HELP!!! 4.6is TRANSMISSION JUST WENT CAPUT...

[shebuilt]

I just got home from the tow. My 4.6 of only 142K miles just stopped driving in gear and a high pitched whine / slight grind (only when in a gear) happened and there I am coasting on highway 5 rush hour praying no 18 wheeler smacks me to the next exit.

No leaks no shifting issues - nada.

Anyone experience this before I begin the journey shopping it.

[Zulu95]

Could be splines in the transfer case. Do a quick search for it.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by shebuilt

I just got home from the tow. My 4.6 of only 142K miles just stopped driving in gear and a high pitched whine / slight grind (only when in a gear) happened and there I am coasting on highway 5 rush hour praying no 18 wheeler smacks me to the next exit.

No leaks no shifting issues - nada.

Anyone experience this before I begin the journey shopping it.

Did you get a check engine light/service engine soon light? Whine could also be the torque converter.

[shebuilt]

Ok got under to take a quick glance. Car will not hold in park so I was suspect. The front driveshaft is spinning freely and not engaging with the transaxle.

No codes except a 32 speed sensor?

So does this mean my transaxle needs to be replaced and if so will the front driveshaft as well?

Not shy to do the work myself, but anyone chiming in about this repair job is much appreciated.

And lastly how does this occur?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by shebuilt

Ok got under to take a quick glance. Car will not hold in park so I was suspect. The front driveshaft is spinning freely and not engaging with the transaxle.

No codes except a 32 speed sensor?

So does this mean my transaxle needs to be replaced and if so will the front driveshaft as well?

Not shy to do the work myself, but anyone chiming in about this repair job is much appreciated.

And lastly how does this occur?

Unless someone converted your X to a front wheel drive only SAV, you don't have a transaxle. You have a transfer case and a front differential. Most likely the splines in the transfer case are stripped.

You can rebuild the transfer case with a new hub with new splines. You should replace the seals and the chain if you are going through with a rebuild.

You should also replace the front drive shaft spline end. This will entail cutting off the spline end and welding in a replacement spline end. There's a guy on ebay that sells replacement driveshaft with an extended spline end. He will need your old driveshaft or you can give him a core deposit and he will send you a driveshaft already modified. Core deposit will be return once you send him the old driveshaft.

4.6 with a lead right foot cause this. Need to stop doing burnouts at the lights.

[shebuilt]

you rock up all night!!!

Well out she comes...now am I going to tackle this or will I miraculously find thousands to pay out

And how else can a lady get from sale to sale?!....why a lead foot I say!

[upallnight]

Since you have a 4.6 engine you don't have the generic NV 125 transfer case. You have the LWX-500 transfer case.

Here's a link to a webpage that outline the differrence between the two transfer cases.

Cobra Transmission Parts 1-800-293-1848: Differences Between BMW X5 Transfer Case

Parts can be purchased here:
https://cobratransmission.com/index....x&cPath=3_2446

A video on disassembling a NV 125 transfer case, your transfer case will be similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8fkMaQkraY

[squidzilla]

Thanks for the tips upallnight, I had no idea the 4.6is did not use the same TC as all the other 01-03 e53s'.

[srmmmm]

Originally Posted by upallnight

4.6 with a lead right foot cause this. Need to stop doing burnouts at the lights.

Oh it takes a lot less than a 4.6 with a lead foot to strip those splines. Try no grease on the splines from the factory and condensate drip from the A/C evaporator onto the driveshaft.

At least he got a few thousand more miles out of his than I did!

2002 X5 3.0 303,980 miles
2014 428i 19,000 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration

[stabmasterflex]

Check your front cv shafts. Make sure one hasn't popped out slightly from the front diff.