[pjr710]

for example I love my 335 e92 but a few big turn offs are turbo replacement and oil pan gasket replacement require sub frame drop. Haven't done it yet, i'm sure i will when the time comes.

But are there any BMW models that allow you to replace oil pan gasket without dropping the subframe?

[ryan stewart]

An M10 powered 2002?

As far as modern cars its all a PITA compared to old cars. Just the way things are to meeting packaging, safety and emissions standards.

Dropping the subframe isnt really all that hard, you just need to support the engine.

[mweisdorfer]

Ones that are not AWD.

[pjr710]

Do e46s require subframe drop for oil pan gasket replacement?

What about any gen X3 or X5.

I'd love to pick up an older X3 but i feel like i'd probably regret it.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Ones that are not AWD.

Is that true? I thought you had to drop the subframe on the RWD ones too.

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by rothwem

Is that true? I thought you had to drop the subframe on the RWD ones too.

you do ... i think anything with AWD just has the additional transfer case maintenance?

[CTinline-six]

The older you go, the less stuff you need to work around. I'd say E30's are pretty easy to work on, and so are E46's and E39's. The E90 with RWD and the N52 isn't terrible, but some things are kind of a pain to get to.

Oil pans aren't usually fun on any car, save for a couple FWD cars that have a shallow basic pan. I remember on a friend's Acura V6 we had to replace the oil pan, and what a PITA that was. There wasn't a ton of stuff in the way, but the exhaust had to be disconnected, and the bolts resembled rusty globs which rounded off.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

E46 has easier engine work to do.

I personally found the suspension harder to work on. The front control arms and bushings were really annoying to deal with because of tight spacing and interference-fit rubber bushings. The rear trailing arm bushings require a special tool. The front wheel bearings are press-fit.

[Cabdriver]

[hassmaschine]

the RWD E90 with an N52 isn't really too bad, but the things that are way more annoying are replacing lights and all the stupid panels on the bottom you have to remove to get anything done (I understand their benefit, but it doesn't make them any less annoying).

Replacing a headlight or taillight on an E30 is a 10 second job. Doing it on an E90 you probably want to use a lift...

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

the RWD E90 with an N52 isn't really too bad, but the things that are way more annoying are replacing lights and all the stupid panels on the bottom you have to remove to get anything done (I understand their benefit, but it doesn't make them any less annoying).

Replacing a headlight or taillight on an E30 is a 10 second job. Doing it on an E90 you probably want to use a lift...

Which lights? My headlights/tailights on my E90s have been super easy to replace compared to other cars, but then again they both have the halogen headlights.

I absolutely HATE replacing the headlights/fog lights on any Honda vehicle. Absolutely insanity. Step 1 is usually remove entire bumper.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Cabdriver

[pjr710]

e90 with n52 .. whats the major difference there than an e90 with an n54? aside from the turbos.

[F30lolz]

All M20 powered models are the easiest.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by pjr710

e90 with n52 .. whats the major difference there than an e90 with an n54? aside from the turbos.

N54 just has more stuff in the engine bay. Piping to work around, HP fuel system, vacuum lines, etc.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

Which lights? My headlights/tailights on my E90s have been super easy to replace compared to other cars, but then again they both have the halogen headlights.

I absolutely HATE replacing the headlights/fog lights on any Honda vehicle. Absolutely insanity. Step 1 is usually remove entire bumper.

it's way harder than older BMWs. you just had to twist one knob, pop off the cover and all the lights came out, replace the dead one and put it back. on an E90 you have to remove a bunch of stuff first, for the front you have to remove the freakin' wheels..

[srey]

The older and simpler you get in the historic BMW lineup the easier it will be to work on. I will say this. BMWs, even modern ones, are easy to work on. Even on jobs with several steps, like an oil pan gasket replacement, there is an underlying order and logic to the steps. Anytime I get annoyed at the prospect of doing maintenance on my 335i I pop the hood on my my wife's Sienna and look at the transverse mounted V6 half covered in cowling. Then I don't feel so annoyed anymore.

Here's another story from recent history. A month ago I helped my brother in law change the front control arms on his Lexus RX350 (compact Lexus crossover). In order to do the control arms we had to unbolt all the engine mounts and lift the engine a little from the bottom with a jack. There is no place to chain up an engine support bar on the engine, which forced us to use a jack with a 2x4 on the oil pan. Then the control arms themselves have this stupid sideways-mounted bushing that was a pain in the rear. My 335i with all its "headaches" is lightyears easier to work on than the Toyota vehicles I've wrenched on. Sure, the Toyotas last longer with fewer headaches, allegedly, but I don't think it's a fair comparison when you're looking a performance oriented vehicle with more advanced technology and tighter tolerance specs for pretty much everything versus a transportation appliance that handles like crap to begin with, so you wouldn't know if anything was out of spec anyway.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

it's way harder than older BMWs. you just had to twist one knob, pop off the cover and all the lights came out, replace the dead one and put it back. on an E90 you have to remove a bunch of stuff first, for the front you have to remove the freakin' wheels..

That does sound easy!

On mine I just jacked up the front corner with the dead bulb and turned the wheel so I could get my arm in there.

[BSM n54iS]

A BMW Honda civic

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by srey

The older and simpler you get in the historic BMW lineup the easier it will be to work on. I will say this. BMWs, even modern ones, are easy to work on. Even on jobs with several steps, like an oil pan gasket replacement, there is an underlying order and logic to the steps.

This is actually the exact reason why I like working on the vehicle. I've only really worked on an older honda civic, and minor F150 stuff.

But once I started to do work on my 335 I actually liked it. Mainly because I found it wasn't really difficult to confuse parts or misplace things. Usually things can only go together one way. Even the wiring and plugs .. they are all long enough to get to where they need to go.

The oil pan gasket I believe does not sound hard, just more time consuming.

And yes those horror stories are a great share because it shows you how those brands do not think things all the way through from a maintenance standpoint.

[BeaterM3]

I've heard from people who work on BMWs a lot that the E36 is the least difficult.

[doru]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

E46 has easier engine work to do.

Stuff deleted

Until you have to change the CCV......