XDrive Oil Change, Adaptation reset before and after experience

[ThalliumZA]

Hi Guys.

well, a few days ago, I got the Oil Abrasion error showing up on my DIS

So after reading Texmln's brilliant thread here http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...fluid-diy.html
I changed my TC's oil

After reading a million post's here about changing the XDrive Oil and the adaptation reset, I decided to test my car before and after resetting.

PS, You need DIS or you have to go to a stealer to reset the XDrive, INPA does not have the reset. also this does not reset transmission adaptations, only the XDrive itself.

Right, so after changing the "burnt toast" smelling oil, it smelt really bad and was very black. I went for a test drive. no differences though, everything felt the same. although the drive train did feel a tiny bit smoother.

After an adaptation reset, my car however felt slightly different, it felt "newer" . Normal driving there was hardly any difference, take off from a stop felt better, the biggest difference i noticed was the response i had when i need to reverse up my very steep driveway. before my car felt a bit laggy and felt like it would struggle a bit "when cold", this morning it felt stronger up that hill when it was cold. I'm guessing with fresh oil and the xdrive reset to the current clutch wear, it's able to control it properly again.

In DIS when you do the reset, it goes through two stages, the first stage, it will gauge the internal clutch, you can hear the motor do a bit of work. the second part reset's all the oil adaptations to 0. then it will clear the oil abrasion error.

Originally Posted by JCL

if the reset is in the computer (not the actuator), then the reset could involve the actuator functioning, and the computer monitoring clutch engagement times, and deciding what the engagement point is given the current fluid properties. Then, it would use that reference point to apply the appropriate clutch pressure for the desired front/rear awd bias. In that case, not resetting it could result in incorrect application of the clutches in the transfer case. If it was a small difference, you wouldn't likely feel a difference or notice any wear difference. If it was a larger difference, you would prematurely wear the clutch plates in the transfer case (if it was too loose) or wear out the actuator by overstressing the plastic gear (if it was too tight). You wouldn't know about the result of not resetting it until you experienced such a failure, and even then it wouldn't be conclusive, so it could be attributed to an unlucky coincidence.

I Completely agree with JCL here from a different thread, the reset definitely measures your remaining clutch, and there is definitely a seperate sensor plugged into the side of the Xdrive close to the actuator to measure the oil properties.

So my conclusion to the confusion that i have seen around here about servicing the XDrive, I say that resetting the XDrive adaptation is a must.

Those guys that have changed there XDrive oil and have not done a reset, go get it done