Transfer Case Problems of BMW X5 - part 2

Front drive shaft snapped on the highway almost causing me to crash and when it snapped destroyed the the transfer case and the transmission causing 8k worth of damage.

See all problems of the 2011 BMW X5 🔎.

My car made grinding / whirling noise while turning steering wheel more than half way. The noise was on and off for some time during parting lot speed turning. After doing some research, I took the car to a BMW repair shop. The mechanic said the transfer case and shaft were damaged and they would have to be replaced. It cost an astronomical $4,716. 34 to repair the issues. The mechanic said this problem is very common among BMW X5 and x3 and I was very unlucky to have it at 69k miles. I agree with the unlucky part. BMW should own up the issue and pay for the repair.

See all problems of the 2012 BMW X5 🔎.

Bang/clunk/kick - after giving gas from a rolling stop - feels like just got hit! what the hell is going on? this is not safe, my neck gets snapped back big time. I just purchased my 2005 X5 4. 4i (88k miles) and all of a sudden every time I don't stop completely from a stop sign (rolling stop or slight incline) I hear and feel this loud bang/kick/clunk after I press the gas. Seems like it's trying to find a gear or the transfer case has something wrong or rear differential? closest reference to what I am experiencing: transmission bump - bimmerfest - BMW forums or another way to describe it is that it feels like I just got rear ended by another car -- after giving it gas from a rolling stop or on an slight incline and my neck gets snapped back. Just got a " transmission fail safe error" last night, so I pulled over, stopped the engine, and started up and message went away. Wtf? seems like the transmission is suddenly not engaging? does anyone know what I should do besides trading it in before it gets worse and have to pay $$$ to fix? this is an issue for this make and model, so why isn't BMW fixing this in a recall?.

See all problems of the 2005 BMW X5 🔎.

Purchased new 2012 x 5 in August 2011. In July 2014 car vibrated on turns in steering column and tought is was the new tires, they said it was the circumference on one of the tires, installed new set. Still the vibration occurred. . . . Turns out is transfer case and $6200. 00. They covered all but 1300. 00 of mine at the dealer level. Friend bought same vehicle in October 2011 same dealer and I explained problem to her and she had the same symptoms and almost identical mileage. Her transfer case also bad the same month mine was. She had to fight with BMW because she had over 75,000. At first her assistance on the replacement was denied, then after calls she actually had all but 500. 00ish paid. Dealer said they rarely had to replace a transfer case and it was a fluke- we didn't think so. Fast forward, both cars now 10,000 miles later each ( November 2014)"smoke" upon starting if they sit for a few days (the "steam" cloud is huge). We both had to add oil which they say is normal after an oil change less than 7000 miles ago. Dealer says it is normal on the oil addition and normal smoke- condensation- this time we took them in the same day and had them sit over the weekend. People jump back from mine because they are scared! now a week later, both smell of antifreeze when left running a few minutes parked with the heat on. Too many coincidences. This is my third BMW- but first time with problems. Just read online about other transfer case issues with that model year. We believe as these models age, and people have more miles ( we are both realtors so we have very high mileage) this transfer case will fail. I believe it is a faulty part and needs to be recalled. At the rate we drive we will need another transfer case in 2 yrs.

After replacement of brakes on my 2012 BMW X5, upon return, I started to feel a vibration while turning in the parking lot. After two visits to the dealership, I was informed that the transfer case box (associated with the transmission) has failed. This occurs 5000miles after the warranty on the transmission and engine expire. I have done a google search on this part on X5 models, and others have reported similar experiences. This includes reports of faulty parts installed at the manufacture. BMW has agreed to cover 60% of the repair bill. This sends a red flag that perhaps the manufacture is aware of the problem and should be repairing at the problem at no cost to the client.

Stopped at red light and when resumed driving at green light, suddenly heard loud grinding noise in drive mode (d). Stopped car immediately. Tuned off engine and started again after few minutes and same grinding noise in drive mode as well as reverse mode. Not able to move the car when accelerate. Towed the car to my local BMW mechanic (he has his own service center not a dealer owned). During phone conversation, he suspected its something to do with transfercase/front drive shaft and upon physical inspection he confirmed its those two parts. The spline connection between drive shaft and transfer case went bad. The mechanic knew of this issue happening in several X5s but not at such low mileage (51k only). Ended up replacing the bad parts through him as I had no hopes dealer will fix this issue at their expense based on several readings online and feedback from other car owners. Total repai cost $4000 oem parts plus labor. Read in several BMW forums (bimmerforum, bimmerfest etc,) this is very common problem. Experts believe it is due to a design flaw in the connection between front drive shaft and transfer case (drive shaft being an inch short). There are custom front drive shaft available that are about 1inch longer than the oem part. Another factor that may be driving this issue could be related to ac condensate pipe location right above where the drive shaft and transfer case connects. I read this in another complain but unable to confirm as I'm not the mechanic. Based on the same issue reported so far (and many that are not reported just because not everyone is internet savvy to report), it is high time BMW needs to be pushed for repairing this issue in future and refund repair cost for those who already fixed it on their own.

See all problems of the 2003 BMW X5 🔎.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 BMW X5. The contact stated while traveling at any speed, the vehicle jerked violently without warning intermittently on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop who diagnosed that the transfer case needed to be repaired. The vehicle was to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000. Dyd.

The contact owns a 2003 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to get the vehicle to their home and had a mechanic look at the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the drive shaft and transfer case had chipped. The failure mileage and current mileages were 189,000. Updated 06/12/lj.

Tl- the contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. While driving approximately 5 mph the contact noticed a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The transmission failure light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact heard a loud bang in the rear of the vehicle and noticed blue smoke emitting from the tail pipe. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home and later driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated the transfer case assembly would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000. Da.

See all problems of the 2006 BMW X5 🔎.

I own a 2000 BMW X5 that cost approximately $62,000. My vehicle has only 27,593 miles and needs transmission repairs totally over $8,000. I was driving on a residential street when the vehicle broke down after stopping at a stop sign. When I stepped on the gas to drive the car made a very loud high pitched screeching sound and would no longer drive. It was towed into the same dealership where I purchased the vehicle. I was told that the transfer case was bad and this caused metal splines to enter the differential and that I would need a new transfer case, drive shaft, and front differential. The warranty covered "4 years or 50,000 miles" and I had exceeded the number of years covered by the warranty. I understand that the vehicle is outside the terms covered by this warranty, but the implication made by the warranty is that the vehicle will drive for at least 50,000 miles. I am extremely disappointed that a $60,000+ vehicle can only drive 27,000 miles without a major failure. Bmv has offered to cover 50% of the repairs, which would leave over $4,000 for me to come up with to make the vehicle drivable. This repair includes two "re-manufactured" components: the trans box, and the final drive. I am extremely disappointed in the vehicle and in the manner in which this has been handled by not only BMW but by the dealership, crevier BMW, where I purchased the vehicle.