BMW X3 F25 Transfer Case Fault I Saved A Fortune With This Fix Plus Towing Review
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2022
- Something different. I had an issue with our BMW X3 was quoted a fortune to fix but cost less than £100 doing it myself. Also a review on the BMW as a towing vehicle.
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thanks for the information. i have an 11 x3 f25. just passed 50K miles so going to service the transfer case.
Thank you for your comment glad you found the video useful
Great video. Absolutely spot on. My X3 has been doing this hesitation for a while when accelerating usually from 40 mph and is worse when towing. Cruising no problems. Just recently it’s started ( quite suddenly) at very low speeds in crawling traffic. It’s quite unnerving like a misfire ( it’s 2.0l diesel). Seems To be worst 1/2nd gears. Panicking thinking transfer box is going. 😱 Will try the oil change. Towing absolutely agree. Good kerbweight and handles superb. Some auto have a problem with hunting gears etc. my X3 is great. Forget the Vans on the back. Plus reversing is a cinch. With the auto no clutch slipping it just does it. Also the revering camera is ace. Gets you spot on with the towball for hitching up.
Thank you for your comment best of luck with the oil change but don't forget to do both diffs as well
Thanks, this worked on mine X3 👌🏼
Brilliant thank you for your comment
Great video thanks for sharing. My 2011 with 134k miles is now got a weird dragging feeling when turning left/right at lower speeds. Never had this before and happened after replacing the drivers side cv axle. Will be changing both transfer and diff fluids.
Thanks for your comment hope it cures your issue good luck
Hi @clarkalea143. My BMW X3 20D 2011 is having the same issue you mentioned. Were you able to fix it? Please let me know thanks
If you want to diagnose it, look into buying an xDelete license. You can disable the transfer case (pure rear wheel drive) with an app for diagnosing purposes.
As others have said the oil and filter do need changing on the ZF box, as for the oil I use Smith & Allan ATF 8 - Lifeguard 8 it costs a lot less than the ZF branded oil. It cost me less than £100 to change the gearbox filter and oil. The BMW branded diff oil costs a small fortune too so I used Redline in my diffs.
currently having this problem with my 2 series XDRIVE at the moment - just had my gearbox oil serviced and it hasn’t fixed the problem 😭 gonna try to get the transfer box oil changed 🤞
Thanks for the vid u might’ve saved me a fortune
Hope you get sorted please let us know. Thanks for your comment
i’ll keep updating the post with updates - transmission has been fully serviced including new gearbox oil and parts, gonna check the fuel injectors, glow plugs and go from there as it may be a misfire according to some bmw forums
@bencunningham460 usually if it has a misfire it will put a light on the dash for glow plugs or injection fault.
@@midlifecrisis22 yeah it usually should so i’m thinking it isn’t them but just gonna double check as i’ve heard stories of there being no fault lights or codes showing
make sure all tires are the same.
Had exactly the same issue on my wife's 2016 77k miles same as you around the houses If you have 20" alloys the difference between the front and rear tire circumference can be 30mm which is quite a bit the transfer case doesn't like it especially if you have part worn tires in one axle and new on another. Changing the oil in Transfer case resolved her problem "Who Knew!" I was amazed it sorted it, fairly easy diy job save yourself £££ apparently newer X3s have a different transfer case, maybe this says something!!
Thank you so much for your comment glad it dorted yours ss well.
I have 2014 X5 with 100K miles. I was running Dunlop tires and switched to Michelin tires. They day that I put the tires on the car started hesitating. No lights have come on. It hesitates/misses when you're accelerating. I took the car to BMW and they unplugged the transfer case wire and the hesitation stopped but the dash lights come on once it was unplugged. BMW wouldn't leave it unplugged for safety reasons, which I understand. The new transfer case is $ 5,200. Does this sound like what your X3 was doing and was it fixed with a fluid change?
FYI: Nothing is lifetime! 👍🏻
@@nesparas1176 agreed
As for the transmission - It is ZF 8HP automatic. ZF company claims that each and everyone of their gearboxes requires servicing depending on driving style, but recommend to be done around 150K (Km). It includes oil change and filter. Many car companies nowadays, Volvo included (with Aisin 8 speed transaxle), treats their gearboxes not as manufacturers recommendation, and say those gearboxes are "Sealed for life" in order to avoid the hustle of servicing them in their shops. They assume those gearboxes will live much longer than warranty period - and they always do..
Thank you for this advice it is much appreciated all the best
Mine was exactly the same. Change gearbox fluid at 65,000miles. Filter and oil from ZF only.
Great video. My x5 2015 very rarely has some hesitation like you mentioned under medium power load but never when everything is cold, normally I would have to drive a good 30 odd miles to get it to play up, was yours the same or all of the time, also have you star rated tyres. Did yours do it every time you drove it.
