Your fleet running reports

[Jimexpl]

Is that a common failure on X5s ? Diffs are generally pretty tough. Unless they've lost their oil somehow.

I doubt many people would know if their front diff had gone unless a warning light is triggered. On my E70 the diffs are ‘sealed for life’ so most people would never do anything with them - I’ve had to ask three times at my local garage for them to change the oil as the first two guys clearly thought they knew better than me and ignored my instruction to change it.
Traction is so poor with fat road-spec tyres on slippery surfaces that I questioned whether my front diff worked when I first bought it.

[integrale_evo]

Is that a common failure on X5s ? Diffs are generally pretty tough. Unless they've lost their oil somehow.

Not common, but not rare either.

I guess it could be stripped splines on the driveshaft I thought was dodgy, but it all feels too smooth for that.

Something somewhere isn’t transmitting any drive anyway

[integrale_evo]

It definitely was working as you’d hear a little scrabble from the front on a brisk takeoff out of a junction. As far as I know, there aren’t any sensors in it and I don’t think there are any in the transfer case either.

I guess it’s possible both the diff and transfer case have gone? Or maybe the clutch in the transfer case needs a little load from the front to work properly and as there is none it’s causing the actuator to spaz out and bring up the error lights.

[Sundayjumper]

Missing teeth on the input pinion ? That would let you spin one wheel smoothly without the other wheel or input shaft moving. But then it ought to sound terrible when driving.

It's certainly a puzzle.

[integrale_evo]

Yeah, it’s odd it’s so quiet. There was a very slight rotational noise from the front on overrun occasionally which sounded like an inner cv joint, so I bought a left front driveshaft as that’s the most common issue.

But nothing loud, obvious clicking, grinding etc.

Stripping the splines off the front prop at the transfer box end is fairly common, but it’s not that as it’s not even attempting to turn it.

If I can summon up some energy I might go take the driveshaft out to check that before I start ripping the diff out.

[Carlos]

The costs to diagnose and repair what you are doing is likely to be well into 4 figures at a decent garage. Terrifying ownership prospect these big SUVs seem to be at over 10 years old. Trying to make them perfect is a mugs game and people seem to run them on the basis that keeping them moving and through the next mot is winning

If people like you and SJ didnt buy these things they are 1 fault away from scrap

[Sundayjumper]

Jobbo spent £2k getting the valve stem seals done on his step-daughter's MINI. The bloke that just bought my Dooper spent £2500 on clutch & cam chain on his other MINI. It's not just SUVs that get expensive ! Anything labour intensive and the ££££s rack up quickly.

So anyway, the silver Clubman has gone. A good car but I'm not a convert to small diesels. The Cooper S is much nicer to drive.

[Carlos]

I appreciate cars cost £ to maintain but my point is the addition of 4wd and air suspension on these vehicles is often the killer after a certain age.

[integrale_evo]

Yep, there’s lots that get absolutely run into the ground.

On the plus side, it means a lot of people break them which means parts can be pretty cheap and easy to find.

I’m not going to cry about £200 for a front diff delivered, or £150 for a transfer box. But I might if I was paying someone else to diagnose and fix.

[Sundayjumper]

Amen to that. It’s all about getting your hands dirty.

[integrale_evo]

Still waiting for the diff and can’t be bothered pulling it to bits until it’s here. Put the winter wheels on anyway.

Dropped from 275/40 + 315/35 20 to 255 50 19 all round

Don’t look as horrible as I was expecting, but the rears are seriously tucked inside the arches. I was planning on spacers anyway, but they’re definitely needed now!

Apparently quaife do a proper lsd rear diff for about £1k…


The compact is also back on its standard wheels and all season tyres. Unfortunately the mot ran out today and I’ve been too lazy to get it booked in as I wanted to give it a proper once over underneath before I send it in.

[Sundayjumper]

Out of interest, what's the fuel consumption like on the X5 ? I've not used the Cayenne as a true daily so never worked it out for that but on a cruise it'll do high twenties and when towing it drops to about 20. I guess it'd probably do low twenties on average.

[integrale_evo]

I think it’s showing 19.6 or something at the minute, over the last 400 miles or so, but that includes a few college runs sitting in traffic and often use it for short runs or to pop into town because it warms up quickly and the noise is addictive.

I expect my true day to day average would probably be low 20s, on a longer gentle run mid 20s should be quite possible.

[Carlos]

As a winter hack i like the stance

[Sundayjumper]

...and the noise is addictive.

Everyone needs a V8

[MikeHunt]

...and the noise is addictive.

Everyone needs a V8

Yup

[integrale_evo]

22.3mpg on my typical 60 mile round trip, mixed a-road standard commute with a few throttle mashing overtakes and a blast up the bypass.

Front diff arrived, so that’s going to be my weekend sorted. Might have to bring my tools indoors to warm up the night before

[GG.]

So anyway, the silver Clubman has gone. A good car but I'm not a convert to small diesels. The Cooper S is much nicer to drive.

What year Cooper S is yours?

We are looking at getting one to replace the Smart. Had a test drive a couple of months ago and they’re properly fun to drive!

Then again 196bhp in a small car should be! I remember my old gen 1 2.0 focus had 130bhp and that felt quick back in the day… that was 20 years ago though… scary.

[Sundayjumper]

So anyway, the silver Clubman has gone. A good car but I'm not a convert to small diesels. The Cooper S is much nicer to drive.

What year Cooper S is yours?

We are looking at getting one to replace the Smart. Had a test drive a couple of months ago and they’re properly fun to drive!

Then again 196bhp in a small car should be! I remember my old gen 1 2.0 focus had 130bhp and that felt quick back in the day… that was 20 years ago though… scary.

Mine's an old one, 2007, only 173bhp

But it was nice and cheap, just needed a head gasket & a lambda sensor

DFAEDAF8-EFE4-4A0B-AC9C-25C0D982DD2E.jpeg (130.94 KiB) Viewed 577 times

[GG.]

Ah cool. Mit side door so a clubman.

When I went to the dealership I had a poke round the current Clubman JCW... 302bhp with 4 wheel drive. Bonkers.