Oil Filter Housing Gasket Replacement

[blackberryq10android]

Hi All,

Is there an aluminum or steel ofhg to replace the shitty rubber ofhg that deteriorates over time/mileage or is the higher grade synthetic rubber our only choice?

Thanks.

[Edrift]

Afaik no.
The bolt torque isn't particularly high so I doubt it'd work on any form of metal gasket.

Just make sure you use the OEM gasket not an aftermarket one. Also only use BMW genuine coolant as you will be able to see visible degradation of the gasket if using non genuine fluids.

[NorthernDancer]

Originally Posted by blackberryq10android

Hi All,

Is there an aluminum or steel ofhg to replace the shitty rubber ofhg that deteriorates over time/mileage or is the higher grade synthetic rubber our only choice?

Thanks.

Looks like you have a 128. Evidently gasket is super easy to change when you do an oil change. Just be sure to clean out all of old gasket. Search for a DIY for a 128. 135 not the same.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

Looks like you have a 128. Evidently gasket is super easy to change when you do an oil change. Just be sure to clean out all of old gasket. Search for a DIY for a 128. 135 not the same.

I wouldn't call it "super easy". If you have the right tools it is not too bad.

[Mr Gasser]

One thing about bimmer parts, they are constantly upgrading so your gasket is prob better rubber made from "space age materials"

[blackberryq10android]

Originally Posted by Mr Gasser

One thing about bimmer parts, they are constantly upgrading so your gasket is prob better rubber made from "space age materials"

Lol. The dealer mentioned that it was leaking (rally bmw Long Island) but took it to an Indy that said it was bone dry. I just know this fails over time. May just replace it next year during the oil change.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by blackberryq10android

Lol. The dealer mentioned that it was leaking (rally bmw Long Island) but took it to an Indy that said it was bone dry. I just know this fails over time. May just replace it next year during the oil change.

I replaced mine at an indy and then took it to the dealership for a recall. Think they saw oil down below somewhere where my indy hadn't or couldn't clean it and told me I needed OFHG replaced, quoting me ridiculous money. I was annoyed. The gasket itself was obviously not leaking at the time.

[Olgeezer1]

Had mine replaced when changing intake manifold w/DISA unit so virtually no extra labor charge. A much easier deal with the intake removed. Can be done with intake in place if you have the flex joints to get at that hidden bolt under the intake. My Indy has done a bunch of them and always removes the manifold.

[nazali]

from all my research the answers is
no -
and the rubber one is fine, it was redesigned, BMW should have had it on a recall

Originally Posted by blackberryq10android

Hi All,

Is there an aluminum or steel ofhg to replace the shitty rubber ofhg that deteriorates over time/mileage or is the higher grade synthetic rubber our only choice?

Thanks.

[nazali]

ALL POINTS TOTALLY AGREED,
also 22nm's

Originally Posted by Edrift

Afaik no.
The bolt torque isn't particularly high so I doubt it'd work on any form of metal gasket.

Just make sure you use the OEM gasket not an aftermarket one. Also only use BMW genuine coolant as you will be able to see visible degradation of the gasket if using non genuine fluids.

[jlc45]

How would engine coolant affect the OFHG?

[DönerPorsche]

I just bought my 135i and coming from the E46 world where the oil filter housing gasket was also an issue I found an issue to the solution.

The BavAuto gasket made from Viton rubber from ECS tuning is what I put on both of my E46s without any leaks with one after 80,000 miles since replacement. Its the same stuff they used for the upgraded Beisan Systems VANOS gaskets on the E46.

Seeing this post made me wonder if they made them for the N54 and N55 engines and they do. I cannot speak for this one, but I will definitely vouch for the BavAuto E46 OFHG if you never want to replace it again.

[JM98]

Replaced mine twice in 4 years. First time took 3 hours, latest one took an hour. Kills me that BMW uses shitty o-rings that fail prematurely, even the cork gaskets on my 1973 Ford pickup last longer.

[nazali]

Originally Posted by jlc45

How would engine coolant affect the OFHG?

it doesnt, nor does oil,

it's a gasket, so oil and water can't touch it, but due to a bad design, when it goes I guess the coolant and oil can

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by nazali

it doesnt, nor does oil,

it's a gasket, so oil and water can't touch it, but due to a bad design, when it goes I guess the coolant and oil can

Viton is actually not great in water applications but it excels in oil applications. So if the OFHG is Viton, then coolant wouldn't help it.

[m_thompson]

I replaced the OFHG in my N51 128i last week. It took less than 2 hours being very slow and careful because it was the first time I have done this.

