Cost for oil pan gasket replacement??

[CharlieHustleX5]

Here's the general outline of necessary steps to change the oil pan on the 3.0 liter e53. Its mainly a lot of disassembly but as long as you just take it step by step, and you're mechanically inclined to a degree, its do-able. For first timers, make sure you have a back up car in the event you cant finish over a weekend's worth of time.

1. Drain the engine oil.
2. Remove / disconnect the following:
· Bulkhead heater
· Fuel injector Cover
· Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor and boot
3. Attach an engine lift and hoist to engine.
4. Remove top left and right nuts on engine mounts
5. Raise the engine about 0.15 inch (5mm).
6. Remove and disconnect the following:
· Front splash guard
· Reinforcement plate
· Left and right swivel bearings
· Output shafts
· Propeller shaft at front
· Alternator drive belt from belt pulley for vane pump
· Power steering pump and move aside with the lines still connected
· Return hose from oil separator
· Dipstick tube
· Steering spindle from steering gear tie rods
7. Temporarily reinstall the left and right swivel bearings and connect with a bolt to the spring strut.
8. Support the entire front axle assembly.

NOTE: The steering gear will remain bolted to the front axle support. Return hose must not be over-stretched when front axle is lowered.

1. Detach front axle support from engine carrier and lower about 3-4 inches (90-100mm).
2. Remove the front axle differential.
3. Release the screws on the oil pan.
4. Move the pan backward when removing.

[CharlieHustleX5]

Alternatively, instead of using an engine hoist, 2 floor jacks and a few 2x4's can raise the engine the necessary 5mm to remove the oil pan.

[lo_jack]

Good info Charlie.

Would that procedure be a good time to do CV boots/halfshafts and/or front suspension replacement?

[CharlieHustleX5]

Originally Posted by lo_jack

Good info Charlie.

Would that procedure be a good time to do CV boots/halfshafts and/or front suspension replacement?

Absolutely....As well as power steering hoses, dipstick o-ring, wheel bearings, oil seperator hoses, or if you're really unlucky...steering rack.

[lo_jack]

I'm really unlucky. I have the gasket and shafts now but am waiting on bearings and rack. Awesome.

I will be trying the jack from below method. I did that on a Firebird with success. Engineers who bolt K frames to engines without thinking about pan gasket failure are annoying.

[heizervr6]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but would this be possible with less disassembly, i.e without having to lift the engine (axles, etc. go without saying based on the set-up)? The reason I ask is because I just replaced the oil pan gasket on an '06 330i (E90) where a similar procedure is required however there are several work-arounds - most guys cut the gasket and use Permatex for sealing where the cut was done - I on the other hand managed to drop the oil pan onto the subframe and use that space to snake the gasket under the oil pump and to the front of the engine (3" of space in the back and 1" at the front of the engine) and while it was difficult it was completely doable.

If someone can confirm that there is this kind of room to work with I'll document my repair and post it up as I don't think I can spare that much time to do it the long way. TIA.

[va8341]

I am having the same leaking issue on my 2001 X5 3.0i. It's a 9 hours job which is the minimum hours a repair shop bills the warranty company. Dealer could bill you 15 hours about $2000. I sent the truck in today and I looked at the oil pan when the truck was on the lift. The leaking oil was all over; and it seems not to be an easy job if you don't have a lift. I had the experience to fix my 4.6is valve gasket leaking. It was a hard job. This one seems even harder as you have to perform all work under the truck. I negotiated with my repair shop; I'll pay $1100 total. For 3.0i I was told that they have to lower the frame, a lot of disassembly work. The gasket only cost about $30. All labor cost. They told me by this chance they will change the axle seals on both side, about $15 each. My understand they will take down the frame, or something around the frame. But it doesn't need to do the alignment after the job is done.

[Ghost-Flame]

Wow, I can't believe this. $1100+ to replace a pan gasket. I have a leaky gasket and was thinking about replacing. Looks like I'm going to keep a case of oil on hand at least for the time being.

[lo_jack]

Originally Posted by heizervr6

Sorry to bump an old thread, but would this be possible with less disassembly, i.e without having to lift the engine (axles, etc. go without saying based on the set-up)? The reason I ask is because I just replaced the oil pan gasket on an '06 330i (E90) where a similar procedure is required however there are several work-arounds - most guys cut the gasket and use Permatex for sealing where the cut was done - I on the other hand managed to drop the oil pan onto the subframe and use that space to snake the gasket under the oil pump and to the front of the engine (3" of space in the back and 1" at the front of the engine) and while it was difficult it was completely doable.

If someone can confirm that there is this kind of room to work with I'll document my repair and post it up as I don't think I can spare that much time to do it the long way. TIA.

That would be great, and I would do that if I knew it would work.
Eventually I'll get a cherry picker and lift the motor up the 5mm or whatever to get the pan clear, but until then its 3 spare quarts at all times.

To me the real problem is needing to unbolt the differential and driver side half shaft, not really the motor lifting.

[jac]

Ughhh... Having the same oil pan gasket leak here, also on a 2001 3.0i X5 and was hoping it was not going to be so difficult to repair!! sigh. A $1000 to $2000 repair bill on a car this old is hard to swallow...

I may just have to get another car sooner than I wanted! :-(