Removing intake manifold

[tha881]

Need a bit of help please. Im in the process of removing my intake manifold. Im ready to undo the 12 nuts holding it to the head. However there is a wire that runs from the fuel rail to a plastic connector. Ive undone the connection but it seems to be in the way. Here is a pic of what i mean


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Is there any way of freeing it? It would make life much easier. Thanks for looking

[tha881]

Im also trying to work out how to remove the electrical connectors from the injectors if anyone knows. I dont want to be too heavy handed and damage something. Is there a right way of doing it or do i just pull them?

[Grrrmachine]

All the electrical connectors you see, except for that big round one, have a metal wire that is pushed in to unclip the plug. If you just yank it, you will damage the wires.

The big round one you've uncovered is the C191 plug, which should just untwist from the metal frame once unplugged:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/C191

[tha881]

Thanks a lot, i thought i better check before i start breaking stuff!. I will go have another attempt. I really need that c191 out the way. I couldnt see any metal clips on the electrical connectors first time round but it is hard to see in there.

[tha881]

Still no luck with the c191. Ive disconnected the two halves but the top half is stuck in the metal support. I know what you mean by the metal clips, but there doesnt appear to be any on the top of the injectors?

Im just switching inlet mani's so i want to disturb the ful rail as little as possible. However the bentley says to remove the electrical connectors from the injectors, in order to undo the four bolts holding the fuel rail to the inlet. Is there a way of removing the fuel rail from the inlet without disconnecting the electrical connectors?

[tha881]

Okay got the c191 out of the bracket, thanks for that would never have figured that out!

Got all 12 nuts undone so in theory the intake is loose and ready to come off.

Also i have managed to undo the four bolts holding the fuel rail to manifold. Do i just pull the whole assembly upwards now to free the injectors from the inlet??

Thanks for the help

[tha881]

All sorted now, throttle body upgrade is ready to go on in the morning. Very last question though, when i removed the coolant hoses fom the throttle body, i lost a bit of coolant. Obviously i know i will need to top it up to the correct level again, but am i best off bleeding the system aswell to be on the safe side?

[tha881]

Got it all back together and it fired up first turn of the key. Still a bit concerned though about the coolant loss from the throttle body pipe. Ive added around half a litre of coolant to the tank but should the system should be bled? I really dont want to ruin my engine!

[Grrrmachine]

Just keep an eye on the temp gauge, and if it creeps over 3/4 what the heater to max and the blowers on full. Bleed the engine when you get home.

No idea what engine you've got.

[tha881]

Its a 320i, ive been doing the 325i throttle body upgrade. The wiki guide wasnt very detailed. It would probably be a whole lot easier to open out the manifold on the car. I prepared a spare beforehand so had to remove the whole intake which was a bit of a nightmare, but glad it fired up first time. Will go for a run in a bit and see what happens

[tha881]

Been round the village but i think it got warm too quick. Over a quarter way on the guage in about a mile, usually it takes at least a couple to get to this point. Plus side it sounds much better and pulls really nice, although i didnt go over 3.5k as its early days and the ecu wont be set properly yet. Think i better bleed it to be sure, do i remove the bleed screw completely or just loosen it?

[Grrrmachine]

Just crack it open, don't remove it.

[tha881]

All sorted now mate thanks. I let it idle till half way on the temp, opened the heaters on full, removed expansion cap, then opened the bleed just a little like you said for about a minute. Tightened everything down and as soon as i went for a drive the temp dropped to the mark before half way and stayed there. The car pulls so much better its unbelievable, well worth the effort

[Cloggy Saint]

You opened up the intake on your 2.0 inlet or just fittet the 2.5 throttle body?

[tha881]

I bought a second hand 320i inlet manifold and opened it out as per the wiki. Make sure you jet wash the inside after. Got a 325i throttle body and cleaned that up. Then it all just sat for two years! Finally had some spare time so changed it over


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It was a good chance to have a clean in the bay aswell. I thought it was pretty clean but underneath was a lot of dirt.

I would be careful buying the throttle body because i think there are differences between some of them. Make sure they have the same tubes and it will be fine. You need the rubber elbow from a 325i aswell. I used the orignal afm although i read you can change it for a 325i unit and its even better. If this is true i dont know, might be worth a try but the gains are really noticeable anyway, right through the rev range. It honestly feels like an extra 20%. My intake manifold was pretty clogged up when i took it off so im sure putting a clean one on has helped too.

The wiki guide still leaves a lot for you to work out yourself so if you have any questions just ask

[Cloggy Saint]

I did this years ago, spent ages opening up the intake, polishing the 2.5 throttle body to a mirror finish, and it's been rotting in my attic ever since!