[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by Aimster82

My car has 46K miles and no symptoms.

Should I pay $500 to change the oil?

2019 5.0

No. Send that $500 to me instead I'm thinking you want to have the oil replaced in order to possibly prevent a transfer case issue down the road that might cost you a transfer case at something like $4K, right? Well, personal opinions on this will certainly vary but for me, no, I would wait till I 'sense' the symptom and have it changed at that point.
There are a lot of things that can and do go wrong over time as the car ages, you might consider an extended warranty if you are concerned.

[aussieintexas]

We had the issue about 6 months ago and the transfer case fluid was changed and problem went away. Returned again and took it back over thanksgiving and the transfer case was then replaced. It is a ‘21 45e and has 49k on it

[aussieintexas]

[QUOTE=Marty in NY;30792291]No. Send that $500 to me instead I'm thinking you want to have the oil replaced in order to possibly prevent a transfer case issue down the road that might cost you a transfer case at something like $4K, right? Well, personal opinions on this will certainly vary but for me, no, I would wait till I 'sense' the symptom and have it changed at that point.


Transfer case replacement for mine was about 8k (dealer cost under warranty)

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by Aimster82

My car has 46K miles and no symptoms.

Should I pay $500 to change the oil?

2019 5.0

If it was me and not showing any symptoms, but I want it changed I would find an independent shop BMW is charging way too much to change his oil and Indy shop probably wouldn’t be more than a couple hundred

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by aussieintexas

Transfer case replacement for mine was about 8k (dealer cost under warranty)

Significantly higher than I seem to recall...ouch!

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by swainbmw

If it was me and not showing any symptoms, but I want it changed I would find an independent shop BMW is charging way too much to change his oil and Indy shop probably wouldn’t be more than a couple hundred

Since dealers are or should be following the SIB on this issue, they will not be putting in the same oil the factory did, the indy shop will need to know which oil to put in. I'd bring the SIB to the indy shop when discussing hiring them. SIB 27 02 20

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Since dealers are or should be following the SIB on this issue, they will not be putting in the same oil the factory did, the indy shop will need to know which oil to put in. I'd bring the SIB to the indy shop when discussing hiring them. SIB 27 02 20

Personally, I would use liquid Molly I’m gonna change mine out diff fluid at 3 years I’ve been doing my oil changes six months or 5000 miles with the same product liquid Molly I’ll probably do the transmission at five years current mileage on my 2022 is only 9000 miles And I definitely would use an Indy shop

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by swainbmw

Personally, I would use liquid Molly I’m gonna change mine out diff fluid at 3 years I’ve been doing my oil changes six months or 5000 miles with the same product liquid Molly I’ll probably do the transmission at five years current mileage on my 2022 is only 9000 miles And I definitely would use an Indy shop

I also use Liqui Moly for engine oil. A shipment of it just arrived so it's time to change it again. If I had a proper lift, I'd do my own transfer case.

.

[chefwong]

Originally Posted by swainbmw

If it was me and not showing any symptoms, but I want it changed I would find an independent shop BMW is charging way too much to change his oil and Indy shop probably wouldn’t be more than a couple hundred

This may be a regional thing but the less than the handful of Indy's I use....they don't go by time spent like eon's ago but same as dealer book time IME. Hourly Rates are the same or may be smidge less and surely the approach to repair is different - not in the realm of a fluid change, but if I'm taking this off to access this, then let's replace X and Y, etc - versus dealer just going the single thing/things needed for the R&R and not the value add to the repair itself.

[Bolt1949]

2019 X5 50i MSport, CPO purchase. Issue first noticeable at about 30k miles. Fluid change [at my expense] at 41k miles, after which the issue was no longer detectable. Traded in the vehicle 42k. TBH, I can't imagine the life expectancy of the transfer case wasn't affected by the problem. Someone else's worry now.

I personally wouldn't advise owning a 2019 vintage X5 50i without the full 84-month ESP. YMMV

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

I also use Liqui Moly for engine oil. A shipment of it just arrived so it's time to change it again. If I had a proper lift, I'd do my own transfer case.

.

Absolutely I would too, because I change my own oil .

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by chefwong

This may be a regional thing but the less than the handful of Indy's I use....they don't go by time spent like eon's ago but same as dealer book time IME. Hourly Rates are the same or may be smidge less and surely the approach to repair is different - not in the realm of a fluid change, but if I'm taking this off to access this, then let's replace X and Y, etc - versus dealer just going the single thing/things needed for the R&R and not the value add to the repair itself.

Had this challenge before two that’s when I walked and look for somebody else also that’s when you evaluate service that’s needed and sometimes it’s easier to take to the dealer because of getting a loaner car

[chefwong]

I haven't crawled under the X but the TC fluid is pretty straightforward ....aside from whatever access is needed to fill plug. Short stub hexes or some variant is useful. Once the plug is removed, siphon out, fill back, let it drip to a slow drip, plug it back and reset the TC

Aimster - if you're some mechanically handy, OE fluid will set back about $50 a liter...and either a extractor or siphon pump to drain/fill + a new fill plug.

The only additional is just tools - ramps, etc to get her up + means of removing the fill plug. Usually a -short cut- 14mm, or a 14MM hex bit and then a wrench on the bit as a pass through.


Since I typed this all out.....
Just some paper Napkin Math

Fluid - $60 or whatever the MSRP
I'm pointing out MSRP as Indys may use a direct OEM equivalent but may bill you the OE rate.

Labor - 1 Hr to 1. 5 - At 220 a Hr, round it off to $300
Plug - $10
Shop Consumables - another 10-15%

The math doesn't look to far off from your Dealer Pricing...I'm sure a Indy would be cheaper for a fluid change. There is less than a handful of shops I would frequent but a fluid change like this may be a bit less than a dealer and like Swain pointed out, dealer jobs should also net you a loaner should you need it

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by chefwong

I haven't crawled under the X but the TC fluid is pretty straightforward ....aside from whatever access is needed to fill plug. Short stub hexes or some variant is useful. Once the plug is removed, siphon out, fill back, let it drip to a slow drip, plug it back and reset the TC

Aimster - if you're some mechanically handy, OE fluid will set back about $50 a liter...and either a extractor or siphon pump to drain/fill + a new fill plug.

The only additional is just tools - ramps, etc to get her up + means of removing the fill plug. Usually a -short cut- 14mm, or a 14MM hex bit and then a wrench on the bit as a pass through.


Since I typed this all out.....
Just some paper Napkin Math

Fluid - $60 or whatever the MSRP
I'm pointing out MSRP as Indys may use a direct OEM equivalent but may bill you the OE rate.

Labor - 1 Hr to 1. 5 - At 220 a Hr, round it off to $300
Plug - $10
Shop Consumables - another 10-15%

The math doesn't look to far off from your Dealer Pricing...I'm sure a Indy would be cheaper for a fluid change. There is less than a handful of shops I would frequent but a fluid change like this may be a bit less than a dealer and like Swain pointed out, dealer jobs should also net you a loaner should you need it

After thinking about this some more, aside from the potential loaner that you may get from a dealer, IF someone is starting to notice TC symptoms, then paying a little extra to take it to a dealer may pay off in the event the oil change does little to provide a long term solution in that the dealer will be much more agreeable to help in the event of a replacement because they were the ones who changed the oil and therefore know what oil was put in there. Not saying they would do a free $8K replacement but you might get some sort of discount or with BMW involved, you might get more.