e39 Oil Filter Housing Gasket Replacement (M54) questions

[Arma 134]

Got a few questions regarding this job if anyone can help.

• Does the car need to be jacked up at all? e.g. to do anything required from under the car. Or can this be reached easily from the top. Some guides do it on a hoist but I'd like to know if this is necessary.
• A lot of guides say to unplug the positive terminal of the battery (since alternator will be removed). Does it have to be the positive terminal or can it just be the negative too?
• Is it necessary to remove the fan shroud + fan? I suppose it will give more space for the job.
• Is the power steering pump only attached by the two bolts that go into the oil filter housing bracket? If yes, do I need to support it on something after those bolts are removed?

Might have more questions later.

Thanks in advance

[Young Thrash Driver 1020]

Did this some time ago so can only vaguely remember but...

1. I do remember jacking it up. Cant remember why, we did a bunch of things to her that day

2. I unhooked the whole thing. 5 sec job, right?

3. Unless you have tiny hands, it's a good idea.

4. Think there may have been an extra bolt... RealOEM will soon show. I just cable tied it out the way.

Have fun!

[KwS 2425]

Mine was an M52 but the basics should be the same.

i didnt jack my E39 up when i did it. If you remove the fan and shroud there is an aux pump attached to the shroud at the bottom iirc, you will need to pull under the front to pop this off. I didnt have any under tray.

Always disconnect a negative terminal first when dealing with car batteries.

fan and shroud take 2 mins to remove, best to do it so you have space for the belt and tensioners.

[Arma 134]

Mine was an M52 but the basics should be the same.

i didnt jack my E39 up when i did it. If you remove the fan and shroud there is an aux pump attached to the shroud at the bottom iirc, you will need to pull under the front to pop this off. I didnt have any under tray.

Always disconnect a negative terminal first when dealing with car batteries.

fan and shroud take 2 mins to remove, best to do it so you have space for the belt and tensioners.

Mine has an undertray, which is the main reason why I was asking about whether I can do everything from up top. Otherwise I'll have to jack the car up and remove the tray.

Re: aux pump on the shroud. Are you talking about the auxiliary water pump (electric one)? I *think* mine is located on the passenger side of the radiator a bit below where the upper radiator hose connects to radiator? Will have to check.

I was reading this:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-Z3/39-ENGINE-Oil_Filter_Housing_Gasket_Replacement/39-ENGINE-Oil_Filter_Housing_Gasket_Replacement.htm

Which suggests removing the the 3 bolts for the ps pulley from under the car. But I figured I might just be able to do from top. Correct me if I'm wrong. Some other guides don't even seem to touch the ps pulley. They just take out the alternator belt and idler pulley. (http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/oil/housing.htm)

And yeah most of the stuff compared to the m52 looks the same to me. Don't have to deal with leaks from the freeze plugs in the m54 o.f.h. though it seems.

I would take it in to get it done but figured I wouldn't learn much that way, which is my mission at the moment. Of course there's more risk with me doing it, but hey.. no risk, no reward.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Arma

[KwS 2425]

this looks like a helpful guide too (for the M54)

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660007

I think i used the bmwtips one, but im sure i removed the fan and shroud too.

Beisan (as much as i dislike them) seem to have a good guide on the fan and shroud removal

http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/e39_fan_procedure.htm

fake edit: oh, i think i might have done it at the same time as the vanos, which does need the fan and shroud removed. i guess start without removing them, see if you can complete the task, if not, remove it?

[Arma 134]

this looks like a helpful guide too (for the M54)

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660007

I think i used the bmwtips one, but im sure i removed the fan and shroud too.

Beisan (as much as i dislike them) seem to have a good guide on the fan and shroud removal

http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/e39_fan_procedure.htm

fake edit: oh, i think i might have done it at the same time as the vanos, which does need the fan and shroud removed. i guess start without removing them, see if you can complete the task, if not, remove it?

Oh yeah, forgot about the hoses attached to the bottom of the shroud. I think last time I just reached down to detach them (after lifting the shroud up slightly). But yeah I'll try do it without removing first and see how far I get.