DIY Removing the front subframe? BMW E39 530i

[Nate Jones]

I currently own two BMW 530is (one automatic, one manual), and both are suffering from oil pan gasket leaks. It would appear the only way to replace the oil pan gasket would be to remove the front subframe while supporting the engine from above. I would like to do this myself, as I really can’t afford to pay more than $1k for any repair. I know, I shouldn’t be owning BMWs, etc.

Owning two cars means I can work on one while I drive the other. I will sell the automatic as soon as I get these repairs complete.

At the same time as I am replacing the oil pan gasket, I will also be doing a few other services.
– Oil pump nut reinstallation w/ safety wire (BMW M54B30 engines are infamous for spinning the nut off)
– Engine mount change (at 143k mi I suspect the hydraulic fluid has leaked out)
– Transmission mount inspection, change if necessary (I have spares)
– Oil and transmission fluid change
– Sway bar endlink replacement (there’s an annoying knocking noise over small lateral undulations)

Any tips you guys can offer? Any further services I should be looking into?

Topic

[Mike]

Hmmm…seeing as how you’d have to undo the engine mounts and have the engine dangling in space anyway, perhaps you could lift the engine enough to remove the oil pan with the sub frame in place. You may have to remove the hood, but that should be easier than removing the sub frame.

[Nate Jones]

I’ve replaced engine mounts before by just lifting the engine (jack underneath oil pan), but I’ve not supported it from above before. To lift the engine high enough, I’d have to disconnect the radiator hoses as well; really isn’t much space in there, and I’d rather not mess with the E39’s notoriously brittle plastic cooling system. I think it’d honestly be easier to drop the subframe. Plus, dropping the subframe will allow me to replace the sway bar with a beefier Eibach unit in my manual car, which I’ll be keeping.

[Author]

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