I need advice on removing my alternator from my wife's 2007 X5 4.8is. I have gotten to the point of wanting to remove the alternator with a stick of dynamite or block of C4. Allow me to walk you through what I have accomplished so far and where I am stuck:

1) All upper air ducting removed, to include filter housings
2) Forward upper crossmember removed
3) Fan and fan shroud assembly removed
4) Upper radiator hose disconnected from radiator
5) Accessory drive belt removed
6) Guide idler pulley removed from alternator
7) Power steering line retention bracket removed
8) Wiring harness bracket removed from alternator

According to all of the DIY guides, the alternator is supposed to "slide forward" so I can disconnect the power lead and the wiring harness from the back of the alternator. I have tried a flat tip screw driver and progressively larger pry bars to get the thing to slide forward, but to no avail. As far as I can tell (and if it is anything like my old M54 cars) it needs to tilt and lift out.

Does anyone have any guidance before I push her car into the street and hope it gets smashed by a semi? Thanks.

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2007 BMW X5 4.8i - Sport Package, Wife's Car

2001 BMW 325i - My Car.

2005 Ford Excursion Limited 4x4, 6.0 Powerstroke Diesel. My first "grown up" car.