DIY: Undo the bitch clip the easy way.

[nando]

must be slightly different engine positions of E30s. I've never had it take longer than 5 minutes.

[2002maniac]

Usually it comes out pretty easy for me with a screwdriver, but on one particular car I could NOT get it off. took me 15 minutes and I was getting pretty frustrated. I can't imagine going at it for 3 hours!

[Cloudbase]

This took my buddy and I well over an hour on an M Roadster we were doing and we destroyed the clip. Used this tool today and it took less than 5 seconds! Well done!!!!!!

[Mossman]

Sometimes they're really friggen tight and there's no way to slide any tool in between it and the top of the trans, and prying from the side just mangles it. Usually they're not too bad though and only take a couple minutes. It also really depends on whether you're yanking tranny so exhaust, driveshaft and heat shields are all out of the way and tranny mount is disconnected to drop it down a few inches, then you have plenty of access.

[camshaftgsxr]

what is the bitch clip? are we talking the clips on the shift linkage?

[Thizzelle]

what is the bitch clip? are we talking the clips on the shift linkage?

yes

[E30 331is]

what is the bitch clip? are we talking the clips on the shift linkage?

The ones on the shift linkage are circlips, this is the carrier arm clip that sits on top of the transmission.

[camshaftgsxr]

you guys have problems with that? all you need is a cool exhaust and a small short flat head

[Vivek]

I seriously could not get the bitch clip with screw drivers, I went at it for four hours straight until I said fuck it and bought this tool. After I came back, I got it done in 2 minutes.

This was me yesterday. That tool's a life saver.

And free bump for an old but extremely useful thread. This is one of those things that's really not obvious and it's not easy to figure out on your own, great DIY.

PS: has anyone eliminated the bitch clip and stuck a bolt and nut through there for easier removal? I saw this in another thread.

[bmwguy325is]

I used a small pry bar. Works every time. Next time ill run a stop watch.

[Philo]

Yeah, I have never had an issue with those clips. I've worked on more than a handful of e30s as well. Insert flathead screwdriver from the driveshaft side, pull down. It pops up without a fuss every time. Not even a 30 second event.

[kid325e]

Dealt with this this last weekend. I ended up disconnecting the trans brace, and mounts, dropping the trans down enough to fit a screw drive under the clip itself and pulled towards me and POP, it came out!

[e30austin]

This was me yesterday. That tool's a life saver.

And free bump for an old but extremely useful thread. This is one of those things that's really not obvious and it's not easy to figure out on your own, great DIY.

PS: has anyone eliminated the bitch clip and stuck a bolt and nut through there for easier removal? I saw this in another thread.

Yup. Phuck a bitch clip.

[Aleman]

DIY: Undo the bitch clip the easy way.

Harbor Freight item 96572 is what you will need. Now on sale!

Focking pick is NLA at Harbor, but I found this one on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Rad.../dp/B007Q3HCL4

[cory58]

Am I the only one who can't see the pics in the OP?

Cory