so i'm just about wrapping up a starter replacement on my 97 m3. it only took me about 6 and a half months to get it done.

just so happens that bmw decided it was a good idea to put the starter right in between the gigantic 7 quart oil pan and the intake manifold, and the bolts about 3/4 inch away from the firewall. there literally is no way to get the starter in/out without either a) dropping the subframe to get it out from the bottom, or b) removing the intake manifold. i opted for choice b due to the fact that i don't have easy access to a lift.

long story short, i took my sweet ass time fixing it due to a combination of a lack of motivation, misallocation of funding to fix a car that pisses me off, and the fact that it seemed like every time i went out to work on it i broke something else... for example, the only reason it's not running right now is because i somehow broke one of the pos plastic injector tips, and you can't buy them individually, so i didn't want to drop 120 bucks to get a new injector. i have to now, though, so i'm heading up to autozone after i eat, so i can start this thing up for the first time since it fucked up on me in january.

i hate working on cars.

 

So don't.


This is why people tell you to stay in the kitchen.














j/k

everyone has their troubles when fixing cars... BMW's I can imagine, are GREAT fun to work on lol

However, always nice to know that whatever you did, you did it right and by yourself.

 

That is the best feeling, but it's sometimes a pain in the ass to reach it.

 

There's a point where it's too much of a pain in the ass to feel good about it.

 

Don't feel bad, GM purposely put the starter underneath the intake on northstar motors (goes where that hole is)



You have to also drop the entire driveline on a vette (differential, torque tube, rear suspension, etc) just to change the clutch on a vette. . .

 

If you have a lift you don't have to drop the subframe or remove the intake manifold. It still takes about 3hrs and its a total pain in the dick, but we've done it before. Removing the intake is absolutely not necessary, people jump to that conclusion way too fast.

edit: I'm referring to a S50/52, not a Northstar.

 

Vouch.

There are a lot of other things on the S52 that are pains in the dick for no reason, such as a thermostat or a headliner.

 

i'm not going to disagree, as i never actually had it on a lift, but i did look underneath it and i couldn't even see the sonofabitch so i figured i'd best be off just getting it back home and working on it in the driveway at my leisure.

and leisure it was, as i said it took me 6 and a half months total, but only about 6 or 7 hours of actual work. removing the intake actually isn't that bad... but still, i hated the very thought of it this entire time, and if a tornado had touched down just on top of my car it would have been about the best news i could have received.

edit- if anyone happens to have either a spare injector or one of the plastic tips they're willing to part with, you have an opportunity to make a new bff.

 

They are called pintle caps. They are cheap unless BMW like plastic welds them to the injector or something. If you send your injector out for cleaning..you get one for free.

 

i just couldn't find them for sale anywhere, i figured they'd be like $.76 each or some shit... i just ordered an injector from autozone, i just need to get this thing running.