Changing the oil pan

[Jand3rson]

I have to replace my oil pan this week, and I need to know the best way to do it, since I don't have access to a lift,
and I'm not paying $70 per hour labor to have my mechanic do it. I've been told of 2 ways I can do it.

1. Jack up the car, and replace the 2 main bolts holding the subframe in place with the same size bolts, but 1-2 inches longer, and lower the subframe onto the longer bolts.
This should give me enough room to get the pan out.

2. Unbolt the motor mounts, and raise the motor up as much as possible with an engine lift (which I DO have access to), and I should have enough room to get the pan out.

Will either of these methods work? Or does someone know of a better way?
Not onlly do I not want to have the mechanic do it because simply DON'T have that much money, but I would like to do it myself.

[James Crivellone]

if you unbolt the rear tranny mount and the driveline, and unbolt the engine mounts, that should I THINK give you enough room.

I am trying to remember how much space I had when I started pulling the motor out of my parts car, I think I got it up a few inches, but had to put a little strain on the coolant lines (may wanna disco those...

[rs4pro3]

I don't see how lowering the subframe would help as the Engine is bolted to the subframe and you'd gain no more room.
When I did my 85 318i gaskets I lifted the engine with a hoist. I had plenty of room, but the 318i has 2 oil pans so that made it easier as I didn't have to get the upper around the oil pump.

[318daily]

#2.

you may not even need to remove the pan, just lower it enough to get off the old gasket and slide a new one in there.

when you are older w/ a family and a kid $70/hr. doesn't seem like so much. Except when it's over 5 hours, that's my cutoff.

[Digitalwave]

He's doing the pan itself, not just the gasket.

[Dave]

#2.

you may not even need to remove the pan, just lower it enough to get off the old gasket and slide a new one in there.

when you are older w/ a family and a kid $70/hr. doesn't seem like so much. Except when it's over 5 hours, that's my cutoff.

When you are older with a family and THREE kids, you enjoy taking several hours to do this kind of stuff!

[Jand3rson]

Does anyone have any other input on this?

[M-technik-3]

Does anyone have any other input on this?

Follow the 5 steps listed in Bentley.
1 Drain
2 Disconnect sensor
3 Disconnect 2 bolts that hold steering rack to subframe
4 remove 4 hex head bolts and Torx bolts that hold bellhousing reinforcement plate
5 Remove Pan retaining bolts and lower pan, remove 3 oil pump mounting bolts. put pump in pan and lower pan.

Revese for assembly.

best if done on lift.

[Jand3rson]

I don't have a lift, but we are going to jack the car up as high as possible, and use an engine hoist to rase the motor up as high as possible. It will be a pain, but it should work.