E30 Zone

Yes,but the retaining clip at the gearbox end can be a right ba***rd.
It helps if you stick a jack under the gearbox, release the crossmember nuts and lower the jack a little to get a bit more room.
There is an art in releasing the clip, which you really need to see a clip off the car to understand how it works. Maybe someone will post a photo of one.

i`ve done it before without lowering gearbox, it took a few attempts with cursing inbetween lol

A1BMW325iSport wrote:i`ve done it before without lowering gearbox, it took a few attempts with cursing inbetween lol

So have I, but it's only push a jack in and two nuts.

come on then how the hell do you do it , i'm covered in cr@p and annoyed!!

i done it today!!!!!! once you know how it easy,

1 unbolt heatsheild and knock towards back of car
2 unclip gearlever from gear linkage(little metal clip)
3 use a short stubby ratchet with a 13mm socket to undo the back bolt
4 undo exhaust stabiliser from gearbox
5 place jack under gearbox and undo crossmember bolts and lower gearbox about 2 inches
6 with a torch you should now be able to see the front of the gearlever housing
7 theres a small metal clip rivited to the pin that holds it in place, lift the front of the clip and put out pin
8 JOB DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The part of the gearbox to which the alloy linkage attaches is approximately like two 32mm X 6mm flat bars on edge with the linkage held by a round pin between them. The round pin has a spring clip on the left side which lies flat along the top of the left "bar" with a securing spring clip going down the right hand (inside) of the left bar, and just clipping under it.
You have to release the locking clip, swing it upwards, so that it clears the left "bar" and then withdraw it to the left.
If you can get a screwdriver blade between the clip and the top edge of the left "bar", and twist it, then the clip should release.
The clip itself is pretty indestructable.

i coudnt figure this out at first, i spent half hour under there with a flexi attachment on a drill slowly grinding the clip off the pin as i was sure it was a rivet hlding the pin in!! is was it was holding the clip to the pin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i got it in the end but you really have to see one before attempting!!!! or maybe im stupid??????

E327UKL wrote: i got it in the end but you really have to see one before attempting!!!!

That's what I said in my first post!

I KNOW I KEPT ON TELLING MYSELF THAT THERE IS A CLIP THERE!! SORRY I DOUBTED YOU!!!!!