PZero Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 Oil leak down left side of engine (M54), appears to be coming from higher than sump gasket, but rocker cover not leaking either, so my guess is the seemingly infamous oil filter housing gasket. From previous owners very extensive paperwork doesn't look like it's been done before so even if turns out not to be this, 20 years old and worth doing anyway. From pre-emptive research online appears kind of straight forward, just a bit long winded in terms of everything to take out to get to it though. Anyone done this and knows of any potential gotchas, I'd be only too pleased to hear them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4aceman Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 Not too hard of a job at all. Makes the CCV easier to do once you have alternator etc. off if you want to do that as well. Not much else to say, loosen oil filter cap as soon as possible before the job to drain as much oil out of the housing as possible and make sure you don’t overtorque the bolts holding the housing on. Also make sure the housing sits on the dowels before you bolt it together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan-uk Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 Done this on my e46, wasn't horendous and i did it when doing the CCV - spent some time cleaning up the old oil and hardest thing i found was refitting the alternator for some reason - was a pig to get bolts in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4aceman Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 (edited) I remember another tip. When you loosen the alternator bolts (I believe just the upper one), loosen the bolt a few turns then tap it with a hammer. The bolt threads on a brass bushing pressed in the alternator and tapping it pushes it back so it can be removed and put back in a lot easier Edited March 16, 2023 by 4aceman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve VH Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 I did read of someone replacing this infamous gasket, only for the leak to continue, so I would make sure you get the gasket from bmw not Ebay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PZero Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 6 hours ago, Steve VH said: I did read of someone replacing this infamous gasket, only for the leak to continue, so I would make sure you get the gasket from bmw not Ebay. Most definitely, there are some things I wouldn't skimp on! Thanks @4aceman and @duncan-uk, CCV hadn't occurred to me until now, will have to look into how much of a job that is as well. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan-uk Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 Worth doing i think, i had an intermittent EML which seems to have finally been extinguished after the CCV change, i'd done the DISA valve and vanos prior but still got occasional light. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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