[verruckt]

Cost me ~$850 on our 2019 to change the fluid.

Car has 40k miles on it and the transfer case was shuddering pretty bad when doing slow speed turns.

Dealer recommended fluid change and if that didn't fix it would need a new transfer case.

Contacted BMW NA about a goodwill case since it only has 40k. They said nope since it was out of warranty. Claimed they were surprised but haven't heard of early tcase failures on the X5 . So if it fails that's going to cost me 6k+ out of pocket.

This is on top of the other issues we've had with the car and it's easily the worst BMW I've ever owned (I've owned double digits of them, with 3 new in the past 5 years). I was shopping for a new X5M when this happened as well, but BMW NA's response with this issue and other issues with this car left a sour taste in my mouth. Probably the last BMW I will ever buy.

I used to work for them as a tech as well.. they're not what / who they used to be as a company. Far, far from it.

[Aimster82]

Originally Posted by verruckt

Cost me ~$850 on our 2019 to change the fluid.

Car has 40k miles on it and the transfer case was shuddering pretty bad when doing slow speed turns.

Dealer recommended fluid change and if that didn't fix it would need a new transfer case.

Contacted BMW NA about a goodwill case since it only has 40k. They said nope since it was out of warranty. Claimed they were surprised but haven't heard of early tcase failures on the X5 . So if it fails that's going to cost me 6k+ out of pocket.

This is on top of the other issues we've had with the car and it's easily the worst BMW I've ever owned (I've owned double digits of them, with 3 new in the past 5 years). I was shopping for a new X5M when this happened as well, but BMW NA's response with this issue and other issues with this car left a sour taste in my mouth. Probably the last BMW I will ever buy.

I used to work for them as a tech as well.. they're not what / who they used to be as a company. Far, far from it.

That would piss me off $850. Did it fix the problem?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by verruckt

Cost me ~$850 on our 2019 to change the fluid.

Car has 40k miles on it and the transfer case was shuddering pretty bad when doing slow speed turns.

Dealer recommended fluid change and if that didn't fix it would need a new transfer case.

Contacted BMW NA about a goodwill case since it only has 40k. They said nope since it was out of warranty. Claimed they were surprised but haven't heard of early tcase failures on the X5 . So if it fails that's going to cost me 6k+ out of pocket.

This is on top of the other issues we've had with the car and it's easily the worst BMW I've ever owned (I've owned double digits of them, with 3 new in the past 5 years). I was shopping for a new X5M when this happened as well, but BMW NA's response with this issue and other issues with this car left a sour taste in my mouth. Probably the last BMW I will ever buy.

I used to work for them as a tech as well.. they're not what / who they used to be as a company. Far, far from it.

Looks like its as your handle name suggests! If you used to work for them, was it in Service cause if so, you could have changed the oil yourself.

[aerof16]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Looks like its as your handle name suggests! If you used to work for them, was it in Service cause if so, you could have changed the oil yourself.

Did mine last weekend in my garage. $50 worth of fluid and a $5 transfer pump did the job in about 45 minutes.

[eluded]

I think on pre-LCI the maintenance is to replace the entire case.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by aerof16

Did mine last weekend in my garage. $50 worth of fluid and a $5 transfer pump did the job in about 45 minutes.

Why did you change it, were you having symptoms? How high off the ground did you need to lift the car?

[aerof16]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Why did you change it, were you having symptoms? How high off the ground did you need to lift the car?

Just preventative maintenance. I did the front and rear differentials as well.

Back in the day you’d service this stuff every 3 years/30k miles or so. I’m sure fluids are getting better but lifetime fluid seems extreme.

For example, BMW says the transmission fluid is lifetime, however ZF (the transmission manufacturer) suggest the fluid change every 50k miles.

So my technique is going to be doing the trans/transfer case/differentials every 50k. Not sure how high the car was lifted, I use a Quickjack at home.

https://www.quickjack.com/

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by aerof16

For example, BMW says the transmission fluid is lifetime, however ZF (the transmission manufacturer) suggest the fluid change every 50k miles.

That is not correct, ZF recommends changing it at about 93k miles.

[aerof16]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

That is not correct, ZF recommends changing it at about 93k miles.

Do you have a source for that?
I have some ZF literature at home, maybe it isn’t quite 50k miles but either way it’s not lifetime.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by aerof16

Do you have a source for that?
I have some ZF literature at home, maybe it isn’t quite 50k miles but either way it’s not lifetime.

Sounds like you have very old literature, they changed their recommendation years ago.

"ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many fac- tors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions."

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

[aerof16]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Sounds like you have very old literature, they changed their recommendation years ago.

"ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many fac- tors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions."

