Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 10-29-2024, 01:52 PM
Henn28's Avatar
Premier Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 837
Henn28 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by X5chemist View Post
Interesting. My US spec one drains on the right side. I can see a condensation puddle on humid days. Even left and right roof drains on really humid days.
Super strange. My 2002 has two drains, one on either side of the prop shaft. Maybe one is for the rear climate control, however. That would make sense. Seems crazy to me that BMW would have a different location for the drain on some cars without rear climate. And that location would be in top of the splines.

Great news it’s back on the road. Good to hear.
__________________
Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
2025 G06 X5 50e
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #12  
Old 10-30-2024, 02:06 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Jose
Posts: 125
Blowout is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
The high labor cost is because the shaft is installed into the transfer case from the front and into the front differential from the back so to install you need to pull the TC off the transmission to pull it away from the shaft. I think you need to remove the rear drive shaft from the back of the TC to allow that as well!

At least it's not the 105 page instructions on changing the oil pan gasket on the N55 motor!
Ha, this same shop did the oil pan gasket in 2020! They put a sticker on the top of the windshield for when the next service was due and that's the only reason for knowing where to tow the car Friday night.

He dropped the price down to $800 when I mentioned 9 bills was a lot for a propeller shaft. He dropped the price on the oil pan gasket last time too. I think it's part of his marketing... give a better price than the customer agreed on to get them to come back. It worked for me!

The video someone posted earlier on this thread showed there's a spacer at the front diff that when removed provided enough space to drop the shaft and reinstall w/o having to touch the transfer case.

They wanted $450 for a rear brake job, but I told him I'd do that myself. I put on a set of Brembo drilled rotors and non-ceramic pads in the rear at 47k miles so they've lasted just under 90k and have 20% left.

The wife has been actively looking for a new car, but likes this X5 better than any of the 2024 cars we test drove. Bought it as it came off a lease 2007 with 28k on the odometer.
__________________
2003 X5 Steel Grey
3.0i
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-30-2024, 04:52 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,687
X5chemist is on a distinguished road
I bought a spacer on ebay. After finding out LCI model don't have a front spline issue, I passed it on to someone here.

You can find spacer pics here: https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-let-go-4.html
__________________
'06 X5 3.0i - bought @143,123 miles (12/26/20)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-30-2024, 06:01 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,462
Clavurion is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blowout View Post
The video someone posted earlier on this thread showed there's a spacer at the front diff that when removed provided enough space to drop the shaft and reinstall w/o having to touch the transfer case.
That's how it works on original part and slightly longer version. If the added splined part is too long (would be good for longevity) it can't be installed without removing either transfer case or front diff first.
__________________
E39 530dA -02 M-Sport Messing metallic
E53 X5 3.0dA -06 Sport Stratus grey
E70 X5 40d -12 M-Sport Space grey
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-30-2024, 09:00 PM
Henn28's Avatar
Premier Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 837
Henn28 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clavurion View Post
That's how it works on original part and slightly longer version. If the added splined part is too long (would be good for longevity) it can't be installed without removing either transfer case or front diff first.
I bought the longer splines and I seems to recall that I was able to work an additional 3/4” of splines into the TCase beyond the inadequate amount that came from the factory, without pulling the TCase off. A pry bar was definitely needed on the diff end.
__________________
Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
2025 G06 X5 50e
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 10-30-2024, 10:11 PM
X5only's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 1,475
X5only is on a distinguished road
This is a common problem on the F15/F16 platform with horrendous damage wherein the drive shaft swings around after snapping, causing all manner of damage - very expensive repair. The preventive action is replacement with an after-market shaft with a longer spline or replacing the shaft after every 100k miles.
__________________
'05 E53 X5 4.4i, '97 E39 528, '07 E92 335i, '16 F86 X6M.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-31-2024, 06:58 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,462
Clavurion is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by X5only View Post
This is a common problem on the F15/F16 platform with horrendous damage wherein the drive shaft swings around after snapping, causing all manner of damage - very expensive repair. The preventive action is replacement with an after-market shaft with a longer spline or replacing the shaft after every 100k miles.
Are you referring to the same problem on many other BMW versions with newer drive train orientation where the front prop shaft if not in a direct angle but a few degrees off, hence using universal joints on both ends? In this case the splines are not the problem but the universal joints which corrode and eventually fail on either end of the front prop shaft.
__________________
E39 530dA -02 M-Sport Messing metallic
E53 X5 3.0dA -06 Sport Stratus grey
E70 X5 40d -12 M-Sport Space grey
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-31-2024, 02:07 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 11,318
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
That's the one. Def a periodic maintenance item to make sure those u-joint are in good shape!

A customer of mine broke his front prop shaft on e90 and it clubbed around and busted his transmission oil pan. The x5 with that style prop shaft fare much worse it punches a hole in the oil pan or block. If you don't shut down immediately blown motor from oil starvation.
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-31-2024, 03:59 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,462
Clavurion is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
That's the one. Def a periodic maintenance item to make sure those u-joint are in good shape!

A customer of mine broke his front prop shaft on e90 and it clubbed around and busted his transmission oil pan. The x5 with that style prop shaft fare much worse it punches a hole in the oil pan or block. If you don't shut down immediately blown motor from oil starvation.
How do you maintain a universal joint without a grease nipple? If you want to be sure renew the universal joints all together is there are any marks of corrosion near the needle bearing gaskets.
__________________
E39 530dA -02 M-Sport Messing metallic
E53 X5 3.0dA -06 Sport Stratus grey
E70 X5 40d -12 M-Sport Space grey
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-31-2024, 04:02 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 11,318
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Broke down on fwy friday

Just regular observation make sure no sign of deteriorating. Without rust interfering the sealed bearings should last the life of the car. Pretty sure like all BMW the u-joint are not serviceable. Have to replace the whole prop shaft.
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)

Last edited by andrewwynn; 10-31-2024 at 04:17 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:06 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.