For me, I only wanted to do this repair once. I also looked at just replacing the o-rings, but at the time, 2 o-rings from BMW cost more than the bush which includes the 2 o-rings. Also, I am not sure what material spec the o-rings are or their durometer. To answer your question... I have never seen the bush break. But think about this. It's a plastic part that gets heat cycled often much like the dreaded cooling system parts. So it cannot last forever. Also it's CHEAP. Current price is 7 bucks-ish from the dealer, too. I understand about wanting to save money; I'm the same way. So if you want to save 3 bucks on a 2-3 hour job, that's on you. But I would not recommend it.
Ok, so I'm midway through this whole DIY and decided to stop before my fingers get frostbite.
I just need to put my gasket and bush back on and reassemble.
Do you guys recommend putting some RTV silicone between the housing and gasket to help seal it? I still have the whole tube of red high temp RTV silicone from my valve cover job and I really don't want to go and do this again if it does start leaking again.
Ok, so I'm midway through this whole DIY and decided to stop before my fingers get frostbite.
I just need to put my gasket and bush back on and reassemble.
Do you guys recommend putting some RTV silicone between the housing and gasket to help seal it? I still have the whole tube of red high temp RTV silicone from my valve cover job and I really don't want to go and do this again if it does start leaking again.
I haven't done this yet but I generally always use a light spray of a gasket seal to simply hold the gasket in place.
I ended up with putting some of the red RTV on both mating surfaces. I'm giving it the full 24-hour cure period before firing her up. Here is my quick DIY video on it.
I found getting the alternator on tricky. I did use a 6" c-clamp and large socket to try and push out the nut/bushing that holds the alternator to its bracket. Once you do that, insert the bottom attachment points first and bolt it in lightly. Then go at the bracket from the top, since it can only pivot in one way. I used a rubber mallet to coerce it in and a screwdriver to align the bolt holes perfectly.
I used a smear of antiseize on the alternator cradle and alternator bolts too.
Fairly easy job. Hardest part is getting the alternator back in. Forgot to plug the oil pressure sensor until after. A real pain. Be sure to plug it back in before reinstalling the alternator.
Sprayed the oil filter assembly area and timing chain cover with simple green and sprayed with water. Need to clean the under carriage.
Once it's outside in the cold overnight I'll know if it fixed it.
Awesome info guys! Thanks a million! Just replaced my radiator, then the starter and coolant flange on the back of the engine, not its this project for an oil leak that has been there for quite a while. But its gotten worse. Great pic write-up and video.
I posted back in 2/2010 about this repair, which I had actually done in 11/2009 when I first picked the car up at 170k miles.
Lately I have been noticing an ever increasing leak, so since it is about 55k miles later, just shy of 225k, I figured maybe it was time again. Bought the gasket and bushing and popped them in there. Still leaking.. actually worse now. Terrified that maybe I got sidetracked and put the bushing in backwards, I pulled it apart again today. Nope. Done right. I always second guess myself. I did find some grit that was kind of hanging out by the top of the housing, and under the bushing, so I figured that maybe it got in between. I cleaned it all super well, degreased everything again and let it dry. I even used some spray copper on the gasket. Put the housing back on, and fired up the car again. Within a few minutes it was seeping again.
Once again I pulled it apart. Super clean this time. Everything was seated well so I cleaned the oil out and looked deeper. That is when I found it. The o-ring INSIDE the housing. This ring actually creates the seal to the bushing..and boy was it dry and hardened. In fact it was so dried out that it cracked when I pulled it out.
So boys and girls and fellow DIYers..take my advice. Replace that 24x3 o-ring also when you do this job.
I can't be mad though. The car is just shy of 225k miles, and that o-ring is original. As I said earlier, I had already replaced the gasket and bushing 55k miles before..lol and it still hung in there for another 5 yrs!! ]
Last edited by projekt EPiK; 12-15-2014 at 06:20 AM..
i am about to do this again after only about 70k miles after the first replacement. There must be a better way to reseal this housing. My driveway is starting to get oil stains plus the fact the engine and car underside is getting oil soaked.