[undertaker]

Haven't received a response to my OP. So will attempt again. Is this type of leak at 50k, considered to be an engineering/design defect? Therefore engaging my warranty?

[Wires]

Sooo.... why not just post this to the your original most?

Perhaps NOBODY knows what a OFHG is. Maybe if you spend a bit of time just typing WTF that means out you may get some sort of constructive answer?

[undertaker]

Oil Filter Housing Gasket. Only looking for substantial and articulate responses. Not the one referenced above.

Thank you in advance!

[tturedraider]

If it’s leaking within the warranty period I would say that is a manufacturing defect that should be covered by warranty.

[Billfitz]

Judging by the myriad number of posts and youtube videos about replacing the oil filter housing gasket, which somehow you've miraculously managed not to come across, it's pretty clear that it's a common issue. Gaskets don't last forever. Next up: WTF is the VCG?

[BimR]

You have a warranty. Use it. It's not a big replacement anyways. Less than $500 out of pocket at an indy.

[GeorgeF31]

"Only looking for substantial and articulate responses"

An entertaining stance given that titling the thread as "OFHG.." starts off with obfuscating not only with an acronym but one that nobody uses or knows.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by GeorgeF31

"Only looking for substantial and articulate responses"

An entertaining stance given that titling the thread as "OFHG.." starts off with obfuscating not only with an acronym but one that nobody uses or knows.

OFHG is actually a pretty common term on Bimmer forums that many members understand.

[WDE82]

If your car is under warranty, it's covered. If it's not...it's not. Pretty easy to grasp.

50K miles is pretty early for an OFHG but Germans cannot design an oil seal...period. Oil leaks are a fact of life with BMWs.

Originally Posted by GeorgeF31

"Only looking for substantial and articulate
responses"

An entertaining stance given that titling the thread as "OFHG.." starts off with obfuscating not only with an acronym but one that nobody uses or knows.

Anyone who knows anything about BMW inline sixes knows what OFHG means.

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Judging by the myriad number of posts and youtube videos about replacing the oil filter housing gasket, which somehow you've miraculously managed not to come across, it's pretty clear that it's a common issue. Gaskets don't last forever. Next up: WTF is the VCG?

BMW's oil gasket life is abysmal. 50K for an oil leak is pathetic. That said, this is par for the course for BMW and it isn't that big of a deal.

[undertaker]

At 50k? Driven lightly, it's despicable. I would've lost my job for such a design flaw or service incompetency. My former Mazda had no leaks at 130k, whether a "Myriad number of posts". Had an Audi in years past, it always weeped, Mercedes next?

[2017F30]

Read it and thought “…oh for Heaven’s goodness?!”

(Reaches for coffee).

[mmm-five]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Anyone who knows anything about BMW inline sixes knows what OFHG means.

I've probably got a million miles on my straight six BMWs and I didn't have a clue what it meant

Although I would have googled it

Is it a non-M, straight six issue only then?

[Wires]

Originally Posted by mmm-five

I've probably got a million miles on my straight six BMWs and I didn't have a clue what it meant

Although I would have googled it

Is it a non-M, straight six issue only then?

I would have Googled it, but figured why am I having to do EXTRA work to help out the OP who is so lazy he cannot remotely try to help himself.

[X Mon™]

Originally Posted by Wires

I would have Googled it, but figured why am I having to do EXTRA work to help out the OP who is so lazy he cannot remotely try to help himself.

But but but, it's like a 20-30 minute job with under $10 of parts to have to change that gasket at the next oil service. Or do it before and spend a whole 'nother $5-10 to top the oil once it's done.

Of course doing so means owning the E10 1/4 drive swivel socket so you can get it apart without having to pull a bunch of other stuff. Fortunately the shadetree, CTA knocked off the $48 Snap-On. Top tip for those still following, an 8mm ratcheting wrench will spin out the front E10 head torx screw once you break it loose with the proper wrench.

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by mmm-five

I've probably got a million miles on my straight six BMWs and I didn't have a clue what it meant

Although I would have googled it

Is it a non-M, straight six issue only then?

Pretty sure the Ms have trouble with it too. How have you not had to do like 20 OFHG replacements in that time?

[mmm-five]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Pretty sure the Ms have trouble with it too. How have you not had to do like 20 OFHG replacements in that time?

Don't recall ever having to do an oil filter housing gasket on any of my cars (M or otherwise), but have had plenty other little leaks (valve cover gasket weep, diff weep, gearbox weep, timing cover weep, etc.).

Maybe my 3-6 months servicing intervals have kept the issue at bay? My latest 6-cyl ///M (a 2006 Z4MC with 160,000 road & track miles on it) doesn't use a drop of oil between services...but I do them at least twice as often as the SI says.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by undertaker

Haven't received a response to my OP. So will attempt again. Is this type of leak at 50k, considered to be an engineering/design defect? Therefore engaging my warranty?

