BMW 6 Diesel: Transfer Case Issues Cause Multiple Problems

"Some experience" level response: Hey there! Had a really similar issue with my 2013 BMW 5 Series diesel. My X5 was acting up just like yours, jerking, rough shifts, and AWD problems. Turned out the transfer case had defective gears inside. Got it fixed at my workshop about 6 months ago, cost me around 330 Euro. Totally worth it though, car's running smooth as butter now. What's your mileage? Also, are you getting any specific error codes? Might help pinpoint if it's the same problem I had. The symptoms sure sound familiar though!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My BMW is at 162741 KM and just had its service last month. I'm getting error codes related to the transfer case and drivetrain. Interesting that you had similar issues with the gears, I'm hoping it's just the oil and not the entire mechanism. Did you notice any weird sounds before getting it fixed? Mine's making this slight grinding noise during gear changes. The repair cost you mentioned gives me a good idea what to expect if it's the same problem.

Hey again! Wow, our situations are really similar. My BMW had around 155k km when these issues started. And yes, I definitely had that grinding noise during gear changes before getting it fixed! At first, I also hoped it was just the oil, but the mechanic found worn-out gears when they opened up the transfer case. Just a heads up, when they diagnosed mine, they actually found some metal particles in the old oil, which was a clear sign the gears were wearing down. The grinding noise you're describing is exactly what I experienced. It started subtle but got worse over time. I mentioned the 330 Euro earlier, but I should add that was just for the labor. The parts pushed it higher, ended up being about 1200 Euro total. But honestly, it was worth every penny because the alternative would've been a complete transfer case replacement, which would've cost way more. If you're getting the same error codes I did, I'd recommend getting it checked soon. Mine got noticeably worse pretty quickly after the grinding noise started. Better to catch it early than risk more damage to other parts of the drivetrain. Let me know what you find out! Really curious if it's the same issue I had.

Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback! After hearing about these similar experiences, especially about those metal particles found in the oil, I'm definitely going to get it checked out asap. Really don't want to risk a complete transfer case replacement, that would be a nightmare for my wallet! The grinding noise is still fairly subtle, so hopefully I've caught it early enough. I've actually just booked it in at the workshop for next week. The mechanic seemed to think your experiences match my symptoms pretty well, particularly that grinding during gear changes. I'll keep my fingers crossed it's not too serious, but at least I'm prepared for what the costs might be thanks to your insights. I'll make sure to update once I know what's actually wrong with it. Thanks again for sharing your repair stories, really helped me understand what I might be dealing with here!