Camshaft replacement

[adam3442]

Quick question - can the camshaft on my 320i cab be removed without removing the head?

Cheers Peeps

[chu346]

Quick answer: No.

[Brianmoooore]

Quick answer: Yes it can! OP says without removing the head, not without removing the engine.
Turn the crank so that none of the pistons are at TDC, take the cam belt off and you can remove the rocker shafts and then the cam, with the usual shuffleing back and forth of the cam and rockers.
Paint on your own timing marks on the pulleys before you remove the belt.

[less2303]

Moral of the story - Dont always go for the quick solution!!!

[chu346]

Sorry..... I thought you ment still in the car.

[Brianmoooore]

Never actually tried it with an engine in the car, but I would have thought that it's just about possible if you release the gearbox crossmomber and tilt the engine a bit.

[tourer-dan]

Spoke to a guy just last week, we were comparing notes about head replacement (as you do) and he told me he replaced his cam with the engine in, head still on, and no moving the engine. He said he removed the rocker shafts by clamping them with needle nose grips (protected with rubber pipe) and easing them out by twisting back and forth.
IMO, take the head off and do it, you can give everything a good clean up while you're at it and regrind your valves in.

[Brianmoooore]

thought the problem was bodywork in the way. If you know how to shuffle the cam and rockers around, the rocker shafts should just pull out by hand.