Fuel Filter Replacement Guide For Bmw E36 Owners

The fuel filter in your car should be replaced every 36,000 miles or so, or every year, depending on who you ask. It's a fairly simple process, but it's important to take the proper safety precautions, as you'll be working with raw fuel. Make sure you wear safety goggles and gloves, and disconnect the battery to avoid short-circuiting the fuel pump. The fuel filter is located under the driver's seat for late-model 6-cylinder E36s, and under the car on the left front bulkhead for early 4-cylinder models. Once you've located the fuel filter, clamp both ends of the fuel line shut and clean the connections around the filter. Loosen the hose clamps holding the fuel lines, remove the filter from its mounting bracket, and install the new one, making sure the arrow on the filter is pointing towards the engine. Reattach the fuel lines, clean up any spilled fuel, reconnect the battery, and you're good to go.

When to replace the fuel filter

The fuel filter in your car should be replaced every 36,000 miles or so. However, if you notice any of the following issues, you may need to replace your fuel filter sooner:

• Your car is down on power
• Your car sputters when starting
• Your engine is running lean and not getting all the fuel it needs

• Drive your car until you are almost out of fuel. This is a safety precaution in case you accidentally rip a fuel line while replacing the filter.
• Disconnect the battery to avoid short-circuiting the fuel pump.
• Locate the fuel filter. On early 4-cylinder cars, the fuel filter is mounted under the car on the left front bulkhead, directly behind the left front control arm. On early 6-cylinder cars, the fuel filter is mounted on the front left motor mount in the engine compartment. On later cars, the fuel filter is mounted under the centre of the car.
• Clamp both ends of the fuel line shut to prevent fuel from escaping the lines. You can use a pair of vise grips or locking pliers, but be careful not to use excessive force as you can break the rubber lines.
• Clean the connections around the fuel filter to prevent dirt or grime from entering the fuel system.
• Put on a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes from fuel.
• Loosen the hose clamps holding the fuel lines to the fuel filter. Make sure you mark which fuel line goes where, as there will be some fuel spillage when you remove the lines.
• Remove the fuel filter from its mounting bracket. On early 4 and 6-cylinder cars, remove the bolt at the bottom of the fuel filter bracket and slide the filter out. On later model cars, remove the protective cover over the fuel filter first.
• Install the new fuel filter, making sure the arrow on the filter is pointing towards the engine. The arrow indicates the direction of fuel flow.
• Slide the fuel lines back onto the new fuel filter and tighten the hose clamps.
• On later cars, reinstall the protective cover over the fuel filter.
• Remove the clamps from the fuel lines and add approximately one gallon of fuel to the tank.
• Check for leaks under the car and fix any issues immediately.
• Wash your hands to remove any residual fuel and reconnect the battery.
• Start the car. It may take a few turns of the key as you have introduced air into the fuel lines by replacing the filter.

This process should take around 10 minutes and is a simple DIY task.

How to locate the fuel filter

To locate the fuel filter on your E36, jack up the car and look underneath the driver's side floor, behind a cover. The fuel filter is located approximately under the driver's seat for late model 6-cylinder E36's. You'll need to get the car up in the air to access it.

Disconnecting the battery

Step 1: Locate the battery. The battery is usually located in the engine bay, near the front of the car.

Step 2: Identify the positive and negative terminals. The positive terminal will be marked with a "+" sign, and the negative terminal will be marked with a "-" sign.

Step 3: Disconnect the negative terminal first. Use a wrench or socket to loosen the nut that holds the cable to the terminal, then remove the cable. You may need to wiggle the cable to get it free.

Step 4: Disconnect the positive terminal in the same way. Be careful not to let the positive terminal touch any metal parts of the car, as this could cause a short circuit.

Step 5: Once both terminals are disconnected, carefully move the battery out of the car. You may need to remove any brackets or straps holding it in place.

Step 6: If you are replacing the battery, install the new battery in the reverse order, making sure to connect the positive terminal first.

Step 7: Ensure that the battery is securely mounted and that the cables are tight and free of corrosion.

Removing the old fuel filter

The fuel filter is located under the driver's seat for late model 6-cylinder E36s. You'll need to get the car up in the air to access it. Disconnect the battery and get your fire extinguisher out, as there will be some fuel spillage. It is also recommended to wear safety glasses with good wrap-around protection.

The fuel filter is housed in a cylindrical aluminium extrusion. There is a cover that needs to be removed to access it. Remove the four bolts and move it out of the way.

There is a saddle clamp that secures the fuel filter. Remove the one nut that holds it on. It can be hard to see, but it is there. Once the nut is off, the clamp will loosen, but it won't swing out of the way completely because there are other lines attached to it.

Loosen the hose clamps on the lines going to the fuel filter and slowly work the lines off. This can be done with a flat-head screwdriver and a prying motion. Another method is to use an open-end wrench of the appropriate size to pry the hose off. The fuel is under pressure and will spray out, so remove the hoses slowly and don't get directly under the fuel filter.

The fuel filter is now ready to be removed. Gently tug on it to open it up further and wiggle it out.

Installing the new fuel filter

To install the new fuel filter, follow these steps:

• Insert the new filter into the clamp.
• Put the 10mm retaining nut back on the stud. Spin it a few threads so it's secure but do not tighten it down yet.
• Attach the fuel hoses. Press the hoses onto the nipples and fasten the hose clamps snugly. Install the short hose first as the long hose is more flexible.
• Fasten the filter clamp to tighten the filter down to the car.
• Return the adjacent fuel lines and wiring to their original locations using a couple of cable ties as necessary.
• Label the filter with the current date and mileage for future reference.
• Reinstall the fuse. Reinstall the fuel pump fuse and close the fuse box cover.
• Start the engine. Put the key in the ignition and turn it to position 2 (just before start). The gauge cluster should light up. Wait approximately 10 seconds, and then turn the key to the start position. Hold the key in the start position until the engine fires or about 15 seconds, whichever comes first. If the engine fails to start, wait five minutes and repeat this step once before conducting additional troubleshooting.
• Check for leaks. While the engine is running, examine the fuel filter installation for any leaks and tighten the clamps as necessary.
• Shut it down and clean up. Turn off the engine and then reinstall the protective cover, and be sure to clean any and all parts of you that were doused in gasoline.

Frequently asked questions