E53 RWD Mode?
 

I've been hearing roomers that it is possible to shut off AWD mode and put it in to RWD. Has anyone ever heard of this? Or know how to do it if its even possible

The e53 had 2 different AWD systems...help us help you better by creating a signature that contains your modrl/model year/build date...so that if you ask questions that requires different answers based on what model/model year or place in the production run it was built.

My x5 is a 2006 4.4I built in 05/06 with the sports package

Then you have the x drive version (2004 onwards) and it has a variable torque split in the transfer case. There is an electric actuator on the transfer case to control the torque split. If you unplug it at the case, you will have disabled AWD, and have RWD only.

Out of curiousity, why do you want to?

Burnouts and doughnuts

Never been a game I've been interested in playing but I know there is a fuse or relay you can pull too instead of unplugging the motor (if you unplug the sensor you will have to code it as far as I know).

Who is a roomer? Sounds like a transient

Cool, I wasn't sure if this was true or not. I would like to see how it is in RWD. Has anyone on here done this before? And will all of the power then be delivered to the rear wheels? And does anyone know where this relay is located? Thanks for all the help

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ut-inside.html

Have fun

Awesome post looks like a lot of fun too me, unfortunately it still doesn't say which fuse or relay that needs to be disconnected

Yes it does. Its in his posts further down the thread.

for the facelifted models (2004-2006) its fuse 46 in glovebox fusebox.
it can't be dont on a pre-facelifted model unless you disconnect the front diff's drive shaft.

Wouldn't this improve MPG on long trips? Will pulling fine #46 trigger any undesired error messages?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

My 02 is rwd because the front diff is disconnected. Mpg gain is negligible really.

I tried this yesterday just for sh*ts and giggles. There's definitely a difference in the way the car drives....dare I say.....better?

First thing I noticed was the steering. It feels "smoother" when accelerating into a turn. The steering wheel feels "less attached". I honestly do feel like the car might accelerate faster too but I know how powerful the butt and mind dyno can be haha.

It's still dry summer conditions around here so there's no real risk for now, once the weather starts getting wet I'll probably throw the fuse back in.