M30 oil pan gasket leak

[Joe535i]

so I have an oil leak and I'm pretty sure it's the oil pan gasket.

My question is: can I do it myself, or what would a shop charge?

I heard it can be quite expensive

Thanks

[Lee in Ottawa]

I did mine 3 weeks ago when i did my valve cover gasket and some other stuff.

It doesn't take long if your comfortable doing that kind of stuff. I always undo the motor mounts and lift the motor some guys drop the subframe a little you only need a little clearence. Than it's just undoing all the bolts. Get some gasket adhesive if you do it yourself. mush easier when you put it back on.

Don;t take it to a shop, do it yourself and use the money u save on mods,

[Joe535i]

agh I had a feeling you had to lift the motor to get at that gasket. Damn

[Lee in Ottawa]

thats just how i do it because i have a hoist. For all i know lowering the subframe could be easier.

[zubbie]

thats just how i do it because i have a hoist. For all i know lowering the subframe could be easier.

you still hare to support the engine either way IIRC

[Joe535i]

...I really really don't want to do this, but at least I have a friend with an engine hoist

How many hours do you suppose? Is there any gasket down there besides the oil pan gasket I could check and maybe replace?

[TheStigg]

No other gaskets required besides the pan. You can easily do it in a day. It's not much additional work to drop the subframe if you combine the job with new motor mounts, control arms & bushings & tie rods, etc. It adds more time but gives you a very clear shot at everything and piece of mind knowing the gasket goes back in properly without slipping. Go easy on the torque on the subframe bolts, they snap easily when tightening.

I just did 2 m30 pan gasket jobs back to back this summer & fall, not very hard, just somewhat involved.

[Derek A.]

I have my car ready to rip the pan off this weekend. Not looking forward to it as the temps are gonna dip.

[X Mon]

Easier solution than trying to get a hoist in there. M20 engine in an E30, but the principle is the same. If you drop the sub-frame make sure you mark the steering cardan and the stub shaft on the steering gear.

[zubbie]

great pics. Where do you get the triangular metal block attachment to hook into your crossbar?

[X Mon]

Came with the bar, not from this guy...but I can't remember now where I got it from:

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/En...r-p/ht1703.htm

[Derek A.]

I got the pan off. Just with a cherry picker on the hook by the water pump. No need to drop the cradle. The pan gasket was as hard as a rock and coming off in flakes.

[TheStigg]

The pan gasket was as hard as a rock and coming off in flakes.

Yeah, that's how mine was, 183k miles. My son's 535i was even worse with 215k miles.

I went to U-Pull-it today to pull the pan off an e32 735i just to have for a spare. Got the motor suspended & started in on the subframe before noticing the pan was cracked so left it for someone else. Oh well, there will be others. Didn't really need it anyway.

[Joe535i]

wow awesome information guys.

I'm driving up to Vegas this weekend for my 21st birthday and it just so happens that my Grandpa lives there, so were going to tag team the job and get it done.

thanks

[genuity]

Yeah, great pics--thanks X Mon. Did you also use anything else to support the engine from below while working on it? I picked up an engine support and noticed all the warnings to never work under an engine supported only by the engine support. I guess they do not have faith in their own product.

[84318i]

Or the warnings are there for legality issues, since people sue for coffee being to hot ...