X5 3.0i driveshaft splines?
 

Hi, I have a 06 BMW X5 3.0i. I started noticing this clicking noise while shifting between reverse and drive. after some research im paranoid it might be the driveshaft splines and im on borrowed time. What could this sound be? The car drives smoothly, shifts good and no noticeable vibrations.

YT Video from under car front driver side.

Sounds more like the rear CV joint needs grease. The balls in the rear CV (at the rear end of the centre drive shaft where it joins the rear diff) can get dry and rattle with a drive direction change.

I’ve got a similar sound…like hitting a golf ball with a metal driver when selecting fwd and rev. Been troubleshooting it for a while and as part of other projects I have changed the rear driveshaft CV joint, all Guibos and the center bearing support. I added longer splines a few years ago too.

Nothing has worked unfortunately. I think it has to be either the rear driveshaft u joint, which seems very tight, but I can’t put hundreds of foot lbs on it. Or the transfer case. I’ve got a transfer case chain project on the horizon, so if that doesn’t work then I think it must be the u joint in the rear driveshaft.

Forgot the rear diff rebuild, that’s new too, with no change in the “ping”. I don’t think that u joint can be changed out or repaired, and new driveshafts are expensive.

That does make sense because I sometimes hear same noise it going over bumps or just taking off from a stop sign.


I hope you figure it out. Sounds annoying to deal with. How long have you heard the noise?

It’s been going on for a few years in my e53. Always when selecting fwd or rec, but sometimes now when at slower speeds and lifting the gas or accelerating.

I need to copy you and get my head down to the pavement and look/listen while my wife selects fwd and rev.

With the transmission in park and emergency brake off, get either the rear wheels off the ground so the front drive shaft cannot turn, then try to turn the rear one by hand. If it moves, you've got a stretched transfer case chain.


If it doesn't move, elevate only one wheel at a time and try to turn the wheel to determine if you have a worn axle CV. There are no U-Joints on the front driveshaft, so I would start with the front wheels, one at a time.


I never replaced a transfer case chain in over 300,000 miles, but did go through a set of front axle shafts at 60,000 miles when the previous owner had ignored torn CV boots.