Very similar to yours when cold was OK but as it warmed up it started playing up. I haven now done 3 of these and all were fine after. For the sake of £100 it has got to be worth it. You must yourself BMW oil they sell it on ebay. Hope this helps.
@Midlife Crisis will let you know Tuesday how it goes, it looks impossible to get it all out or did you find whatever you can get out was enough to make it work.
@James Crook hi yes sucked as much as I could put some fresh in and sucked that out was all good after good luck
If you go hunting, you'll find that ZF - the manufacturer of the lovely 8sp auto in our F25's - recommend periodic maintenance and do not subscribe to this BMW 'lifetime fluid' line. The pan has an integrated filter in the same way the ZF 6 has. If you're still running your F25, I recommend this as a maintenance item with ZF Lifeguard fluid in the same way you're adopting periodic fluid replacement for your diffs and transfer case. Hope that helps.
Thank you so much for your comment. Thanks for your advice as well. This does seem to be the senses of opinion, and your comment should help others. Take care
diff gear oil is some of the worst smelling stuff even when new. I've just done my wife's F25 X3 35i xDrive diffs and transfer case is next. Then on to my E46 M3 diff (replaced it in January) oil change after break in + transmission fluid.
Liqui Moly 75w90 for X3 diffs
X3 Transfer case is the BMW specific oil
Liqui Moly 75w140 for E46 M3 diff + Friction modifers (instead of the expensive BMW branded Castrol)
Thank you so much for your comment
Hypoid oil smells really nasty from new don't worry :D
ZF8 gearbox should have the full service kit every 65k btw.......ZF recommend it as well, even tho BMW choose to say it is lifetime, they don't give a shit. The correct price iirc for the pan and full ZF kit is around £450 - £600 , call it a around a grand fitted if my memory serves.
Thank you for your comment and advice take care
I had the same problem on my f25, changed the tyres and problem has gone. the tyres I had were the same sizes, but different brand, so when I put on wheels 4 same brand tyre, the problem has gone. Try it.
Thanks for your comment. I have always had the same branded tyres on mine as I know this can be a problem. Really glad this worked for you. Thanks again as this may help others on the channel great point.
I really don't understand why uk bmw service departments always say 'gearbox and diffs don't need oil changes '! The Americans service these parts as a norm.
Thanks for your comment. Maybe it's down to money
@midlifecrisis22 my personal opinion is that there's more money in doing 'easy' jobs like brake pads/discs etc. The ZF dhp8 oil change, as per their US website, states that oil change intervals are between 50000 to 75000 miles MAXIMUM and less if towing. Came across your video as I've just had my gearbox, diffs and VTG oil done today on my X5. Oddly the oil in the rear differential was the cleanest! My car is a 2015 and has done just shy of 48k. On holiday in Poland and found a reputable BMW independent . Engine oil change, aforementioned gearbox and diffs and a new washer bottle (fill sensor failed) all for £1100! Not cheap but probably cheaper than back in Blighty
Si descargas el manual original de ZF 8HP45 verás que el aceite se debe cambiar entre 80 y 150000km dependiendo el tipo de uso. El aceite nunca vence por tiempo como en un motor, pero las micro virutas que desprenden los engranajes y discos de embragues van saturando los filtros hasta que acaban pasando y terminan pegadas en el imán que generan las electrovalvulas, y peor aún, una vez que pasan al convertidor no tienes forma de limpiarlo.. Quien fabrico la transmisión va a saber más que quien la monta.. por otra parte para cuidar al máximo el transfer debes cuidar la presión de tus neumáticos y de no andar con 2 gastados y 2 nuevos, ahí no se si hay algún ajuste como por ejemplo el de la batería.. investigaré.. Saludos desde Argentina
Thank you so much for your comment I'm sure this will also help others
Change all transmission, diff and transfer case fluids every 50-60Kmi.
I just got an f25 x3 and mine has no codes either. Mine feels like it’s locked in 4wd when turning at low speed like in a parking lot? I changed my transfer fluid but not the diffs? I can unplug my vgt module and the no more jerking and hopping when turning but I get the 3 lights? An advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi as I'm not a qualified mechanic I can only guess but the VGT on mine is electronic not the manual one that used to cause problems in the older versions. I don't think that the oil in the diff will cause this unless they are dry. I think for me I would go ahead and change the vgt in the hope that this is the problem. If the transfer case was the issue I would have thought it would have been the same even if you unplugged the vet. Hope this is of some help and you get sorted all the best
Reset the adaptations
My 3 litre diesel X3 only does about 30 mpg, so youre lucky!
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to here that but even BMW rate it higher than that so maybe something isn't quite right unless you drive it quite hard.
I'm experiencing this hesitation for about two months, especially when turning with low-speed, I talked with my bmw specialist about changing the oil, and he refused because it's lifetime oil.
Anyhow, I forced him to do it.
It's gonna be after tomorrow and will see how it goes.
Will up date you.
