BMW oil pressure switch removal - failed

"kanadanmajava1" (kanadanmajava1) 05/10/2016 at 18:29 • Filed to: None

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This socket isn’t compact enough to get a pressure switch out from a S38 engine. The socket itself does fit over the switch but it doesn’t leave enough room for any turning tool. Maybe I could modify it by shortening it with a lathe and make a super narrow tool to turn it.

I could use one of these but I don’t know any supplier for these in Finland.

RallyWrench > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2016 at 18:39

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I seem to remember being able to get it with a long 24mm wrench on my old M5, but it might have been a crow’s foot.

Future next gen S2000 owner > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2016 at 18:43

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You just need a trip to Lowes or Home Depot. Would this work?

VincentMalamute-Kim > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2016 at 20:08

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Just ran into that problem with a friend’s A8. We ground wrench flats on the sides of the socket and that worked.

2013 Audi A8 - official oil change procedure is to suck the old oil out by the dipstick tube. He put a tube down, extracted the oil and the tube was stuck. He had to remove the oil pan.

Take home message - use a tube that won’t soften in hot oil so that when it hits the bottom of the pan, you can feel it hit. And then DO NOT push that tube in any further!

I may be getting old - these new cars seem idiotic. Dipstick tube to remove oil but doesn’t come with a dipstick. Rely on the computer to tell you the oil level. Still has an oil drain plug but it’s small now and recessed so it won’t drain out all the oil/sludge, rant rant.

Gone > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2016 at 20:26

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Like the other guy said, grind some flats onto the socket. Since you have a lathe then I’m thinking you have a mill....If so, take a 5/8-3/4 cutter and cut it so it’s the same width as a common metric nut across the flats. That way an open end will work well.

I’d cut it at some distance past the base (where the socket wrench goes) so that the open end wrench won’t slip off the end of the socket. If you get brave, cut a hex at the base (could do it with a lathe then, too) and you can use a 6/12pt open or closed end.

brianbrannon > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2016 at 21:23

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Just grab the outside of the socket with pliers or vice grips

Die-Trying > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2016 at 21:33

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enough wobbles and uni’s and you can reach ANYTHING....... if not. then drill a hole in the top of the socket, all the way through and use a short bar, and make it work.

kanadanmajava1 > Gone 05/11/2016 at 03:27

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I was thinkin about this. Technically I could do it but I’m not yet sure if it would work or not. There isn’t much space for the wrench to turn.

kanadanmajava1 > Die-Trying 05/11/2016 at 03:35

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I bought two of those wobbles extension pieces. The area just behind the socket is too tight for an uni joint. A suitable length wobble might solve my problem but the ones that I bought are too short and too long. The short one doesn’t clear the alternator bracket enough and the longer is nearly touching the cooling fan.

I should be able to find one more wobble extension that would fall between the other two. Very annoying that our tools stores are quite limited with the selection.

kanadanmajava1 > Future next gen S2000 owner 05/11/2016 at 03:37

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The sockets are probably too shallow to clear the connector part of the pressure switch but that that kind of solution might work. I haven’t seen any similar here though.

kanadanmajava1 > brianbrannon 05/11/2016 at 03:39

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I was thinking about this too but there isn’t much to room to do it. The only way to reach the switch is well surrounded by hard to remove engine parts.

kanadanmajava1 > VincentMalamute-Kim 05/11/2016 at 05:11

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Dipsticks seem to be vanishing. At work we had new Volvo V40s with the new “modular diesel” engine. They don’t have a dipstick but the hole is still there. I have no idea about the oil changing procedure but the hole might be there for that reason.

Gone > kanadanmajava1 05/11/2016 at 06:47

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Cut a hex in the base and use a ratcheting closed end or one of those weird “ratcheting” open ends. Would be your best bet from the sound of it. Hard to tell without seeing it/hands on though.

Future next gen S2000 owner > kanadanmajava1 05/11/2016 at 10:20

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The beauty of those sockets though is that they are open. They function like a ratcheting box end wrench. So if a ratcheting box end wrench won’t work then these wouldn’t either.