what was the date of change from manual to electronic transfercase?

[stackz]

there's an 03 x5 at the u-pull that miraculously has been there two weeks and still has the drivetrain in it.

I was wanting to get the transfercase if its a manual one like on my 01 as a spare. I'm gonna go back to get the steering wheel tomorrow and will check the build date then.

[TiAgX5]

The X-Drive TC started MY 2004. The 2003 TC will work.

[David.X5]

Look for the XDrive badges. You want a car without XDrive.

If you are under the car, check that the TC does not have a motor (and wires) stuck on the side - no wires at all going to the conventional TC.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by David.X5

Look for the XDrive badges. You want a car without XDrive.

Interestingly...the facelift e53s (2004-2006) with xDrive don't have any exterior xDrive badges. I believe that showed up later when the 2009 e70 model year began.

E53 Exterior Badges



E70 Exterior Badges



E70 LCI (facelift) Badges..xDrive emblem appears

[David.X5]

Yikes. That is a surprise to me. So, don't use xDrive badges to tell the difference...

As my penance, I flipped through parts diagrams for different months on realoem, and they show some cars as early as 02/2003 with the xDrive transfer case. So, some 2003 might have it, later in the year is more of a sure thing. 01/2003 and earlier (according to realOEM diagrams), will not have the xDrive transfer case.

[basicm]

Simple, pre facelift(mechanic) and facelift (xdrive)


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[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by David.X5

Yikes. That is a surprise to me. So, don't use xDrive badges to tell the difference...

As my penance, I flipped through parts diagrams for different months on realoem, and they show some cars as early as 02/2003 with the xDrive transfer case. So, some 2003 might have it, later in the year is more of a sure thing. 01/2003 and earlier (according to realOEM diagrams), will not have the xDrive transfer case.

Your looking at production dates, some 2004 (facelift) model year E53s were produced in early 2003. Many are "first drive" vehicles for the automotive press.

[David.X5]

I know. The OP asked about build date and not model year.

[stackz]

thanks for all the info guys, just out of curiosity, is the v8 and i6 t-case the same? also have a line locally on one from a 4.4 that I might be able to use for parts as well.

[stackz]

went back out to the yard today and grabbed the steering wheel off it as it was only $10 and in better shape than mine as well as grabbed both the exhaust trims. I had one fall off before so for $5 for the pair, its cheap replacements should it happen again.

tossed down a trunk mat and went under it and confirmed its a nv125 so if its not absolutely storming on friday I'm going back out to pull it and the front driveshaft.

I'm pretty sure both are perfectly fine as, when I looked at the vehicle pictures on the online inventory from the day it arrived, the rear window had "blown headgasket junk" written on it. thats long gone now but explains why nobody took the time to pull the engine.

I bet the transmission is good too but I have nowhere to store that.