Thank you for your comment good luck for tomorrow
@Midlife Crisis Hello Edie, I do you won over 3 BMW specialists, problem is solved, your advice was 100% right, car is running smoothly, no hesitation, faster, fuel pedal way more sensitive, I even think this should improve the fuel consumption.
So Edie, thank you so much.
@Tareq Karim that's brilliant thank you for your comment
i have a BMW x3 f25 2011 91500 miles when i reverse to park in a bay or drive forward in full lock slowly i get a judder but if i take off quick i dont feel anything
This was the early signs of mine maybe try the transfer case oil change see if it makes a difference. Hope this helps thanks for your comment
Have you done transfer case calibration after you changed the oil or just changed it and it went fine?
Just changed the fluid, and all went fine Thanks for your comment
Sorry a quick add on I did tell the car that the transfer case oil had been changed
They always say it's good for lifetime, but I believe they mean the lifetime of the warranty.
I've got a 2011 F25 X3 2.0d xdrive, my mechanic says that there is no such thing as a mechanical component that will never need to be serviced. He recommends changing transfer case oil every 60k km and differential oils every 90k km. He also mentioned that changing gearbox oils are a risk as the newer oil will be thinner (as it is new and not gunked up from use) this can give the wrong pressures in the gearbox's valve body which can cause mechatronics units to throw errors.
TL DR: 1.) change transfer case oil every 60k km
2.) Change differential oil every 90k km
3.) Drive the gearbox till it breaks and buy a second hand one.
Thank you so much for this comment. This is exactly the information I have been given and is great to have it clarified. Thanks again
Change the gearbox oil, its no big deal. Change the sump filter at the same time, its probably blocked.
Would you believe, our F25 3.0d has started giving a little shudder pulling away......we have never towed with ours, could you share the oils you used please ? 2014 with 55k miles.
Hi, for the transfer case, I used BMW DTF1 Transfer Box Oil and for the Diffs I used Red Line 75w85 Gear Oil. Hope this helps good luck
Will 75w90 oil work as well?
@Jason Carter to be honest, I don't know. I just used the specified oil from BMW
Hi, thank you for this video currently I facing the same problem when is dry, the car is okay but when the weather changes for example rain, wet uneven road surfaces the sudden acceleration exposes something like you said car is trying to engage all wheels, and the the shaking and jerking is coming out of the shadow. Let me ask you because English is not the first language you have changed the oil in the transfer case and diferetial as well?
Hi yes both different and the transfer case. Hope this helps
Wow I have a 2014 F34 328i XDrive and I am getting 18.7 mpg in California using 91. Mpg is so low
Is thar the 2 litre model. When I was looking the 3.0 diesel was top on economy. Hope yours improves
Have an automatic gearbox your X3?
Yes it does
Just got a F25 2.0d 2011 auto, and their is no shaft from the transfer case to the front diff
Hi thanks for your comment hope you can take it back sounds like someone has done a quick fix. Hope you can get it sorted all the best.
It is possible someone removed it to improve fuel consumption maybe (never tried it on an X-Drive I must admit tho), a popular modification on the first generation Landrover Freelander was to remove the centre prop to get better fuel economy, making it FWD only, I wonder if someone did this to your X3 for the same reasons, in your case making it RWD only tho.
I was thinking btw, you sure your car is an X-Drive ? they sold the F25 as S-Drive (rwd) and X-Drive, if your car is an S-Drive it will be RWD only.
Hi guys here in South Africa X drive is 4x4 with transfer case. Our S driver is just rear wheel drive.
My one is a 2.0d x drive
@AVIR MAHARAJ thanks for your comment. I think it is the same here but not 100%
Can you put a link up for the code reader you got. Thanks.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254734329296?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MbV-OFO-R_-&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=vkTBz8GiQcK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Lifetime of the whole car BMW would say is 60k miles. That is all they want your car to last, then they want you to buy a new one. All fluids need changing regularly if you want a longer running car, that includes the gearbox. There's no reason not to also change your gearbox fluid. #planned-obsolescence
Thank you for your comment and advice
My cousin had the X5 he called it the money pit, got rid of it in the end
Hi thanks for your comment I think I have been very lucky with mine as it has been excellent so far.
Iv had every generation x5 never had a problem
I just think it comes down to maintenance and the way someone drives their car (like don't hot rod it, maybe?)
What was the mileage on your X3 when you changed the diff / transfer fluids?
Hi my miles were 120 thousand however it was showing some signs at 90 thousand. When braking it juddered and felt like it was lurching. When coming to a stop. I thought it was brake discs so changed them which made no difference. A BMW specialist recommends these changes every 50 t. Hope this helps
Me Salve De Gastar 5000.dlls que determino la agencia de que era el Transfer Case Llevando el auto a un mecanico de banqueta que lo arreglo con 150Dlls
le pediste al mecánico que cambiara el liquido de la transmisión? el dealer me dice que son como 4000usd