Need help with parts

[Nerdymind]

Sorry that was a pic matching my part but today i will take real pic of my cabin

[Nerdymind]

Hi, can i change my steering wheel to 2005 style, i have the old one like the attached pic

[X5Sport]

Your car was built on 2003-11-19. It may be possible as that wheel was used up until 2006. How much of it works depends upon what options you have on the car - its build spec - but it should fit. There are multiple versions depending upon options.

You need to check the ‘Steering’ section on the RealOEM link earlier (repeated below).

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgr ... BMW-X3_30i

Steering section is here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=32_1464

Your build sheet (it’s how I know the build date) shows you have S249A and S534A. You don’t have S248A however.

Ideally you need to know which car that wheel came off so you can check the functions.

If you do decide to buy it you MUST disconnect the battery BEFORE doing any work. If you don’t then you will trigger a warning light and potentially fire the airbag. That would mean you have a really bad day.....

[Nerdymind]

Thanks for the help, here is the part and also my steering wheel pic

[X5Sport]

Where on earth has this car been stored - apart from bright Middle Eastern sunlight, and the missing filter has put sand and dust everywhere too. I can see why you need a new steering wheel and airbag module! That airbag is more likely to kill someone with shrapnel than save them from injury. The wheel for sale will fit and looks to be exactly the same as yours, but that’s all that anyone can offer in terms of what works, or doesn’t.

In the bottom image I’ve no idea where that piece of plastic (to the left) comes from though. Some kind of cover? It also looks as if some of the sound deadening material has been removed from somewhere too. What was the previous owner trying to do and gave up on?

You need to look carefully at the image on RealOEM and then match what you have against those drawings. It looks complete apart from items 2 & 3 on the earlier link, but no guarantees and you still need all of the fixings and a new cabin filter too.

[Nerdymind]

I want to return the car again to her beauty, thats why am trying to fix everything.
J like my steering wheel model but i know the buttons not working now, i dont know why, but let me try after buying a new wheel.

I will try to fix the cabin today and tell u.

I have leakage in my oil pan and gearbox under neath the car also need to be repaired. And saw that the X drive shaft is canceled and took out.

[X5Sport]

If the xDrive shaft is missing then that sounds like the transfer box may have failed. I assume it’s now rear wheel drive only? A careful listen to the differentials for unusual noises too might be worth it.

A replacement transfer unit (behind the gearbox) (type ATC400) is not going to be cheap either. They are around $1,600USD rebuilt. You can rebuild them if you have the right tools.

X3’s are very sensitive to tyre choice. You really need to have the correct tyres too. They are marked with a ‘*’ symbol on the sidewall. A number of owners in this forum have been caught out by fitting tyres of the correct size but incorrect make/type and have had broken transmissions as a result - this may be why yours has been disconnected. This is an issue with all xDrive cars, particularly those where the wheels/tyres are a different size front and rear (staggered setup as it’s known).

Automatic gearboxes do get oil leaks where the electronics plug in. You should consider replacing the gearbox oil and filter. If the gearbox oil is very dirty and smells burnt then you need to start thinking of getting it more carefully checked. Dirty/burnt smelling gearbox oil is an indicator of clutch wear. Low oil level in the box will reduce the oil pressure in the box and that means serious risk of damage. Rebuilding a box in the UK is expensive at around $2,000USD or more. A new box is not worth considering as the cost is huge.

I wish you luck, but you’re possibly going to need deep pockets, and a workshop to bring this car back to spec. A few friends in the business will probably prove useful too

[Nerdymind]

Yes now only rear drive working, but i mean can i make it like this always? I dont need all wheel drive?

For engine and all leaking, i will fix it

[X5Sport]

Why would you want to leave it disabled? You still have all the weight of the front diff and transfer case anyway and they can’t be removed.

I’m not sure what issues will come up on the fault systems and whether there is any impact to the DSC and how it works. You only save the weight of a short prop-shaft. Fuel efficiency won’t change that much as the front axle is only driven when you need it.

Good luck.

[Nerdymind]

I just want to know what options that i have? Like without it, is it ok for the engine and gearbox and with it how can i benefit from it?