Driveline "Shudder" / T-case / Front Shaft

[Ricky Bobby]

2013 E70 35D, 68k Miles -

Been a weird behavior that I've been noticing more in the past year or about 10k miles or so, randomly will get this shudder from the drivetrain, which isn't engine related as its not misfiring, its not transmission related *as far as I can tell* as the car does shift fine, sometimes it "jumps" when turning the car off though, but I don't think its transmission related. *see my notes below, more of a "lurch" which happens sporadically when turning the car off, after placing in Park, E-brake on - I'm due for a ZF transmission service anyway, which will get done at my Bimmer indy, on my own dime, in the coming months*

I did a lot of research and came to conclusion that I'm looking at the front Driveshaft, or something Transfer case related (or BOTH lol) - since the vehicle is still under CPO for another 9 months or so, something I'd like to address now.

Here is my story linked from the Driveshaft thread (copy/pasted below), seeing as my wifes car is outside the "recall range" of VIN's, by a whopping 4 weeks:

https://xoutpost.com/1141946-post83.html

"Adding my experience - 2013 X5 35D, production date 5/2013

Its been one of my worries owning this car after reading these stories, then I saw that what started out as 21k cars turned into 130k+ vehicles being recalled. Then I read that the date range stops 2 months short of E70 production, April 11, 2013. My wifes was built on 5/18/2013 -

So I researched parts diagrams and looks like the driveshaft which was superseded, was used from April 2010, until FEBRUARY 2013 - So there are vehicles included in the recall which use the "new" superseded driveshaft? Seems like there really is no rhyme or reason to this, and I think they will expand the recall more in the future.

At 68k miles I got under my wifes X5 on Friday, and I could feel noticeably more play in her driveshaft, which you can see on the videos I shot for my SA, just by gripping the shaft and wiggling up/down and side to side.

I went on my 106k mile E53, and did the same thing, gripping my driveshaft, BARELY any play whatsoever - coming from my knowledge of U-joints on trucks etc I always was under the impression they should be tight and no play discernible.

My SA said to bring the vehicle in, his shop foreman could see the play, but would confirm when its in there. It would be covered under my CPO, but not under any recall as my VIN falls outside the range."

Fast forward to today, we just took a long trip to the OBX to clean up after Florence (my in laws live about 80 miles up the coast from Wilmington so got smacked pretty good, house and beach are still there, just a lot of cleanup) - Its a very sporadic vibration/oscillation/shudder scenario, very speed and load dependent, but I feel it more when accelerating or when coasting downhill on the highway or on very light throttle load - its not in the steering wheel at all, the wheels are balanced perfectly, which led me to research the transfer case and found these Service Bulletins, and surprisingly a lot of threads of E70 owners who have had ATC700 transfer cases replaced.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=871535

Reading through the thread is a lot of the symptoms I am experiencing, and here are the relevant SIB's - I sent them to my SA at BMW down in Raleigh and I have an appointment on Monday morning to have them inspect the driveshaft play that I was able to get just by shaking the shaft up/down and side to side, however I think I also have something going on with the transfer case.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10174641&postcount=74

**In my "theorizing", I see a lot of people who have gotten their transfer cases replaced (more common than I'd like to see), it may be something as easy as replacing the fluid and resetting the T-case adaptations (which I would have them try first), and I also see there is a servo-motor/ actuator gear "repair kit" part number on RealOEM, similar to the older T-case on the X-drive E53's, although I forget what the symptoms were on that one, I think clicking and a Trifecta? As I do my research, looks like there will be slipping/trifecta lights, clicking, etc - The symptoms I have do NOT point to it at this time (actuator / servo motor on the T-case)

The only symptom I can think of when the car is turned off is that sometimes the car will "lurch" a bit as its turned off, and its already in Park, with the E-brake engaged. I am not sure if this symptom points to the T-case or not but will research more.**


Regardless, I'm not one to demand if there is an issue with the transfer case, that they need to R&R the whole assembly, but I suspect there is more going on than just the play in the driveshaft. Depending on what the tech finds on his diagnosis, I'd be fine with getting the fluid changed / adaptations reset, and if needed, my front driveshaft replaced. And if it continues to persist then I would urge replacement of the case. However I do believe that a lot of entire transfer cases get replaced when they may not be out of their service life.

I'm obviously hyper sensitive to these sort of things when driving (my wife doesn't notice), but I don't want to be stuck out of CPO and told I need a new transfer case in another 20k miles, and looking for it to be out of pocket, which is why I'm taking care of this now before it gets worse.

Will update this thread as I go, with what transpires at the dealer next week, just looking for a central place to put my experience and leave it here to help others, or for others to add their input if they wish.


CLIFF NOTES:
-Car is under CPO until June 2019

-Concerned with play in U-joints on driveshaft (can see U-joint play when shaking driveshaft by hand, laying on ground) sent video to SA, not in the official recall but he said if its confirmed by tech, they would replace under CPO warranty

-Also get slight shudder from drivetrain at random times, mostly between 40-60, accelerating on highway, going downhill, not misfire, nothing at low speeds as of now

-Found SIB's related to inspection of Transfer Case and sent to SA

-Hoping that Transfer Case checks out ok, and can be something as easy as a fluid change and resetting adaptations
-As far as I know the CPO also covers the transfer case so not worried if in worst case they recommend replacing