BMW XM Transfer Case Woes: Gearbox and AWD Failing

Hey there. I had almost identical issues with my 2020 BMW X6 M last year. The symptoms matched yours exactly, rough shifts, jerky acceleration, and AWD warnings popping up. Took it to the garage and after diagnosis, it turned out the transfer case had defective gears with significant wear. They found metal shavings in the transfer case fluid, which was a clear sign of internal damage. The repair required a complete transfer case rebuild with new gears and bearings. It was definitely a serious repair job, took about 4 days in the shop. The transfer case is a critical component for AWD operation, so it's not something you want to postpone fixing. My mechanic showed me the worn parts afterward, and the damage was pretty extensive. If you're getting those symptoms, I'd strongly suggest getting it checked soon before it potentially causes more damage to other drivetrain components. The car runs like new after the repair.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience with the transfer case issue. Really helpful to know I'm not alone with these symptoms. I'm planning to take it to a shop this week. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much the whole repair ended up costing you? And has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Trying to get an idea of what I'm potentially looking at here.

Hey again! Glad I could help with the info. Just wanted to follow up, since my last post, I can confirm the transfer case repair totally sorted out those issues I mentioned. Had it fixed about 8 months ago, and the car's been running perfectly smooth since then, no more jerky movements or warning lights. The total bill came to 330 € for fixing those defective gears in the transfer case. Not cheap, but definitely worth it considering how much better the car drives now. The mechanic did a thorough job, and I haven't had a single problem with the AWD system or transmission since. Honestly, it was a relief to get it sorted. The car feels like new again, smooth gear changes, stable acceleration, and the AWD system works flawlessly. If you're headed to the shop this week, you're definitely making the right call getting it checked out sooner rather than later. Let us know how it goes!

Thanks everyone for your advice. Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update you all. What a week it's been! The diagnosis confirmed it was indeed the transfer case causing all those problems. Had to leave my car at the shop for three days, but I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. The mechanic found some pretty serious wear in the gears, just like you mentioned. Total repair cost came to 315 €, slightly less than what you paid, which was a pleasant surprise. The difference in how the car drives now is like night and day. No more jerky movements, smooth gear shifts, and the AWD system is working perfectly again. The mechanic also showed me the old worn parts, really eye-opening to see the actual damage. Really appreciate everyone's input here. Having your experiences to reference helped me make the decision to get it fixed right away instead of putting it off. Money well spent in my opinion, especially considering how much worse it could've gotten if left unchecked.