Subject: Are you using a floor jack or the tire changing jack? Author: pdef1949 : member since June, 2004 : 6468 posts Posted on: 2007-01-05 18:59:50

Just be sure to properly support the car on jackstands....you do not want to be underneath if a jack slips.

Also, the plastic panel on my '99 was held on with both some sheet metal screws and some plastic pop rivets. It's easy to ruin the pop rivets, but the screws will fit in their place. Buy some extra screws just in case.

I recommend getting some new rubber fuel hose to replace the short pieces at the filter. You will need either 8 mm ID fuel injection hose or 5/16" ID fuel injection hose. Fuel injection hose has a fairly high pressure rating so be sure to get the pressure-rated hose.

When cutting the tubing, it helps to have a tubing cutter. Not the kind plumbers use for metal pipe, but either get one of those plier-type cutters Sears sells or a cutter for flexible tubing.

In a pinch, you can substitute high pressure transmission hose. It's rated for 100 psi, is equal to or better than fuel hose material and might be more available depending on where you buy parts.

Speaking of pinching, you do not need to pinch off the lines before you change out the filter. What I did was to cut the new rubber lines for the new filter and put them first. BTW, you do not need the "special" BMW fuel hose clamps....they simply are breakaway clamps that prevent overtightening. Just use worm-type stainless steel hose clamps and don't overdo it when you tighten them.

If you've let the car sit for awhile, most of the fuel pressure will have dropped and remaing fuel in the line will be minimal. Bring an old jar or even a disposable aluminum cake pan to catch any runoff.

Phil in Philadelphia

'99 740iL
'88 635CSi (sold but still close by)

• Changing fuel filter. Jack up front or back and it there anything i can screw up - mw717 2007-01-05 18:06:12 (881 views)
  • Make sure you pinch off engine side of filter hose to keep pressure in line. (nt) - zapperjoe 2007-01-05 23:37:55 (888 views)
  • e38.org has a good writeup on this procedure (pic) (url) - DavidC 2007-01-05 22:47:44 (12007 views)
    • Re: e38.org has a good writeup on this procedure - tomsmith 2007-09-17 21:06:28 (474 views)
      • Re: e38.org has a good writeup on this procedure - tomsmith 2007-09-17 21:06:49 (364 views)
    • Re: e38.org has a good writeup on this procedure - admiral 2007-06-26 12:35:41 (449 views)
    • wow. looks like cake! i will be trying it this weekend! thanks guys (nt) - mw717 2007-01-06 11:23:30 (506 views)
  • So there are extra sections of hose that need cut off? (nt) - mw717 2007-01-05 21:46:50 (550 views)
  • Using a floor jack. Comfortable with lifting front end, but not comf - mw717 2007-01-05 21:18:20 (563 views)
  • Are you using a floor jack or the tire changing jack? - pdef1949 2007-01-05 18:59:50 (601 views)
  • What I did on mine was to jack up the front - milan99740il 2007-01-05 18:11:12 (692 views)