Author Topic: Prep for oil pan drop (Read 2828 times)

JHZR2 · « **on:** January 05, 2008, 09:43:44 PM »

Hello,

Removing a lower oil pan is usually a pretty easy thing to do. However, Ive never done it on an M42 before, so would like a bit of insight...

My E36 book makes it seem like the transmission bolts to the oil pan. I thought this was the upper oil pan, not the lower.

Is there anything to do other than drain the oil and remove all the bolts to get the lower oil pan off of a 91 E30 318i M42 engine? Are there any hard to get or strange bolts, bolts that need an access pannel, are in the trans bellhousing, etc?

Also, what size and type are the bolts? Allen? Hex? Anyone know the size? Id assume 13mm.

I want to drop the pan and be sure that the upper oil pan bolts that I can see are tight. I may just remove them anyway and loctite them in for peace of mind. Id like to know the basic oil pan drop job and tools required to pre-game.

Any insight would be great.

THanks,

JMH

teamgtnfx01 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2008, 10:33:08 PM »

im a couple months into this forum but i always work on my dam m42 most of the time for preventative maintence but once i got my car on the road i smashed my oil pan (mind you exactly 8 days after i got plates)

this is a very easy procedure all i needed was a 10mm on a 1/4 ratchet and a little bit of red silicon that is i guess high heat ... i dont think it makes a difference ... when i did i never even replaced the gasket i just blobbed that sit all over the place and there are no leaks i did this because when i bought the gasket i realized it was metal and the original one was in good shape but i was like screw it bc i wanted to drive the car again

so anyway there is no trick or hidden secrets its a very easy job

sheepdog · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2008, 11:46:00 AM »

There is no lower oil pan to drop on an e36.

Just make sure all the pan bolts are there and tight. The e30 M42 has a 2 part pan with some of the upper pan bolts inside the pan. All of your guy's pan bolts are external.

JHZR2 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2008, 06:45:34 PM »

did it today... pics to come.

JMH

Jak318 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2008, 07:28:10 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;40565

There is no lower oil pan to drop on an e36.

Just make sure all the pan bolts are there and tight. The e30 M42 has a 2 part pan with some of the upper pan bolts inside the pan. All of your guy's pan bolts are external.

I think hes referring to the E36 Bentley manual that covers the 1991 M42 engine?

JHZR2 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2008, 07:50:18 PM »

yep, actually the e36 chilton or haynes. I have a bentley for the E30, but got the cheapos just to ocver the M42... never needed anything better (like the e36 bentley) for my M42 work...

JMH