2011 X3 Oil housing gasket removal

Insane1197 · 04-01-2018, 11:13 PM

Just replaced inner and outer gaskets to oil housing unit. Dealer quoted me $969. I replaced them for $90 OEM (could have bought them aftermarket for $25). Job went OK, about 4 hours. Toughest bolts to remove: back bolt of oil housing unit, blocked by engine manifold and the back bolt to the engine manifold....which needed to be removed so you could remove manifold to get to oil housing bolt. FYI: you need star sockets to remove housing, or 8mm socket, both work. You have 3 bolts to remove to take off oil cooler attached to oil housing unit....then 3 more to remove oil housing unit from engine. The outer gasket is located between cooler and housing unit (easy to remove and replace), the inner gasket is between housing unit and engine...this takes a while.
Major points of interest: the back bolt to engine manifold cover is hard to get to and you can't see it.....but you can feel for it and remove it...have patience.
Once you remove all 7 manifold bolts, lift off the manifold as far as you can....you might only be able to get it off an inch because manifold is still attached to a boat load of other stuff underneath.....but an inch will do.
You only need an inch so you can get to back bolt of oil housing unit.
Here's the big trick: a 3/8"drive socket is too big to get into this spot, I used 1/4" drive with a 8mm socket (my star socket was 3/8" drive and was too big). I could barely get my extension to grip the socket but it worked. You only need to get it started, then use a flat head screw driver to turn the socket head......it is really a tight fit but doable.
FYI: I don't claim to be a mechanic but I fixed it. I love saving $900 in 4 hours of work.....and so does my wife

Ps...messy job...keep plenty of rags under housing to catch fluids, and a large pan under front of car. Good idea to remove bottom radiator hose and change out fluid before tackling job....just don't forget to replace it.

BIG_KID · 04-02-2018, 06:41 PM

Good job.. Spend that money on something else

greg2step · 04-03-2018, 11:26 PM

If i had your skills i may still have my F25.

04-01-2018, 11:13 PM	#1
Insane1197 X3 owner since 2013 2 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW X3 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Tacoma WA iTrader: (0)	2011 X3 Oil housing gasket removal Just replaced inner and outer gaskets to oil housing unit. Dealer quoted me $969. I replaced them for $90 OEM (could have bought them aftermarket for $25). Job went OK, about 4 hours. Toughest bolts to remove: back bolt of oil housing unit, blocked by engine manifold and the back bolt to the engine manifold....which needed to be removed so you could remove manifold to get to oil housing bolt. FYI: you need star sockets to remove housing, or 8mm socket, both work. You have 3 bolts to remove to take off oil cooler attached to oil housing unit....then 3 more to remove oil housing unit from engine. The outer gasket is located between cooler and housing unit (easy to remove and replace), the inner gasket is between housing unit and engine...this takes a while. Major points of interest: the back bolt to engine manifold cover is hard to get to and you can't see it.....but you can feel for it and remove it...have patience. Once you remove all 7 manifold bolts, lift off the manifold as far as you can....you might only be able to get it off an inch because manifold is still attached to a boat load of other stuff underneath.....but an inch will do. You only need an inch so you can get to back bolt of oil housing unit. Here's the big trick: a 3/8"drive socket is too big to get into this spot, I used 1/4" drive with a 8mm socket (my star socket was 3/8" drive and was too big). I could barely get my extension to grip the socket but it worked. You only need to get it started, then use a flat head screw driver to turn the socket head......it is really a tight fit but doable. FYI: I don't claim to be a mechanic but I fixed it. I love saving $900 in 4 hours of work.....and so does my wife Ps...messy job...keep plenty of rags under housing to catch fluids, and a large pan under front of car. Good idea to remove bottom radiator hose and change out fluid before tackling job....just don't forget to replace it.
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04-02-2018, 06:41 PM	#2
BIG_KID Second Lieutenant 68 Rep 287 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 28i Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Northern indiana iTrader: (0)	Good job.. Spend that money on something else
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04-03-2018, 11:26 PM	#3
greg2step X3 Owner/Driver 212 Rep 785 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW X3 M40i (G01) [0.00]	If i had your skills i may still have my F25. __________________ 2018 X3 M40i G01 \| Phytonic Blue \| Mocha \| Premium+Exec \| Driver Assist \| Adaptive M Suspension 2011 X3 XDrive35i F25 l Deep Sea Blue l Mojave Leather l Sport, DHP, Premium, Nav/Technology, Cold Weather, Convenience [traded in] 2008 328XI E91 Sportwagon l Sparkling Graphite [traded in]
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