Transfer Case went to S!@#
 

So to keep you guys up on it.
Apparently this does happen often.

My transfer case failed. I was able to catch it early on but there is a need for a new unit.

My car:
2008 4.8i with (almost) 160K on the clock.

Things to watch out for are loose shafts from the Transfer Case.
Apparently if they fail when you drive they will take out your transmission and possibly drive axles.

Pic just because:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...psbj9xavmc.jpg


UPDATE: 2016/02/25

Finally fixed.
It took about a month.

The case was shipped to a firm in California.
Got a fully rebuilt Transfer Case and Front Drive Axel.

Cost: about $2700.oo for all (labor, rebuild and shipping)

What were the signs or symptoms of failure?

I initially notice some fluid under the car... but it happened at the same time one of coolant pipes went (so I did not pickup on it).
The fluid I noticed seem to be fine and clear.

As for how I determined there is something wrong:
- cost the car from 15 miles/hr, 10 miles/hr and 5 miles /hr to stop and listen to a clicking sound like if a wheal drive axle is failing.
- while costing car put it in neutral gear and observe no change in sound
- while costing turn wheels left to right and observe no change in sound

Parts are ridiculous.
- transfer case: about $2800
- front drive shaft: almost a $1000

There is a possibility to rebuild those parts (I'll try to post that contact info here later)

One SWEET Looking X5 Gregg3gs...!!! :wow:

Really? At 160k?

apparently earlier.

Thanks "95wildtt", check out the link bellow.
Pics are about half way down the page.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...thread-72.html

UPDATE:

Finally fixed.
It took about a month.

The case was shipped to a firm in California.
Got a fully rebuilt Transfer Case and Front Drive Axel.

Cost: about $2700.oo for all (labor, rebuild and shipping)

Was the fluid ever changed?

Although BMW does not offer parts, the TC (as well as everything else in this world) can be rebuilt. May not be for everyone, but for those of us brave enough, a good source of parts is Cobra Transmission -> https://cobratransmission.com/ I'm sure there's others, these are just guys I know and carry parts for both the TC (ATC700 in my 35d -> https://cobratransmission.com/index....x&cPath=3_2230) and the the ZF transmission (ZF6HP26Z in my 35d -> https://cobratransmission.com/index....1495_1497_1608)

Perhaps is just a couple of bearings which as fairly inexpensive...

I've always wondered how many of these issues are due to failure of the plastic gear that's used to load the clutch pack.