2024-2025 BMW X-Series / Sedans Driveline Jerking SIB 27 02 20

BMW has released Service Information Bulletin SIB 27 02 20, Revision 5, dated June 6, 2025, to address customer complaints of jerking or shuddering from the driveline in various 2024-2025 BMW models. This bulletin supersedes the previous version, SIB 27 02 20 dated March 2025. Owners experiencing a "JERKING OR SHUDDERING FROM THE DRIVELINE" should be aware of the potential causes and recommended diagnostic steps.

The bulletin outlines that this 2024-2025 BMW driveline jerking can occur during cornering or acceleration from low speeds, or when driving with low to medium loads. Importantly, these symptoms typically appear without any warning lights or Check Control messages on the instrument cluster.

Symptoms of Driveline Jerking or Shuddering

Owners may notice a distinct jerking or shuddering sensation from the vehicle's driveline. This behavior is typically observed under specific conditions:

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

Crucially, these symptoms are not accompanied by any warning lights or Check Control messages, making diagnosis challenging without specific guidance.

Underlying Causes

BMW has identified two primary causes for the "JERKING OR SHUDDERING FROM THE DRIVELINE" issue:

1. Tire-related problems: This includes unevenly worn tires or tires that do not meet the correct fitment specifications for the vehicle.
2. Transfer case oil issues: The factory-filled transfer case oil may not meet current BMW specifications.

Important Warnings for Owners

Owners should be aware of specific conditions related to the repair and post-repair driving:

• xDrive System Warning: During certain diagnostic procedures, a warning message related to the "xDrive system" may appear in the control display. This warning is expected and should be ignored during the procedure. Cycling the ignition will reactivate the xDrive system.
• Post-Repair Driving: After a transfer case oil change, a minimum drive time of 125 miles of normal driving is required for the new oil to fully saturate the clutch plates inside the transfer case. The 2024-2025 BMW driveline jerking or shuddering should gradually diminish during this run-in period until it completely smooths out.

Tire Inspection and Specifications

A thorough tire inspection is the first step in diagnosing the 2024-2025 BMW driveline jerking. Technicians will check for the following:

• Size and Brand: Verify that the tires match the correct size and brand specified on the driver's B-pillar placard for factory-fitted tires.
• Tire Wear: Extreme tire wear on one or more tires can cause the xDrive system to remain engaged, contributing to the issue. If new tires were recently installed, the problem might have originated with the old tires.
• Staggered Sizes: For vehicles with staggered tire sizes, ensure that tires are not mismatched between axles (e.g., front tires moved to the rear).
• Rolling Circumference: It is highly recommended to check the rolling circumference of all four tires to detect variances not visible by tread depth alone.

Tire Technical Specifications (from Repair Instruction 3612...)

To ensure proper vehicle operation and prevent driveline issues, the following tire specifications must be met:

• The tire size, manufacturer, and tread must be identical on each axle.
• For optimal BMW standards, all four wheels should have tires from the same manufacturer and with the same tread pattern (BMW-approved tires).
• The difference in tire tread depth on any single axle must not exceed 2 mm.
• Tires with deeper tread depths should always be mounted on the rear axle.
• The DOT age difference between tires should not exceed 4 years.
• Tire pressure must be adjusted when tires are exchanged.

Wheel Exchange Considerations

While wheel exchanges between axles can promote even wear, BMW does not recommend swapping front wheels to the rear or vice-versa. Such exchanges may lead to:

• Complaints regarding acoustics.
• Increased lane groove sensitivity.

If wheel exchanges are performed, the following requirements are critical:

• Identical tire size and rim size on both front and rear axles.
• A thorough assessment of the wear pattern.
• The tread difference between the front and rear wheels must not exceed 2-3 mm.
• Wheels should be exchanged every 3000 miles (5000 km).
• For all-wheel drive vehicles, tire size, manufacturer, and tread must be the same at all wheel positions, unless mixed tire sizes are specifically permitted between the front and rear axles. The tire tread difference across all wheel positions must not exceed 2 mm.

Diagnosis Procedure

If tire issues are not found or if the driveline shuddering persists after addressing tire concerns, technicians will proceed with further diagnosis:

1. Powertrain Control Unit Check: Diagnose any faults present in the powertrain control units.
2. Transfer Case Diagnosis:
   • It is no longer necessary to unplug the transfer case (VTG) module to diagnose related concerns.
   • The VTG can be temporarily deactivated using the ISTA test plan "Temporary deactivation of all-wheel-drive system – (ABL-DIT-AW2710_TDEAKAWD11)". This is accessed via the path: Vehicle Management/Troubleshooting/Function structure/Drive/Transfer box/[!] Current fault patterns/Temporary deactivation of all-wheel-drive system.
   • After deactivating the transfer case clutch, the vehicle will be test-driven to determine if the complaint is resolved.

Repair Procedure Summary

If the complaint of 2024-2025 BMW driveline jerking is eliminated when the transfer case is disconnected, the following repair is performed under Repair Code 2710003800:

1. Transfer Case Oil Change: The oil in the transfer case is changed. This follows Repair Instruction "27 00 270 Oil change in transfer box including used oil disposal". If this instruction is not available in ISTA for a specific vehicle, technicians will use the test plan "Oil change (ABL-DIT-AS2710_OILCHNG_VTGG11)" via Service functions/Drive/Transfer box VTG/Oil change.
2. Cross-Member Removal: The transmission cross-member is removed as part of the oil change process, following Repair Instruction "22 32 050 'Replacing the cross member for the transmission bearing'".
3. Oil Extraction and Filling: Special tools 0 493 337 (also known as 00 2 080) and 2 457 963 are used to extract the old transmission oil. New DTF-1 transmission oil (approximately 0.7 liters) is then added using special tool 0 493 337 until it reaches the lower edge of the filler plug opening.
4. Filler Plug Replacement: The oil filler plug is replaced with a new one, part number 33 11 7 525 064, and tightened to 60 Nm.
5. Cross-Member Reinstallation: The transmission cross-member is reinstalled according to Repair Instruction 22 32 050.
6. VTG Recalibration: The VTG is recalibrated using the ISTA test plan "Calibration (ABL-DIT-AS2710_KALIB_VTGG11)", accessible via Service functions/Drive/Transfer box VTG/Transfer box (VTG): Calibration.

Required Tools or Parts

To perform the transfer case oil change, specific parts and special tools are required:

• Transfer Case Oil: DTF-1 Transfer case oil (1000 ml/1 liter), Part Number 83 22 5 A4F 016.
• Screw Plug: Screw plug with O-ring (M22 x 1.5-ZNS3), Part Number 33 11 7 525 064.
• Special Tools: 0 493 337 (00 2 080) and 2 457 963 for oil extraction and filling.

What Owners Should Do

If your 2024-2025 BMW exhibits jerking or shuddering from the driveline, especially during cornering, acceleration, or under light loads, contact your authorized BMW service center. Describe the symptoms in detail, noting that no warning lights are present. Referencing Service Information Bulletin SIB 27 02 20 may help the technician quickly identify the appropriate diagnostic and repair procedures.

NHTSA ID: 11019579