Many thanks for this mate. Great to get some recent first hand experience. So no need to raise the engine off it’s mount? I’d understood the process to be: Raise car and remove front wheels. Remove hub nuts and strut/shock absorber nuts on each side - then remove drive shafts from wheels - and pop t...

Anyone replaced this themselves? Am summoning up the courage - but wanted to check whether I really need an engine hoist to lift the engine an inch or so in order to remove the bracket/bolt on the diff - or whether I can get away with using a trolly jack - will that cause damage to the sump? - as it...

Yup. I reckon so. Maybtacjle the alternatirbbracket oil leak at the same time while I’m messing about with it...(!).

Thanks!

Okeydokes.... started it this morning. Same noise (as was cold). Shut it down and whipped off the audillary belt. Started it up and completely quiet... (so hopefully l....) phew! I spun the alternator by hand. Smooth and silent. Power steering pulley has a knock on it: https://youtu.be/CeuNubMAXFQ W...

Grateful for some thoughts on the following. My car is a 2004 E53 with an N62 4.8 - 106,000 miles. From cold it makes a clanking noise on start up - which sounds pretty serious.... it completely goes away as the engine starts to warm up... I’ve changed the tensioner and idler pulley and water pump -...

Okeydokes:

Rear mounting point looks like this...



Front mounting point looks like this...



I think it’s OK...(!!!) - and that only the front has the locating pin/dowel??

Thanks - I think I may have panicked too early as the other side was the same - i.e. locating dowel on the front9 bush only....

Hi - I’ve posted on xoutpost too - but grateful for some help. I’m replacing the rear subframe bushes - got the first one out, but in the process of sliding the bushing tool ontop of it, it pushed the locating dowel with the screw threads which the long bolt screws into up into the base of the car. ...

Had this on our e46 325 - on that engine there’s a valve which is called the “sucking jet pump” which is basically a one way venturi valve which is attached to the end of the hard vaccuum pipe which feeds into the servo (runs under the scuttle). It’s a sealed unit made of plastic - and in ours, the ...

Yep. Gunna be busy! Thanks again for the detailed info. Really helpful.

Thanks for this. Will investigate at the weekend as will head to my folks where I can remove the fan shroud and belts. The main serpentine belt seems to travel/oscillate about 3mm or so on the water pump pulley - but I can’t detect any wobble/ movement of the pulleys themselves by eye. Assume it sho...

Thanks for this - I’ll take a look - assume should be obvious if it’s loose!

...so just to check - do  you mean the vibration dampener (which I think is the main drive pulley off of the crank)?:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=11_3260

Many thanks for this - had half wondered about it actually as there may be a slight wobble.... so to check - remove fan shroud (for access) - and belts - and then check for play in the crank pulley? If I remove the pulley, I assume there’s no seal which will fall out/engine oil will come pouring out...

That’s a good idea actually (running without the belt....) - will give that a go - and think it’s probably a good idea to change the water pump at this mileage.