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

Thanks. I know a lot of shops recommend 50k, I’ll have to see where I came to that conclusion. I’ve had quite a few different cars with an 8HP in it so maybe I’m mixing numbers.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by aerof16

Just preventative maintenance. I did the front and rear differentials as well.

Back in the day you’d service this stuff every 3 years/30k miles or so. I’m sure fluids are getting better but lifetime fluid seems extreme.

For example, BMW says the transmission fluid is lifetime, however ZF (the transmission manufacturer) suggest the fluid change every 50k miles.

So my technique is going to be doing the trans/transfer case/differentials every 50k. Not sure how high the car was lifted, I use a Quickjack at home.

https://www.quickjack.com/

I never felt safe lying under those lifts. You get about 2 feet of height, right? I recall reading somewhere, back in the mid 2000's, that BMW marketed the trannys for lifetime oil due to the green movement. I wanted my local BMW dealer to change the tranny fluid on a 1994 I had and they refused, stating the oil was lifetime. I tried to get them to quantify that but they just repeated it over and over so I started looking into it. Now, lifetime is an obscure meaning in this case. Whose lifetime? What's lifetime? What factors come into play to determine the lifetime? So, in the end, when I found the green movement as a possible reason, I stopped looking and changed the oil/filter myself.

[aerof16]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

I never felt safe lying under those lifts. You get about 2 feet of height, right? I recall reading somewhere, back in the mid 2000's, that BMW marketed the trannys for lifetime oil due to the green movement. I wanted my local BMW dealer to change the tranny fluid on a 1994 I had and they refused, stating the oil was lifetime. I tried to get them to quantify that but they just repeated it over and over so I started looking into it. Now, lifetime is an obscure meaning in this case. Whose lifetime? What's lifetime? What factors come into play to determine the lifetime? So, in the end, when I found the green movement as a possible reason, I stopped looking and changed the oil/filter myself.

Maybe 18” or so. They are very stable, first thing I do when I get it up and locked out is shake the crap out of the car before I get under to make sure it’s stable. When I first got it years ago though, I still placed jack stands under it until I got comfortable with it. They raise up and then lower in a mechanical lockout though, so even if the hydraulics fail it’s not going anywhere.

If you read the literature posted above, it specifically states that the trans fluid is designed to maximize fuel economy - so I think you’re right about prioritizing the green effort over the health of the trans.

And lifetime definitely is specified between the manufacturer and BMW - of course they don’t share that definition with the customer haha but I’m with you it ain’t what it sounds like.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by verruckt

I used to work for them as a tech as well.. they're not what / who they used to be as a company. Far, far from it.

No company is anymore.

[verruckt]

Originally Posted by Aimster82

That would piss me off $850. Did it fix the problem?

Not 100%. Still some crunch but about 70% better.

Fully expect it to fail prematurely.

[verruckt]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Looks like its as your handle name suggests! If you used to work for them, was it in Service cause if so, you could have changed the oil yourself.

Yes, I was a BMW Tech. I didn't change it myself as I wanted it on record that BMW did the oil change incase a recall ever arises, or BMW NA gets their shit together.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by verruckt

Not 100%. Still some crunch but about 70% better.

Fully expect it to fail prematurely.

From what I've read on these forums, it can take 100+ miles before you will know if the oil change did the trick. I recall reading one post where the owner said he changed it, drove a few hundred and changed it again and it worked. I supposed like changing tranny oil, it does take a while to get it "all" changed.

[rmorin1249]

Originally Posted by X5MGuy

If I'm not mistaken transfer case and rear diff service are recommended maintenance at 50k miles, at least on the M anyway. Only cost me about $400.

BMW Dealer or an Indy?

[rmorin1249]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Sounds like you have very old literature, they changed their recommendation years ago.

"ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many fac- tors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions."

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

I'll be 6 feet under or in a wheelchair before I hit 93K miles.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

From what I've read on these forums, it can take 100+ miles before you will know if the oil change did the trick. I recall reading one post where the owner said he changed it, drove a few hundred and changed it again and it worked. I supposed like changing tranny oil, it does take a while to get it "all" changed.

I remember reading this. I don’t think he used ista to get access to all the oil, which is why he had to do it twice

[bangle butter]

Is the G05 xdrive different than prior models? Is there anything unique to G05 xdrive causing transfer case issues? I own an E70 xdrive w/ no transfer case issues and currently shopping for a G05 and debating if sdrive is the better route to take.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by bangle butter

Is the G05 xdrive different than prior models? Is there anything unique to G05 xdrive causing transfer case issues? I own an E70 xdrive w/ no transfer case issues and currently shopping for a G05 and debating if sdrive is the better route to take.

Welcome to the forum. I don't think there is any difference causing the issue. What seems to be causing the issue on some vehicles as that the wrong oil was used at the factory in some cases for the first two years or so of productions.