Tranny removal

[onenicebimmer]

hey,
So I'm in the middle of removing my tranny so I could replace the clutch.
My questions are as follows:

How do I go about diconnecting the driveshaft for this job (full removal?)?

What do I have to disconect/unbolt from the tranny to be able to take it out/ or atleast out the way enough to replace the clutch?

I have replaced them on Jeeps, but never a BMW. It's turning out to be a bitch of a job :x

I appreciate any help,
thanks in advance!

[erik325i]

Yeah, I replaced my clutch for the first time earlier this year. To remove the tranny, you will have to remove the exhaust so you can to the driveshaft. I recommend removing the driveshaft completely to do this just to get it out of the way. Next you will have to disconnect the shift linkage, and the unplug the wire to the reverse light switch on the right side of the tranny. You will also have to remove the starter. From there, just unbolt the tranny and slide it off. If you want, you can also drain the tranny beforehand so it is not as heavy when you are catching/lowering the tranny. Good luck

[onenicebimmer]

Thanks for the tips.

Is the starter held in by 2 bolts?

I took all of the exhaust off, disconected the four bolts at the end of the drive shaft (neare the back), but how do I disconect it from the transmission?

And finally, how were you able to ge to the very top bolt that connects the tranny to the head? I spent the last 2 hours playing around with an assortment of extentions trying to get it off, but no luck.
Thanks

[kansas-ix]

yes the starter is held on by the two bolts only you will probably need a partner in crime to get them off.and they may require some of the steps below at least they do when you have a nasty transfer case on the end of your tranny like mine.

Answer to the two bolt on the head is a 36" extension, NAPA, $20, and then you have to stick your head way up in the drive shaft tunnel and my preference is to put a flash light on top of the tranny and then it is time to try to pin the tail on the donkey it is like fishing for those bolts you will get them it sucks but you'll get them, I also put a break bar on the end to get the torque you need easier.

Lastly, I don't know what a non ix looks like from the back of the tranny but on the ix there is a guibo that you take off and then the driveshaft should fall in your lap, PS you didn't need to disconnect the end that connects to the differential

[erik325i]

yes the starter is held on by the two bolts only you will probably need a partner in crime to get them off.and they may require some of the steps below at least they do when you have a nasty transfer case on the end of your tranny like mine.

Answer to the two bolt on the head is a 36" extension, NAPA, $20, and then you have to stick your head way up in the drive shaft tunnel and my preference is to put a flash light on top of the tranny and then it is time to try to pin the tail on the donkey it is like fishing for those bolts you will get them it sucks but you'll get them, I also put a break bar on the end to get the torque you need easier.

Lastly, I don't know what a non ix looks like from the back of the tranny but on the ix there is a guibo that you take off and then the driveshaft should fall in your lap, PS you didn't need to disconnect the end that connects to the differential

To unbolt the top tranny bolts, I did pretty much the same thing. I used about three or four feet of extentions and just fed it over the whole tranny. I might have used a u-joint at the end of the extions.

Although, you don't have to remove the driveshaft from the differential, I did it anyways to keep it less cluttered under the car.

[kansas-ix]

yup it takes the 36" extension and then a few more 12" extensions, I put the 36" on first and then put the smaller on then you can rest the 36" on the top of the tranny and use that to bend up the other extensions so you can try to get it on.