Raise the vehicle and support it safely, then remove the splash guard under the engine and the front end reinforcement. Next, remove the exhaust system and exhaust heat shield, followed by the front stabilizer bar. For the front driveshaft, be prepared to catch any dripping fluid. With the automatic transmission in PARK, hold the linkage stationary and loosen the selector lever cable clamping nut, then slide out the cable retaining clip and detach the cable from the transmission range switch. Support the transmission on a jack and free the harnesses for the oxygen sensors and back-up light switch from the transmission rear support. Remove the mounting fasteners for the rear support of the transmission and transfer case, then lower the support. For models with xDrive, detach the xDrive clutch actuator electrical harnesses and the vent line from the transfer case, and unclip the cable from the transfer case. At the transfer case output flange, use paint to matchmark the rear driveshaft flex-disc flanges, then remove the driveshaft center bearing support fasteners and support the center of the driveshaft. Detach the rear driveshaft flex-disc from the transfer case, ensuring to hold the bolts stationary while loosening the nuts to avoid damaging the flex-disc rubber. Lower the center of the driveshaft sufficiently to disengage the flex-disc from the transfer case flange and tie the driveshaft to the side, taking care not to allow it to hang unsupported to prevent damage to the rear driveshaft CV joint. While supporting the transfer case, remove the mounting bolts and lower the transfer case. During installation, inspect the dowel sleeves and replace if damaged, transfer the vents hose, covers, and protective caps to the new transfer case, and replace the input shaft sealing O-ring if applicable. Apply a thin coat of Weicon® antiseize grease to the input shaft splines, ensuring to follow the correct installation procedure for the front end reinforcement. After completing the work, check and top off the fluid level, and after filling the transfer case, drive the vehicle approximately 200 meters (600 ft) and recheck the fluid level. For models with xDrive, use the BMW service tool DISplus, GT1, or MoDiC to carry out the "Repair" service function.
Posted by BMWPartsDeal Specialist