I'm about to install a SPEC stage 3+ clutch today and I want to replace the rear main seal while I'm in there but I haven't found conclusive information on which rear main seal(s) I'm able to use. My car is a 2007 E92 335i (Pre-LCI).
There are two available seals - an 8 mm thick one that came in the 09+ cars and the 12 mm thick one that came in the pre-09 cars that requires the $70 sealant from BMW.
Real OEM lists both but it's not clear if they're interchangeable for pre-09 cars. If looking at the 12 mm seal (11117584398), it has the 8 mm seal (11117587168) listed under "superseded by" but also says nonexchangeable retrospectively. If you're looking at the 8 mm seal, it has the 12 mm seal listed under "supersedes" and also says "Exchangeable retrospect. in connect. w".
I'd prefer to use the thinner 09+ seal as the sealant and primer from BMW appears to be hard to come by. It seems like many have used the thinner seal on the older cars but I haven't seen any long term updates on those installations.
Does anyone have any definitive information on this? My local dealer couldn't tell me much besides the fact that there are two seals listed for my car and I need to pull it out and see which one is currently installed.
There are two available seals - an 8 mm thick one that came in the 09+ cars and the 12 mm thick one that came in the pre-09 cars that requires the $70 sealant from BMW.
Real OEM lists both but it's not clear if they're interchangeable for pre-09 cars. If looking at the 12 mm seal (11117584398), it has the 8 mm seal (11117587168) listed under "superseded by" but also says nonexchangeable retrospectively. If you're looking at the 8 mm seal, it has the 12 mm seal listed under "supersedes" and also says "Exchangeable retrospect. in connect. w".
I'd prefer to use the thinner 09+ seal as the sealant and primer from BMW appears to be hard to come by. It seems like many have used the thinner seal on the older cars but I haven't seen any long term updates on those installations.
Does anyone have any definitive information on this? My local dealer couldn't tell me much besides the fact that there are two seals listed for my car and I need to pull it out and see which one is currently installed.
