Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

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reesesboot
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Location: Costa Mesa, CA

Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by reesesboot »

US 1988 535is. Searched the forum but couldn't come up with a final answer. Online vendors typically show all three gasket variants when shopping for this gasket. I'd like to avoid ordering all 3. Anyone have insight into which is the correct gasket? 2, 3, or 12?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=11_0471

Thanks!
1986series6
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Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by 1986series6 »

Yes, there are 3 possibilities because there were 3 oil filter heads used.
I don't know of anyway other than taking it off to confirm.

The most common is # 2. Here is a link of a search using the oil filter head part # 11421716584.

As you can see the most common is #2 gasket style.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=11 ... BasicHover
harrypalmer
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Location: Denver, Colorado

Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by harrypalmer »

1986series6 wrote: Jul 05, 2020 7:11 AM Yes, there are 3 possibilities because there were 3 oil filter heads used.
I don't know of anyway other than taking it off to confirm.

The most common is # 2. Here is a link of a search using the oil filter head part # 11421716584.

As you can see the most common is #2 gasket style.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=11 ... BasicHover
Second that ^^^ it is #2. As a side note, at one point had to purchase all three, as I was unsure about replacing the original with the oil cooler head, which btw is #3 for that application.
BuzzBomb
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Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by BuzzBomb »

Actually the correct gasket for an '88 B34 is #12. #2 is for all M30 before 1986. The third option is B35. Easiest way to confirm is the mating surface on the block. The gasket will mirror that. Before '86, the chamber was completely open (#2). After, till the end of B34 was bifurcated (#12). Upswept housings of the B35 use #3.
Unfortunately, many parts houses, including many dealers will ship #2 regardless of the part number you give them. They are wrong to do this, of course. Without the bifurcated strip of #12 on anything after '86, you'll lose oil pressure from oil taking the sideways route past that separated casting and drain back to the pan, instead of through the filter. Take my educated word for it.
harrypalmer
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Joined: Jul 25, 2012 12:10 AM
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Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by harrypalmer »

BuzzBomb wrote: Jul 05, 2020 8:57 PM Actually the correct gasket for an '88 B34 is #12. #2 is for all M30 before 1986. The third option is B35. Easiest way to confirm is the mating surface on the block. The gasket will mirror that. Before '86, the chamber was completely open (#2). After, till the end of B34 was bifurcated (#12). Upswept housings of the B35 use #3.
Unfortunately, many parts houses, including many dealers will ship #2 regardless of the part number you give them. They are wrong to do this, of course. Without the bifurcated strip of #12 on anything after '86, you'll lose oil pressure from oil taking the sideways route past that separated casting and drain back to the pan, instead of through the filter. Take my educated word for it.
Awesome! ^ ^ ^ And thank you!
reesesboot
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Joined: Jun 28, 2009 8:29 PM
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Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by reesesboot »

Incredible, exactly the info I was looking for. I imagine this will help others in the future as well. Only other piece of info that could be helpful for others for '87 owners is possibly the month where the crossover occurred in '86. Looks like I'll be ordering #12. I was actually leaning towards #12 originally because this gasket comes with the oil filter housing (#1).
1986series6
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Location: West Nyack NY

Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by 1986series6 »

That's interesting. My US 86 January M30 B34 block uses #2.
What month in 86 was the change? Was there a difference
between the 5 and 6 series?
BuzzBomb
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Re: Correct Oil Filter Housing Gasket? - US m30b34

Post by BuzzBomb »

1986series6 wrote: Jul 06, 2020 7:23 AM That's interesting. My US 86 January M30 B34 block uses #2.
What month in 86 was the change? Was there a difference
between the 5 and 6 series?
I cant give an exact date of the casting change, I just know at some point in 1986 it changed. It isn't chassis specific, it's M30 specific. It really isn't something to put too much brain power into, all that's required is to look at your block with the oil head off, and get the gasket that matches what you have. The idea of "my block has that, but my gasket is missing that part" won't work here. Also, the oil head needs to look exactly like the block. Mis-matching oil head and blocks can be done, but that's a whole 'nuther conversation.
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