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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > N55 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > Changing F30/N55 oil pan gasket vs. E90?
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      07-08-2023, 04:31 PM   #1
smass
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Changing F30/N55 oil pan gasket vs. E90?

Is the F32/N55 oil pan gasket replacement any more difficult than an E90/N5x? This is not an x-drive car. I have done 3 E90s and I am trying to decide if I want to tackle the F32.

thanks
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      07-09-2023, 10:46 AM   #2
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It's similar enough, on the F series you'll be best off by suspending the top side and drop the subframe. On the E90 RWD, I usually can get it done by having the subframe come down by 6-8-inches (I do this by buying some extra long bolts that has the same thred pattern as the OEM subframe bolts.) F-series subframe has more welded cross bars, so you'll fight against more stuff in the way and I've never had success without the subframe completely coming off.

Another tip, on dropping the subframe, you can elect to knock out the ball joints from the steering, thrust arm, and trail arms. By doing so, when you put everything back, you may survive without having to do an alignment immediately. It's still highly recommended to do an alignment because a few undetectable degrees off you'll be eating the tire wear pattern. Just rememeber to bolt up all your ball joints while the suspension is under full load, 80Nm on those 24mm 12-point socket will do. (If you don't subject the suspension under load while you tighten up the ball joints, you'll deal with two problems: 1) the ball joint stud may spin loose, and that's not ideal, but okay to live with. 2) The suspension may have pinchy squeaky noise, and if that's not addressed soon, the rubber joints will tear.

Hope all this helps.
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      07-09-2023, 01:20 PM   #3
oranga
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I haven't done the job on an E90, but I did on my F30 last summer. I think i remember watching a video on how to do it on an E90 and it did seem pretty close.

Like yupetc said above, I did have to drop the whole subframe. There were some threads that were helpful, as long as this sway bar install guide: https://documents.dinancars.com/d120-0585.pdf

I disconnected the steering arms at the knuckle, and actually replaced the suspension arms at the same time, so I just removed them entirely.

All that is the say, if you've done it on 3 similar cars before, I think you'll be fine.
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      07-09-2023, 08:15 PM   #4
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I’ve done this job on an F30 RWD and left the tension arms and control arms attached to the subframe while disconnecting the ball joints from the knuckles. Drop the steering rack with the subframe and support the top of the engine with an engine support brace.

I had to order an E90 tow hook to thread into the block in order to suspend it on the engine brace. The drivers side motor mount has to be removed in order to drop the pan as it obscures a few oil pan fasteners.

The step by step in ISTA is the way to go when doing this job since there were a few fiddly bolts at the front of the subframe and the clip holding the power steering wire harness on that it points out.

Be sure to use new fasteners for the oil pan as they are aluminum with torque and angle measurements.
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      01-06-2024, 02:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E36M3 View Post
I’ve done this job on an F30 RWD and left the tension arms and control arms attached to the subframe while disconnecting the ball joints from the knuckles. Drop the steering rack with the subframe and support the top of the engine with an engine support brace.

I had to order an E90 tow hook to thread into the block in order to suspend it on the engine brace. The drivers side motor mount has to be removed in order to drop the pan as it obscures a few oil pan fasteners.

The step by step in ISTA is the way to go when doing this job since there were a few fiddly bolts at the front of the subframe and the clip holding the power steering wire harness on that it points out.

Be sure to use new fasteners for the oil pan as they are aluminum with torque and angle measurements.
Do any other fasteners/bolts need to be replaced besides those on the oil pan? Is it ok to reuse the subframe bolts for an F30 RWD 335i? I'm not sure if those are torque-to-yield bolts.
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      01-06-2024, 11:02 AM   #6
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The subframe bolts don't need to be replaced
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