OFHG leak?

I've been noticing oil on the ground after I've been driving, so I looked under the car and it was everywhere. I decided to check the oil drive home and put it up on ramps and check it out. I sprayed degreaser all over the bottom side let it dry and then let her run. This is what I found on the drivers side, this is the best pics I could get. I was thinking its the ofhg but I wanted to get other opinions since this is my first bmw. Thanks

If you clean that honeycomb area fully and you see some fresh new oil there after a short drive then it is the OFHG. They wear out after 80k miles or so so your car is probably due for it.

Usually your OFHG. You can usually find it at your local parts store for between $4 and $8. I get mine at my local carquest.

yeah i cleaned it completely off and ran it for a while. sorry for the crappy pics and thats water with the oil on top. car has 134k on it so im pretty sure its time. I called bmw here and they had tons of them and they were only 7.85 with tax. They are closing so im going to have to waiting till they open tomorrow. Should i replace anything else while i have this off?

Just the gasket is fine. I hope you plan to DIY. It will take 2-3 hours and expect the alternator to be removed.

Roger. Yeah I am going to, I'm a engineer in the military so it shouldn't take to long. I already have most of the stuff out of the way. Do I need the crush washers or are they included with the gasket?

There are no crush washers. The parts is between the block and the oil filter housing and is held in by a few long bolts. The washers I do recommend changing are the ones for the VANOS line.


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Your belts and power steering pump will come off. Time to do belts and tensioners if they need replacement.

Also the VANOS line itself goes bad at the crimps and is super easy to replace when the housing is off - it's also not too bad with it on though. In any event, this is probably worth checking.

Luke

Yes, do the vanos line with a new one.
Will need four crush washers too.

Each of the six bolts to remove the OFH is a different length, so label each as you remove it. Careful when putting back together as many have stripped the threads in the block. You don't want to do that.

There are excellent youtube videos available with step by step directions for replacing the OFHG. Did mine last weekend.

Thanks everyone. I was looking on another thread and it had the crush washers under the gasket I just read wrong. Yeah I saw they were different lengths so I plan on laying them all out in order. Seems very straight foward for replace and install. Is there a place to find torque specs?

See posts #7 and #9

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...+torque&page=2

16 ft-lbs is what they say

Be Careful

Thanks alot. I have to work in the morning then doing the fix when I get off.