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Thread: 2007 X3 Transfer Case Rebuild

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bourbonnais, Illinois
    Posts
    64
    My Cars
    1990' 535i

    2007 X3 Transfer Case Rebuild

    I'm pretty sure I'm having TC failure, at least the beginning stages but, I'm not sure? I'm experiencing what I call a "rubbing" sound coming from what sounds like the rear differential area. I also hear something " binding" up when I make sharp turns at low speeds. Another symptom is, when I begin to accelerate, it almost feels like the vehicle is being held back? If i let off the gas pedal at a low speed, it almost slows itself down.

    I dont have any lights on the dash and have replaced both front and rear drive shafts, the center bushing, both rear lower control arms, 4 wheel alignment, oil pan and gasket and a new battery within the last 2 weeks. I have 143K miles and other than this rubbing/grinding issue coming from the rear its a GREAT running/driving car.

    Is there any knowledge of the places that I can send my TC into to have rebuilt? Or, any online sites that sell a rebuild kit? I see some on Ebay, but... Not sure about quality of the parts?

    ANY and all help is appreciated.

    PLEASE HELP!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    Did you remove the transfer case actuator motor and check the plastic gear inside yet

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bourbonnais, Illinois
    Posts
    64
    My Cars
    1990' 535i
    No, I did not, as I didnt have the light trifecta on the dash. I ended up buying the rebuild kit from TCBMWX5 out of Cali. Have it all apart now. Hope to have it back together tonight... We shall see...lol

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Binghamton, ny
    Posts
    19
    My Cars
    2006 X3, 95 TSI AWD
    Keep us updated.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bourbonnais, Illinois
    Posts
    64
    My Cars
    1990' 535i
    UPDATE: So, I bought a rebuild kit from TCBMWX5, which I dont believe that I needed now. Once we got the transfer case open, everything looked good. Chain was tight, bearings were in good shape etc etc... but since I had it apart, we figured why not go head and install the new parts. Got it back together and now its WORSE! Lights are still on, and the binding feels more pronounced than before. I tried unplugging the module in the rear on the car, as I did before, to make it 2wd. Prior to dropping the TC that is what I had done and it drove perfectly quiet. I'm at wits end with this thing as I've put too much money into it and still no resolution.

    The only thing that has been recommended that I have not done yet ( mainly because I dont have the resources to do so) is to do the code and reset. Is this a MUST when doing TC work?

    ANY and all help is appreciated!!

    TIA!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bourbonnais, Illinois
    Posts
    64
    My Cars
    1990' 535i
    UPDATE X's 2....Talk about feeling dumb. I just spent approx $1200 on transfer case rebuild with parts/labor/coding-reset only to realize it was my tires ALL along. Bright side is: I should be trouble free in the transfer case/drive shaft/guibo/bushing dept's for some time to come... Very expensive lesson learned. At least its quiet and smooth now.. LOL! Now to tackle that water pump....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Wrong/different sizes?
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Bourbonnais, Illinois
    Posts
    64
    My Cars
    1990' 535i
    Yes. Basically. When I bought the X3, the previous owner put 2 new tires on the rear. The 2 fronts were pretty much shot. Instead of just buying the new 17'' tires for the front, I decided that I wanted to upgrade the wheels to fill that horrendous wheel gap. lol So, I find some 19's off a E92 that had approx 50% tire tread remaining, not great, but i thought for sure decent enough to resolve any issue with tires being my culprit. Slap them on, noise still present. At this point I STILL didn't like the amount of gap, so I buy some 245/45/19 for the front and 275/40/19's for the rear. Get them on, go for a drive, ALL grinding/rubbing/binding/vibrations gone! AS I noted, VERY VERY expensive lesson learned. ;-)

    Quote Originally Posted by Critter7r View Post
    Wrong/different sizes?

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