Gear Selector Making a Clicking Sound
 

I have a 2008 X5 3.0si, and recently the gear selector has been making extra clicking sounds. It's the exact same 'click' sound that is made when shifting from park to drive, drive to reverse, etc. It's been happening when I come to a full stop, and then again when I accellerate from a full stop. When it does this, the lever itself never actually moves, and the transmission never comes out of gear.

Anyone else have any experience with this, or have an idea on a solution?

I'm not aware of anything in the gear selector that has any type of solenoid or motor that could make a sound. All that would be in/on the transmission or transfer case.

The transfer case actuator motor has a gear that is known to fail and will cause clicking when it starts to fail. The issue usually presents at shut down but could be any time the TC tries to engage or disengage the front axle.

Thanks! That definitely gives me a direction to go in.

My 2009 did exactly what you are describing. Another symptom is that can't change from R to D in one pull.

There is a position sensor inside the gear selector unit that is stuck. Open it up and put a little white grease in there. Make sure the two position sensors both slide smoothly before closing it up again. Once you lube it, the gear selector will work fine again.

Thank you! Seems like this might be the easiest place to start.

I have had the thumb button stick on mind, that causes additional noises and sometimes will create a code. The button sticks in.