X3 2009 2.0d Jerking issue- Transfer case?

[Messay]

HI Gents

I am interested in purchasing a 09 X3 2.0d m sportpack with 75000km the car is clean however it has a jerking/shudder noise when it changes gears. it is automatic. the guy mentioned that this is due to the tyres he is using and it could be the transfer case.

So a few questions:
1. How much does a transfer case cost and best place to do it in JHB? dealers are too expensive.
2. Will it give me further issues once replaced?
3. Should I go ahead and buy the vehicle and take this cost out of the total price?
4. any other issues i should be aware of?

The car is immaculate, just has this transfer case issue.

appreciate any feedback guys.

 

[frozen]

I would send the car for a full AA report for peace of mind, it will a cost a few hundred but that way it will be checked from A to Z and you will get the hiostory on the vehicle.

If you still purchse it you can estimated quotes on the work needed and negotiate from there.

 

[awesome]

20k sorted out transfer case at ZF in jhb did I friend of mines last month
car was jerking and all dash lights were on looked like a Christmas tree km on car was 150km car is 100s now

 

[Philip Foglar]

My advice, have this checked out before you commit to buying this vehicle! My father in law just bought a 2009 X3 E83 2.5i xDrive with this same problem! It appears to be fairly common and due to the lack of oil servicing (thank you BMW) on these transfer cases / gearboxes. His X3 is quite bad and only has 126k km on the clock, and the engine was replaced under motorplan at 81k km! On pull away the car shudders (like a slipping clutch), and the gear changes are often fairly rough. When going over a rough patch of road or just after going over a speed bump and accelerating, at around 40 km/h there is a noticeable rumble/vibration through the drivetrain. At 80 km/h if you accelerate to pick up speed there is a weird kind of vacuum/sucking sound from the engine bay, I gather as the gearbox swaps cogs and the transfer case adjusts torque split.

According to Colin at Garage808 where the car is at the moment for diagnostics and servicing, the chain in the transfer case gets worn out and sort of stretched which causes problems, and then the actual clutch packs usually start to die, so inevitably this means that the transfer case / gearbox will need to be reconditioned. My father in law bought the car with a mechanical warranty, so hopefully they soften the pinch!

 

[melkieluus]

Hi, so I am new to this forum..

I'm having issues with my BMW x3 Diesel and have had it with this car! I feel like I just want to sell it as is and get it out of my life ASAP! Some warning lights are currently on. I had someone do the diagnostics on it and they did not pick anything faulty up and said it is possibly the "transfer case - which is something that is very costly. (I'm no mechanic..what women know about cars is zero.)

Any suggestions? That would really really help...
(oh, it is a 2008 BMW x3 Diesel Auto with 145kms on)

 

[Philip Foglar]

My father in law just had the transfer case on his X3 repaired a few weeks ago, cost him (well, the aftermarket warranty) R18k. But even after this, the rumble and vibrations at low speeds when accelerating persisted, and it seems that there is a legitimate issue with tyres and specifically the rolling circumference - any variations is enough to upset the system. His being a Sport means that it has the 18" narrow/wide setup, and the tyres that were on were rubbish, then he fitted a good used set of Vredestein tyres of the correct sizes, but the problems pretty much got worse from this point, which is when he had the problem diagnosed. He is in the process of getting proper BMW approved tyres for it, so hopefully that solves the issue now that the transfer case is sorted out.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Earlier this evening we fitted the X3's now refurbished wheels with new Dunlop Sport SP 01 BMW Approved tyres, and the noise and transfer case issues are gone! So eating some humble pie with regards to the whole "BMW Approved tyre" theory, but it IS 100% the case when it comes especially to the narrow and wide setup. Before (and even after the transfer case was repaired) it would make a rumbling sound and vibration at around 40km/h over bumpy sections of road or just after going over a speed bump, and the most odd thing, if you had the cruise control set to say 100km/h and then turned it off to allow the car to slow to around 80km/h, then put the cruise control back on, as it starts to accelerate and hunt for a lower gear, there was this very strange sucking sound from the engine bay. Both issues no more!