L322 Crankshaft seal/dust cap

The crankshaft seal or dust cap on the front of the engine is twisted. Can I remove it and re-install a new one from the outside or do I need to remove the front cover of the engine???

Engine 4.4 petrol BMW M62tu vanos.

I can supply a picture if that helps.

Yes, throw a pic up if you can.

Behind crankshaft pulley

Ahh, a simple seal.

Screw a small self tapper into the seal, nearer the outer circumference, taking care to not go too deep, then get a small crow bar type lever and start pulling the seal out.

Sometimes a vice grips clamped to the screw with a lever acting on it will draw it out.

New seal, just oil with engine oil and gently tap it in until it's flush with timing cover, if you have a piece of pipe or a deep socket that will go over the crank even better, but it's the outer part of the seal that has the rigid structure to bear on.

A fail on this is when the inner lip ends up pointing outwards, so make doubly sure the crank is well oiled also.

myfirstl322 said:

Ahh, a simple seal.

Screw a small self tapper into the seal, nearer the outer circumference, taking care to not go too deep, then get a small crow bar type lever and start pulling the seal out.

Sometimes a vice grips clamped to the screw with a lever acting on it will draw it out.

New seal, just oil with engine oil and gently tap it in until it's flush with timing cover, if you have a piece of pipe or a deep socket that will go over the crank even better, but it's the outer part of the seal that has the rigid structure to bear on.

A fail on this is when the inner lip point's outwards, so make sure the crank is well oiled also.

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Excellent. I hoped it would be that easy.