly improved. Over the 4 years and 80,000km (50,000 miles) since we got our X3 and joined this forum I haven't seen too much mentioned about the transfer case (the steering rack is of course another story).

However having said that, just in the last two regular services I've had the "sealed-for-life" transfer case flushed twice. After the second time I asked my service guy and was told it had become a common practice for the F25. The two flushes didn't cost me anything because they were done under warranty (I have a 5 year warranty on our X3). I asked what happens after the warranty on the car runs out and he really didn't have an answer. If I keep my F25 beyond its warranty I'll certainly be formally asking BMW for an explanation and continuing coverage for this transfer case flushing.

What to look for is a slight hesitation on gear changes when starting off and with some small turn on the steering wheel. When I first experienced this I thought it might have been the dreaded steering rack problems. However in both cases after the transfer case was flushed the problem disappeared.

Tony

[jman103099]

Has anyone done a transfer case fluid change? I did it in my last X3 (e83) and it was the easiest thing ever. I'll probably take a look under the car to see if it has easy access to the drain/fill bolts. I thought I'd heard it wasnt as easy as the last generation. Typical.

[w5xz]

thanks replies, guys. seems to me, a lot of the 'magic' of bmw's x-drive HAS to happen in the transfer case...

the ML-430 was pretty easy; drain, fill it till you spill it, b-flat ATF...never any
major symptoms, but boy that stuff sure got black after a year or 2...

I'd bet a replacement unit is very pricey...

regards, dan in texas

[w5xz]

i found a u tube video for a gen 1 x-3...the 'secret sauce' fluid looked a lot like synthetic 75w gear oil, 700 mL...

have seen others quote $150 plus plus for a dealer ??

wonder if that's the same for gen 2 transfer cases?

and i KNOW BMW is not in the oil bidness...but, they just don't want me to do anything myself ??

drove my gen 2 x3 in some rain on a long'ish road trip; i'd give it a 'pretty good' in borderline hydroplaning road conditions at 80 mph, FWIW..

regards, dan

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by brissim

Interesting question. The first generation E83 X3 was notorious for problems with its transfer case. One of the great claims about the current generation F25 X3 over the E83 is that the xDrive transfer case is greatly improved. Over the 4 years and 80,000km (50,000 miles) since we got our X3 and joined this forum I haven't seen too much mentioned about the transfer case (the steering rack is of course another story).

However having said that, just in the last two regular services I've had the "sealed-for-life" transfer case flushed twice. After the second time I asked my service guy and was told it had become a common practice for the F25. The two flushes didn't cost me anything because they were done under warranty (I have a 5 year warranty on our X3). I asked what happens after the warranty on the car runs out and he really didn't have an answer. If I keep my F25 beyond its warranty I'll certainly be formally asking BMW for an explanation and continuing coverage for this transfer case flushing.

What to look for is a slight hesitation on gear changes when starting off and with some small turn on the steering wheel. When I first experienced this I thought it might have been the dreaded steering rack problems. However in both cases after the transfer case was flushed the problem disappeared.

Tony

The hesitation you describe... I assume this would feel like a lag from the transmission and the followed by an "abrupt" engagement of gear?

[brissim]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

The hesitation you describe... I assume this would feel like a lag from the transmission and the followed by an "abrupt" engagement of gear?

Yes, that's a fairly good description of what I experienced. When I first had it because it seemed to be associated with a slight turn on the steering wheel I assumed it might have been the steering rack problem. But on both occasions a flush of the transfer case rectified the problem.

Tony