I'm doing this change right now, but nothing's disconnected yet.
Am I crazy for considering disconnecting the outlet hose at the engine block instead of on the filter???? That way, I can TRY to thread the outlet side hose back up to the block. Otherwise, I can't see anyway to reconnect the outlet side back to the filter once it's back in the harness.
Any horror stories to share???
Thanks in advancefor an immediate response!:help

I thought you just disconnected both hoses from the fuel filter and re-connected them.

Anyway, here's a link (http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/engine/e36_fuel_filter_replacement.html) that might help. And another link (http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/E36-Fuel-Filter/E36-Fuel-Filter.htm).

well, yes you are crazy. first off the fuel line goes to the fuel rail, not the engine block.

just un bolt the cover and undo the hoses, make sure you have relieved the system of pressure you can use the schrader valve on the front of the fuel rail (you will have to remove the plastic cover in the top) and make sure you have somthing to catch the fuel that will come out, it will be alot so like get somthing like an oil catch pan then undo the braket and drop the old filter out then reverse the prosess. make sure the filter is in the right direction if ther is one there will be an arrow printed on it if there is.

well, yes you are crazy. first off the fuel line goes to the fuel rail, not the engine block.

just un bolt the cover and undo the hoses, make sure you have relieved the system of pressure you can use the schrader valve on the front of the fuel rail (you will have to remove the plastic cover in the top) and make sure you have somthing to catch the fuel that will come out, it will be alot so like get somthing like an oil catch pan then undo the braket and drop the old filter out then reverse the prosess. make sure the filter is in the right direction if ther is one there will be an arrow printed on it if there is.

Well I guess everybody's doing this :rolleyes now. Or are you really doing this:lol ? But that's Okay:)
Thank you both for your help. Steve, ideally you are right, but I'm a rookie. However, I did use the Pelican DIY. There's virtually no gas in the car and I even removed the fuel pump fuse and cranked the engine. I just cant get to the hose clamp on the top of the filter. There really isn't a "cover", just a "bracket" (a rigid sleeve)that the filter with it's rubber sleeve slides in to. And it doesnt even look like the clamp on the Pelican figure 3. What I didn't do is attempt to undo this bracket, which I guess is the one Promp3 is referring to. I suppose the "block" I was referring to is the tube on the engine side that the foot-long or so hose on the outlet-side of the filter connects to. But I'm learning....:D, I didn't screw anything up, and eventually I'll figure it out.......
Thanks again!

I think the issue is you have a 92, in the early years the filter is up in the engine compartment by the drivers side fender. Later years have it under the car, with a cover over it.

There are also 2 styles of filter, if yours is in the engine compartment you want the shorter stubbier one. The long thin one is for later models.

You should be fine attaching the fuel hose to the filter first, then sliding it into the filter mount. That's how I did it on my sister-in-laws car, there is almost no room to work on the filter where it is.

I think the issue is you have a 92, in the early years the filter is up in the engine compartment by the drivers side fender. Later years have it under the car, with a cover over it.

There are also 2 styles of filter, if yours is in the engine compartment you want the shorter stubbier one. The long thin one is for later models.

You should be fine attaching the fuel hose to the filter first, then sliding it into the filter mount. That's how I did it on my sister-in-laws car, there is almost no room to work on the filter where it is.

That's correct Chris. I appreciate your empathy. So I am going to disconnect from the fuel tube. I just got a little squirlly when I started trying to pull the hose off the tube. The clamp didnt seem to want to open up fully to slide over the nib, and I was avoiding breaking the tube at all cost. So I may even wait till I do something with a CAI and then there will be more room to work in. The car runs fine anyway.
Thank you very much Chris!