you guys are over thinking this first of all I don't have Xdrive I have a 2002 built in 2001. Who said I just raise the rear wheels? The vehicle is level which means the front is elevated to the same height as the rear wheels. The rear corners are supported by jack stands to facilitate free movement of the wheels, the front tires are resting on wooden blocks. If it makes you feel better set the front corners on jack stands as well you will see at idle those tires don't move.

As a practical matter with engine idling while moving through the gears, there is little to no stress at all on the front axle. its idling at a stand still.

Lastly we're changing the transmission fluid not the differential fluid in this exercise. Even if I went through the gears with brakes on at idle its not going to hurt anything.

Whoever said this dangerous advice ought to check yourself before you call out a seasoned 40 yr plus experience backyard mechanic calling my procedure dangerous... you are an idiot and should stay out of big boy conversations about car repair and maintenance... you idiot! For the car I have and for just about any automatic transmission this procedure will work just fine for changing the trans fluid.

All of my work is carefully thought out and researched and well practiced before I would dare to give others advice.

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2002 BMW X5 3.0
2006 Ford Explorer 6 cyl
1998 VW Jetta 2.0 GLS
2004 Honda VTX1800C 100hp 97 lb of torque