Its a 2001 x5 so there is no tc actuator. No xdrive . Just open transfer case.they have the torque on demand transfer cases in the 04 to 06 x5. No worries on that front for me. The electronics only come into play when wheels start to slip. So in theory you can run a dana 300 off the back of the transmission and the car doesnt know the difference. So you can drive in 2wd and once the wheels start to spin and the fronts do not, the traction control will cut back the throttle (unless you have dsc off) and then apply braking to the wheels that slip. There are no electronics in the transfer case on the 01 x5 case. Just 1 to 1 open . When you lock in 4 hi or low, the traction control doesnt know either since on front and one rear will always be driven. I drive off road with dsc off. It doesnt cut back throttle but still applies the brake to the slipping wheel (automatic differential braking). I have installed an xdrive tod transfer case in this x5 and locked the tc motor to full lock 50/50 and it did not have any traction issues, so I have tested the locked transfer case theory and it works well. Just no low gearing. Thats why I am retrofitting a dana 300 and a doubler strongbox to get that. I think the big problem will be breaking CV axles.

Talk to Tom Wood:

Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Tom Woods Custom Drive Shafts Custom Driveshafts Specialist

Maybe he can make you stronger custom axles shafts. He made me a drive shaft for my Jeep that replaced the weak CV joint with a U Joint.

Also, the folks that drag race FWD and AWD cars have been having stronger axles custom built for years, with super strong CV joints, but I don't know who does that.

Please send more info on this mod. The low radiator has always been a concern for me. Been lucky so far but my luck will run out some day.

Cheap Jeep
 

If the cheap jeep can do it then so can we:
CHEAP JEEP

Its not too hard to do. I did have to do some welding. Otherwise everything else was pretty straight foreward. Got rid of the fan clutch too.

Here is a shot from underneath. Here you can see the piece of tubing that had to be welded in to support the bottom of the e46 radiator.

Thanks. That's doable for me. Any chance you have the part number or exact year/model the e46 rad is from? Are the all the same? Is the M3 version more robust/higher capacity? Number of rows? My x5 is a 4.4 so it probably needs more cooling. Plus my regular stomping ground is the Mojave desert.

Who's making your bumpers? Local shop? I'm interested in a rear that will hold the spare tire so I can use the interior space to store my emergency kit.

Its an e46 manual transmission stuff. The radiator is a different in your 8 cylinder than my 6 cylinder. Probably more cooling capacity needed for the 8 cylinder. This mod may not be good for your application. I converted my 6 cylinder to a stick so I no longer needed to use the transmission cooler. The e46 radiator is thicker than the e53, but the e53 has more surface area. Since the manual transmission conversion doesnt add more heat into the antifreeze like the auto did, the e46 radiator works in my application. Also the electric fan from the manual works for me too. The m3 fan is more powerful and would work in my application. It is just 2x as expensive. I will get it only if necessary. I am sure there is a mod you could do for the 8 cylinder. Just need to start doing some research.

A local guy here is building the bumper for me as we speak while I am still waiting on my transfer case adapter stuff.

I dumped the air suspension for regular springs on my V8 for reliability.

BMW is nearly synonymous with the Dakar.
Enjoy!
BMW X5 Dakar - YouTube

and furthermore
BMW X5 - Rabakoz Kupa'10.m4v - YouTube

:D