How do I change front crankseal?

[Germfan]

I am new here and could not find the introductions section.
So this is a 2in1. First awesome site!
I just bought a 91 e30 318i with 80k or if your from up here in Canada 140,000km it is  it needs a front crankshaft seal. Could someone please tell me how to change it. I will post some pics of the car when the Sun shines.
Thanks

[DesktopDave]

Welcome to the club!  I hope you find a lot of help.  I haven't done one myself, I'm waiting for warmer weather.  I was figuring I'd do the pump & Tstat at the same time, along with the lower oil pan seal & oil filter housing seals.

I'm not looking forward to removing the crank bolt.  I'll have a big length of pipe or a breaker bar.

[dwtaylorpdx]

There is a very common leak around the Oil filter support tower that looks EXACTLY like a crank seal leak.

Its 2 hours of work, and 12 bucks for a gasket and 2 o-rings from the dealer.

Dave

[Germfan]

Nice post! Really helpful.... Lol

[Germfan]

Is that the crankshaft seal behind the fan. It looks like it is leaking there.
And thanks for the replies so far.

[KenC]

Like one of the above posters said, replace the oil filter housing gasket and O-ring first. I replaced the front crank seal twice thinking it was the culprit while it was the oil filter housing the whole time.

[Germfan]

Correct me If I am wrong. The oil tower is on the left side of the crank when sitting in the drivers seat looking forward?

[4banger]

correct. intake side

[AtlBMW]

There is a very common leak around the Oil filter support tower that looks EXACTLY like a crank seal leak.

Its 2 hours of work, and 12 bucks for a gasket and 2 o-rings from the dealer.

Dave

I'm looking at the same. How about a How to on this repair?

[xaos.]

in case it is your crank seal. step one find the hole under your intake that goes to your tranny put a screw driver in there turn motor till it slips in. this keeps the crank from turning. take off fan.  crank bolt is a 22mm deep well. it will take some force to get off.  or find a block of wood and use the starter to bust it loose" this is kinda more difficult and scary to do at first" ya got to pay attention to what your doing, a helper is ideal!  once the bolt is out the obviously take the belt off. and the balancer will slide straight off. then pop the old one out with a screwdriver or seal puller. be carefull not to scratch the timing case!!! then using a rubber mallet carfully tap the new one on find a larger socket deep well and tap it in a litte further till it stops.   "replace crank bolt"!!!  its 8 bucks from bma id order it with the seal.  If i remember you have to torque it to 160 lbs  or just as tight as you can get it. ive done it a bunch of times.  hook everything back up and your done.


ill explane the block of wood thing. remove your intake and set a 2x4 right on the frame rail  and with a breaker bar hooked up to the 22mm socket look where it will hit place the wood there and with the car jacked up go turn the key. wham.  then get out check it, turn it back and set the wood again. repeat  might take a bunch of trys but it will come off this way.  dont keep cranking on it  you got to get out and move it back so it can puck up speed before hitting the wood.   believe it or not this is something i learned working at the dealership haha. sounds getto but it works cause them bolts are in there!!

[monko141]

Correct torque on the crankshaft bolt is 244lbs.