F3 RH Body Panel removal (pictures?)

[UCLA F3S]

Did a search for this one, nothing specific popped up, if there IS something out there...apologies for a duplicate post.

Getting ready to do the 3k oil change (1st one) on my F3S. Watched Lamonster's video on it...all pretty straightforward. Just wondering if anyone out there has any detailed pictures on the RH side panel removal to access the oil filter housing?

Pictures would be preferred, but if anyone has a detailed step by step on how to pull this panel, that would probably work, as well...just don't want to bust any plastic.


Thanks!

Russ

 

[JKMSPYDER]

PULLING THE PLASTIC

Pulling the RH panel on the F3 is pretty straightforward. First, pull off the plastic cover that is located under the headlights after you have raised the trunk lid. Remove the RH lateral panel and you will see three plastic push pins. Remove those. Now there are 4 screws holding on the panel. Two below the seat and two below the fog light. Remove those 4 screws and then gently pull off the panel. Now you have access to the oil filter. To remove, you can use channel locks, an adjustable wrench, or a 36 mm socket. If the brake reservoir is in the way you can lift it up and then forward toward you to have more room. Hope this helps.

 

[UCLA F3S]

Pulling the RH panel on the F3 is pretty straightforward. First, pull off the plastic cover that is located under the headlights after you have raised the trunk lid. Remove the RH lateral panel and you will see three plastic push pins. Remove those. Now there are 4 screws holding on the panel. Two below the seat and two below the fog light. Remove those 4 screws and then gently pull off the panel. Now you have access to the oil filter. To remove, you can use channel locks, an adjustable wrench, or a 36 mm socket. If the brake reservoir is in the way you can lift it up and then forward toward you to have more room. Hope this helps.

Thanks, brother! Seems pretty straightforward.


Russ

 

[UCLA F3S]

Pulling the RH panel on the F3 is pretty straightforward. First, pull off the plastic cover that is located under the headlights after you have raised the trunk lid. Remove the RH lateral panel and you will see three plastic push pins. Remove those. Now there are 4 screws holding on the panel. Two below the seat and two below the fog light. Remove those 4 screws and then gently pull off the panel. Now you have access to the oil filter. To remove, you can use channel locks, an adjustable wrench, or a 36 mm socket. If the brake reservoir is in the way you can lift it up and then forward toward you to have more room. Hope this helps.

JKM:

Just wanted to make sure I had this all down, so I snapped some pictures (see below) to reference what you describe above. Let me know if I'm on the money, or not. Also, got the Spyder up on ramps to locate the drain plugs...found those pretty easy. Okay, here we go...

Plastic cover that you reference first in your steps above:



RH Lateral Panel:



Plastic push pins under the RH lateral panel (looks like there's actually four of them, instead of three):



The four screws you mention last (below the seat and below the fog lights):



Is this all correct? One thing I did notice was an extra Torx screw immediately under the headlight (see below). Does that have to come off, as well? If so, how do you even get a Torx bit in there...access is tight!

 

[UCLA F3S]

Sorry, had to push this to another post:

Screw below the headlight (does this come off, too?):

 

[Copperman]

Sorry, had to push this to another post:

Screw below the headlight (does this come off, too?):

View attachment 143891

That does not come off. The panel just slides out from that screw. When reinstalling the panel, that part just slides in around the screw.

You'll see what I mean when you take the panel off.

 

[UCLA F3S]

View attachment 143891

That does not come off. The panel just slides out from that screw. When reinstalling the panel, that part just slides in around the screw.

You'll see what I mean when you take the panel off.

Thanks, Copperman!

Did I get everything else right aside from that?

 

[Copperman]

Thanks, Copperman!

Did I get everything else right aside from that?

Yes.

Just remember, when you're reinstalling the panel screws, start all four before you snug them up.

 

[JKMSPYDER]

You got everything right! All you have to do now is pull the panel off!!

 

[UCLA F3S]

Yes.

Just remember, when you're reinstalling the panel screws, start all four before you snug them up.

Acknowledged. Thanks for the tip!

 

[UCLA F3S]

You got everything right! All you have to do now is pull the panel off!!

Ha ha ha ha...you got it, JKM! Another 800 miles before I hit 3k...just wanted to make sure I understood the entire sequence before diving in.