BMW E36 E34 E32 Door Handle Seal / Gasket Replacement:

BMW E36, E34 and E32 door handle seals are notorious for cracking as they age. After this seal cracks, water can get behind the door handle and cause corrosion to the handle itself as well as collect in the bottom of your door. Collection of trapped moisture will ultimately lead to rust. It is important to replace these seals to prevent these threats. Luckily, the replacement process is not as hard as you may think.

Contrary to popular belief, one does not need to remove the inner door panel to perform the replacement procedure. This is a good thing since the E36 door cards are incredibly fragile and seem to break if you look at them wrong. There are some tricks to this replacement procedure we will highlight below to make the process go smoother.

It is important to know, BMW does not offer the seal alone as a replacement part. Rather, BMW forces you to buy a new seal along with a new plastic cover together. So if you are trying to find the part number for the seal itself, stop looking. We recommend replacing this seal with OEM BMW parts to provide maximum longevity before cracking again. We have tried aftermarket seals and they ended up cracking within weeks. The OEM BMW parts are more pricey, but you get what you pay for. So save up and get the proper OEM BMW parts for your vehicle.

What are the OEM BMW seal part numbers?

1. 51218122441 Driver Door Handle (fits E36 and E34)
2. 51218122442 Passenger Door Handle (fits E36 and E34)
3. 51228119076 Left / Right Rear Door Handle (fits E36 and E34)
4. 51211938285 Driver Door Handle (fits E32)
5. 51211938286 Passenger Door Handle (fits E32)
6. 51221938280 Left / Right Rear Door Handle (fits E32)

** CONFIRM THESE PART NUMBER FITMENTS BEFORE ORDERING **

What is the seal cost?

1. OEM BMW door handle and seal replacement can be found online for around $26 (PER DOOR).

What tools are needed?

1. Flashlight
2. Hook tool
3. Small flat head screwdriver

How much time is needed?

About 5 min per door (once you know what you are doing).

What is the process?

** NOTE THE PICTURES BELOW TO FURTHER CLARIFY THIS PROCEDURE **
The pictures shown are from the driver side door handle assembly. The left rear passenger is the same procedure and the right-hand side is mirrored from this procedure.

1) Locate the access hole:

Open the door and peel back the rubber flap on the backside of the door as shown below. Once peeled back, there is an oval opening where you will stick the appropriate tool and activate a slider which then unlocks and locks the door handle trim. Use your flashlight to look inside the oval opening to get an idea of what is all inside. What you are looking for is a brass slider. See the pictures below for more clarification. It can be difficult to find but once you look at the entire assembly below, you can get a better layout of the door handle assembly and know where to look.

2) Removing the door handle surround:

To remove the old handle you need to use a small flat head screwdriver and push the brass slider forward, towards the front of the car. It is important to use a SMALL screwdriver such as the one shown. This allows for maximum maneuverability within the small opening. You need this maneuverability to access the slider. Using a thicker screwdriver will limit your control and reach the point where you cannot access the end of slider.

3) Pushing the slider:

Study the pictures below and really get your bearings, there is a lot going in that small area and it is easy to get confused. Do not get frustrated and start stabbing at things, you could damage the door handle assembly. Take your time. Once you find the brass slider, pushing it forward should be effortless. The slider movement is approximately a half an inch forward. Once pushed forward, you can simply pull the outer handle cover and seal off together as one.

4) Replace the bad seal:

Install the new handle and seal together as one in the reverse order of removal. Now comes for the tricky slider part. Take the hook tool and pull that slider back towards you to lock the new handle and seal in place. We recommend keeping firm pressure on the new handle and seal from the outside as you move the slider back towards you. This makes sure the locking tabs are trapped by the slider. Once you moved the slider confirm the new handle and seal are locked in place by trying to pull it off. It should be snug and secure.

Push the rubber seal on the back of the door over the oval tool opening to make sure it is watertight. This is the end of the procedure. It can be frustrating at first but once you do one door, the rest go easily. Study the pictures carefully and you should not have a problem replacing these seals.

Where can I learn more BMW tips?

Learn more BMW pro tips by clicking HERE

BMW power steering reservoir cap seal:

All rubber seals will eventually dry out, crack and then leak.  Rubber found under the hood of your car is especially prone to cracking due to the extreme heat emitted by the engine.  The heat cycling of the rubber from cold to hot to cold expands and contracts the rubber in addition to drying it out.  Furthermore, the chemicals in contact with the rubber will also lead to a quicker malfunctioning of the seal as well as oxidation with the air.

The power steering reservoir cap has a rubber ring on the inside that will eventually fail and leak fluid.  Luckily, the reservoir is easily visible when the engine bay is open.  A quick inspection of the reservoir tank will let you know if you have a broken seal.  The reservoir tank will be wet with power steering fluid, if this is the case you need to change the power steering cap seal.

A visual inspection of the seal may lead you to believe the seal is fine, but in reality, it is hardened and lost all of its sealing properties.  For the small cost of the seal, replace it.  You will be glad you did and it will pay for itself over time with the amount of power steering fluid lost through the leaky seal.

