2002 x5 transfer case/front drive shaft problem

[elric75]

I'll also chime in and says thanks to Tom for this solution. My 2000 X5 4.4 with only 89k miles shredded the driveshaft splines just like in the pics, and his solution worked for me and saved money vs. other options. The only issue I ran into was finding a local shop that was willing to go with this option. The first shop refused, but a second one was fine with it and indeed the owner later told me that it appeared to be an interesting and very fine solution to this problem.

[GNP]

Thanks for all the info in this thread!

Wish I had found it before I had an independent transmission shop replace the transfer case and the front drive shaft.

I have a 2001 4.4i with 155K. Stopped at a traffic light and when it turned green, there was a horrendous grinding sound and and the X5 rolled backwards while still in drive. No warning sounds, no warning lights, or any kind of warning whatsoever. X5 was driving normally before failure.

I don't know if there is any way you can do preventive maintenance on this, but it does leave you stranded without any warning.

Thanks for the website below. Great prices!

Transfer Case Express, Inc. · New, rebuilt transfer cases ( transfercase ). Lowest prices. In California, world-wide delivery

[Turbo_BM]

Bringing this one back from the dead. Just talked to Tom today and he is still going strong with the front driveshafts. I'll be sending mine to him in the next day or two.

[elric75]

I recently traded in my X5 after having it 13 years. Tom's fix worked perfectly for those last 3.5 years.

[J.Belknap]

This thread should be a sticky.

[Turbo_BM]

+1 seems like all e53 owners will know tom at some point.


Sent from the Thunderdome.

[X5only]

I have a 2005 4.4. Does this issue happen on these vehicles too? I'd like to inspect the drive shaft myself but would like to know before getting started.

[giodog2000]

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by DocMike

+1 sorry about no one helping you guys. I always help people when I can. My mother in law got hit by a car, thrown off her bike in the middle of an intersection. Some lady was yelling at her to get out of the street. Police were calle ambulance came, took her to the ER she had a fractured leg. But wtf was the lady yelling at her to get out of the street for instead of asking if she was ok. Anyway nice work, hopefully I wont need one, but I paid my triple A just in case.

Must have been in New York!

[X5only]

Originally Posted by X5only

I have a 2005 4.4. Does this issue happen on these vehicles too? I'd like to inspect the drive shaft myself but would like to know before getting started.

Asking because 04+ have Xdrive instead of the old regular 40/60 split transfer case. Are the diffs ends exactly the same or the engineering flaw causing this issue was addressed in later year models?