Oil Pan Removal

[GKrieck]

I'm a new BMW L6 owner, and am just learning how hard it maybe to work on these compared to other vehicles I've worked on.
My first job is to drop the oil pan, and repair a leak. So far, I've removed about 19 bolts that hold the pan on, but my dilemma is that there is one still left, behind the bracket that holds the steering pump, and the alternator on. I'm assuming that I have to continue to remove the bracket to get to the bolt behind it. Anyone have any tips for me? They would be greatly appreciated.

[KC Ron Carter]

First thing I want to teach you is that many issues are found on the WEB.

Here is a procedure I found for the search of:

" m30 bmw oil pan removal "

M30 Oil Pan Removal


The easiest way is to lift up the passenger side of the motor, off of the motor mount. I have the front of the car on ramps and then use a floor jack, raised up on wood under the oil pan, also using wood between the jack and the pan. Then, I lift the motor off of the passenger side mount by jacking up under the oil pan after the motor mount retaining bolts have been removed. Once I have gotten it up a good distance. I got mine so that the head was just touching the firewall. I then put a jack stand under the AC compressor bracket(make sure you put it under the side that does not need to be moved, or remove the part of the bracket that is in the way before starting the jacking). The I lower the motor onto this jack stand. Remember, it will take a little while for the motor to come off the mount because you are basically removing a lot of weight from the front of the car so the suspension will decompress. Once you have done this, then go about removing the oil pan bolts. Once you get all of them out, the pan will drop, but you won't be able to pull it out. You need to reach into the crack between the pan and the block and remove the oil pump from the block and most importantly the sprocket at the front. Once you have done this, the oil pump should drop into the pan. Then you should be able to remove it no problem and accomplish any work you need. To install it, it is the reverse of removal. Make sure you have the pump in the pan and put them up together, because they won't go in separately.
Written by Rob Anderson '01