535xi transfer case leak at rear shaft. Anyone else?
#1
Members
Thread Starter
535xi transfer case leak at rear shaft. Anyone else?
My wife's 535xi wagon (automatic) has about 109k miles on it, and I'm in the midst of changing engine, trans, diff and transfer case fluids. Unfortunately I've found I have an apparent leak in the vicinity of where the rear driveshaft connects to the transfer case.
Has anyone else run into this?
I changed the transfer case fluid (PITA dropping the exhaust and removing the brace to get access to the fill plug). I'll have to save real work on the transfer case for later, as I imagine I'm going to have to replace the seal, or worse? Is it a bigger problem than that? Apparently you have to be VERY precise about re-torquing the nut that holds the driveshaft flange in place.
Foreign territory for me on this one, so any expertise would be appreciated. Hopefully I don't have to replace the whole box?
Thanks for any thoughts...
Has anyone else run into this?
I changed the transfer case fluid (PITA dropping the exhaust and removing the brace to get access to the fill plug). I'll have to save real work on the transfer case for later, as I imagine I'm going to have to replace the seal, or worse? Is it a bigger problem than that? Apparently you have to be VERY precise about re-torquing the nut that holds the driveshaft flange in place.
Foreign territory for me on this one, so any expertise would be appreciated. Hopefully I don't have to replace the whole box?
Thanks for any thoughts...
Last edited by Sarge; 11-15-2013 at 11:08 PM.
#2
Members
Thread Starter
After changing the fluid, it wasn't really low, and the in/out ratio was roughly the same, so whatever the leak is must be pretty minimal (judging by the dirty scum on the heat shield, it's not new either). I guess I'll just keep an eye on it at oil changes and see if it deteriorates any further. If anyone else has had issues with this, please post...
#4
New Members
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: markham, canada
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Sarge, to get access to the transfer case fill plug did you have to drop the exhaust completely or just lower it a bit? I tried doing the oil change last summer on my 2008 535xi, but gave up on the idea when I realized I had to lower the exhaust to remove the fill plug. TIA.
Ben
Ben
#5
Members
Thread Starter
Hi Sarge, to get access to the transfer case fill plug did you have to drop the exhaust completely or just lower it a bit? I tried doing the oil change last summer on my 2008 535xi, but gave up on the idea when I realized I had to lower the exhaust to remove the fill plug. TIA.
Ben
Ben
If you do drop the exhaust, I would recommend getting some new exhaust flange gaskets where it connects, as the old ones are not very salvageable.
The following users liked this post:
Arbuz (01-15-2023)
#6
Members
Senior Members
Need to be very vigilant with leaks in the transfer case. There is only 0.55 quart of fluid in there and that isn't much to leave room for leaks.
#7
Members
Thread Starter
Here's an overview of what people have found on the E83 X3
#8
New Members
This is a response to an old thread, but I ran into the same problem and thought I would share what I found just in case it can help someone else down the line. There are two places where fluid can leak from the output shaft of the transfer case - there is a traditional round lip seal around the circumference of the output flange shaft - which in my case, wasn't leaking but I replaced anyway. There is a second o-ring which seals the shim washer at the back of the splined section on the same output shaft flange where the centering pin for the driveshaft protrudes from the output shaft flange - in my case - it was this o-ring which was flattenned and started to weep oil. I replaced both seals. \
Traditional lip seal for the outside diameter of the output flange.
Output shaft flange - there is an o-ring just visible at the bottom of the splined section in this photo - will weep and leak oil.
Traditional lip seal for the outside diameter of the output flange.
Output shaft flange - there is an o-ring just visible at the bottom of the splined section in this photo - will weep and leak oil.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post