Kiss of death lights (Transfer case) ???

[Quino]

Guys - your help is appreciated...

While driving to work the other day my 04 X3 3.0 6MT went through a self check or something. It kept engine power but the dash warning lights came on slowly one by one and then off. The headlights faded then went off. The radio faded the volume then went off. The speedometer went to 0 mph. The ABS light, then the yellow brake light, the RED brake light, the 4x4, and so on...Then everything started to come back and continued driving no problems. Very Weird. My diagnosis was that maybe the alternator went through some sort of hiccup since I had just changed the original battery a couple of days before...

My understanding is that there is actually a warning light for a bad alternator.

So recently I had the ABS (yellow) Brake (red) and 4x4 (yellow) lights come on. I did some research here and there and did the left to right wheel steering lock to lock turns. Coincidentally or not - the lights went off on my next start.

I found some info on threads that describe these three lights as the kiss of death for the transfer case in the AWD system. I had not heard any kind of whining noise nor had I felt any resistance when backing up - UNTIL two days ago when the lights came on at engine start. As I started to back up i did feel some resistance but did not pushed through it. I drove a little more and as I made a tight turn I heard the rougher noise that would go away when I pressed the clutch pedal. The lights went out minutes later after a couple of engine off/starts/drives. When the lights are off I do not feel any resistance at all. The lights have been off for the last three days.

So my questions...If I have a bad case - it is always bad - not comes and goes - correct?

Although I guess that maybe electronics issues may come and go. I'm thinking that if a gear was broken I would always feel it - not just sometimes...

If the lights come on again and stay on - what damage am I doing?
My understanding is that the car would be lock on AWD so mileage would drop - but is it an emergency?

Should I run and get transfer case oil changed immediately?
I read that there had been a TBS for dealers to do this to some 04 models - but they never did to mine.

Any thoughts...?


Thanks for your help.

[Weasel]

In cases like where it is a potentially big problem, and could be one of a few things causing it a good first step may be to have the faults read and analyzed in all the modules with BMW diagnostic software. Each module involved will have faults stored. (DME, VTG, DSC, IKE, ETC) That should be enough info to condemn something, but getting that info requires paying for diagnosis if you don't have access to a GT1.

[X5Sport]

Have you had the new battery coded to the car? Most of the cars which feature the iDrive technology need to be told when there is a new battery on the vehicle as the intelligent charging system treats it differently. It could be as simple as that perhaps?

I've just changed the battery on my E53 and the dealer said that was the last model produced before the new system was introduced along with iDrive and 'MOST' equipped vehicles. Not sure, but has your 'X' got that system fitted? My X6 has to be 'told' it has a new battery but our E53 and E46 don't.

[JCL]

The 2004 X3 is based on the E46. No iDrive in sight.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Weasel

In cases like where it is a potentially big problem, and could be one of a few things causing it a good first step may be to have the faults read and analyzed in all the modules with BMW diagnostic software. Each module involved will have faults stored. (DME, VTG, DSC, IKE, ETC) That should be enough info to condemn something, but getting that info requires paying for diagnosis if you don't have access to a GT1.

But I think you are being too polite. IMO it is imperative that the faults are read and analyzed.

[Weasel]

I tend to be more polite than the better part of my generation, was raised old school.

[JCL]

Polite is good.

My bad, poor choice of words. I would strongly encourage the poster to get a proper diagnosis, by having the codes read, given the $$ consequences of continuing to operate the vehicle with these symptoms, and the number of different systems that could cause these symptoms.

[Quino]

The poster appreciates y'all manners

One more question since I'm almost 2 hours from my dealer. Do those code readers that you can buy at Autozone get all of BMW codes or just the main ones like CEL?

[JCL]

Most simple code readers will only read generic and/or engine codes. You need something like a GT1 (which I would describe as the full meal deal, a BMW-specific tool).

There are probably some other diagnostic tools that do what the GT1 does, but I don't know the names of them. Weasel would.

[Weasel]

None of the generic code readers read more than the engine computers on BMWs really, the codes in the transmission, DSC, VTG etc. are all needed for this type of problem.