Journey with my new F25 2011 2.0d

[RickR]

Three weeks ago I picked up my (budget) 2011 2.0d.
I have been looking for quite some time.
Manage to get this from Durban at a reasonable price cos I have a lot of work to be done. A few body scratches and big dings.
And service and changing a few parts.
Test drove it a few weeks back but did not view the under carriage ( shaft from transfer case to front diff missing) I guess that’s why it’s a-bit light on diesel. Any clue were I can get a shaft? I also wonder why it was removed.
Pass week I changed the following for peace of mind.
Oil
Oil filter
Diesel filter
Front and rear brake pads and sensor.

Will post as I repair and service other parts.
Next month with be the ZF box service and lower front control arms.

Regards Avir

Hey Avir, just want to drop a line and say thanks for sharing this. I also own a 2011 F25 X3 2.0D, the front propshaft suddenly broke on our trip from JHB to Machadodorp outside Witbank. Mine has 128K on the clock.

I was looking for advice online and came across your post. The fact that yours drove without the shaft gave me confidence to drive my X3 home (130km), without the front prop in a pinch. Long story short, the Bosch it was towed to just didn't give enough time to source a replacement in time for our return trip and then came up with an outrageous quote for the supply of the prop. I just had it removed. I also saw on another forum to remove fuse 37 (AWD) in order to spare the transfer case, which I did.

The result is AWD + DSC is disabled, and then the front TC no longer engages.

I am not sure if this made a difference, but the effect wasn't negative, just felt the losses of power to the front wheels (from no prop), and the warning of no DSC came on.

Did you ever replace the propshaft, and was the TC damaged?

Thanks
Rick

 

[Avir]

Hi
Nope I never replace the shaft yet.
Not issues so far. Only on Ista , code comes up as oil wear.
The TC was not damaged.
Also a few months back ,my mach, checked the front diff in put and the tc out put, no visible damage,the spines were normal.
My one did not break off. I think the 2nd owner removed it cos he did not have matching tires. Now too,my two front tires and rear have different tire ware. On the road still drives well, even in wet weather on the N3 at higher speeds(+120) still sticks
242000kms still runs smooth.
It’s like having a s drive F25

 

[RickR]

That's helpful and interesting thanks. Was thinking that no prop would create a failure of the TC. So I'll have an s drive too for a while 😎

Out of interest, was the wear on the front on the inside of the tire and do you have a shudder at the rear when turning at low speeds, especially on smooth surfaces like shopping centre parking lots?

Attached is the prop and the clock. Reading around it looks as though it was time for replacing. There is a tell, when rust forms on the ends of the shaft. Apparently this is an x drive thing. Mine just failed outright, no vibrations or sounds prior.

 

[Avir]

Yes I did have tire ware on the inner fronts. But I travel a lot up country kzn, and the back roads , pot holes bumps etc, so my alignment did go off very little. Yet I do my alignment every 8-10k when I do my oil service.

Vehicle has no shuddering at any speed, or braking hard. Or at low speed on bends and taking turns.
Your prop definitely broke cos of rust.

 

[RickR]

Yes I did have tire ware on the inner fronts. But I travel a lot up country kzn, and the back roads , pot holes bumps etc, so my alignment did go off very little. Yet I do my alignment every 8-10k when I do my oil service.

Vehicle has no shuddering at any speed, or braking hard. Or at low speed on bends and taking turns.
Your prop definitely broke cos of rust.

Compliments of the season to you and yours.

That tread wear is a natural to the x3 I believe, I had the same with regular alignment also. Rotating the wheels every year is what I do now on the advice I received from my local HI Q.

It is interesting that you don't have low speed turning shudder at the rear. The fact that you are running different treads and don't have is probably due to being RWD only.

I have purchased a new propshaft now, R2950 at Beeline Spares, hoping to get it fitted in the new year when our machie gets back from leave.

My X3 started out at the coast in Cape Town, which might have accelerated the corrosion on the original prop.

 

[Avir]

Compliments of the season to you and yours.

That tread wear is a natural to the x3 I believe, I had the same with regular alignment also. Rotating the wheels every year is what I do now on the advice I received from my local HI Q.

It is interesting that you don't have low speed turning shudder at the rear. The fact that you are running different treads and don't have is probably due to being RWD only.

I have purchased a new propshaft now, R2950 at Beeline Spares, hoping to get it fitted in the new year when our machie gets back from leave.

My X3 started out at the coast in Cape Town, which might have accelerated the corrosion on the original prop.

Hi Rick. Is your shaft fitted and running.

 

[Avir]

Been a while since I gave an update on my F25. 243000kms and still going strong.
November 2024 fresh oil and filter.shell , mann filter.
Last week did complete braking system, new front disc + pads + sensor. Rear Disc + pads + sensor. All surebrake. And no, I never had a problem with surebrake. I travel a lot. But dont brake hard, or race. 😂 Brake fluid flush done.
New diesel filter. Mann
New ZF gearbox pan (filter) + oil. From Pinetown ZF
I had a Goldwagen pan before this, and sometimes it leaked, leaking was noticeable when front of the vehicle was higher/elevated.


Vehicle still rear wheel drive due to the front shaft out. Plus front and rear tires are of different tread.

 

[modocrat]

Is your cluster suffering from Jaundice? 😕

 

[FILV]

Is your cluster suffering from Jaundice? 😕

LOL this seems to be common on thsee clusters. The F10 i just bought has the same issue. I cant find any info on the overseas forums regarding it. Im guessing the led wears out and turns yellow?

 

[RickR]

Hi Rick. Is your shaft fitted and running.

Hey Avir, yes thanks and it's running like a dream.

 

[Avir]

Is your cluster suffering from Jaundice? 😕

Nope cluster works 💯. Maybe it was the sunlight , was during the day after I picked the vehicle up from the workshop.