BMW 5 xDrive Issues: Transfer Case Problems & Warning Lights

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars, mainly with BMWs. I had a similar issue with my 2007 BMW 3-series diesel (also worked on a 1-series). Those symptoms sound really familiar. On my car, the ABS system was causing havoc with similar warning lights and jerky behavior. Turned out the ABS module was messing with multiple systems, including transmission signals. Got lucky because it was covered under an extended warranty campaign, so didn't pay anything for the fix. Before you dive too deep into transfer case problems, you might want to get the ABS system checked first, it could be the root cause of all your symptoms. Could you share: Current mileage? Which warning lights exactly are you seeing? Any specific error codes you've pulled? This would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks for the detailed response! My car's at 182141 KM and I just had the regular service done last month. The warning lights I'm seeing are mainly the ABS and DSC lights, sometimes with the transmission warning. The error codes I pulled were pointing to the transfer case/xDrive system, but what you're saying about the ABS module actually makes a lot of sense. I didn't think about the ABS being the potential culprit behind all this. That's really helpful info about your experience with the module affecting multiple systems. I'll definitely get that checked out before jumping to conclusions about the transfer case. Did you notice if the jerking got worse during turns or was it unusual in your case?

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up info. Yeah, in my case, the jerking was pretty unusual, but thinking back, it did seem to act up more during turns, especially slower ones. The mileage on your car is actually pretty close to what mine had when these issues started (I was around 175000 KM). The fact that you're seeing both ABS and DSC lights together with transmission warnings is exactly what happened with mine. It's like these systems are all connected and when one starts acting up, it creates this domino effect. The computer gets confused and doesn't know whether to engage or disengage different systems. After getting my ABS module replaced, all those symptoms disappeared completely. No more jerking, no more unusual warning lights, and the transmission went back to shifting smoothly. I was honestly relieved it wasn't the transfer case because that would've been a much more expensive repair. Quick tip though, make sure whoever checks it uses proper diagnostic equipment. Some generic scanners don't read all the BMW systems properly, and you might miss something important. Let me know what you find out after getting it checked. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue as mine.

Thanks so much, this information is super helpful! It's actually really comforting to hear your experience was so similar to what I'm dealing with. The fact that you also noticed more jerking during turns matches exactly what I've been experiencing. You've definitely given me hope that this might be a simpler fix than I initially feared. I'll take your advice and make sure to get it properly diagnosed with BMW-specific equipment rather than just relying on generic scanners. I've got a trusted mechanic who specializes in European cars, so I'll book it in with them this week. The ABS module replacement sounds way better than having to deal with transfer case issues! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and tips. I'll definitely update once I find out what's actually causing the problem. Fingers crossed it's just the ABS module like in your case!