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      06-12-2017, 02:10 PM   #1
rocksnap
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What are the SYMPTOMS of a transfer case issue?

I have seen a few posts with people have a transfer case issue. What are those symptoms?

I am having this issue:
When moderately/heavy accelerating in a low-mid speed somewhat tight corner, I can feel the car doing a hesitation like the tranny is slipping or the fuel is being turned off/on quickly. It will do this thru the corner until I back off the gas or the corner is gone.

Perhaps the Xdrive is hunting for the correct axle to power? I don't have ANYTHING close to tire slippage under these conditions, but I don't think the car is behaving properly when it has this issue. That is, I don't think BMW designed the system to feel like this when I get this power train feeling.

The car now has 40.5K and is under warrantee for a while. I want to resolve this before the warrantee expires. Any thoughts? Anyone else ever experience this?


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Last edited by rocksnap; 06-13-2017 at 06:50 AM..
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      06-12-2017, 03:28 PM   #2
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I suspect that what you are observing is normal operation. While I haven't noticed it in my wife's 328xd, I also don't accelerate hard while going around corners - and when I do I'm more worried about oncoming traffic than drivetrain windup.

The reason I suspect normal operation is because: BMW's xDrive doesn't actually have a center differential, which would eliminate windup due to differing front/rear axle speeds. The xDrive is a transfer case, not differential. In a vehicle with no center differential, you may get some windup (you can google "axle windup awd" for more info). The system is attempting to release the binding, when it senses one tire beginning to slide. The slide/skid of a single tire is barely noticeable and especially so because of the electric power steering's boost.
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      06-13-2017, 02:40 AM   #3
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i had a jerky accelaration with full throttle feeling like the car was bouncing under heavy accelaration. i replaced the transfer case fluid and this issue is gone now. the old fluid that came was smelling like it was burned and black in colour.
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      06-25-2017, 12:26 AM   #4
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I had my transfer case replaced at just around 54k miles. The symptoms were hesitation on the early stages and then jerking during moderate to hard acceleration from full stop when it got worse. While you are in warranty, I suggest you have it checked. Got my wagon used from carmax, good thing I bought their extended warranty. The total repair bill was around $6800.
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      07-03-2017, 11:13 PM   #5
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Update of my TC issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by 5hift View Post
I had my transfer case replaced at just around 54k miles. The symptoms were hesitation on the early stages and then jerking during moderate to hard acceleration from full stop when it got worse. While you are in warranty, I suggest you have it checked. Got my wagon used from carmax, good thing I bought their extended warranty. The total repair bill was around $6800.
Transfer Case was replaced under warrantee @ 41,000 miles. No computer codes were thrown. Just me noticing some very subtle issues with the drivability. When going thru a medium sized corner and under low/mid acceleration, I could feel the car doing a "stutter". Disconnect the TC, the issue went away. It seemed to be making a subsonic noise/rumble that was masked by the long on tooth stock tires.
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      07-04-2017, 07:23 AM   #6
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Mine has just went bang, no signs of anything, just pulling out into junction blew up and lost all gears...
currently in garage to see how much to repair
seems to be a few transfer box issues starting to appear on these cars
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      07-04-2017, 11:25 AM   #7
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I assume this only applies for xdrive 328d's?
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      07-07-2017, 07:23 AM   #8
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mine is 320d
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      07-27-2017, 03:23 AM   #9
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Got the exact same feelings on my 420D (2015). It's with BMW next Wednesday, under warranty so not massively worried just more concerned about it happening again once sorted and if there's anything that can be done to prevent in future ?

If they replace a part do you get a warranty on the replacement too ?

Can you just disconnect the TC and drive normal RWD ? or will the car moan at you ?
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      08-01-2017, 02:05 PM   #10
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i had mine replaced recently - 2014 328d with 24,xxx miles bought with CPO. It felt like a stutter/stumble but the engine wasn't missing .. more like a jerkyness to the acceleration.

.. was told by dealer mechanic they remove the front drive shaft and test drive to determine fault.

Im all good now
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      08-02-2017, 03:55 AM   #11
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Mines is in with BMW Stratstone Leeds today - Will report what they find...
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      08-02-2017, 07:46 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rocksnap View Post
I am having this issue:
When moderately/heavy accelerating in a low-mid speed somewhat tight corner, I can feel the car doing a hesitation like the tranny is slipping or the fuel is being turned off/on quickly. It will do this thru the corner until I back off the gas or the corner is gone.
That sounds almost exactly like other transfer case failures from what I've read so far. Best of luck with it!
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      08-02-2017, 10:38 AM   #13
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Right just had word on the car, the transfer box is fine.

