Created on: 2019-08-14
Watch this video to learn how to replace the fuel vapor canister on your 97-06 BMW 325Xi or similar E46 vehicle. 1A Auto shows you how to do it yourself!
Flat Blade Screwdriver
T15 Torx Driver
Rust Penetrant
Jack Stands
Push Pin Pliers
10mm Socket
Ratchet
Floor Jack
Trim Tool Set
What's up, guys? I'm Andy from 1A Auto. In this video, I'm going to show you how to replace this vapor canister, also known as a carbon canister, in this 2001 BMW 325 XI. If you need parts for your vehicle, click the link in the description and head over to 1Aauto.com.
I want to pull this panel off. There's some pushpins. There's one here. There should be one right here. This vehicle has it missing, and then there's also one over here. Just going to take this trim removal tool, try to get them out of this. Because the angle of the clips, it's a little bit hard to get to, so I'm going to use these clip removal tools. Pull the center part out. I can probably use this trim tool. I'm just going to use a screwdriver, get under the clip, slide that clip out and do the same over here. Pull that trim clip out as well and grab this panel, just slide it down.
So, I need to remove these two bolts from the canister and tip it down, so that I can remove this sensor on the back side. I'm going to use some rust penetrant on these bolts. They don't look so good. We'll let that sit for a little bit. Now, we'll take a 10 millimeter socket extension. I'm just going to tap it onto these bolts because they're rusty. Then, we'll loosen them up, use a ratchet, pull that one out, and do the same for that one. Take that one out. Grab the canister, wiggle it a little bit. Disconnect this connector right here, push down, and slide it up. Over on this side, I'm just going to disconnect it right here. There's three hoses to disconnect right there. Right here, just squeeze the locks. They come out. If you have trouble with the lock, sometimes you can take a screwdriver behind it and wiggle it out, and then this last one, slide that out. I'm going to take this whole thing out.
I'm going to take a T15 socket extension and a ratchet. Take these screws out. So, these other two screws are very rusted and they're actually stripped out, which kind of stinks, but that's okay. I'm just going to use a drill, the drill bit. We'll drill them out. You just have to replace the screws.
Cut that one off, and then we'll just continue on this one.
I'm just using a little oil to cool down the drill bit, so it doesn't burn the drill bit out. Oh, there we go. All right, so we drilled those out so that's good. This is loose. Now we can take these, this hose off right here, just squeeze the connector and rock it back and forth a little bit. Basically, when you squeeze this, these two fingers pop out. We should be able to get it off. Sometimes it's not that easy. There you go. Pop it off. Take and twist this back and forth a little bit and pull it up.
I am going to take this rubber grommet off of here. We're going to reuse that. Just try to twist and pull it, and insert that right in there. Slide this into position. Just wiggle that back and forth a little bit. That's good. Connect this hose. You can just spray a little bit of soapy water on this O ring. You really don't want to put too much just to help lubricate the seal, and then just take it, lock it in place.
So, I've got some new screws. They are different. I'm going to use a seven millimeter socket to install these, but if you're reusing the old ones, you're going to use that same T15 we used to take it off. Get these started, and then I'll just snug them up. That's good. All right.
So, we want to hook these hoses up first. It'll make it easier. Just get this in position. If it's easier for you to hook the hoses up after, you can do it that way as well. There we go. Just spray a little soapy water on those seals. Probably use a little bit of oil there. Something if you want to. Just don't get it in the lines. Clipped in, and now this one. All right. Those are all clipped in. Let's double check. Grabbing the hose, try and pull it. All right. Now, we can slide the canister back up. Over on this side, these two fingers are going to slide into those two little slots up there like that, and take the two bolts, get those started.
Now, I'll take a 10 millimeter socket extension and I'm going to use an electric ratchet, but you can use a hand ratchet. I'll just snug these up. Take that connector, line it up, lock it in place. Now, I'm going to install this cover. Just slide this in position in the back. Line this up front, just like that. A lot of these push clips broke when I took them off. So, we have to install some new ones. We actually sell a kit with these clips from 1Aauto.com, so you can get a kit. Push that one in, and then also right here. There you go.
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