Mid left side engine oil leak

[X5chemist]

Question: while the plate is off for diff oil change, oil pan gasket, and front shafts, what else is accessible? Would coolant plastic hoses be easy to replace? The CCV is under the intake. Would it be easier to swap out?

[andrewwynn]

Easier access to pull CV half shafts if it's time for boot refresh.

Check the lines to/from the power steering?

[andrewwynn]

Infinitely reusable bolt solution for stiffening plate:

belmertic.com



Nord-lock are reusable locking washers. The flat washers because the bolt heads are small.

I bought two sets and spares. We sold the one X5 before I installed so I have a spare set of somebody was interested in buying them hit me up.

[EODguy]

Transmission coolant lines and the coolant block.

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk

[bcredliner]

Just so the other side is represented. I don't reuse the bolts. I am aware they are expensive. And no, I don't blindly believe everything I read. However, BMW clearly states the bolts are not to be reused.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Just so the other side is represented. I don't reuse the bolts. I am aware they are expensive. And no, I don't blindly believe everything I read. However, BMW clearly states the bolts are not to be reused.

Eh. I reuse them.

Why? Because they are non-critical fasteners. If one of these bolts shears, there's little to no consequence.

I've never had an issue with that, even on a heavily tracked car.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

Eh. I reuse them.

Why? Because they are non-critical fasteners. If one of these bolts shears, there's little to no consequence.

I've never had an issue with that, even on a heavily tracked car.

I don't pay much attention to anecdotal information. Not to say you are wrong but even if 100 agree with you it is not enough input to draw a firm conclusion. Extremely easy to make the wrong conclusion. How do you know they are not critical? They hold the reinforcing plate in place. You heavily track an X5?

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I don't pay much attention to anecdotal information. Not to say you are wrong but even if 100 agree with you it is not enough input to draw a firm conclusion. Extremely easy to make the wrong conclusion. How do you know they are not critical? They hold the reinforcing plate in place. You heavily track an X5?

One can draw some conclusions based on the fact that people have been reusing the bolts for two decades. And as for the reinforcement plate itself, well, that's a piece that BMW added to make the cars stiffer. Older BMWs didn't have them at all, and modern BMW subframes are a lot stronger than the flexible pieces that they used to use.

Note, however, that I am NOT advocating retorquing in the same manner. If you keep stretching the bolt it will fail.

So yeah, if these were difficult to get to, or actually holding in a critical component, I'd say replace them. But the reinforcement plate is not a critical component. You can take it off entirely and drive the car.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

One can draw some conclusions based on the fact that people have been reusing the bolts for two decades. And as for the reinforcement plate itself, well, that's a piece that BMW added to make the cars stiffer. Older BMWs didn't have them at all, and modern BMW subframes are a lot stronger than the flexible pieces that they used to use.

Note, however, that I am NOT advocating retorquing in the same manner. If you keep stretching the bolt it will fail. What method to reach torque specs do you use?

So yeah, if these were difficult to get to, or actually holding in a critical component, I'd say replace them. But the reinforcement plate is not a critical component. You can take it off entirely and drive the car.

You can only assume that two decades of anecdotal evidence are proof. How many X5s owners do you know about that reuse the bolts? Whether the plate wasn't used on older or isn't on newer X5s doesn't matter. Didn't the first year of the X5 have the plate? Regardless, neither is applicable other than to reinforce the importance of the plate, bolts included.

I suspect the primary reason the bolts are reused and supporters are so adamant is the cost. And rather than pay the price some look for supporting input to justify not replacing them. I thought about reusing the bolts the first time I removed them but decided I didn't know as much as BMW about the reason they chose the not to reuse bolts.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

One can draw some conclusions based on the fact that people have been reusing the bolts for two decades. And as for the reinforcement plate itself, well, that's a piece that BMW added to make the cars stiffer. Older BMWs didn't have them at all, and modern BMW subframes are a lot stronger than the flexible pieces that they used to use.
Still suspicion. So a compromise in stiffness is OK? Do you have the plate in place?
Note, however, that I am NOT advocating retorquing in the same manner. If you keep stretching the bolt it will fail.
My understanding of Andrew's testing is the bolts failed after 4 re-torques using a procedure that no one knew about. And he doesn't use stock bolts to eliminate that possibility. Andrew, I apologize if I misinterpreted your write up

So yeah, if these were difficult to get to, or actually holding in a critical component, I'd say replace them. But the reinforcement plate is not a critical component. You can take it off entirely and drive the car. .

If the bolts can be reused indefinitely why would you replace them if they were difficult to get to? Either bolt would be just as difficult. Using your definition of what is a critical component, a wheel is not a critical component because I can take it completely off and still drive.