Diesel Fuel Filter Change Today

[USAF M6]

Very easy to do. The most time consuming part is removing and replacing the plastic underbody shield.

1. Remove plastic shield under drivers side.
2. Take 2 bolts out that hold the clamps around the filter.
3. Remove the 2 plastic clamps.
4. Note where the foam insulator is and pull it off of the filter.
5. Position drip pan underneath. About 1/4 cup of fuel came out for me.
6. Unscrew front clamp with flat tip screwdriver & pull hose off.
7. Pry metal clip out with screwdriver on end of filter towards the back of car.
8. Once you remove the clip, the black part will pull straight off the filter but you need to pull on it very hard while not pulling on wires.
9. Once you have the metal filter separated, slide the 2 rubber sleeve off old filter and put those on new filter.
10. Put new black rubber gasket on end of new filter where it pushes on the black part.
11. Push new filter onto black part and reinstall clip.
12. Reattach rubber hose on front side and tighten clamp.
13. Position rubber sleeves where they will match up with clamps and reinstall clamps.
14. Place foam insulator back over back end of filter. Foam is missing in picture but goes over metal filter between rear clamp & the black part.
15. Start car and check for leaks.
16. Replace plastic shields.

For the next 5 times I started the X it cranked over much longer before it started. It probably took a while to completely fill the filter or something but now it starts quick like it always did. Let me know if you have any questions.

[007_e350]

appreciate you posting all this - I'll be doing the same once warranty's out

[joe_planet]

Thanks for posting this, I have to do this maintenance item on my x5d.
I actually have the filter already, was just waiting for the weather to warm up so I'm not freezing my ass off in a cold garage.

[Flying Ace]

wow, thanks for the step by step, this is very helpful. any other intermediary pictures to show?

[Rich807]

Seems like there'd be a fuel prime step with this once the new filter is installed? Thinking if one had a Schwaben / Foxwell or equivalent you could fire the fuel pump before cranking over the engine. Anyone done this?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Rich807

Seems like there'd be a fuel prime step with this once the new filter is installed? Thinking if one had a Schwaben / Foxwell or equivalent you could fire the fuel pump before cranking over the engine. Anyone done this?

There is, but as originally posted, it doesn't seem required. When I did my filter recently, I did not prime the sytem. Had the same behavior as described by OP. 3-5 starts with longer cranking, fine after that.

FYI, it's easy to prime the system, no need for anything hooked up to vehicle. According to TIS you just switch the ignition on and off "several times" without starting the X5. That's it.

[Rich807]

Copy that / makes sense. I now have a Foxwell in my tool kit so my as well give it a shot & doing something it can do.