X5 becomes a Christmas tree

[sv1cec]

This morning I started from our house with a car, and I returned with a Christmas tree.

To explain: As I was waiting at a traffic light this afternoon, I hear a beep and I see the following lights switched on, in the dashboard: the 4x4 light, the ABS light and the brakes light (the one with the ! mark). A little later on, the left rear tail light warning light came also on.

I visited the local BMW dealer, who connected the car to his computers and did some "alignment". The lights went off, but when the mechanic took it for a drive, the lights came back on and he said that I need to have the 4x4 motor replaced (I think the proper name is Transfer Case motor). Total cost is about 800€ (about $1,100 for you Americans).

Now, it's not that I do not trust the dealer, but since I have the INPA software and the programming cable, which module shall I check to see if indeed the motor needs to be changed? And what would the error be?

[SlickGT1]

What does he mean by that? Do you need the entire transfer case, or just the actuator motor. Your car is X drive, so I bet its the actuator. And if you search for my name, and the word actuator and gear, I did a little writeup on how to flip the gear 180 degrees and install back in truck. The little plastic gear strips on our cars, but only on one side. I have been driving almost a year with a flipped gear. Oh and it takes all of 15 min, and is free.

[sv1cec]

Well, my car is a 2005 X5, 3.0 diesel. And yes, he said we should replace the actuator motor. I read your thread, and I am very tempted to do the 180 degrees change, but since we have a long trip coming up at the end of the month (about 5,000 km), I would rather have this fixed, once and for all.

What is strange is that the lights do not come on, until I turn somewhere. If I drive straight, I get no lights (or at least I think so).

Do you by any chance saw the error code that you got, when the three lights came all on?

[TerminatorX5]

check for error codes the ABS module... i suspect the front right wheel sensor might out of whack - did you drive in puddles of water? or hit a curb or something?

the speed data is not plausible and the ABS might be setting the codes...

not to say that the mechanic is wrong, but a sensor might an easier solution...

connect INPA and read ALL error codes, as when you read them in conjunction with each other, you might be able to determine the real reason for the errors...

[tmv]

The "Trifecta Syndrome"
When it happened to my E39, I had the ABS control module rebuilt.
Have fun http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...light=trifecta

[couldihavebeen]

I believe the dealer is talking about the transfer case actuator motor gear. Go watch this video and it should help you determine if that is the issue. I recently replaced mine and it was pretty straight forward and easy took me about 45 minutes total. 2005 BMW X5 TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR - YouTube

[sv1cec]

TerminatorX5, no, actually the lights came on, as I was waiting at a traffic light. And the car behaves fine, nothing strange at all.

I did read the error codes from the ... gosh, I do not remember the module, third down the list in the Gearbox section, there are a couple of error codes shown, I can upload pictures, I couldn't save the error list.

I can hear the strange noise when I switch off the car, so I guess it is indeed the actuator motor. I know this can be temporarily fixed by turning the gear 180 degrees, but we have a long trip in front of us, more than 5,000 km, so I do not want this thing to happen during our vacations.

I think I'll have to bite the bullet and have it replaced. Arghhh

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by tmv

The "Trifecta Syndrome"
When it happened to my E39, I had the ABS control module rebuilt.
Have fun 2002 E39 ASC BRAKE ABS lights on => Diagnostic Procedure & Parts Location - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Trifecta is usually ABS module, good news is rebuilds are cheaper than new modules and wouldn't require getting coded. Just cross your fingers that it can be rebuilt!

I have intermittent trifecta currently which is tell tale that my module needs replacing, it comes on randomly on the highway, stays on for a drive cycle or two, then goes away. Just need to park the X for a weekend and send it out for rebuild.

[TerminatorX5]

a technical note on saving the "screenshots" from INPA, or anything else in windows...

download BullZip PDF "printer" it is a free PDF writer utility that becomes one of your printers, and when you need to "print" something but don't want the paper, choose the BullZip as the printer, and it will spit out a PDF document, that you can print, if you really need paper... i found it helpful when my real printer was acting up, and i was losing the documents from the websites, like receipts - now i print a receipt to a PDF, and if I need it in hardcopy, print the PDF to paper...

just a little note about screenshots...

as far as the actuator motor, since you hear noises, then it is probably a case... I would turn the thing 180 degrees as suggested, and order replacement part... this way i will have the use of the car, and will replace the part with the real part when it comes my way...

[tmv]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Trifecta is usually ABS module, good news is rebuilds are cheaper than new modules and wouldn't require getting coded. Just cross your fingers that it can be rebuilt!

I have intermittent trifecta currently which is tell tale that my module needs replacing, it comes on randomly on the highway, stays on for a drive cycle or two, then goes away. Just need to park the X for a weekend and send it out for rebuild.

BBA is running their sale on eBay again for $92 shipped. Sure beat spending $400 for new one.
J, you can drive your X without ABS module up to ~100 miles. Better to park it for sure.