[blackbeast06]

I bought a 3 stage intake manifold from an autorecycler and they told me it was off an X3. When I compared it to another members 3 stage mine does not have the round oil separator attached to it. My question is does my 325i single stage manifold have this separator attached to it already?

[DESI4life10]

Yes it does.

[jfisher160]

You got the correct 3-stage manifold. The oil separator is build into the motor already. Some of the manifolds like mine that came off a 530i show the oil separator on the manifold. There is really no way to remove it from the manifold so I had to modify mine to fit the 328i. If you have all the parts it's should be pug and play.

[blackbeast06]

So let me see if I understand correctly. If the oil separator is built into my motor then I am all good. Some cars (ie 328) have the oil separator connected to the intake manifold and if you have a 3 stage without the separator attached to it you have to take it off the stock manifold and kind of rig it up in the engine bay? I want to make sure I have all the details down because I will be doing this in 2 weeks.

[DESI4life10]

Originally Posted by jfisher160

You got the correct 3-stage manifold. The oil separator is build into the motor already. Some of the manifolds like mine that came off a 530i show the oil separator on the manifold. There is really no way to remove it from the manifold so I had to modify mine to fit the 328i. If you have all the parts it's should be pug and play.

Sorry but you are posting wrong information. Please read what car the OP has.

The 325/330 have external oil seperators (that item pointed out in the picture). Therefore, those cars will have that seperator installed when they remove there stock manifold and can reuse it.

The 328 don't use the external oil seperator and have it built into the upper crankcase. So basically you have a vent hose coming from the engine splitting into 2 to connect to the manifold. You CAN remove that external oil seperator from the manifold as it is held on by a few screws. I know this because I have already done this on my 328.

But if you get a manifold from a 530 AFTER 10/2005 production date, you will be good to go with 2 vent house return ports on the manifold (Know from experience).

Hope that clarifies the confusion.

Originally Posted by blackbeast06

So let me see if I understand correctly. If the oil separator is built into my motor then I am all good. Some cars (ie 328) have the oil separator connected to the intake manifold and if you have a 3 stage without the separator attached to it you have to take it off the stock manifold and kind of rig it up in the engine bay? I want to make sure I have all the details down because I will be doing this in 2 weeks.

You have this wrong. The 325 dont have it built into the motor (just checked realoem.com). You have an external version (ie. connected to manifold). The 328 have it built into the motor.

Just reuse the seperator when you remove the old manifold from the car, it comes off. and attach it to your 3 stage manifold. Attaches via screws.

Look in your engine bay and see what you have under the manifold.

Item 1

[blackbeast06]

Thanks a ton DESI, this makes more sense now. The 3 stage I bought has a mounting bracket where that oil separator goes so I can bolt it right on.

[jfisher160]

Originally Posted by DESI4life10

Sorry but you are posting wrong information. Please read what car the OP has.

The 325/330 have external oil seperators (that item pointed out in the picture). Therefore, those cars will have that seperator installed when they remove there stock manifold and can reuse it.

The 328 don't use the external oil seperator and have it built into the upper crankcase. So basically you have a vent hose coming from the engine splitting into 2 to connect to the manifold. You CAN remove that external oil seperator from the manifold as it is held on by a few screws. I know this because I have already done this on my 328.

But if you get a manifold from a 530 AFTER 10/2005 production date, you will be good to go with 2 vent house return ports on the manifold (Know from experience).

Hope that clarifies the confusion.

You have this wrong. The 325 dont have it built into the motor (just checked realoem.com). You have an external version (ie. connected to manifold). The 328 have it built into the motor.

Just reuse the seperator when you remove the old manifold from the car, it comes off. and attach it to your 3 stage manifold. Attaches via screws.

Look in your engine bay and see what you have under the manifold.

Item 1

Thanks for the correction. I was told wrong then.

[spacemonkey1112]

Originally Posted by DESI4life10

Sorry but you are posting wrong information. Please read what car the OP has.

The 325/330 have external oil seperators (that item pointed out in the picture). Therefore, those cars will have that seperator installed when they remove there stock manifold and can reuse it.

The 328 don't use the external oil seperator and have it built into the upper crankcase. So basically you have a vent hose coming from the engine splitting into 2 to connect to the manifold. You CAN remove that external oil seperator from the manifold as it is held on by a few screws. I know this because I have already done this on my 328.

But if you get a manifold from a 530 AFTER 10/2005 production date, you will be good to go with 2 vent house return ports on the manifold (Know from experience).

Hope that clarifies the confusion.





You have this wrong. The 325 dont have it built into the motor (just checked realoem.com). You have an external version (ie. connected to manifold). The 328 have it built into the motor.

Just reuse the seperator when you remove the old manifold from the car, it comes off. and attach it to your 3 stage manifold. Attaches via screws.

Look in your engine bay and see what you have under the manifold.

Item 1

thank you for that bit of information; It has been very informative to everyone on this forum I think. It was a concern of mine since I did not know the difference around a 328 or 325 engine.