How To Remover Oil Filter Cover?!?!

[SuperFreaks 323is]

Everyone says all you need is like a 13 mm socket and even the manual shows that but when i look at mine it has this big ass plastice cover with like a 25 mn place for a socket so i dont know, where the 13 mm comes in, but i dont have a big enough socket or whatever for the plastic thing?! please help asap!

[97alpineM3]

Pictures please.... obviously no one has a clue about that... doesnt sound normal.. get some pics if you can...

Good Luck,

Les

[Henri]

Hi! I had the same problem. The oil filter cover in black plastic needs a special tood that you'll be able to find in a BMW dealership for approx. 10$. It's a silver metal tool that you put on the filter and you'll be able to unscrew the filter housing.

Without this tool, your only solution is to try with your hands, what I wasn't able to do...

I'll try to post a pic of the tool at home later tonight.

Have fun

[Henri]

There you go... I don't have the part number because I didn't kept the bag it was in... I remember it was made by CARTOOL, a german tool maker.

If you print the pics and go to dealership, you can't go wrong

Hope this will help you

Henri

[bad man working]

I don't htink you need the tool in the last reply if you are looking at a plastic cover with a big hex head then you need a 27mm sockets and what is marked on it is 25Nm which is the torque to tighten it to

[Henri]

hmm if he has the same black plastic cover I have, there is nothing you can use a ratchet on... it's flat with a 25 nm (newtonmeter i think) note on it wich is the torque you have to apply to tighten it.

I don't know about another type of plastic cover... might exists... Anyway, the tool is cheap ($$) and I'm not afraid of breaking the cover when I'm using it :lol:

A picture of the housing would be great!

ciao!
Henri

Edit: I remember the parts guy told me there was only two type of filter housing, the one in plastic and one in metal that you can use a wrench. The black one is more rare...

[SuperFreaks 323is]

Thanks for the help yeah that was tool was exactly what i needed but i got it off with a pair of pliers scuffed up the plastic a lil but thats ok thanks for the help!!!!

[bitcore]

If you have the one with a giant hex nut head to it, you can just use a massive socket wrench. Jiffylube went and bought one cause I come there all the freaking time lol.

[mech9T8]

I just went through this on the weekend.
I measured the hex across the flats and it was 35mm on my car (96 328).
I used a 36mm socket and it work like a charm.