trap door on the underbelly stiffener plate ?

[onthefence]

Does X5 have this?

On my X3, the easiest way is to use a screwdriver to pry the tab.
The question becomes, what is the point of this inspection window?

All you can see is that electrical plug (oil level sensor?)
and ground cable

[tmaxx445]

Yes it is present and the only way to drain the oil without completely removing the plate and technically needing to replace all the hardware at a cost of over $100.

[iansanderson]

Originally Posted by onthefence

Does X5 have this?

On my X3, the easiest way is to use a screwdriver to pry the tab.
The question becomes, what is the point of this inspection window?

All you can see is that electrical plug (oil level sensor?)
and ground cable

It is technically a sound insulation cover to keep engine noise down. They're inexpensive if you have to replace them, pn 51718268897

[onthefence]

No, I am talking about the rectangle opening on the METAL plate.
Not the plastic belly pan in front.
There is a different opening for the oil drain bolt.
This is different.

[tmaxx445]

Originally Posted by onthefence

No, I am talking about the rectangle opening on the METAL plate.
Not the plastic belly pan in front.
There is a different opening for the oil drain bolt.
This is different.

Is this not the opening in question?



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[wpoll]

Originally Posted by tmaxx445

Is this not the opening in question?



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The access hatch is to allow ring spanner access to the right front nut that holds the plate. The othe five nuts are accessible from the outside but the right engine mount location requires that this nut is accessed from inside and hence the hatch.

My diesel has a second hatch, for access to engine drain bolt.

[iansanderson]

Originally Posted by onthefence

No, I am talking about the rectangle opening on the METAL plate.
Not the plastic belly pan in front.
There is a different opening for the oil drain bolt.
This is different.

I guess I'm still confused. If you're talking about the aluminum stiffening plate under the oil pan, it takes one or two of the acoustic covers depending on model I mentioned above pn 51718268897, ~$12 ea

[tmaxx445]

Originally Posted by iansanderson

I guess I'm still confused. If you're talking about the aluminum stiffening plate under the oil pan, it takes one or two of the acoustic covers depending on model I mentioned above pn 51718268897, ~$12 ea

Agreed, what exactly was your question OP? The opening I circled in red is 100% the opening to drain the engine oil.



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[wpoll]

Originally Posted by tmaxx445

Agreed, what exactly was your question OP? The opening I circled in red is 100% the opening to drain the engine oil.



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And it's 100% NOT the oil drain on mine - oil drain is the rear hatch and the front one is for access to the plate securing nut.

It depends on which engine you have...

[tmaxx445]

Originally Posted by wpoll

And it's 100% NOT the oil drain on mine - oil drain is the rear hatch and the front one is for access to the plate securing nut.



It depends on which engine you have...

It seems pretty clear that BMW designed a plate that could be used on both I6 and V8 E53 and allow access to the oil drain bolts on both. Hence the two hatches. The one closer to the front is used to drain V8s and the one rearward is used to drain I6 cars.

Now when it comes to the HP E53s (4.6is and 4.8is) since they are both V8s it appears BMW designed a specific plate for them that allows air flow to be directed at the transmission. This provides additional cooling at speed since they didn’t need the second access point that is used to drain the oil on the I6 variants.


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