Manual Trans Drivetrain Problem

[ChiefRider]

Good morning- After several years of tranquil ownership, my X5 is becoming a bit demanding...

Hopefully I can adequately describe this issue. After the car warms up a bit when driving, I will downshift approaching a stop. As I slow to a near stop, clutch in and transmission still in gear I will get a noticeable "hitch" in the drivetrain. This is quite audible and easily felt by driver and passengers. Putting the gearshift in neutral seems to lessen the experience, but it still seems to occur.

This "hitch" or "lurch" can repeat a few times before stopping. At rest, I can idle fine with the clutch depressed and in or out of gear. I am speculating there might be a problem with the clutch/hydraulics. It is the original clutch, 235k miles. It still engages smoothly, and I don't notice any issues declutching, other than this grabby - hitching approaching a stop.

Thanks for the assist!

[X5chemist]

How old are driveshafts? Or the rear driveshaft carrier bearing? A change in toque with a bad component may fee like a "lurch".

[EODguy]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

How old are driveshafts? Or the rear driveshaft carrier bearing? A change in toque with a bad component may fee like a "lurch".

+1
Check your center support bearing and guibo, plus it's probably time to check diff fluids...

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[ChiefRider]

Thanks, I haven't considered the carrier/support bearings. I no longer get under my vehicles-

I did have the diff fluids changed at a recent service, and "assumed" the shop had inspected. Probably not...

[ChiefRider]

Just closing the loop on this thread. I have no clear answer, but this problem has seemed to resolve itself. This chain of events is kind of strange, but here it is.

A few months ago while travelling, I left the X5 with a shop for some work at their leisure. Thermostat, coolant reservoir and spark plugs among that work. On return I found an increasing misfire and the growing "hitch" in the drive train- experienced while de-clutched rolling to a stop. The only codes I got indicated an open thermostat. Since this was new, I checked the fitment of the electrical connector to the thermostat housing.

I brought the X5 to a local shop to inspect the flex disc and support bearings. They found no issue with these , but did replace a worn tie rod end, and verified lube levels in the trans and transfer case. All good.

This was a few weeks ago. On return, the misfire and drivetrain issues are gone. I think the misfire can be associated with re-seating the connector at the thermostat, but don't get the drivetrain issue. Anyway, just wanted to close the thread.

Thanks

[X5chemist]

Misfires can cause all kinds of unrelated problems. I know a guy who replaced a transmission due to broke spark plug! The ECM never read a misfire. Only under load would it act up. It felt like a bad transmission. After the transmission replacement, the same issue persisted. A tune up found the problem. Plugs were only a few months old. The plug was cracked on installation.