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Transfer box explanation

Discuss the problems with your X5 (E53).
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Smeeagain
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Transfer box explanation

Post by Smeeagain » Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:29 pm

Hi can someone tell me in plain English please what the transfer box is/does. I googled it but I'm not really much the wiser. my scanner has picked up an error in Transfer box 'oil abrasion' which presumably means the needs changing in it ?

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Sanj
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by Sanj » Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:52 pm

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Transfer box explanation

Post by jason@bwchiptune » Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:40 am

The oil will need changing and resetting after the change with a drive to set
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Smeeagain
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by Smeeagain » Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:58 pm

I had already seen the posts but it doesn't tell em what transfer box is/does - is it part of the gearbox or entirely separate?

What does 'oil abrasion' mean ?

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Ranger 6
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by Ranger 6 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 5:10 pm

The transfer box splits the drive between the front and rear axles - typically on a full time 4wd it's bolted to the back of the gearbox.

On this picture it's the bit in blue at the back of the gearbox with the extra prop running to the front diff.
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X3 3.0d M Sport

Smeeagain
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by Smeeagain » Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:20 pm

Ok, so presumably oil abrasion means that a sensor is picking up the fact that the oil is breaking down/needing replacing? Is replacing transfer box oil easy and what oil spec does it need?

Smee

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fenj66
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by fenj66 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:09 pm

i had same fault code reading. i purchased a litre of transfer box oil from stealer - about £30 iirc.
fairly easy to diy change but topping up with new was awkward due to the filler hole being above where you could tip the oil bottle to. a large syringe with a long flexi pipe would have helped! :)
05 stirling grey 3.0d Auto. mods - park heater, reverse cam, aux in

Smeeagain
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by Smeeagain » Thu Dec 08, 2011 3:56 pm

Does changing the oil in the transfer box open itself up to the same potential problems as already documented on the site when changing the gearbox oil. ie all the crap that comes out was basically holding all the tolerances together and putting in fresh oil is not necessarily a good idea? (my car has 114k miles and the oil has not been changed in the last 40,000 miles of my ownership - 2004 E53 facelift 3.0 D Sport)

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fenj66
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Re: Transfer box explanation

Post by fenj66 » Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:13 pm

i dont think the transfer box is anything near as intricate as the autobox. so my belief was that an oil change would be of benefit, same as an engine oil change.
the old oil was jet black and a bit of swarf on the drain plug magnet. but its been fine with the new oil a year later. i cant honestly say its made any difference to anything tho apart from the error message gone. ;)
05 stirling grey 3.0d Auto. mods - park heater, reverse cam, aux in

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