AWD -> RWD

[Flyingdutchman]

Hi

E53 N62 4.4i

So a while ago I started getting irregular noises and car was hesitating while driving. Pulled the transfer case plug solved all of that!. So now I removed the drive shaft going forward. Car still fine. Then I thought I will reattach the plug to see if I can get rid of the errors. That worked fine for a while. Actually every start there is no error but some drives the hesitation is felt again in the drive line and at some point the error message comes back. And other drives are just fine.

So what could be the next step. I want continue drive as a RWD but get rid of the error codes would be a nice to have. I thought about removing the plastic gear so the e-motor can do its thing without engaging anything but I imagine there is controle loop so the error will come back. Any suggestions?

[andrewwynn]

I think you need to code out the front drive to not have the errors.

I removed the prop shaft of a customer car for about half a year until i could get him a new transfer case. I believe he had 4x4 error on the dash but i forget if there were any other dash lights.

He might not have had abs either so i made sure to fix before it snowed.

He broke his front prop shaft and put a hole in his transmission oil pan. Shop repaired the transmission pan with some very long through bolts and rtv.


–awr–

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[Flyingdutchman]

When the plug is disconnected I only have 4x4 light on. But now with the plug connected I get the light together with a 4x4 and DSC error warning.

[andrewwynn]

DSC relies on 4wd so that makes sense. Should be disabled both ways. As long as abs works i wouldn't even fret it. Use black tape to fix the dash light.

Make sure there's oil in the TC though. We got an end of life internal error from the TC


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[Flyingdutchman]

Thanks! My thoughts exactly..... car is sooo smooth in RWD. Fuel economy is great too

[Themoog]

Swapping to RWD has been on my mind for a while but mine is an 01 so a bit more involved.
Fuel economy should be better and it should definitely drive smoother. Not to mention the weight saving when the front diff / transfer case etc are gone - have you felt how heavy the two front cv axles are..
It would be an interesting project.

[andrewwynn]

I've read threads where people have done it. Also manual swap is similar. Even more weight savings as it eliminates the transfer case and the front prop shaft and differential (though that might have to stay if it's holding back oil at the oil pan). Might switch the oil pan to rwd model.

I suspect swapping out the TC and awd rear shaft for the rwd rear shaft is all that's needed. I don't even think there's any coding involved.

I'll be transferring my front dif to my new engine in the next few days so I'll have a better picture though I'm on e70 platform now I'm pretty sure the front dif and oil pan situation is very similar.


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[Flyingdutchman]

Tried removing fuse 46 but that also killed the ABS. And while driving I still felt some hesitation in the driveline as if the TC was still doing something

On the way back I reinstalled the fuse and pulled the plug from the TC instead.....only 4x4 warning light, car smooth as a baby again. So guess that will be it then. Not sure DSC is doing anything, will need find some wet grass to try that on...

Next job is indeed to remove the drive shafts and diff. I believe the e53 don't hold back any oil as the oil pan has a tunnel through it for the shaft.

Mine is a 2005 fl model

[andrewwynn]

2005 is xdrive i believe in which case it should revert to rwd with removal of prop shaft. Fuse removal usually gives you some odd results.


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[Flyingdutchman]

Removed both driveshafts. Tried the diff but wont come out. Just short of a few mm