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Changed your FUEL FILTER Lately? (filter cut open pic)

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44K views 66 replies 46 participants last post by  Sup3r D  
S
#1 · (Edited)
I had a little stumbling the other day on the highway. No SES light, but I did pull a Peake code "81" - which is "lack of fuel".

Replaced the Fuel Filter today. Some have mentioned that BMW says the OEM filter is good to 100K. Uh, I beg to differ as is evident on mine.

With merely 51K miles on my M5, I removed the STOCK (date stamped) fuel filter and replaced it with a new one (HENGST). (p.s., guys this is a easy job!)

I did the ol' blow test which really took A LOT of pressure to get air flowing. Of course there is gas saturated in the filter, but I feel strongly this restriction was more than just normal saturated gas in the filter element. I broke out the hack saw and Dremel, and opened up the stock filter out of curiosity sake). I am fairly certain the filter is NOT supposed to be black. A mere rub with a paper towel showed some real crap!

Something else I noticed is the tweaking of the element. That can't be healthy and probably assisted in the restriction (one would assume).

-QUICK FUEL FILTER CHANGE:

1) Jack drivers side, support vehicle for safety
2) Remove plastic cover shield under the car
3) Relieve fuel pressure (A- press. reflief valve)
4) Unbolt (2) 10MM clamp bolts
5) Loosen filter at NUT end, 19mm wrench on the filter, 24mm wrench on square regulator
6) (B- other end of filter) push in white pressure clip, pull filter out
7) Install new filter ( with NEW copper crush washer) and by reverse of above (mark date on new filter)
 

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#5 ·
AirWreck said:
Coupla questions: where'd you get the filter, and how much?
Also, I wonder if this has something to do with the quality of the gas used.
Click to expand...

Filter and copper crush washer was purchased at AutohausAZ.com $37 for the filter (part # 13321407299), some cents for the washer.

The fuel is purchased at Chevron or Sinclair. Some years ago, an independant company here in SLC did a gas quality survey. These two rated at the top along with Tesoro, which is something else. I'm pretty anal about putting good gas in it. I am fairly certain the previous owner was too (came from CA and FL before that).
 
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#6 · (Edited)
dbrostrain said:
Good, simple writeup and pics, but you have to be kidding me on the "support vehicle for safety" part. It looks like all you got is an extra tire/rim sitting under there to 'catch' it. Tell me you took the pic before putting in actual jack stands? :)
Click to expand...

Relax, relax, everything is all fine and I wasn't underneath the vehicle completely. What makes you think that wheel and tire wouldn't save my butt?. :thumbsup:
 
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G
#14 · (Edited)
Thanks for the write up. As soon as I get my ///M back from having its new clutch installed this week, the fuel filter is going in. Then after 500 - 1000 break-in miles, it's Game On!!
 
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R
#15 ·
There are a couple other threads that recomend replacing the pump as well when doing this. THe theory is that the pump had to work extra hard to pump through a clogged filter, so it's probably hurt a little too.

Probably over kill, but I thought I'd mention it.

Bob.
 
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E
#16 ·
I just changed my fuel filter the other day. It was pretty straight forward, very DIY, thanks to the post on this site....great instructions.
I'm at 91k miles now and it was quite dirty.


:cheers:
 
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#18 ·
PCUT said:
Cap'n- Care to trade a case of Scorpion Ale for a filter change? You could stop by and do it on your way to the "office".
Click to expand...

Oh I am such a sellout. Of course that will work! cherrsagai Or, if your down in my neck sometime, stop by the last chance garage! Maybe we can drop your car on me or set the place on fire! :haha:
 
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K
#19 ·
Excellent write up! :thumbsup:
 
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#20 ·
For comparison/reference, here is mine at approximately 52K miles.
 

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#21 ·
Wow, thanks for posting! Very interesting indeed! Pretty black on the outside still, but not nearly as bad as mine! Still a good idea to change them out though!

I love the fact that you used a BMW ad as a drop cloth!:haha:
 
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#23 · (Edited)
I have one on the way. :blink:

edit: Just remembered that my car had a new fuel pump put in (previous owner) at 77k (5k miles ago)...curious to see if BMW changed the fuel filter also as a possible contributor. Can't wait to see the date code on mine.
 
G
#28 ·
I just did mine yesterday and I think I would have been quite happy to offer several pints of Scorpion Ale for it. My biggest issue, however, was access.

After lifting the driver's side of the vehicle, I couldn't figure out how to fully remove the plastic cover [it seemed to be "riveted" to the underside at the edge of the car] so I had to just push it over which blocked my access right at where I would have wanted to work from, so I had to work around it. I did a lot of stretching and grunting and only have one lump on my forehead from whacking the underside. A lift would have made this job really easy.

After removing the cover, it really was a pretty simple job, releasing the pressure release valve, a few screws and bolts. If I didn't have to deal with lifting the vehicle it might have taken me 15 minutes. Just be prepared to get a bit of fuel sprayed all over when you hit that pressure valve.

Thanks for the write-up, it came at the perfect time! Good luck changing yours out Dave!
 
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#30 ·
L
#29 ·
are there any physical or functional differences in the Mahle and Hengst filters?
 
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L
#33 ·
didn't someone on here tell me that the fuel filter didn't have an element, but was rather just more like a percolator or something...?

good to see it's actually got an element, i thought it'd have to have one. hence "filter"
 
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L
#34 ·
Thank you for the heads-up re the fuel filter.
I notice that BMW recommends a change at 100 K miles- which sounds a bit too round and, of course, is well outside even an extended service plan.
I just had the dealer change mine and asked for the old filter. I did not bother cutting it open as the gas the flowed out the intake looked like black ink and there was a also a pinch of small black particles in the mix.
 
G
#36 ·
When I changed mine last weekend I let it drain into my measuring cup thinking I might put the spent fuel into my beetle, it not being too choosy about its fuel as the ///M is. But the black particulate that was draining into the container got to be so thick that I just stopped and capped the filter. Then I had to wait for a day for it to settle enough to pour the clear fuel into the beetle's tank. The black residue leftover was pretty considerable. Nice that it's not restricting my fuel flow any more... :biggrinbounce:
 
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G
#40 ·
Just replaced the fuel filter on my 2001 M5
For all you fellow Right Hand Drivers, the fuel filter is under the passenger side of car.
Straight forward enough once I had worked out where to put the axle supports as the panel to remove tucks under the N/S/F jacking point.
Also replaced the 2 vent hoses from heads to seperators and cleaned out the air filter boxes and checked tightness of all visible hose clamps.
Took for a spin, and whether placebo affect or not, the car felt sharper !:M5rev: cherrsagai
 
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