Need new transfer case/2005 X3

I took my car to the dealer today because I had 3 warnings come up on my dash.
They just called me and told me I need a new transfer case and it's going to be around $3400.

Does anyone know where I can buy one new online? Or, what are your thoughts on buying a used one and having my mechanic install it?

Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

I can get you anything with a BMW part number. Send me a private message with the part number and I will get you a quote.

You are only a bit out of warranty timewise, so,
if that is the dealer that has known you for some time, and you are under 75K miles,
I think you could ask if they would consider covering it under the goodwill extension.

If I remember correctly, at least one other forum member benefited from that recently, either for a transfer case or a differential.

Originally Posted by misswestchester

I took my car to the dealer today because I had 3 warnings come up on my dash.
They just called me and told me I need a new transfer case and it's going to be around $3400.

Does anyone know where I can buy one new online? Or, what are your thoughts on buying a used one and having my mechanic install it?

Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

I took a good look at mine while deleting my CDV. It doesn't look like it would be that big of a job to me so I would expect your mechanic could beat a BMW dealers labor by a bunch.

Here is a remanufactured xfer from Crown BMW.

And here's the info about the goodwill repairs:

This Service Information bulletin supersedes S.I. B01 07 03 dated April 2006.
designates changes to this revision
SUBJECT
BMW Center Administered Customer Assistance Program (CACAP)
Effective with repairs performed on and after May 1, 2006 BMW is pleased to announce significant
enhancements to the BMW Center Administered Customer Assistance Program or (CACAP) otherwise
known as the Self-Authorization or "SA" Program. BMW has taken this initiative to complement your
growing business giving you more flexibility to assist customers in different ways. In addition to the
enhanced participation limits, some center and customer participation criteria have been eliminated
allowing more flexibility with this program in the areas of repair and non-repair goodwill.
This program now includes the enhancements announced at the 2006 National Aftersales Conference to
help support the "Fix The Customer First" pillar of the Aftersales Strategy. Major changes include the
following:
1. Time has been increased from 12 months to 18 months beyond the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty,
2. Mileage has been increased from 60,000 to 75,000,
3. Reduced participation by BMW NA after 6 months has been removed,
4. The limitation of 3 goodwill assistance contributions per VIN has been eliminated,
5. Maintenance services, previously excluded, are now eligible under repair related goodwill,
6. The "one time basis" non-repair related goodwill contribution limitation has been eliminated,
7. A new option, "The BMW 101 Experience" including transportation, has been added to the nonrepair
related goodwill possibilities.
Please read this complete bulletin to find all the details of the changes and better understand how this
program works

Reading the above post it certainly sounds like you are a good candidate for a goodwill repair! If the dealer refuses to do it, then I would take my work to a good indy shop for an second opinion evaluation and possible replacement (if really needed). You will save money over the dealer cost using an indy, but if the dealer will goodwill it then why not.

Maybe it's not the whole transfer case. See also the thread

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=382879. The last post (currently) says: (from Rock'n R)


"Yep I had that noise under the hood as well. I'll start from the begining as to maybe help someone who has experienced the same thing I have. I had the " terrible triad" of lights, ABS, Brake and 4X4, on once or twice a year for the last 2 years. Always in winter and always on snow. Turn the car off and presto, lights off no worries. Anyways, this last month my car started hesitating going up a small incline, kinda felt like the engine was missing, then the terrible triad of lights would appear. Once the lights came on, I experienced no more hesitating from the engine. I would pull over, turn the car off and I started hearing that clicking sound. Restart the car, lights off, all good until I started to drive off. I would feel a little shimmy, very slight miss frim the back of my car, yep sure enough, terrible triad of lights would come back on. I did everything listed to try and fix the issue, battery reset, clean the wheel sensors, steering sensor ect. Finally, I had a neighbor come over with his scan tool and he discovered I was throwing the code: 5F3A - transfer case malfunction. Son of a...... I started doing a lot of research on this code and discovered that is was the transfer case actuator motor. An $800 dollar part and would require 4 hours labor, for a total of $1,200.00. Not bad considering I was bracing myself for a new transfer case or gear box. Got the car fixed, drives like a dream again. Hope that helps. I now have 110,000 miles on this beauty and this has been the only "fix" I have ever had to do. Love this car!!! "

Originally Posted by dharmadoggie

Maybe it's not the whole transfer case. See also the thread

Good call. They replaced the whole rear differential (under warranty) just because the bushings failed. It was a very light "clunk" when shifting between R to D and viceversa.
When I asked why not to just replace the bushings, they said "factory recommendation"