BMW 6 Series Transfer Box Replacement Parts

Only the xDrive four-wheel-drive variants of the BMW 6 Series have a transfer box — it is the unit that splits drive between the front and rear axles. The standard rear-wheel-drive 6 Series (which covers the vast majority of E63/E64 and F06/F12/F13 models sold in the UK) has no transfer box at all. If you have a rear-wheel-drive 6 Series and think you have a transfer box fault, you may actually be looking at a different component such as the differential or gearbox output; confirm with a mechanic before ordering parts.

You need an xDrive variant, which on the 6 Series means the F06 Gran Coupé generation (2012–2018) — BMW offered the 640i xDrive and 650i xDrive in that body style, and the F12/F13 Coupé and Convertible also had limited xDrive availability. The earlier E63/E64 generation (2003–2010) was rear-wheel drive only and never received xDrive, so no transfer box exists for those cars. Always confirm your drivetrain by checking your V5 or running a VIN check before approaching a breaker.

Both sit within the F06/F12/F13 generation (2012–2018), and because the transfer box follows the engine code and drivetrain rather than the model year, there is a reasonable chance of compatibility within that generation — but BMW did make running production changes, so confirm the engine code on your V5 against the donor vehicle's engine code with the breaker before purchasing. The facelift arrived in 2015, which brought some ancillary and mounting updates that could affect fitment, so this is not something to assume across that boundary. Always have the breaker cross-reference both registration numbers.

No — trim level has no bearing on transfer box fitment whatsoever. Whether your car is a standard 640i xDrive or a higher-specification M Sport or Individual, the transfer box is determined by the engine code and drivetrain configuration, not the trim. The only cosmetic differences you might notice when sourcing from a breaker are unrelated to the mechanical unit itself, so do not let trim badging influence your search.

The F10 5 Series xDrive and F06 6 Series Gran Coupé share BMW's F-platform architecture and in some cases use the same or related transfer box units, making cross-model sourcing worth exploring — but this is not guaranteed, as ratios and mounting points can differ depending on engine code and gearbox variant. Supply your engine code and gearbox type to the breaker and ask them to check the donor vehicle's details against yours rather than relying on model name alone. Never assume compatibility without that confirmation from the breaker.

Whether a replacement transfer box requires ECU pairing or any immobiliser coding to your specific vehicle is something you must confirm with the breaker and your fitting garage rather than take as given. This is not something that can be stated as a blanket rule, as it can depend on the specific unit and vehicle configuration. Make sure any specialist fitting the part is aware it is a used unit from a breaker so they can advise on any setup requirements before the job is booked in.