I was putting my summer tires back on this weekend (I have snows and non-snows on their own set of wheels), which I have been doing for 5 years, and noticed for the first time that the front wheel, when off the ground, rotated freely. The car is a 2006 E61 w/ x-drive. Does this mean that the x-drive has failed, or is the wheel supposed to freewheel when x-drive is not calling for front-wheel torque? Thanks in advance.

 

Was the gear selector in Neutral (not engaged in any gear)?
Automatic trans or manual trans?

 

I noticed the same thing when I was swapping out my winters for my summers. Curious to know the answer, too. Hopefully someone with the answer will chime in.

 

was the other front wheel off the ground as well, when you were changing wheels? the other wheel was probably spinning the opposite way.

 

Auto trans, transmission in park, only one wheel off the ground. I saw on another forum, after posting here, that this is normal (x-drive clutch disconnects with engine off - and in fact, for parking, other very low speed situations, so as not to wear the drive train).