02 3.0 X5 Tranny? Transfer case? Help...
 

Well, I've exhausted a search on here for this issue. My wife's X5 quit working yesterday at an intersection. Great news! Had it towed home and I just got back from work and checked it out.

When I put it in gear, the front drive shaft starts spinning, smoking from where it exits the transfer case, it makes a god awful noise, and the car does not move.

Just looking for anyone's help, advice that will help in my new X5 repair endeavor....

Thanks all!

Common enough issue. The air conditioner condensation drain drips on the splines at the front output shaft of the transfer case. The splines don't engage very far. They rust, and eventually fail. There is a fix involving a modified driveshaft so that it engages further. Lots of posts on this.

A search will show those threads, but here is one to start off your research. Read both pages of the thread, and you will be able to confirm the diagnosis. The supplier of the modified driveshaft (racemalibu) is listed in that thread. The last time this situation came up with the same problem was 2 days ago.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...er-case-2.html

Transfer Case
 

Thank you. I never would have guessed that! I have a call in to Tom.

You're welcome! And welcome to the board, this is what it's for. It did help that your description of the symptoms was so clear. :thumbup:

racemalibu invented the repair
you may also want to consider the repair kit available from cobra transmissions

Cobra
 

Thanks amacman, I will.

failed transfer case
 

Hello, i have a 2002 x5 with 3.0 140K i had a slight whistle on slow acceleration (couldn't hear it when driving) sheduled to get it checked out. then on light turning start from stop, a snap sound and nothing but a high whistle. vehicle was immoble. although i could push in N but starting makes whistle sound! eek. i lifted it with all 4 wheels off the ground, fronts roll in opposite direction with emergency on, rears roll in opposite directions and make fronts move. all shafts seem to be attached and tight at their joints,
i was thinking transfer case but the write ups ive found seem like i shouldnt get transfer from front to rear?
help. i looked in my vis software but couldnt find any test to do other than a DIS (software maybe) test
getting all four wheels up was worse than changing out the crankcase ventilation system!!!!