RE: M3 rear main seal

["Gayle, Michael D., LTC, OCLL" <GayleMD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Suzy,
   Had the same problem with my 97 M3.  My dealer (Passport BMW in Marlow
Heights, MD) got right the first time!  BTW, now is the time to put in the
lightweight flywheel or new HD clutch.
Mike Gayle
NCC Membership Chair

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Suzy [SMTP:suzym3@domain.elided]
> Sent:	Friday, August 28, 1998 5:29 PM
> To:	bmw@domain.elided
> Cc:	'bmw-performance@domain.elided'; E36M3 list
> Subject:	M3 rear main seal
> 
> I feel like a genius today.  I figured out why my M3 is making a
> squealing noise.  First the dealer thought is was the water pump.  Nope,
> not the water pump.  Then they said it was the timing chain.  The parts
> are on order for the timing chain.  Well, it's not the timing chain.
> Several people had suggested to me that it could be the rear main seal.
> The dealer said no way.  Can't be the rear main seal.  I told the dealer
> that bmw had issued bulletins about the rear main seal on the M3.  They
> still told me no way.  Can't be the rear main seal.  Well, I tried a
> little experiment today.  I got the M3 all nice and warmed up so it was
> squealing real loud, and then I popped the hood and removed the oil
> filler cap.  Guess what?  No more squeal.  It's the rear main seal!!  I
> told the dealer about my little experiment and they agree .
> They now have a rear main seal on order.  Now doesn't this inspire
> confidence in your bmw dealer?  They had the car twice and couldn't
> figure out what was wrong with it.  Thanks to the people on the digest
> who suggested the rear main seal.  You were smarter than my bmw dealer.
> If they had thought to remove the oil filler cap it would have taken
> them about 10 seconds to diagnose the problem.
> 
> Suzy
> 97 M3
> 

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