E30 Zone

Hi just wondering if anyone has any advice on this one.

I'm replacing the flywheel on my pre-facelift 325 but cannot undo the top bolts that hold the gearbox onto the ungine. Is it best to undo the engine mounts and lift it all up and out a bit with a hoist to get more room or is there a better way?

Cheers...

take the gearbox subframe off so the box/engine is tilted and you'll need lots of extention bars or a very long one

Simon13 wrote:take the gearbox subframe off so the box/engine is tilted and you'll need lots of extention bars or a very long one

thats about the best was i used an impact gun last time to undo them as a ratchet with lots of extensions can slip easily and you loose your knuckles

As above, undo the mounts, slacken the engine mounts and tilt the engine towards the car, dropping the g/box.

Rav335uk wrote:As above, undo the mounts, slacken the engine mounts and tilt the engine towards the car, dropping the g/box.

yup do as rav said as it will save you alot of hassle!

Ok good advice thanks - no hoisting involved

and hopefully no loss of knuckles involved either...

cheers chaps

Dont forget to udo the prop

Ok I finally got round to changing the flywheel (timing key-slot had snapped off and caused a lot of damage in there!) and thought I'd post an update for anyone who reads this in the future...

The main thing to note is that despite my efforts the only way I could reach all the bell-housing bolts (particularly the top 2) and the starter motor bolts, was to remove the radiator and hoist the engine up off the mounts and forward as far as possible. Even then it was difficult but made it a bit easier by undoing and moving the wiring loom bracket.

Only thing now is that I can't undo the flywheel bolts because it all turns when I try. Any suggestions before I hire a pneumatic impact wrench?

(and does anyone know a good cheap place to get a pre-facelift 325i flywheel, clutch and clutch housing???)

Can't you get someone holding the crank bolt?

Sounds like an embarrassingly obvious solution! Would that be as simple as whacking a big spanner on the front of the engine?

I'm no pro if you hadn't guessed! Just kinda going for it...

dont forget you MUST NOT rotate the engine in the wrong direction ( clockwise from the FRONT )

why ??

because the cambelt can and will move and ruin the timing !!!!

you have been warned ( a VERY good reason why you should NEVER bump start a car with a cambelt too BTW )

That's bad news then!
Can I visually check that the timing is ok before I fire it back up? Or what should I do?

325ie30 wrote:Sounds like an embarrassingly obvious solution! Would that be as simple as whacking a big spanner on the front of the engine?

I'm no pro if you hadn't guessed! Just kinda going for it...

Yes.