The reason for the problem according to BMW is tyre tred. My rear tyres are 6.9, my fronts are 3.8 (she said she'd go into more details later) But she said they can't be more than 2.0 out otherwise it can seriously damage the transfer box(case) which is then no longer covered under warranty.

Thoughts?
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      08-02-2017, 11:38 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pss53 View Post
Right just had word on the car, the transfer box is fine.

The reason for the problem according to BMW is tyre tred. My rear tyres are 6.9, my fronts are 3.8 (she said she'd go into more details later) But she said they can't be more than 2.0 out otherwise it can seriously damage the transfer box(case) which is then no longer covered under warranty.

Thoughts?
Is she talking about tire tread depth? In millimeters? Usually doesn't happen, but the front and rears do wear differently. Correct inflation is very important for both handling and wear.
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      08-02-2017, 12:40 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floydarogers View Post
Is she talking about tire tread depth? In millimeters? Usually doesn't happen, but the front and rears do wear differently. Correct inflation is very important for both handling and wear.
Yeah tread depth, saying the transfer box is trying to make up for it, so ones on front are 7.0 and ones on back are 3.7/3.6

Going to get em sorted and if still a problem will go back to em with a size 10 boot.
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      08-03-2017, 08:33 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pss53 View Post
Yeah tread depth, saying the transfer box is trying to make up for it, so ones on front are 7.0 and ones on back are 3.7/3.6
IMO, that's some pretty shoddy engineering if your transfer case can't handle the difference in tread depths from front to rear. I can understand mismatched tire sizes, but just a difference in tread depth? BMW should do better...
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      08-03-2017, 10:32 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jnecr View Post
IMO, that's some pretty shoddy engineering if your transfer case can't handle the difference in tread depths from front to rear. I can understand mismatched tire sizes, but just a difference in tread depth? BMW should do better...
I just know If they don't sort, i'll be returning it and cancelling my agreement and the clocks ticking for them !

Last edited by pss53; 08-03-2017 at 10:45 AM..
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      08-03-2017, 10:58 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jnecr View Post
IMO, that's some pretty shoddy engineering if your transfer case can't handle the difference in tread depths from front to rear. I can understand mismatched tire sizes, but just a difference in tread depth? BMW should do better...
It's a transfer case, not a differential; look up the difference.

Although xDrive (and it's predecessor) works pretty well, this is one of the two main complaints about it.
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      08-03-2017, 01:10 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floydarogers View Post
It's a transfer case, not a differential.
I know the difference. If their tolerances are this close then they should have used a center differential. If the transfer cases are bombing because of tread depth differences then they shouldn't have built a car that way.
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      08-10-2017, 03:40 AM   #20
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So an update.

Had two new rears fitted yesterday and happy to say the problem has gone !!

Hope it helps someone else, get those treads on your boots checked....
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      08-26-2017, 01:40 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bozkan View Post
i had a jerky accelaration with full throttle feeling like the car was bouncing under heavy accelaration. i replaced the transfer case fluid and this issue is gone now. the old fluid that came was smelling like it was burned and black in colour.
Hello, bozkan
I have a 435 i xdrive with M performance power kit and i think i´m having the same issue: When i accelerate to the bottom the car hesitates, seems to have oscillations of power. When I accelerate normally nothing happens. BMW dealer conected the car to the computer and: no error codes..
Was this what your car did? Still resolved after changing the oil?

thank you!
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      09-08-2017, 10:05 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rickyboss View Post
Hello, bozkan
I have a 435 i xdrive with M performance power kit and i think i´m having the same issue: When i accelerate to the bottom the car hesitates, seems to have oscillations of power. When I accelerate normally nothing happens. BMW dealer conected the car to the computer and: no error codes..
Was this what your car did? Still resolved after changing the oil?

thank you!
Yeah did the exact same and turned out to be the tyres, if fronts are less by 2mm than rears, the transfer case will spin the wheels at the front quicker to compensate - Got a friend whose had 4X4's all his life and says its the same with his landrover/jeep/audi tt.
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