2023 BMW xDrive Jerking/Shuddering SIB 27 02 20

BMW has released Service Information Bulletin SIB 27 02 20 (Revision 3, dated August 16, 2024), which supersedes the May 2024 version of SI B27 02 20. This bulletin addresses a condition where various 2023 BMW xDrive models may exhibit a "jerking or shuddering from the driveline." This update includes additional models and clarifies the wear-in period for new transfer case oil.

Symptoms

Owners may notice a "jerking or shuddering from the driveline" under specific driving conditions. These include:

• During cornering or accelerating from low speeds.
• When driving with low to medium loads.

Importantly, this condition typically occurs without any "warning lights or Check Control messages" appearing on the instrument cluster.

Cause

According to BMW, the primary causes for this "BMW xDrive jerking shuddering" are:

• Unevenly worn or incorrect fitment tires: Tires that do not match the vehicle's specifications or have significant wear differences can affect the xDrive system's operation.
• Transfer case oil: The factory-filled transfer case oil may not meet current BMW specifications, leading to improper lubrication or function of the xDrive transfer case ATX13-X.

Important Warnings

BMW has issued specific advisories for technicians and owners regarding this issue:

• "There will be a warning in the control display for the xDrive system that for this procedure is to be ignored. Cycling the ignition will re-activate the VTG." This refers to a temporary warning during the diagnostic process.
• "The transfer case's newly replaced oil still needs a minimum drive time before it is fully broken in. The shuddering should diminish during this run-in period before completely smoothing out." Owners should be aware that initial shuddering may persist after an oil change until the new oil has settled.

Repair Procedure Summary

Addressing the "BMW xDrive jerking shuddering" involves a multi-step diagnostic and repair process:

1. Tire Inspection: Technicians will first inspect the vehicle's tires, checking their size, brand, and wear against the factory-fitted tire sizes (e.g., from the driver's B-pillar placard). One or more tires with extreme wear can keep the xDrive engaged, contributing to the issue. If new tires were recently installed, the problem might have originated with the old tires.
2. Powertrain Fault Diagnosis: If no tire issues are found or the problem persists, any faults in the powertrain control units will be checked and diagnosed.
3. Transfer Case (VTG) Diagnosis: The transfer case will be diagnosed. It is no longer necessary or approved to unplug the transfer case (VTG) module for diagnosis on affected models. The VTG can be temporarily disconnected via ISTA (Integrated Service Technical Application) using specific diagnostic paths. This allows for a test drive with the transfer case clutch deactivated to further diagnose the complaint.
4. Transfer Case Oil Change: If the complaint is resolved with the transfer case disconnected, the oil in the transfer case will be changed. This follows Repair Instruction 27 00 270, which covers oil change procedures for the transfer box, including used oil disposal. The vehicle is connected to ISTA, and the oil change steps are followed.
5. Transmission Cross-Member Service: During the transfer case oil change, the transmission cross-member may need to be removed and reinstalled, following Repair Instruction 22 32 050 for replacing the cross member for the transmission bearing.
6. VTG Recalibration: After the oil change, the VTG (Variable Torque Gearing) is recalibrated using ISTA, specifically through the path: Service functions/Drive/Transfer box VTG/Transfer box (VTG): Calibration.

Required Tools or Parts

To perform the repair, specific parts and special tools are required:

• DTF-1 Transfer case oil (1000 ml/1 liter): Part Number 83 22 2 409 710 (approximately 0.7 liters needed).
• Screw plug with O-ring (M22x1,5-ZNS3): Part Number 33 11 7 525 064.
• Special Tool for oil extraction: 0 493 337 (also known as 00 2 080).
• Special Tool for oil extraction: 2 457 963.

Claim Information

Procedures related to diagnosing and resolving the "BMW xDrive jerking shuddering" (steps 2 to 5) are generally covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. Standalone transfer box/case oil change procedures are typically not covered unless they are part of a larger diagnosis that leads to a required transfer box/case assembly replacement. The repair code associated with this issue is 2710003800 for "Transfer box, complete jerking."

NHTSA ID: 11006766