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So I’m doing a timing chain kit replace as wel as tensioners, idlers, and water pump and wanted to change out the oil pump solenoid harness at the same time. Unfortunately mine doesn’t look like any pics I’ve seen. It’s located behind an engine mount which is behind the end of the transmission where the axle inserts. Looks like I have to remove all that to get at it. Anyone have any experience with this procedure? Black piece is engine mount, red lines indicate fasteners - yellow arrow is where the harness enters block behind all that. Thanks
Unfortunately, you have the transfer case to deal with…
so I actually just dug in to it and it’s not as bad as I feared. The piece at the end of the gearbox looks like actually just some kind of extra support. 4 screws and it comes right off easily. Then you can get at the 4 screws that fasten the motor mount to the back of the block. There’s 1 big bolt that holds the two halves of the mount together and another big bolt that secures the other half to the frame. Easy enough to take out to get out of the way. Then with a little finesse, the mount slips out from behind the gearbox and you have access to the harness. That’s as far as I’ve gotten so far. Will update when complete.
After all that monkeying around, I finally got to the oil pulp solenoid harness and the genuine mini repair harness I have doesn’t work. If you notice, the harness has a plug on the part that goes inside the sump pan - unfortunately, my oil pump solenoid valve assy is one piece. It doesn’t come apart at a plug so it’s all or none I guess. I’m not sure how you’d check that before getting in there but just be aware.
I will be tackling this next week. I ordered the repair harness from BMW, should be in tomorrow. Definitely looks like a huge pain on the R60 All4. I already checked the DME and there is no oil in the connectors so that's good. I will report back once it is completed.
Started removing parts to get to the solenoid harness. Axle, transmission mount, and motor mount have been removed just to get to the harness. This is what I found behind the motor mount. Hopefully the new harness will arrive tomorrow.
Got the harness out today. The connector where it enters the block is cracked on both sides so that is definitely why it was leaking. One of the tabs is missing so that is probably somewhere in the oil pan. I had the oil pan off late last year and found quite a bit of timing chain guide pieces and I may have already removed the missing tab.
I thought the two parts looked the same but I have no idea what the original harness looked like. That being said, it was definitely leaking so needed to be done again. With all the cracks in the plastic parts I am not surprised it was leaking.
Went for a 110 km road trip yesterday (actually went to the golf course), and the leak is gone. The old/new type harness was definitely the problem. I am very happy that is done.
so I actually just dug in to it and it’s not as bad as I feared. The piece at the end of the gearbox looks like actually just some kind of extra support. 4 screws and it comes right off easily. Then you can get at the 4 screws that fasten the motor mount to the back of the block. There’s 1 big bolt that holds the two halves of the mount together and another big bolt that secures the other half to the frame. Easy enough to take out to get out of the way. Then with a little finesse, the mount slips out from behind the gearbox and you have access to the harness. That’s as far as I’ve gotten so far. Will update when complete.
Did you have a trick for getting to the bottom left motor mount bolt? I’ve gotten this far and don’t want to take out the transfer case but can’t get anything behind there
