95 M3 Oil Pan Removal Question

[lbennyboobool]

I have an oil pan gasket leak and wanting to fix it. I have seen a couple people do this on the forums but their pictures are no longer active.

Can you get away with just unbolting the motor mounts and raising the engine a little? Seems like most people are taking the whole front suspension off and suspending the engine. Or could it be done by unbolting the 4 sub frame bolts and moving the front sub frame down some? I don't know how far the pan needs to go down to clear the oil pump.

Anyone that has done this while the engine is still in the car, i would appreciate your feedback or experience

[jclausen]

Support the motor from the top and lower the subframe

[lbennyboobool]

Support the motor from the top and lower the subframe

That's it? Don't have to undo the whole front suspension? obviously would have to disconnect the steering shaft from the rack

[AlpineM345]

That's it? Don't have to undo the whole front suspension? obviously would have to disconnect the steering shaft from the rack

You do have to disconnect FCAB. Other than that lower the subframe and pull the whole assembly forward. Done it twice this way.

[lbennyboobool]

that makes sense! allot easier than i was thinking. Do you have to unbolt the transmission at all? Doesn't look like it by the picture, but i wasn't sure how to get the two bolts out at the back

[AlpineM345]

There are a couple of bolts to remove from the transmission to the engine, but other than that, the transmission doesn't need to be unbolted completely.

Also, there are some hidden bolts towards the back of the pan, but there are cutouts in the transmission housing and you should be able to get to the bolts with a long extension.

that makes sense! allot easier than i was thinking. Do you have to unbolt the transmission at all? Doesn't look like it by the picture, but i wasn't sure how to get the two bolts out at the back

[AlpineM345]

http://bimmercult.blogspot.com/2015/...w-e36.html?m=1

This DIY shows the bolts in the rear.

[lbennyboobool]

http://bimmercult.blogspot.com/2015/...w-e36.html?m=1

This DIY shows the bolts in the rear.

that's a great how to! Thank you for sharing!

[TostitoBandito]

Yeah once you undo the FCAB brackets the control arms will just flex at the ball joints as you lower the subframe, which should give you (just) enough clearance. It's certainly easier with the subframe completely off though, in case you have a reason to replace/refresh front control arms or anything like that.

[lbennyboobool]

I was able to do this without to many troubles. I had to remove the dipstick and insert it into the pan and then put it all back in together. I guess the O ring curled a little, but other than that not too bad. Time consuming

Thanks for all the help everyone!!