XSeries-forum

2004 is a facelift E53 so will have Xdrive, 4.6's were pre facelift as they went to 4.8 at facelift.
It that makes it clearer

X-drive comes with the facelift model in 2004 I think, I also thought I’d read in here if people discussing transmission problems on pre-facelift due to cheap tyres, maybe I didn’t need to get posh ones but hopefully they’ll last a while!

I’ve had the accelera on for 5000 miles now. No issues at all & no signs of wear

Cheap tyres aren't what screw up the X-Drive transfer case - it's mis-matched tyres, which is a compromise folk often make when trying to save money on tyres.

With X-Drive it is critical that all four tyres have the same rolling circumference. For example, if you have worn tyres (say down to 30% or original tread depth) and get tyre damage that ruins one tyre, you must replace all four. Unless you can find a used tyre that is similarly worn as your other three. Good luck with that.

A bugger to be sure but a still a fact. The differing rolling circumference on the one new tyre will "wind-up" the transfer case causing it to slip when driving and wear it out prematurely. Very prematurely.

YMMV - literally.

Forget that query - I checked on Realoem, and it appears that the transfer box changed to the xdrive type in mid 2003, so mine is an xdrive.

Handy mine is 2002 

I am beginning to think buying an X5 was a big mistake _ I have never had a car that demanded a set of 4 new tyres if you punctured one tyre and the others are half worn. It doesn't seem a wonderful design, not having a centre diff, relying on a clutch to provide the slip, to me it would have made more sense to have had a limited slip centre diff, or one that could be locked under poor conditions.

I had a Land Rover many years ago, I know that if you engaged 4 wheel drive on that, you ran the risk of winding up the transmission, or wearing the tyres badly, as there was no centre diff - hence free wheeling hubs were often fitted. I personally used 2 wheel drive nearly all the time.

It’s not just the E53, or limited to BMW!  Merc and Audi have their own ‘special’ tyres and owners of Škoda Superb 3 models with the 4x4 option are starting to note problems unless a fairly closely matched set of tyres are fitted.

My (untested) theory is the manufacturers have gone for weight over performance and once a car is out of warranty they no longer care as in their view the vehicle is end of life and please come and buy a brand new model!  Built in obsolescence I think it is called.  Whatever it is, it isn’t right.

It could also be that outside the US, car manufacturers have a far easier time with litigation - just look at VW and how little they have had to do in Europe compared to the $Bn paid out in the US.

I’ll be interested to see if my 220 Gran Tourer also needs ‘*’ marked tyres.  It has xDrive fitted but a ‘square’ wheel setup.

Now some of you guys have "frightened" me - I have ordered a further 3 Nexens to replace the other 3 tyres, so they are all new - apart from the one Nexen I had to buy recently, but that has only done about 800 miles, so all 4 will be essentially "new", and all the same make, and so should be good. Hopefully no transmission problems now! 

I have some sympathy with the OP. I was hamstrung when it came to tyres and Toyo Proxes was all I could stretch to. I recognised (through this forum) that * marked tyres were clearly the only option with a staggered set up but realistically in real world terms not always possible.
The E53 is a difficult car to enjoy sometimes and if I'm honest if I knew then etc.. ...
If you buy an e53 and rag it it on the cheap then fine. But if you join an e53 forum then you clearly have more than a passing interest.
It's all gospel mate, and well worth adhering to.

[quote="Richyroos"]
Now some of you guys have "frightened" me - I have ordered a further 3 Nexens to replace the other 3 tyres, so they are all new - apart from the one Nexen I had to buy recently, but that has only done about 800 miles, so all 4 will be essentially "new", and all the same make, and so should be good. Hopefully no transmission problems now!

Hi have been on Nexens for 6 years and 17000 miles still plenty of tread,the car had usual missmatched tyres all diff ,inner wear on rears rectified when osr bottom ball joint fitted, price at time front pair £242 rear £275 fitted

thanks for information