removing e30 325i engine from underneath?

[pauldeacs]

how do i go about removing the m20 engine from a 325i from underneath? anyone done this?

[Martinaston]

I do it that way because i don't have the head room for a hoist.
It's pretty easy as long as you can get the car high enough, just dump the subframe on the floor (or a dolly) with the gearbox as well and jack away.

It may be better to remove the inlet manifold first, thats up to you. It saves raising the front too high.

The only problem is weather you want to split the brake lines, that way you can drop the suspension legs as well. Otherwise you have to mess around with the tracking arms and ball joints.

[gareth]

when i did my M30 conversion i did the swap from below. if you can, remove the wishbones from the subframe. they're a real pain if left on. (i did!)

it will need to be jacked very high though, to get my M30 in with manifold on and on the subframe needed 980mm iirc!!! you'll need a pair of high lift jacks ideally.

[Turbo-Brown]

Put mine back in from underneath.

Bought a pair of 3tonne rated axle stands which hold the car up to about 750mm I think, as said, lower the engine and box onto a dolly (or sheet of ply in my case) un bolt, then raise the car up

[gareth]

axles stands, pah, you want some of these!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/ ... ure136.jpg

i used my scissor lift ramps! they're so useful! i jacked it enough to get the lifts under the chassis rails then lifted it right up. i then used the engine crane to lower the whole assembly out of the car then lift the M30 in.

high lift jacks and good stable axle stands will be as good though but probably not as fun!

[Turbo-Brown]

Nice to see that Steve Buscemi turned up to help out!

[gareth]

now you've totally lost me! who's that then?

[gareth]

just googled it!!!!!

it's my mate chris. he's not normally that much of a likeness but is generally sitting in or near a disemboweled bmw!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/ ... ure029.jpg