Can you drive with dead transfer case?

bigrich · 03-04-2023, 02:05 PM

My 2008 328xi has a dead transfer case, the brake light, abs light and traction light all came on. I drove it for a week like that until I took it to the shop. They said it’s going to be 2,800$ to fix. Im obviously not paying that since the car isn’t even worth that. Could I still drive the car for a bit? My mechanic told me not to drive it as it could “lock up” on me. Is there anything I could do to safely drive it? I could absolutely care less if it’s RWD only now.

Pittz1 · 03-04-2023, 02:52 PM

Pay for x-delete and disable it. It "might" get rid of the lights. I know when my TC motor took a shit, the lights would come on and even when I had it in 2WD, lights still came on.

My TC motor made a nasty grinding sound before it died completely.

Hoody007 · 03-05-2023, 08:53 AM

How do you know it’s the transfer case?
The lights alone could be from a myriad of other causes…

rothwem · 04-26-2023, 02:37 PM

It depends on what's dead on it.

Mine was shuddering pretty badly on my previous wagon, which was an xDrive, and unplugging the actuator made it driveable for a while in RWD. I had no traction control though and I'm not sure if ABS was functional either.

03-04-2023, 02:05 PM	#1
bigrich Registered 1 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2008 bmw 328xi Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Jax iTrader: (0)	Can you drive with dead transfer case? My 2008 328xi has a dead transfer case, the brake light, abs light and traction light all came on. I drove it for a week like that until I took it to the shop. They said it’s going to be 2,800$ to fix. Im obviously not paying that since the car isn’t even worth that. Could I still drive the car for a bit? My mechanic told me not to drive it as it could “lock up” on me. Is there anything I could do to safely drive it? I could absolutely care less if it’s RWD only now.
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03-04-2023, 02:52 PM	#2
Pittz1 2018 M3 ZCP / 06 330xi 212 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 330xi 2006 / 18 M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Pay for x-delete and disable it. It "might" get rid of the lights. I know when my TC motor took a shit, the lights would come on and even when I had it in 2WD, lights still came on. My TC motor made a nasty grinding sound before it died completely.
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03-05-2023, 08:53 AM	#3
Hoody007 Major 1656 Rep 1,276 Posts Drives: 335i ZMZ LCI \| 850i/6 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Dunwoody, GA & Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	How do you know it’s the transfer case? The lights alone could be from a myriad of other causes…
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04-26-2023, 02:37 PM	#4
rothwem Major 497 Rep 1,208 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Wagon Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [10.00]	It depends on what's dead on it. Mine was shuddering pretty badly on my previous wagon, which was an xDrive, and unplugging the actuator made it driveable for a while in RWD. I had no traction control though and I'm not sure if ABS was functional either.
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