intake manifold?

[Brian 89 325i]

Im taking off my intake manifold tomarrow to finish off some stuff im doing. Any tips you have would be nice. Like:

Exacly how to take it off. (step by step)
How to R/R that little tube that comes off the bottom
What kind of O rings go on the stock injectors and the best way to clean them?
Anything i might run into while doing it.

Thanks
Brian

[bmwannabe]

umm, have fun dude, it took me forever. Its not so much hard as it is time consuming. First start by removing all the components from around the manifold (airbox, throttle body, wiring, hoses, ect). Then, get a flashlight and start searching for the bolts under the manifold where it bolts up to the head. They are a pain, but loosen them up. when you think all of them are loose, pry the manifold away with a flat head screw driver. Your gonna have to unclip your injectors from the fuel rail as well. There is a metal tube running from the bottom of the manifold, to the bottom of the block. On that tube is a spring, dont lose it, I almost did. As for unplugging the fuel rail, I didnt need to, so i dont know how, but i knwo its tough. Replace the gaskets as well on the intake manifold, and throttle body.

[nando]

you can get o-rings (and caps, etc) for your injectors at any generic autoparts store. For cleaning there isn't really anything you can DIY (other than cleaning off grime on the outside), you'll have to bring them to a shop that can clean injectors, fortunately it's pretty cheap if you already have them out.

[bmwannabe]

after reading your post again dont take off the manifold if yuo are only cleaning injectors, replacing o rings, ect. you can get the injectors off w out taking the intake manifold off.

[Chris325/325i]

My intake is sitting on the workbench, ready to go back in.

Some tips from removing...rotate the oil dipstick tube away from the intake to give some extra clearance, remove the thermostat housing & intake together, be careful not to bend that oil drain tube & don't lose the parts (there is a spring, washer on the bottom, and an O-ring on each end). Clean up around where the tube seats into the block before removing so crud doesn't fall into your oil pan (old toothbrush and brake cleaner works well). Don't forget new O-rings for this tube. There is also a big O-ring on the fuel pressure regulator, I would replace that. If your coolant hoses are original now is the time to replace all those ones under the manifold & into the firewall. You need to remove the 2 reference sensors connectors, label them so you know which is which. Same plug on both, but if they are swapped the car won't run. Also check the big connector for injectors & temp sensors, if this gets corroded inside it can cause a lot of problems.

One tip on reinstalling, compress that spring on the end of the oil tube with a couple of cable ties. Once it is all in place cut the cable ties & let it unwind,.

[DaN]

Side question here:
Is it possible to remove the oil drain tube without removing the intake, or the cylinder head?
I have an oil leak there, and I don't really want to pull the intake or the head.

[Chris325/325i]

no need to remove the head, but I don't think you can get it out without removing the intake, or at least sliding it out a few inches. It is hard enough getting it out along with the intake.