Removing Oil Pan From A Bmw 328I: Step-By-Step Guide

The BMW 328i is notorious for leaking oil from areas like the oil pan gasket, oil filter housing gasket, and valve cover gasket. To pull off the oil pan, you will need to jack up the car and support it with stands, drain the oil, remove the front wheels and unplug the sensor on the driver's side lower control arm, remove the plastic belly cover, remove the bolts securing the engine cover, and more. This is not a simple task and requires a lot of tools and experience.

Jack up the car and drain the oil

Jacking up your car and draining the oil is the first step in replacing the oil pan gasket on your BMW E90 328i. This is a job you can do yourself, but it will require a range of tools and a fair bit of time.

First, you will need to get your car up on jack stands. You will need to place these at the front and rear of the car, and ensure they are high enough for you to work under the car with the subframe hanging.

Next, you will need to drain the oil. Place a drain pan underneath the car to catch the oil. Loosen the drain plug with a 17mm socket and let the oil drain out. It is recommended to leave the oil to drain overnight, but this is not essential.

Now you can start to remove the various parts of the car's body to access the oil pan. Remove the front wheels, then the headlight-leveling sensor on the driver-side lower control arm. Next, remove the plastic underbelly covers and the plastic covers behind each wheel.

You will then need to remove the bolts securing the engine cover. With these removed, you should be able to access the tow hook mount. Get the tow hook from the utility kit in the trunk and screw it into the driver-side front corner of the cylinder head.

Now you are ready to set up the engine support bar and start unbolting the subframe.

Remove front wheels and unplug the sensor on the driver's side lower control arm

To remove the front wheels of a 2008 328i, you will need to first loosen the lug bolts. If the wheel is stuck, you can try using a rubber mallet to gently tap the inside of the tire, or place a 2x4 behind the wheel and use a sledgehammer to hit it. You can also try raising and lowering the jack several times to break the wheel loose.

Once the wheel is removed, you can access the sensor on the driver's side lower control arm. This sensor is typically located on the suspension arm and is held in place with a bolt. To unplug the sensor, simply locate the connector and disconnect it. Be careful not to damage the sensor or the surrounding components.

It is important to exercise caution when working on your vehicle. Ensure that the car is securely supported on jack stands and that you are wearing appropriate safety gear, such as gloves and eye protection.

Remove plastic belly cover and plastic covers behind each wheel

To remove the plastic belly cover and plastic covers behind each wheel of your BMW 328i, follow these steps:

First, jack up the car and support it with jack stands, ensuring it is high enough to work under with the subframe hanging. Remove the front wheels. Now, unplug the sensor on the driver's side lower control arm.

Next, you can begin to remove the plastic covers. There are two triangular covers, one behind each wheel, and a small cover under the radiator. First, remove the plastic belly cover. Then, remove the two triangular plastic covers behind each wheel. Finally, remove the small plastic cover under the radiator.

Now, you can move on to removing the bolts securing the engine cover. With these bolts removed, you will have enough wiggle room to access the tow hook mount.

This process will expose the components behind the plastic covers, allowing you to proceed with pulling the oil pan off your 2008 BMW 328i.

Remove bolts securing the engine cover

To remove the bolts securing the engine cover of your 2008 BMW 328i, you'll need to first jack up the car and support it with stands at the front and rear, leaving enough room to work underneath with the subframe hanging. Next, drain the oil.

Now, you can remove the front wheels and unplug the headlight-leveling sensor on the driver's side lower control arm. Then, remove the plastic underbelly covers and the plastic covers behind each wheel.

At this point, you should be able to access 2 or 3 bolts securing the engine cover. Remove these bolts, and you should then have enough wiggle room to access the tow hook mount without completely removing the engine cover.

Once you've accessed the tow hook mount, you can move on to setting up the engine support bar and unbolting the subframe.

First, make sure you have the necessary tools and safety equipment. You'll need a jack, jack stands, an engine support bar, and a torque wrench capable of going as low as 8nm (6lbs/ft). It's important to work with a cool engine and wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection.

Now, locate the bolts securing the engine cover. There should be 2 or 3 bolts that are accessible. Use the appropriate socket size to remove these bolts. With these bolts removed, you should have enough room to access the tow hook mount.

Before removing the engine cover completely, it's important to support the engine securely to avoid any accidental drops or damage. Make sure the jack and jack stands are positioned correctly and can bear the weight of the engine.

Once you've removed the accessible bolts, gently pry or lift the engine cover to access the remaining bolts. Be careful not to scratch or damage the engine or surrounding components.

With all the bolts removed, carefully lift and remove the engine cover. Set it aside in a safe place, making sure not to lose any of the bolts or fasteners.

Now that you've removed the bolts securing the engine cover, you can proceed with the next steps of pulling off the oil pan, such as setting up the engine support bar and unbolting the subframe. Remember to work carefully and refer to a repair manual or seek professional help if you're unsure about any steps.

Get the tow hook and screw it into the driver's side front corner of the cylinder head

To pull the oil pan off from a 08 328i, you will need to get the tow hook and screw it into the driver's side front corner of the cylinder head. This is a crucial step in the process, as it will allow you to safely support the engine while you work underneath. Here are some detailed instructions on how to do this:

First, make sure you have the correct tow hook for your BMW 328i. It should be included in the utility kit in your car's trunk. Once you have located the tow hook, you can begin the process of screwing it into the cylinder head.

Before screwing in the tow hook, you will need to access the tow hook mount. To do this, follow these steps:

• Jack up the car and securely support it with jack stands, ensuring that the subframe is hanging.
• Remove the front wheels and unplug the sensor on the driver's side lower control arm.
• Remove the plastic belly cover and the small plastic covers under the radiator and transmission.
• Remove the screws holding the engine cover, and pry the cover to access the tow hook mount.

Now you are ready to screw in the tow hook:

• Screw the tow hook into the driver's side front corner of the cylinder head. Make sure it is securely tightened.
• Set up the engine support bar, which will be used to unbolt the subframe.

With the tow hook in place and the engine support bar set up, you can now safely proceed with the next steps of removing the oil pan. Remember to work carefully and refer to a complete guide for the full procedure.

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