Nv125 versus lwx500

[Henn28]

I’m getting serious about rebuilding a donor xfer case for my NV125. Any functional or other differences between the two transfer cases? Both are available used for roughly $500.

Cobra is out of full rebuild kits currently, but sells all the usual suspects that need replacing…chain, seals, etc. they are out of some bearings, but expect some inventory soon. They also sell an input shaft to allow the LWX500 to bolt up to an OE NV125 car. Once this part is in it should be plug and play for a non-x drive car. No reason to do it though if it’s not an upgrade in reliability, strength, etc. thanks all

[andrewwynn]

http://cobratransmission.blogspot.co...-transfer.html

The 500 looks better built and I would consider it an upgrade. I thought I saw that it was used on any 8 cyl model.

[Bmwe5320023.0]

I head from a shop that specializes it bmw diffs and transfer cases, that both transfer cases are pretty much same reliability, with different failures points.
I think NV125 is pretty bulletproof.

[Henn28]

Thanks gents. I need to ping Cobra about the different input shafts on the two transfer cases. I’m assuming they are different lengths, since the transmission output shaft doesn’t care what transfer case the car has. It’s the same transmission regardless.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by Bmwe5320023.0

I head from a shop that specializes it bmw diffs and transfer cases, that both transfer cases are pretty much same reliability, with different failures points.
I think NV125 is pretty bulletproof.

I think they are both effectively over built. Especially for use with the m54.

Although I now have x-drive and I do take advantage of the improved launch with RWD, I love the pure gearing ratio though planetary gear on the pre x-drive X5s. After dealing with x-drive issues on a customer car I was really not overly anxious to adopt that myself.

I was fully happy with the '01 m54 up into its death but I'm now just as happy with the '11 for different reasons. (20% better mpg high on that list).

[Henn28]

While weighing my options for a transfer case, rebuild my self or buy a rebuilt one, I got under the car to snap a pic of the NV125 ID tag. To my surprise it didnt have a tag, but rather the info was etched into the case. Meaning I’ve got the LWX500, which I confirmed by running the info thru the inter-web.

This is surprising to me as I’ve thought I’ve had the nv125 for years, and in fact, RealOEM thinks this too when I pull up my vin number. I recall a transfer case leak decades ago that i had fixed, so maybe the shop just swapped the case out with another one they had in inventory? Who knows.

This does complicate things though. I know they are interchangeable, but it looks like a different input shaft must be installed in an NV125 case for it to fit in an e53 that originally had an LWX500. Cobra says both gearboxes are equally sturdy, but nv125 parts, while dwindling in supply, are still more readily available than lwx500 parts. Perhaps converting is the way to go then.