Driveshaft play into transfer case
 

Hello

I noticed that when i switch the gear lever into different positions, there is some kind of bump and delay to get the torque.
Then i recorded what's happening under the car and here what i got (doing P R N D and back) :

https://youtu.be/8jfirVNlR5s


There is no disturbance when driving, except maybe a "bump forward" when going from 2 to 1 at a stop.



Is that normal? I guess not, so what's the issue, gravity, and solution?

I'm actually in 2WD because of the steering angle sensor, i plan to replace it soon. Won't it create a bigger problem when the transfer case will need to do it's job?

How many miles are on it? Chain stretch is possible. Plus the flex disc is aged.

A bit more than 280 000km

What should be the correct behavior for this part? Not move at every switch?
The flex disc looks bit aged yes but it's definetly not a play caused by it but too much movement in the transfer case

Might also be the reason for the bump i get when downshifting from 2 to 1 at a stop

Nope - that's the transmission (ZF 6HP26X?) - they all seem to do that eventually - usually related to fluid pressures, I believe. Some folk have cured this (for a while) with adaptation resets and firmware updates but most often fixing it requires a valve body rebuild (new solenoids etc.). :rolleyes:

This issue affects the ZF 6HP26 trans in many vehicle brands - BMW, Jaguar, Ford (Falcon, Territory) etc. I've not heard of the issue on the Ford 6R80 transmission, which is a ZF-licensed Ford transmission made in the USA - pretty much identical to the ZF 6HP26. :confused:

6HP26Z i believe.
At this mileage it's not surprising as behavior, considering i don't really know the history of the car from previous owners. The thing might have never been opened and still runs on 17yo oil..
At that point if i do something to it is a full oil change by flushing + servicing the solenoid. But that's a cost, for an old car..
I mostly hope on it holding forever as i drive reasonably (most of the time).
Have some error code about a solenoid, P1878, popping sometimes when reading obd at runtime with carscanner, but then disappearing (not visible on ista)..

BMW call the ZF 6HP26X transmission a GA6HP26Z - same thing. ;)

Could be the splines on your front driveshaft wearing out. Most go out on v8's sooner than i6. You don't need to replace the transfer case, just buy one in longer shaft splines. https://www.tcbmwx5.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id5T...TCBMWX5.COMCEO

While this is not unknown to occur on the later (LCI) cars, it seems to be pretty rare. The short spline issue was addressed by BMW when the LCI was introduced in late 2003.

Really? So mine wouldn't need the Russian spacer? On a front drive refresh, a spacer will be ready to go on.

Mine's doing the same stuff. When changing gears on the spot back and forth, I can feel the car moving a little. One shop told me that it's probably something to do with the transfer case. I know from history that at some point this car received a used (refurbished) transfer case.
I also get the 2 - 1 jerk sometimes.. I noticed it's felt much more once the car reaches normal operating temperature.
I'm currently at 352k KM and I scheduled it's first gearbox service (oil + seals)..hopefully it doesn't die on me after that. Although I was told that if the shop finds out that the gearbox is already too worn, they'll abort the scheduled maintenance..

Not sure if anyone has fitted this spacer to an LCI - it may not fit due to the longer shaft from the factory.

The transfer case is different too (NV125 vs ATC500) - the output spline drive on the LCI's ATC500 may be a different depth from the older (prone to failure) NV125. :dunno: