xDrive Transfer Case Fluid Change

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IA EURO illustration of a BMW xDrive transfer case, marked in red: xDrive transfer case, one oil for almost every xDrive BMW

One oil fits the transfer case on almost every xDrive BMW. Here's which cars, how much, and the one step most DIY videos skip.

IA EURO illustration of a BMW xDrive transfer case seen from under the car, fill plug circled in red marker: fill to the bottom of the hole, new plug, 60 Nm
The fill plug, looking up from under the car. Lower left on the transfer case.

Does yours take it?

BMW's own fluid list puts every rear-drive based xDrive transfer case on the same oil: DTF 1, the spec that used to be called TF 0870. And 1 L covers every xDrive transfer case: BMW's fill amounts run from 0.44 L to 0.9 L, depending on the box.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Series xDriveSame oil. G-series takes 0.7 L.Kit $73.99 →
X3, X4, X5, X6, X7Same oil, same plug.Kit $73.99 →
X1 xDrive, 2010 to 2015Same oil. This X1 is rear-drive based.Kit $73.99 →
X1 from 2016, X2, 2 Series Gran Coupe, Active and Gran TourerDifferent oil. These are front-drive based.Not this kit

Not sure? Send us your 17-digit VIN and we'll tell you.

60 NmFill plug, M22, new plug with a new O-ring. Same plug and same torque as the diffs.

Get to it (G-series)

  1. Car level. On a lift or four stands. Level matters, the plug hole is the gauge.
  2. Rear underbody panel off.
  3. Support the transmission with a jack and a strap, then drop the transmission crossmember. BMW does it this way for room at the plug.
  4. Crack the fill plug first. Lower left on the transfer case, looking up. If it won't break loose, stop.

Change it

  1. Suck the old oil out through the fill hole with a hand pump. BMW's job fills and checks through this hole, so pulling the old oil out through it is how shops change it (our shop call).
  2. Shake the bottle, then pump new oil in until it reaches the bottom edge of the hole. About 0.7 L on a G-series.
  3. New plug, 60 Nm.
  4. Crossmember back up: M12 to the mounts 68 Nm, M8 to the body 19 Nm. Panel on, 2.6 Nm.
  5. Run BMW's "Oil change" service function on the transfer case with a scan tool that can do BMW service functions. BMW calls for it on G-series cars to make sure the oil level comes out right. This is the step everyone skips.
Wrong car, wrong oil. The X1 from 2016, the X2 and the front-drive based 2 Series take a different oil. Don't put this in them.

Where people mess it up

  • Skipping the service function. It's in BMW's procedure for a reason. Run it.
  • Overfilling. Stop at the bottom edge of the hole. More is not better in a transfer case.
  • Mixing it up with the diffs. Same plug, different oil. Gear oil does not go in the transfer case.

Oil spec, amount and torque values come from BMW's repair instructions and service information (SI 27 01 96, updated 07/2024). Check yours by VIN.

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