[greenberet123]

Help!

Was trying to replace my oil filter housing gasket on my 2008 E93. Could'nt get this last bolt on the front bottom out.

I tried with a E10 1/4 socket + a swivel joint but there wasn't enough space to remove. Then I put the circular end of a 5/16 spanner and I think I damaged the bolt a bit.

Not sure how to take this off, im worried that im going to continue to damage the bolt. Pic attached.

Pic is here (couldnt figure out how to attach it in the post): imgur.com/a/wSKKHJk

[IllSic_Design]

You need(should) to remove the coolant hose that goes into the head right there, then you have plenty of room to get to the bolt. Be aware that if you pull that hose out of the had you run a big risk(75%) that the plastic fitting on the end will break off in the head and you will also have to buy a new hose to replace it.

[e90yyc]

Here is the pic:

Dammmmmn look at all that resolution!

Originally Posted by greenberet123

Help!

Was trying to replace my oil filter housing gasket on my 2008 E93. Could'nt get this last bolt on the front bottom out.

I tried with a E10 1/4 socket + a swivel joint but there wasn't enough space to remove. Then I put the circular end of a 5/16 spanner and I think I damaged the bolt a bit.

Not sure how to take this off, im worried that im going to continue to damage the bolt. Pic attached.

Pic is here (couldnt figure out how to attach it in the post): imgur.com/a/wSKKHJk

[-JrHatch-]

You have to remove the coolant hose blocking access to the bolt, very easy and saves agrivation

[OP3NAIR]

you need a racheting E10 box wrench to get that thing off. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Apex-Tool-Gro...e10+box+wrench

If you undo that one last, you can walk the filter housing off the bolt by pulling it away from the head as you undo it. This will enable you to get the filter housing off without undoing the coolant hose.
Once you have the filter housing off, undo the 2 bolts holding the coolant neck in, and using something blunt that wont split the coolant hose fitting and wont scratch the coolant passage, knock the coolant hose out from inside the filter housing port. If you grab it and twist it from the front of the engine you're bound to bust the plastic fitting.
Once you have the coolant hose off, you can remove the bolt from the hole and replace it, as well as now seat the filter housing gasket on the head before tightening.

[wiscoe90b]

Another trick is to remove the other bolts 1st and leave that one until last - that way the head of that bolt does not have to move out/back and the movement is rather on the actual housing side.

As you unscrew it keep pulling the the oil filter housing back. Hope that makes sense.

EDIT - OP3NAIR beat me to it on how to easiest remove that bolt.

[greenberet123]

Thanks everyone!

Is there any DIY or youtube video that shows how to carefully remove the coolant hose without breaking anything?

e90yyc - Thanks for posting the pic!

OP3NAIR - A bit confused. If I remove that bolt using that ratcheting wrench, why do I need to then remove the hose?

[OP3NAIR]

A variety of reasons:
1. You said you damaged the bolt. That would make me want to replace it.
2. You won’t get the new gasket to sit against the head with the bolt in there. You’d have to get it started with the housing floating, it just invites the gasket to shift before the housing seats.
3. You’re not gonna fit a torque wrench in there to tighten it back down with the water fitting in the way.

[Pladi]

NEVER do a micky mouse job on your car.. it will ALWAYS bite you later. Proper tools and dont skip steps.. take your time. I have removed that bolt without moving the hose. But you need the ratcheting wrench torx or 12 point. And very small length. Now you have to use some sort of vice type pliers with more room needed... not even sure how its gonna work

[Eagle1oh7]

You can remove that without disconnecting the hose. Get a swivel head ratchet or box-end wrench. You'll need some M-A-N to break the torque since there isn't much room for leverage to break that torque.

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

You can remove that without disconnecting the hose. Get a swivel head ratchet or box-end wrench. You'll need some M-A-N to break the torque since there isn't much room for leverage to break that torque.

Wouldn't this be a bad idea given the stripped head?

I could see trying to work with limited clearance if the bolt hadn't been rounded off yet, but it seems to me this might not work so well given OP's situation...

Just an inkling -- I might be totally wrong.

[Eagle1oh7]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Wouldn't this be a bad idea given the stripped head?

I could see trying to work with limited clearance if the bolt hadn't been rounded off yet, but it seems to me this might not work so well given OP's situation...

Just an inkling -- I might be totally wrong.

Well yeah, now that the faster head is stripped it's too late.

[triax37]

Home Depot has an inexpensive ratcheting wrench I successfully used for $7:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-10...10MM/202942588

[CTinline-six]

Ratcheting wrenches are your friend on this job. If the bolt is stripped I would try some vice grips or a tiny pipe wrench. Removing that plastic pipe will make it easier, but the plastic end breaks 99% of the time. It broke on my 06 and I replaced it with a metal end from ebay.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by triax37

Home Depot has an inexpensive ratcheting wrench I successfully used for $7:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-10...10MM/202942588

Wrong ratchet. OP3NAIR posted the link from the correct tool needed. at those suggesting coolant flange removal.

[greenberet123]

Any video out there on removing the hose? Definitely don't want to break anything. Thanks all!


OP3NAIR Are these single bolts available to purchase online or would I need to purchase the entire housing?

Pladi Totally agree. I wan't to do this properly. I will try with a ratcheting wrench torx and if it doesnt come out, I will remove the hose.

[OP3NAIR]

You can get the bolt itself

11427540759

[feuer]

These aren't single time use bolts. Those are marked with paint. Usually blue on BMW

[labrador]

RM European has the bolts. They are steel and I reuse.

I used 5/16 because the torx I have is a tad too long on u-joint. With Elring Klinger gasket.

I do remove both hoses. Do need to pick up that all-aluminum connector on eBay, or at least keep a new hose that comes with a plastic connector.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by labrador

RM European has the bolts. They are steel and I reuse.

I used 5/16 because the torx I have is a tad too long on u-joint. With Elring Klinger gasket.

I do remove both hoses. Do need to pick up that all-aluminum connector on eBay, or at least keep a new hose that comes with a plastic connector.

I am in the middle of this job right now. Replaced my oil filter housing gasket and while removing the coolant hose to get the lower bolt off, it disintegrated. I ordered the aluminum adapter from eBay and just installed it today. I removed the entire coolant hose from the head to the thermostat just to make sure it was clean and I'm glad I did because I found a piece of broken plastic stuck in the middle of the hose.

I also discovered that the hose end that connects to the plastic coupler is swollen, probably from the exposure to so much oil leaking from the filter housing gasket. It's not cracked but I don't trust it so I ordered a replacement hose.

The previous owner of my car had a new water pump and thermostat installed last year and whatever shop installed it refilled the system using generic green coolant. I temporarily reinstalled the old swollen hose just so I can fill my system with distilled water , and drain and fill again to flush out all the old coolant and then I plan to refill with genuine BMW coolant.

I'm fortunate that I have other cars to use while waiting to finish this project but I wish I had everything up front. If you want to minimize downtime do yourself a favor and order the aluminum adapter and a new hose at the same time

[lowrydr310]

Once you get that coolant line out of the way you can probably tap a socket onto that bolt to remove it. Torx bolts are somewhat forgiving. I was trying a box end wrench and just barely started to strip the head, but after removing the coolant line I was able to tap a torx socket on there and used the ratchet to remove it.

[greenberet123]

lowrydr310 Could you link me to the aluminum adapter and hose that you bought? Thanks!