My wife's 328XiT was at the stealership the same day getting the starter replaced so I asked for a price for replacing the OFHG. They are a flat-rate shop so the hours that they charge for replacing the OFHG includes removing and replacing the intake manifold. Since they had the manifold off to replace the starter I thought that they would charge something like one hour labor for the OFHG. Nope, they still wanted three hours labor (at about $100+ per hour) for the OFHG. I told them no thanks, I would do it.

[Georj]

Originally Posted by m_thompson

I replaced the OFHG in my N51 128i last week. It took less than 2 hours being very slow and careful because it was the first time I have done this.

My wife's 328XiT was at the stealership the same day getting the starter replaced so I asked for a price for replacing the OFHG. They are a flat-rate shop so the hours that they charge for replacing the OFHG includes removing and replacing the intake manifold. Since they had the manifold off to replace the starter I thought that they would charge something like one hour labor for the OFHG. Nope, they still wanted three hours labor (at about $100+ per hour) for the OFHG. I told them no thanks, I would do it.

Does your car have an oil cooler also? If so, did you change the oil cooler gasket also?

I looked at number of videos. They are all for 328i. I could not find any videos for 2008 128i. Mine does not look like it has an oil cooler. Do some of these came without an oil cooler?

[blackberryq10android]

Ended up replacing it with a higher quality aftermarket ofhg from ecs tuning. It is expensive labor anywhere you go to replace it. It is made of higher synthetic rubber, only was a few more dollars than the oem.

Most Indy places regularly stock the oem's so who knows how old they could be.

We don't have an oil coolant in our n51 engines. Look under your hood, you shouldn't see something big connected to the side of the ofhg? If not your good. I didn't have it in mine but I saw what it looks like from diy videos of n52 engines having it in the 3 series

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Georj

Does your car have an oil cooler also? If so, did you change the oil cooler gasket also?

I looked at number of videos. They are all for 328i. I could not find any videos for 2008 128i. Mine does not look like it has an oil cooler. Do some of these came without an oil cooler?

128i and 328i are exactly the same for this (I have one of each). I don't believe any N51/N52 came with an oil cooler.

It really is dead easy, I did my 128i last summer. The trick is to have an e-torx gearwrench to do the "backwards" bolt on the front (that was $20 from Amazon), and use a 1/4" u-joint with a long extension to do the one at the back. Drain the oil and the coolant too. You can get away with not draining the coolant, but it will make a mess and it is a great time to change it if it hasn't been done in a few years. There is no need to touch the intake manifold on an n51/n52.

At 50K miles mine was JUST starting to leak. Leakage was not visible with the housing in place, but once removed I could see where it had been leaking underneath. The gasket might as well have been a piece of plastic - baked harder than a burnt cookie. I was doing a major service so I had the airbox out and the oil and coolant drained anyway, so I figured I would just do it. And glad I did! My 128i has had now had the trifecta of gaskets replaced. Valve cover by the dealer I bought it from, oil pan by the previous owner, and now the OFHG by me. All set for another decade hopefully!

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by blackberryq10android

Ended up replacing it with a higher quality aftermarket ofhg from ecs tuning. It is expensive labor anywhere you go to replace it. It is made of higher synthetic rubber, only was a few more dollars than the oem.

Most Indy places regularly stock the oem's so who knows how old they could be.

We don't have an oil coolant in our n51 engines. Look under your hood, you shouldn't see something big connected to the side of the ofhg? If not your good. I didn't have it in mine but I saw what it looks like from diy videos of n52 engines having it in the 3 series

Would it be the 330i and the other models (x3, 528i, etc) that had the higher hp version of the n52 that had an oil cooler? I've never seen an n52 in a 328i with it, but I have never actually worked on a 330i.

I would be shocked if the current BMW gasket isn't also the better material.

I'm also shocked at the amounts people get charged for doing this work... Having done one, I have no doubt I could knock it out in an hour next time, and I am no pro.

[blackberryq10android]

I don't know if anyone is really sure if it is or isn't better since it is "newer", that is just speculation that bmw spent time to upgrade materials for an older car part.

Being speculative, I would think you are right that they upgraded the material due to complaints and it failing for so many people.

However, with that said, looking at the oem versus the synthetic version, the synthetic looks of much higher grade material that should last longer. I am sure if someone felt both of them side by side, they would side with the synthetic aftermarket ofhg.

[mtmanya]

A much easier deal with the intake removed. Can be done with intake in place if you have the flex joints to get at that hidden bolt under the intake.