New x3 owner

[04X3]

Hey guys,

So I just got a 2004 x3 with about 55,000 miles on it. It's been maintained and serviced regularly, and it came with the navigation.

I just wanted to know if there's anything a new x3 owner should be careful about. I know the panoramic sunroofs had problems, but I don't use the panorama feature on mine anyway.
Do you guys have any advice for a new x3 owner?

The transmission is a little rough, I don't know if I should change the transmission fluid (never been changed), because the dealer says not to.

Also, the car will be in cold, wintery weather in a few months time. Anything I should do to the car to prepare it for snow and the cold winter up north?



thanks in advance,
04x3

[JCL]

The X3s are pretty solid, there isn't much to watch out for.

Yes, some had problems with the sunroof. We never open ours, so I don't think about it.

Transmissions being rough are more likely to be related to software than anything else. You can see if there are any applicable updates, but they would likely have been done by the dealer.

Changing the transmission fluid is entirely up to you. There is no consensus. One school of thought is to change it early and often, ie every 30,000 miles, in the hope that that will avoid problems later. The other school of thought is that typical transmission failures on these vehicles are not brought on by failures of the fluid, but rather by electronics, sensors, and other issues that fluid doesn't affect, so skip it and save your money for if you ever need a transmission repair. Lots of posts here and in the E53 X5 forum on this topic if you search. Personally, I am in the don't change it camp. If you have a specific problem with the transmission that other repair attempts haven't resolved, you can always try changing it to see if it makes a difference, but I wouldn't have great hopes that a fluid change would cure it.

If the car has done a lot of short trips, where the engine doesn't get hot enough to burn off the condensation, it can form a paste under the valve cover (visible if you remove the oil filler cap). That paste can collect in the crankcase ventilation valve (oil separator) and if it is very cold outside it can then freeze. If you are moving the car to a cold ambient, could be something to check, to see if the OSV is clear or not.

[04X3]

So I just took it to the dealer for a few issues (ses light, oil change, rear washer check (told them not to fix anything yet but to inspect it and give me a quote), and a disconnected passenger seat back). Is there anything likely to fail around the 55k mile range? It's been properly maintained and serviced regularly.

[JCL]

Not at those miles, but at seven years you are due for a battery if it hasn't been done yet.

[04X3]

Any way to check that? Is there a date on the battery or something? I can't recall if the battery was changed or not

[srhorn]

I would highly suggest having new fluid done for the Transfer Case and front and rear differentials. Especially the Transfer Case...it is a very expensive proposition to replace ($4K+).

Steve

[JCL]

When the transfer case fluid requires changing the vehicle will tell you so. The computer monitors transfer case clutch engagement pressures and times, and flags a fluid that is out of spec.

Do you believe that changing the fluid early will extend the life of the transfer case?

[MonaLisa]

Originally Posted by 04X3

Any way to check that? Is there a date on the battery or something? I can't recall if the battery was changed or not

I believe the battery manufacture date is stamped into the top of the negative the battery terminal...

[srhorn]

Regarding the Transfer Case....my 2004 X3 had the Transfer Case fail at 160,000 miles...no codes, no warnings. When they drained the lubricant it contained "shards" of metal. The lubricant is NOT peramanent...even though it does cost $55! So your choice, trust that little sensor, and take your chances for a $4k repair...or pay $100 to get the fluid changed every 30K miles.

I will pick the latter on my 2008 X3!

Steve

[JCL]

If you had no warning light then it suggests the fluid was still in spec from a viscosity standpoint.

Do you get a root cause failure analysis done that linked your transfer case failure with the fluid condition? If there were shards of metal, it sounds like something broke. That may or may not have been due to fluid condition. eg, if a bearing broke up, then I would see a connection. If a static part broke off and dropped into the works, or the actuator failed, not so much.

I don't think that changing the fluid as a preventative maintenance item is necessarily a bad idea. That presumes that the transfer case adaptations are reset in the computer, ie the fluid change is done correctly. I am just commenting on all the posts that suggest that doubling or tripling up on maintenance over what is recommended will necessarily result in longer component life.