My OFHG went at 40k miles but others have gone at 25k. Make sure to replace serpentine belt which likely has oil on it, which can cause catastrophic engine failure

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by X Mon退

But but but, it's like a 20-30 minute job with under $10 of parts to have to change that gasket at the next oil service. Or do it before and spend a whole 'nother $5-10 to top the oil once it's done.

Of course doing so means owning the E10 1/4 drive swivel socket so you can get it apart without having to pull a bunch of other stuff. Fortunately the shadetree, CTA knocked off the $48 Snap-On. Top tip for those still following, an 8mm ratcheting wrench will spin out the front E10 head torx screw once you break it loose with the proper wrench.

This post got my attention. Are you saying this socket is all that's needed to get the job done on the n55 without the labor of removing the intake and other crap? If so, let's pin this to the top. I had read stories like this before but nothing specific. I'm approaching 40k and will no doubt have to tackle this job sometime soon.

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by Jvac

This post got my attention. Are you saying this socket is all that's needed to get the job done on the n55 without the labor of removing the intake and other crap? If so, let's pin this to the top. I had read stories like this before but nothing specific. I'm approaching 40k and will no doubt have to tackle this job sometime soon.

I agree. I had to do it twice on my N54 335, once on our n55 x5, and once on a n52 328.

Only did it once myself on the 335 and it is not a 30 min job with out some trickery. The other replacements were done under warranty.

Knock on wood, I have not had the issue with 45k mi on my b58

[F30lolz]

My N20 has about 203k miles which I believe had the original OFHG and on the way back from Florida last month the gasket gave up the ghost. For the final 500 miles I had to throw in two (2) quarts as I knew it was leaking but didn’t seem that bad until it started leaking a lot. Had it taken care of at an indy a few days after I returned for about $400 including an old change. OP, ‘lettuce’ know the outcome at the dealer.

[X Mon™]

Originally Posted by Jvac

This post got my attention. Are you saying this socket is all that's needed to get the job done on the n55 without the labor of removing the intake and other crap? If so, let's pin this to the top. I had read stories like this before but nothing specific. I'm approaching 40k and will no doubt have to tackle this job sometime soon.

Originally Posted by therealm3

I agree. I had to do it twice on my N54 335, once on our n55 x5, and once on a n52 328.

Only did it once myself on the 335 and it is not a 30 min job with out some trickery. The other replacements were done under warranty.

Knock on wood, I have not had the issue with 45k mi on my b58

I've not touched the one on my N55, but I don't see it as any different from the three N52s I've done it on, in that the N55 doesn't have any more things in the "way".

I don't pull the coolant flange from the front of the head, and I don't remove the intake manifold. Edit: I also clamp the hose off the heat exchanger so I don't have to drain coolant or oil.

The front bolt gets loosened with a flat E10 wrench (Stahlwille) or alternatively a short E10 1/4 socket (Stahlwille) and a 1/4 breaker bar. Once it's loose, I use an 8mm ratcheting wrench (Craftsman [Gearwrench]) to extract the bolt. If I owned a ratcheting E10, I might try that, but alas... Also note that the Snap-On E8/E10 combo wrench is both too long and too angled to fit.

The middle bolt is a straight R/R using a convention E10 socket in either 1/4 or 3/8 drive.

The rear bolt gets removed using the 1/4 swivel E10 (Snap-On) [now also available as CTA 2476] by going between the 1st and 2nd runners on the intake with a long 1/4 locking extension.

Everything gets torqued back to spec with a Stahlwille 730/5 - 725QR



Don't mind the fact that I also had the valve cover off this N52 to replace the eccentric shaft sensor for the Vanos.

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by X Mon退

I've not touched the one on my N55, but I don't see it as any different from the three N52s I've done it on, in that the N55 doesn't have any more things in the "way".

I don't pull the coolant flange from the front of the head, and I don't remove the intake manifold. Edit: I also clamp the hose off the heat exchanger so I don't have to drain coolant or oil.

The front bolt gets loosened with a flat E10 wrench (Stahlwille) or alternatively a short E10 1/4 socket (Stahlwille) and a 1/4 breaker bar. Once it's loose, I use an 8mm ratcheting wrench (Craftsman [Gearwrench]) to extract the bolt. If I owned a ratcheting E10, I might try that, but alas... Also note that the Snap-On E8/E10 combo wrench is both too long and too angled to fit.

The middle bolt is a straight R/R using a convention E10 socket in either 1/4 or 3/8 drive.

The rear bolt gets removed using the 1/4 swivel E10 (Snap-On) [now also available as CTA 2476] by going between the 1st and 2nd runners on the intake with a long 1/4 locking extension.

Everything gets torqued back to spec with a Stahlwille 730/5 - 725QR



Don't mind the fact that I also had the valve cover off this N52 to replace the eccentric shaft sensor for the Vanos.

Awesome! I'm hoping mine will last a while longer before I need to tackle this job but your tips will surely make it go quicker. Thanks for posting.