BMW e90 Dashboard ABS, 4x4, Brake, DSC Lights Caused By Faulty Transfer Case Actuator! (Video 3)

This video shows how we diagnosed and repaired an ABS issue on a 2011 e90 BMW 328xi. The dashboard was illuminated with the ABS light, DSC light, brake light, and 4x4 light. In our case, the cause was a faulty transfer case actuator. This video shows the entire diagnostic process as well as the repair. This video is for entertainment purposes only. We are not responsible for any damage to your vehicle. Welcome to BavhausTV!

[@RichardIngramBuilder]

Thanks, great Video, great mechanic, great tips. Excellent, you have skills

[@bavhaustv9795]

Glad you liked the video! Thanks for the kind feedback 🍻

[@xxxhilariousxxx]

Yo man thank you so very much, I had the worst time taking that transfer case bracket bolt out. I did it your way pulled it out from under the exhaust the way you did it. I fiddled with it for 2 days before I got it out and with your method I got it out in a couple minutes! THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH YOU'RE A LIFESAVER!

[@bavhaustv9795]

Haha comments like these are why we do it. Love that we were able to help brotha 🍻

[@cw988]

Great video, the best so far! Here's a tip if you have the manual transmission, there's plenty of room to insert the long bolt back in from the FRONT side, so you only have this difficult removal one time. Mine was 18mm , both the bolt head and the nut. I used a short extension + socket on the front side, and a short socket on the rear side as you did. Thanks again for all the details in your vid, it helped a lot.

[@bavhaustv9795]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad we were able to help. And I know a lot of people like to flip the bolt after the first service, I’m just a little neurotic and like stuff put back the way it came. Even if it makes no difference it would eat at me lol. -Mike

[@You-can-fix-it]

So if one wheel sensor is having big air gap between axle ring, or if sensor defective, it will show on the dashboard that is 4x4 and is not working?

[@bavhaustv9795]

Yes the 4x4 gets shut off whenever there’s faults in the abs system. -Mike

[@kennethcolon1591]

what fluid did you use? what fill tool was that? i just replaced my actuator and some fluid came out, i didnt fill it and when i put everything back together the codes stayed off for a minute or two. do you think they came back because of the fluid or just the transfer case being bad?

[@zbreezy190]

He said in the vid bmw dtf1 and just any fluid exchange pump will work

[@jehfitt]

I have a 2016 bmw 228i xdrive that has all those lights but there intermittent and only comes on while driving. I was told it was the transfer case I was hoping maybe just flushing and adding oil to it or maybe the actuator. What do you think?

[@bavhaustv9795]

Do you hear any drone from the front axle? Or have any air gap codes for a wheel speed sensor? Sometimes when the issue is intermittent it’s actually a wheel bearing wearing and causing a magnetic field that interferes with the Hall effect sensor. Check out our other videos on this topic and scan for codes. Let us know what you find! -Mike

[@jehfitt]

@@bavhaustv9795 that seems more likely to me then a transfer case. Because originally I thought it was speed sensors but my mechanic said they all register and not one was off from the others. He said it could be ecu, then another mechanic said it’s the transfer case and it’ll be over 5k to fix. The front brakes are warped for the second time in a year and a half and the cv axle boot is ripped again. Could a bad wheel bearing cause all that?

[@bavhaustv9795]

@@jehfitt transfercase motor failure is typically a hard failure so I’d be looking elsewhere myself. The transfercase is more than likely not the issue. The code pops up to shut the system off for dozens of reasons. The warped rotor and axle issue are probably not related unless the bearing is extremely bad but I think you’d figure that out if that was the case. Ecu won’t be the problem. Drive the car and listen for a front axle drone and check for air gap codes when the lights for abs/4x4/brake etc pop up. Those codes to first appear are your guide to solving the issue. Don’t scan after long cause the chain reaction of codes will make it a nightmare to diagnose. Even when wheel speed sensors have air gap codes they still may read wheel speed properly.

[@jakestoneburner1248]

is it possible to calibrate the transfer case actuator using a snap on obd2 scanner? Just to be safe, what kind of scanner and app do you use to calibrate the actuator and check for errors?

[@bavhaustv9795]

A snap-on scan tool should have the same options. We use a number of tools including ista, an Autel, and protool among other things.

[@jakestoneburner1248]

okay perfect thank you. Planning on buying the part soon and fixing it up with some friends@@bavhaustv9795

[@rubensyo0574]

If car is making a scraping/clanking sound while driving would that be the actual transfer case?

[@bavhaustv9795]

Could be a number of things. I’d start by looking at the axles. -Mike

[@baims8367]

Take a 14 mm stubby bolt and weld the head of the bolt in wrench 🔧 that will make u a custom BMW the plug 🔧 tool. 😉 💪🏻

[@bavhaustv9795]

Not a bad idea!

[@reynoreyno3444]

I changed my bmw 2006 325xi n52 transfer case actuator already and still got the 4x4! And break and dsc lights what you think went wrong I’ve also replaced the drivetrain and front driver side axel

[@imthatguypal_]

Damn man, I also have a 2006 325xi, this is my second e90 with vgc servo motor bullshit, its so annoying not being able to rip this thing easily, and this second one has transmission problems with squealing when going into 4th gear. It also died on me today at a red light, went from steady 800 rpm to black out no more electricity anywhere in cabin, dead. Connected a jumper pack, started it, disconnected immediately afterwards and its like nothing happened, running strong again. Except now my turn signals don’t go back to neutral after turning. Am I unlucky or are these cars so fucking delicate??! Ive seen E46s being more reliable but they are underpowered compared to E90 and above

[@reynoreyno3444]

@@imthatguypal_ yeah bro it's all the sensors that's why people code them out and I feel you on not being able to RIP it mines auto and it really hurts me not feeling the awd pull but yeah any old bmw

[@bavhaustv9795]

@@reynoreyno3444 could be a number of things. Any codes?

[@calebstallings4742]

What scan tool are you using ? I replaced the actuator but i cannot calibrate it.

[@bavhaustv9795]

We used ProTool downloaded on an android tablet for this repair. -Mike

[@user-fr9qh3ys2t]

Do you have to drain the fluid or can you just change the actuator?

[@bavhaustv9795]

You don’t have to drain and fill the actuator but it is recommended. -Mike

[@user-fr9qh3ys2t]

@@bavhaustv9795 thank you!

[@sawyerrescue530]

How do I calibrate with a foxwell scanner ?

[@bavhaustv9795]

Should be under maintenance, drivetrain, VTG -Mike

[@sawyerrescue530]

Tried to do it , it won’t let me

[@baims8367]

Reinstall the long pain in the ass transfer case mount bolt backwards . This just makes the removal for next time ez with no issues what’s so ever !!

[@bavhaustv9795]

Haha we know plenty of people who do this. There’s more than likely nothing wrong with reinstalling it backwards but we tend to put everything back exactly how we found it. Who knows if/what engineering concerns there may have been placing it the other way. It was more than likely an oversight but it wasn’t fixed and oriented the other way on later chassis so we continued putting them back in the stock directly just so there’s no potential liability. -Mike

[@jordynharris445]

omfg 🤦 i just checked out my transfer case today and thought about putting that bolt in backwards but didn’t. now i see this comment

[@bavhaustv9795]

@@jordynharris445 yeah it’s definitely easier lol