Need help removing m20 intake manifold!

[325eMattyd]

Hello everyone, im new to these fourms and hoping i could get some help removing my intake manifold off my m20b27 eta, from all you awesome bimmer heads!. i can not get the manifold past the longer studs surrounding the drain back to oil return tube gasket!! WTF!! ill post some pictures to show you what im talking about!
it seems like on the left back side it might be getting caught on the thermostat housing


and on the right side i dont have much room, i could disconnect the heater hose line, not sure it would help so much? also keep in mind i dont have the engine mount connected so i was able to pull the engine to the passenger side, but still couldn't pull it off the middle studs.



no engine mounts connected, also did oil pan gasket


intake manifold studs cleared on the right side,


but the middle studs are just too long :(



please guys help, is there an easier way to remove this damn manifold? even if i have to take extra steps?

[joecrotch]

I just did mine day before yesterday on my eta. I removed all that crap in the way, heater hoses, tstat housing, tbody, and anything else. It slid off and on with no issues. The only thing I can think that is holding you up is the metal vent tube on the bottom of the manifold. Did you remove it first. If not It is a PITA to get off. I have got one off before by just pulling up and down while pulling but stuff ends up breaking. <ake sure the vent tube is totally out of the bottom by pushing down on it and pulling out.

[joecrotch]

these are the best pics I can find. its the tube below the manifold with the spring on the bottom. you just push down till it comes out of the manifold then pull it out.



If this is something you already knew I apalogize. Just trying to help.

[325eMattyd]

I just did mine day before yesterday on my eta. I removed all that crap in the way, heater hoses, tstat housing, tbody, and anything else. It slid off and on with no issues. The only thing I can think that is holding you up is the metal vent tube on the bottom of the manifold. Did you remove it first. If not It is a PITA to get off. I have got one off before by just pulling up and down while pulling but stuff ends up breaking. <ake sure the vent tube is totally out of the bottom by pushing down on it and pulling out.

OK so it looks like I have to take off that heat core hose and tstat, thanks a lot man! I pushed the oil return tube down and it just staying because of all the grease that's holding it lol!

[joecrotch]

Right on. I'm glad it's going good. Yeah oil return tube. I knew it had a name. My wife gets mad at me because I make up names for everything lol.

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[jeffnhiscars]

You can't remove the oil return tube til after the manifold is off. Just hold it down after everything is disconnected and remove the manifold.

This is why it's proper name is "bitch tube" :)

[joecrotch]

Botch tube, I like that.

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[AndrewBird]

Put a zip tie through the spring and tighten it up to hold the spring compressed. Makes things a lot simpler.

[325eMattyd]

Well guys I really appreciate the input from all off you! It really helped! I replaced the intake manifold gasket it was much easier when I actually placed the subframe back in so the engine was actually level and not being held in the air with my floor jack lol!!! I also replaced the oil return crack tube gaskets, throttle body gaskets, and oil pan while I was at it and some suspension pieces!

[325eMattyd]

Here's the video of the idle its smooth as butter, https://youtu.be/eP0NrcqTXFM