Oil Filter housing gasket...doable DIY?

mpe50 · #1 11-10-2015, 08:48 PM

I've got an '08 x5 3.0si that has been has been dropping a few drops of oil. Brought it to my indy...who took a look and said it was the oil filter housing gasket that's leaking. Apparently the most common oil leak on the N52. Quoted me $775 to replace that and the oil cooler gasket that attaches to the filter housing.

Seems crazy high to replace those two gaskets. I'm relatively handy...can do a complete brake service and flush etc...and have a decent set of tools. Something that is doable? Anyone here done one?

X5isHers · #2 11-10-2015, 08:56 PM

Yes, doable. Not a real difficult job, although you may need to loosen the intake to get the top rear bolt out.

mpe50 · #3 11-10-2015, 09:19 PM

Kind of what I figured. Saw a quick DIY on youtube that didn't look too bad, but wondered if it's more tricky than I think. I think they're going by the book and quoting labor for removing the manifold to get at that bolt.

X5isHers · #4 11-10-2015, 09:27 PM

I did this along with an oil change and cleaning of carbon build up so it was a little easier with the intake manifold off. I couldn't see it being much more difficult without removing the intake. Certainly not a $800 job to replace $20 in gaskets. They are very prone to leaking though.

lordshin808 · #5 11-10-2015, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpe50

I've got an '08 x5 3.0si that has been has been dropping a few drops of oil. Brought it to my indy...who took a look and said it was the oil filter housing gasket that's leaking. Apparently the most common oil leak on the N52. Quoted me $775 to replace that and the oil cooler gasket that attaches to the filter housing.

Seems crazy high to replace those two gaskets. I'm relatively handy...can do a complete brake service and flush etc...and have a decent set of tools. Something that is doable? Anyone here done one?

Did you see drops on your driveway? I currently have a oil leak or burn issue. I have to pour 1 Quart every 1200 miles. How much oil was yours leaking? Mine is an 2007, issue started at 103,000 miles. Wondering if my oil filter housing gasket is the problem too.

mpe50 · #6 11-10-2015, 10:37 PM

I did see some drops, but only a couple really. That made me look under the skid plate and see that most everything was coated in a film of oil. Checked the oil level display and it still shows full, so it wasn't losing a ton of oil. Just enough to make a mess.

SlickGT1 · #7 11-10-2015, 11:26 PM

Search here. Lots of people did it and quite a few DIYs. Takes a bit of time first go at it.

bmrboi2 · #8 11-11-2015, 10:17 AM

Mine was doing the same thing, pissing all over the engine. 1.5 hours without removing the intake. The Youtube DIY was Really Really Helpful and I got to buy some new E-torx tools.

lordshin808 · #9 11-12-2015, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmrboi2

Mine was doing the same thing, pissing all over the engine. 1.5 hours without removing the intake. The Youtube DIY was Really Really Helpful and I got to buy some new E-torx tools.

which youtube diy did you use? tried searching on there but didn't find one for the E70. thanks.

bmrboi2 · #10 11-13-2015, 10:15 PM

I used the one for the x3. Its the same engine. I removed the fan shroud and the metal cross member for better access.

The fan slides out easily. Its seriously not worth the 800 bucks at the stealership.