Fuel filter location?

[Dakar95M3]

I bought a new fuel filter for my 95 M3. They might have gave me the wrong filter, or I just have no clue where the hell it is. If the is uder the driver side next to the tranny, then they gave me the wrong one. I changed one on a E420, and it was in the rear near the tank. Rather than look around for an hour I thought might ask.
Thanks
Chris

[Stockman]

on early 6 cyls

the fuel filter is mounted to the front left motor mount in the engine compartment

on newer the fitler is located beneath the center of the car approximatly under the drivers seat. A cover is installed over the filter which must be removed to get access to it



filter took me about 10 minutes to do

[Stockman]

pic


part # should be
13 32 1 740 985

[Dakar95M3]

They must have given me the wrong filter. I told them the one on the car looked longer, but I thought since it was BMW they knew what they were talking about. It is larger in diameter, and shorter. I just called them with you'r part number, and it turns out they made a mistake.
Thanks a lot for the help.

[QuestMCoupe]

stockman, where did you get directions on how to change your fuel filter? did you notice any improvement with the new one?

[M3Jokster]

there are two kinds.......a short and a longer one.......we need the longer one

[Stockman]

Originally posted by Quest325is
stockman, where did you get directions on how to change your fuel filter? did you notice any improvement with the new one?

I have a bentley manual but I only used it to find out where it was...

unbolt a few bolts for the cover... unscrew/unbolt the hanger for holding the filter - remove the hanger... unscrew the tighteners for the filter... pull off the hoses... get drenched in gas... and make sure not to tip over the filter... it holds ALOT of gas.. put the new filter back on.. tighten the hoses on.. put it back.. put the bracket/hanger back on... bolt it up.. bolt the cover back on

I might be missing a step.. I am just getting this off memory

its really very easy... I just had my car on jackstands to do it

[Jim O.]

You can avoid the gasoline shower if you just buy two fuel line "pinchers".... Tool places, good auto parts stores carry them. Pretty cheap. However, you still end up with a filter filled with gas that you have to carefully dump.

Jim

[stimpee]

If you have an early 6 with the filter mounted on the motor mount, be smart and pay someone to swap it for you. I just did mine this past weekend in a big "maintenance blitz" on my car. To sum it up, front control arm and bushing swap = 2 hours labor, fuel filter = 2 hours labor.

My arm is shredded. It truly sucks. Nearly impossible to get to the hose clamps to get them loosened, then you have to "break" the lines loose to pull them off. Major PITA!!!

[fstbmwm3]

Just to add a few more pointers,

1) the fuel filter is long and is located under the chassis, facing the pavement, exactly under the drivers butt (coincidence ? you be the judge)

2) The filter and the lines will drip more than a pint/liter of fuel (once removed) in your face

3) MOST IMPORTANT. REPLACE THE HOSE TIGHTING THINGIES with new quality ones. The BMW hose brace thingies suck big time and should not be reinstalled. You will need 4 hose brace thingies that fit a fuel line (less tha 1/2" max diameter).

3) EVEN MOST IMPORTANT. AFTER YOU INSTALL THE NEW FILTER the hoses and the brace thingies will be tight. A DAY AFTER THEY WILL BE LOOSE ! and fuel can drip or even spray.

What happens is that after the original hose clamp thingies are removed the fuel hoses swell. You install the new clamp thingies and the hoses shrink in a days time. therefore you must retighten
everything after 12-24 hours.

Guess how I found that out !

The local BMW dealer also confirmed the known problem. But they wont leave the car overnight for a simple fuel filter job.

Make you feel much better when you do things the DIY way,
and practically "blueprint" any part you work on.

This could apply on the power steering hose replacements.

The Fuel filter R&R is really easy and its a must do after 50K miles.

Regards
Vlasis

[fstbmwm3]

Also make sure that the fuel filter is installed on the right side.

It is a directional filter.

[JatZilla]

I have a '95 and they sent me the wrong filter too - the short one! I called them and they shipped out the right one but it cost me a few days of waiting. It's really easy to change but make SURE you order new hose clamps. The OEM ones that are on the car can't be re-used. You can unscrew them (take them off) but can't screw them back in, or at least that's what I found on my car.

[kaiservon]

I had the same exact problem. My M3 was built in 6/95. They gave me a normal looking fuel filter which didn't fit. My fuel filter was the longer style under the drivers seat floorboard. I just went back and ordered a 1996 M3 fuel filter which was perfect.

I guess BMW changed fuel filter designs sometime in 1995, but the aftermarket suppliers never got it.

[Erik@EDGE]

I checked the ETK and the Shorty is actually the right part number for a 95 M3. The long one (the one we all seem to have) is actually the filter for 96+. Must just be a mistake in the ETK.

Another word to the wise, replace the short rubber fuel lines when you do the filter. You will want to use AIrplane clamps (fuel line clamps). Better safe than sorry.

I am also considering getting another filter cover, mine is cracked all to hell.

[Stockman]

odd
my parts CD shows the long filter... and the right part #

[Erik@EDGE]

Weird. For my 95 M3, build 6/95 the picture looks like the long one, but the number is the same as the short filter that Zygmunt sent me. The 96 one is correct

[BMWDRIVEN]

is there a part number for the hose clamps? Excellent info Vlasis. I will make sure to retighten after 24 hrs. This should be a quick and easy repair.

[Erik@EDGE]

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