Oil Cooler Installation in the BMW M coupe

The Oil Filter Housing that is on the M coupe is the identical looking housing as the one that came with the LTW as part of the Oil Cooler Kit. Identical looking yes, functional no (not out of the box), the one on the M coupe is not machined to accept the thermostat that's with the LTW kit, in fact the thermostat is inside the Oil Filter Housing, there is no BMW part number for the thermostat, if it goes bad you have to order the whole Oil Filter Housing.

The unused hole on the M coupe Oil Filter Housing has the same pressure of oil present as the other three holes. If an External Oil Thermostat and Oil Cooler were attached to the M coupe Oil Filter Housing oil would NOT flow. A BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing will be needed to control the flow of oil. Using Aeroquip style lines and fittings to a oil cooler will require that the BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing to have the two holes on the side tapped to either 3/8" NTP or 14x1.50mm. If a 14x1.50mm tap is available, on the back side of the housing the hole closes to the block needs to be enlarge from 12mm to 14x1.50mm, to accept the VANOS line, if not use a Male Metric x Male AN union, 12x1.5 x -6 AN fitting.

Below is the parts list for this project. Please read Copyright/Disclaimer before continuing. There are more than one manufacture for some of the items listed below, Mocal, Aeroquip and Earl's seem to be the major players. -8 AN hose was selected for the oil lines running from the oil housing to the oil cooler. -6 AN hose was selected for the replacement Vanos line. Vanos line is being moved to the back of the oil housing to free up the opening on the side of the housing to allow the lines coming from the oil cooler to attach. If the oil cooler is not available in -8 AN then use a -10 AN and then get -10 to -8 AN reducers. There is more than one way this could be done.

Parts
To start off with BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing.

• 11 42 1 404 206 - BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing

The following is a list of parts needed to attach an oil cooler to the BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing after it has been tapped for either 14x1.5mm or 3/8 NPT, see above.

• (1) 16 or 19 Row Oil Cooler, -8 AN fittings
• (2) 90 degree Elbow -8 AN fitting (used on oil cooler)
• (2) 45 degree Elbow -8 AN fitting (used on oil housing)
• (2) Male Metric x Male AN union, 14x1.5mm x -8 AN (used on oil housing, if not using 3/8' NPT union)
• (2) 3/8" NPT x -8 AN union (used on oil housing, if not using 14x1.5mm union)
• 12 feet or so of -8 AN Aeroquip type hose
• 1" x 1/8" x 30" or so Aluminum (used to mount oil cooler)
• 1/4" diameter bolts and lock nuts (to mount cooler)
• Quick-Mount Kit (used also to mount oil cooler)
• (2) rubber grommets, 3/4"ID with 1/8" wide grove (protect Aeroquip type hose)

The following is the list of parts needed to replace the Vanos lines when a 14x1.50mm tap is not available.

• (1) 90 degree Elbow -6 AN fitting (used to replace Vanos line)
• (1) 150 degree Elbow -6 AN fitting (used to replace Vanos line)
• (1) Male Metric x Male AN union, 12x1.5 x -6 AN (used to replace Vanos line)
• (1) Male Metric x Male AN union, 14x1.5 x -6 AN (used to replace Vanos line)
• 2 feet or so of -6 AN Aeroquip type hose (used to replace Vanos line)

To combine the oil present and oil temp sensors into one oil housing hole, the following is needed:

• JTD Oil Distribution (T-block)

Parts Cost - $729.00
$380.00 - BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing
$110.00 - Oil Cooler
$199.00 - Fittings and hoses
$ 90.00 - JTD Oil Distribution (T-block)
$ 50.00 - AN Vice Jaws and Wrenches
$ 10.00 - Mounting supplies / hardware

Note part cost does not include installation. I spent the better part of a weekend day making up the hoses and mounting the oil cooler in the front bumper. I then had the dealer install the BMW LTW (EURO) Oil Filter Housing and connect the hoses, a good solid 5 hours.

Results
On the 5 hour drive to and from Mid-Ohio Race Track, the oil temp was running around 200-210F. During the 1 hour Enduro race, the oil temp indicator was straight up, 230-240F. This is a great improvement over the 260-290F previously seen on the track.

Photos
Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Mocal 16 Row Oil Cooler

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
From left to right; JTD Distribution Block, JTD bolt, Male Metric x Male AN union (12x1.5 x -6 AN), 45 degree Elbow AN fitting, AN reducer

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Stock Oil Filter Housing side view

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Stock Oil Filter Housing back view

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Stock Oil Filter Housing view from block, note the round hole in middle with oil in it, this is where an oil thermostat would go.

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Oil Filter Housing, new Vanos line and lines to the oil cooler.

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Show how the lines are routed back and down to the oil cooler.

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Looking down at the oil cooler, oil cooler is mounted to the front bumper.

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Front view of oil cooler, note wire mess.

Photo, Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002
Close-up view of oil cooler, the two little black squares are part of the oil cooler mounting kit.

Copyright/Disclaimer

This web page is Copyright© Scott Galaba 1998 - 2002, this includes photographs, artwork, graphics, FAQs, Procedures, Tech Tips, and the web site logo. This information can not be copied, or used in this or any other media format without the written consent of the owner.