Fuel filter..... service interval?

[Lenny b]

Have succesfully replaced my fuel filter tonight... good news.

By the looks of what came out, this has never been changed! Surely this isn't another lifetime product from BMW?

 

[handsomejackuk]

great minds think alike was only just thinking about this myself a few m inutes ago....

how much did you pay for the filter was it easy enough to do ?

 

[Lenny b]

Cant recall but they arent expensive. Mine was the one without a regulator and with only one pipe in and out. Think the later ones have two feeds.....? Someone else will know better.

It's not hard, make sure you take the fuses out to reduce the pressure. Slightly messy but not as bad as other cars I've done. The only pita is the jubilee clips that connect the lines to the filter, they were tired but still serviceable with a little care.

 

[Lenny b]

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/te...placement/25-FUEL-Fuel_Filter_Replacement.htm

 

[t-tony]

If you have some thin nosed Mole grips you can nip the two short rubber connectors then release the hose clips and pull the rubber hoses off the ends of the filter ( the grips prevent leakage). A doddle on a ramp just a bit fiddly laying on your back. Your new filter will come with soft plastic caps on the ends and you can use these to stop leakage from the old filter when you disconnect the rubber hoses. Saves on mess. The clips are best turned using a 1/4" drive socket set and a 6mm socket ( or whatever size fits) much better than trying to use a flat blade screwdriver!

Tony.

 

[Lenny b]

Agreed mine were 5mm but a couple were close, couldn't get the four on though.....

My back is sore and arms!!!! Unlike Tony I needed a shower after, always goes down my arm.....

 

[t-tony]

Hence the grips Lenny. You'll know next time mate.

Tony.

 

[handsomejackuk]

i got brake line pliers things the plastic clampers that can be put on pipes i not even used them yet maybe its an excuse to blow the dust off them....

 

[handsomejackuk]

I assume that the cover is held on with those silly plastic nuts...? any tips to getting those off wthout breaking them or do they all break ?

 

[Lenny b]

They will be fine, mine were very corroded, just make sure your 10mm is sat right and all should be ok. I did lubricate as a precaution......

 

[colb]

No surprise there then, never been changed, mine was the original from 1999 when I got mine off.

 

[Ianmc]

Does changing the fuel filter make any noticeable difference? UK fuel is generally good quality, might be different in other parts of the world.

 

[abh29]

Agree fuel quality is good , until this subject came up I never considered the matter , but the car has used say 4,000 gall and its only a very small filter.

I always change them in Diesel engines but have not considered it in petrol engines, I assume quality of Derv is just as good as petrol.

 

[mwpe]

I changed mine for the first time last year after about 125,000 miles. Straightforward job with no problems. Out of curiosity I cut the old one up to have a look inside and it was pretty clean.

 

[jonco]

..................Out of curiosity I cut the old one up to have a look inside and it was pretty clean.

Did the same on mine at 70k - a bit fouled - suppose it depends on which quality fuel it has been run on. Preface lift service schedule said change every second service.

 

[mwpe]

My service booklet says replace every Insp II but does not show it as being applicable to the Z3. Interesting to see that although this was the booklet supplied with the car when new, it hadn't been updated to include the 3.0

 

[Ianmc]

That seems to suggest that its only necessary for "oil burners"?

 

[mwpe]

That seems to suggest that its only necessary for "oil burners"?

Still not a bad idea to change it occasionally.

 

[DrWong]

I assume that the cover is held on with those silly plastic nuts...? any tips to getting those off wthout breaking them or do they all break ?

I broke two plastic nuts off the studs they were attached as the stud had welded itself to the nut from corrosion. It was the upper stud holding the front ABS sensor I knackered, one on each side.

They can be removed by cutting away with a Dremel or similar, which is what I did for the plastic nuts holding the little black splash guards at the back of the sills

 

[jonco]

My service booklet says replace every Insp II but does not show it as being applicable to the Z3. Interesting to see that although this was the booklet supplied with the car when new, it hadn't been updated to include the 3.0

Have had another look and I have a different version booklet to your photo - unfortunately the back page of mine is damaged so I can't see version number.
Interestingly the additional items in the booklet at second service inspection includes for the Z3 and 3 series models - change oil in manual gearbox and change oil in rear-axle final drive. The M3 was every Inspection II.
Confusing - they must have had a few rethinks over the years or maybe lousy proof readers