How to replace:

The easiest way is to take a sharp razor blade and cut the old ring.  Another method is to take a pick tool and lift the seal off the cap.  Once removed, take the new seal and coat the seal with power steering fluid.  Do not dip the seal in the reservoir and make a mess.  Dip your finger tips in power steering fluid and lightly coat the seal.  The purpose is to ensure a proper seal is maintained and also prevent premature drying of the rubber.  Similar practice should be used when replacing any rubber seal such as valve cover gaskets.  Just make sure to use oil instead of power steering fluid.  Always use the same fluid the rubber is in contact with.

What is the BMW part number?

32411128333

How much does it cost?

$1 - $10 depending on brand.

What BMW models will it fit?

• 1' E81   (02/2006 — 12/2011)
• ' E87   (02/2003 — 02/2007)
• ' E87 LCI   (01/2006 — 06/2011)
• ' E88   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
• ' E82   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
• ' E30   (12/1981 — 02/1994)
• ' E36   (11/1989 — 08/2000)
• ' E46   (04/1997 — 08/2006)
• ' E90   (02/2004 — 09/2008)
• ' E90 LCI   (07/2007 — 02/2012)
• ' E91   (02/2004 — 08/2008)
• ' E91 LCI   (07/2007 — 05/2012)
• ' E92   (05/2005 — 02/2010)
• ' E92 LCI   (11/2008 — 06/2013)
• ' E93   (09/2005 — 02/2010)
• ' E93 LCI   (11/2008 — 10/2013)
• ' E28   (06/1980 — 01/1989)
• ' E34   (03/1987 — 12/1996)
• ' E39   (02/1995 — 12/2003)
• ' E60   (12/2001 — 12/2009)
• ' E60 LCI   (10/2005 — 09/2010)
• ' E61   (10/2002 — 02/2007)
• ' E61 LCI   (11/2005 — 05/2010)
• ' E24   (10/1975 — 04/1989)
• ' E63   (05/2002 — 07/2010)
• ' E63 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
• ' E64   (09/2002 — 07/2010)
• ' E64 LCI   (04/2006 — 07/2010)
• ' E32   (10/1985 — 04/1994)
• ' E38   (07/1993 — 07/2001)
• ' E65   (03/2000 — 07/2008)
• ' E66   (06/2000 — 07/2008)
• ' E67   (10/2002 — 06/2008)
• X1 E84   (09/2008 — 11/2015)
• X3 E83   (01/2003 — 07/2006)
• X3 E83 LCI   (03/2006 — 08/2010)
• X5 E53   (10/1998 — 09/2006)
• Z1 Roadster   (07/1988 — 06/1991)
• Z3 E36   (12/1994 — 06/2002)
• Z4 E85   (11/2004 — 08/2008)
• Z4 E86   (10/2005 — 08/2008)
• Z8 E52   (12/1998 — 07/2003)

Where can I learn how to fix more BMW fluid leak problems?

To fix other common fluid leaks, make sure to check out our valve cover oil filler cap seal replacement guide HERE.

BMW oil filler gasket ring, valve cover:

Removing the plastic cover over the valve cover is routine work for BMW maintenance. If upon removal there are traces of oil over the coil packs or down in the spark plug openings, there is a great chance there is a missing or cracked rubber gasket ring around the filler opening.

When topping off your engine with oil it is common to have some spillage around the filler in the valve cover. There should exist a rubber gasket around the opening. This ring seals between the metal valve cover opening and the plastic cover. Often times this seal is completely missing or it is cracked, preventing a functional seal.

Some owners may not notice this gasket ring is missing and some may not realize it should be there to begin with. Either way, luckily the replacement ring is cheap and easy to install. Your local BMW dealership should carry the part or any online parts dealer.

You will have to remove the entire plastic cover for proper replacement/installation but once completed you will be glad you did. Ensuring a proper seal around the oil filler opening prevents debris, oil and moisture from entering the top of your valve cover. Under the plastic cover is critical engine components that could be damage and need to be protected.

BMW oil cap o-ring:

The oil cap itself also has an o-ring on it to seal against the valve cover when tightened down.  When removing the oil cap, it is recommended to place the cap on a rag face down.  This will allow oil to drain off of the cap and onto the rag, preventing oil from seeping under the oil ring on the cap.  If oil seeps under the cap while upside down, the oil can seep out onto the valve cover once installed right side up.

What is the BMW oil filler gasket ring part number?

11127526447

What BMW models / engines will it fit?

This part fits all M50, M52 and M54 powered BMWs.
3’ E36 - M50, M52, S50, S52
3’ E46 - M52, M54
5’ E34 - M50
5’ E39 - M52, M54
5’ E60 - M54
5’ E61 - M54
7’ E38 - M52
7’ E65 - M54
7’ E66 - M54
X3 E83 - M54
X5 E53 - M54
Z3 E36 - M52, M54, S54
Z4 E85 - M54

Where can I learn more BMW pro tips?

Learn more BMW pro tips HERE