2013 bmw 535i oil filter housing gasket replacement

Here is the video, hope this helps someone doing the job next.

I have done many repairs and this one was a nightmare. Mostly, as some members on here said, due to extreme lack of space. Basically, the whole repair is hinged on removing parts just to gain access to a couple bolts (terrible design... was there really no other way?).

Either way, there are two gaskets and one can be done in as little as 30 minutes while the other... well, here is where the nightmare begins. I was under the impression, from everything that I've read, that the back bolt under the intake manifold was the problem. Turned out, in my case, that the very front lower bolt was MUCH MUCH worse. The one under the intake is easy to take out if you simply invest 30-60 minutes working your way to it (just time, little stress). The front lower one is seemingly easy but this can be misleading... I've found it incredibly hard to access. It included me running to the store picking up an emergency E torx wrench set (I only had sockets) and I spent probably about 2-3 hours alone on removing and reinstalling that one darn bolt.

*** DO NOT DROP ANYTHING *** into the engine bay or you're screwed. I learned from the advice of the others and did not drop any intake manifold bolts and nuts. Good, I thought, until... 2 hours later I dropped the E12 socket. Boy was I pissed off at myself. I spent 2 hours jacking up the car in my tight garage, diving underneath the messy car (coolant leak from removing the housing), removing the bottom shield (10 screws at least), nearly cutting my fingers on reinstall of it only to realize my socket was NOT there. This was plain terrifying... it would have me unable to finish the job, not to mention having to go buy another $40 set of E-torx. Finally, when I continued to work blind by sticking my fingers into everything including the fan shroud, a miracle happened: I felt the socket sitting next to one fan blade. Can you believe how loud I yelled when I found it? That was 6 hours into the job, 1.5 hours into looking for the socket alone... just a terrible experience overall. I have done some nasty repairs before, including suspensions, stiff and stubborn cooling systems, CVVs on my old E46.... but this one seriously kicked my butt.

Mind you the 2nd time around things would go much more smoothly. Probably 3 hours total... First time it took me 10.

Someone just said a CA dealer quoted $1000 for this job.. boy that made me feel better. Probably $800 in labour alone so I did save a few pennies... or I hope so at least...

That said... enjoy! LOL :rofl::rofl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHk4hAKea_E

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What symptoms were you getting that prompted this repair? Burning oil? or just standard wear and tear?

Thanks for posting this. I don't need it right now and hope I don't need it anytime soon, but I bookmarked it for a rainy (oily?) day. Sorry to hear that it took that much time. I'd guess I spent about 4 hours when I changed the same gasket on my 3 series but it was so darned annoying, my brain may not be letting me recall it accurately.

Good video thanks. I have 2 of these motors and likely adding a third so odds are I will be doing this one day

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Took it in for routine oil change and the tech at the local Indy shop noticed Oil leak. Got a labor estimate for $660+(parts $151). Contemplating doing it myself - Thanks to Yogi's DIY video.
I'm disappointed that I have to do this at 40K miles! (2012 5353i)

Yeah, I hear you... Mine probably started around 50k. Or sooner but I did not notice until it was really bad.

But heads up... your setup looks different. Your heat exchanger and some additional lines look very different. I am guessing the worst bolts will be the same, but you have a couple other things to do.

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Seeing as I have the same car but with xdrive, not sure if you said that but my engine bay is exactly the same, why didn't you remove the fan to get more space?

I plan on doing the idler pulley tensioner and belt later on and to do that, for more space to work, removing the fan would help.

Either way I thank you for your documentation. Makes it easier for the rest of us.

Good point... That was because I had no clue it would be that hard! The hardest bolt was supposed to be the one under the intake manifold!

You bet this time around I would remove the fan. Mind you that in itself will add extra time but I am sure I'll do this next time.

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Not designed to last + not designed to be worked on = lease only

LOL. Someone has just posted on Youtube that it cost them $860 to replace those two damn gaskets.

Insanity! Given the parts are only about $80... that is a whole lot of dough for labor. Seriously... BMW couldn't have tilted the housing 10 degrees to the front to make the gasket replacement easy?

OF course they couldn't! If they had, everyone would DIY it!

LOL. Someone has just posted on Youtube that it cost them $860 to replace those two damn gaskets.

Insanity! Given the parts are only about $80... that is a whole lot of dough for labor. Seriously... BMW couldn't have tilted the housing 10 degrees to the front to make the gasket replacement easy?

You want insanity, BMW just quoted me $1000+ tax ($1100) for this job while my car was in for the recall. I really dont trust these guys at all. Ive owned the car for 6 months and its been in and out of shops atleast 6 times (mostly intentional visits) and nobody has mentioned any leak. But of course, the day I bring it in for the recall, they notice this extremely overpriced job....

That being said, Ill confirm and then do the job myself. Yogi, did you drain your oil before starting work?

Has BMW modified this lousy design in later model? So many people have experienced this.

Has BMW modified this lousy design in later model? So many people have experienced this.

They have a new part number for the gasket starting in 2015. No idea if its an actual change in design or material.

It seems like to do all of this you might as well dissemble the front end and do the water pump, thermostat, idler pulley, hoses, and whatever else at the same time lol.

But I did hear the 2015 models have less issues in design that make it necessary to replace these parts at earlier mileage.

It seems like to do all of this you might as well dissemble the front end and do the water pump, thermostat, idler pulley, hoses, and whatever else at the same time lol.

But I did hear the 2015 models have less issues in design that make it necessary to replace these parts at earlier mileage.

Tensioner and belt yes. Thermostat and water pump are really a spearate job to tackle.

samadkins29
Thank you for the information. I hope it fixes the notorious oil filter housing leak! BMW should know problem like this is chasing their prospective customers away from BMW.

Yogi, did you drain your oil before starting work?

Nope, no need to. Just do what the vid shows... Only a small amount of oil will leak. Use some rags and catch that...