I'm about to attempt this over the next few days.. what gaskets do i need other. So far this is my list
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...38#11427520214
11421702917 2pc O Ring for oil cooler connections at alternator housing.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...42#12317507808
Gasket 1PC 12317507808
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=17_0293
2 of number 3, O-ring 13,4X1,78 4 17222245358 $1.18
Did you replace any seals on the differential?
Do you have any important pointers?
1. disconnect battery
2. remove electric fan
3. remove alternator belt
4. remove alternator
5. remove plastic and metal skid plate.
6. remove plastic wheel wells on driver side.
7. remove drive shaft between Transfer case and front diff.
8. unbolt top bolt of driver side motor mount.
9. unbolt front differential.
10. lift motor on driver side.
11. pry front differential to gain 1/2 inch clearance to rotate differential clock
wise to gain clearance of hidden bolt.
12. Unbolt oil coolant lines,
13. unbolt alternator backet
14. replace seals
15. everything in reverse.
Is it necessary to lift motor on driver side to rotate differential clockwise?
Will the subframe be in the way?
Quote:
Originally Posted by X5only
Wooooohoooo! Eureka! The Lucifer bolt is out!!! A big shout to Axgordon for his guidance and encouragement- I was almost giving up and ready to have the X towed to my Indie. Thank you very much, sir. 
This project is a P-I-T-A and not for the faint hearted. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate it 10+. To me this project seems like a very challenging video game with traps everywhere blocking you from proceeding to the next level. The initial levels are easy and just when you think you're almost done, trap! And thereafter it's trap after trap! It's as if the designers of this engine deliberately made things very difficult to access and tricking you along the way 
I heeded Axgordon's advice to lift the engine from the top and remove the front driveshaft and unbolt the front differential. Then use two pry bars and slightly pry the differential out about 1/2 inch. I was then able to rotate the diff clockwise and get that Lucifer bolt out. What a pain! And for good measure, I had to use an "S" wrench since regular wrenches wouldn't fit. All these additional steps just to remove that one bolt! Trust me, there's no other way as evidenced in the picts of that bloody bolt location in my earlier post. TIS and Bentley are deafeningly silent about the alternator bracket.
Here're a few additional picts. |