If you decide not to do the valley pan and remove the intake manifold, make sure you have a new T30 torx bit/socket. Those lower torx bolts holding the backing plate on (actually all of those torx bolts) like to strip out fairly easy. Plus it's hard to get the socket perfectly straight inline with the bolts making it even more likely to strip out. I ended up needing to use a set of vice grips to get one loose after my used snap-on bit started to strip it out. But, once they are loosened they can all be unthreaded with your fingers. I replaced the lower bolts with 10mm hex bolts to save future headaches
Also, there is that one little vacuum hose that runs under the intake manifold and connects to the drain pipes under the oil separator. Make sure you replace that also and it's a little tricky routing the new one back into place. Make sure you have the stock part 11-15-7-560-068 as it has some extra reinforcement to make it last a little longer than a plain vacuum hose.

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Olympic Peninsula, WA, USA
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2005 Mini Cooper 100k, British Racing Green/Silver-Black
04/2002 4.6is 140k, Silver/Black-Alcantara *FOR SALE*
1989 325iX 270k, Diamond Black/Black
1984 318i 370k *SOLD* (First Bimmer)
Honorable Mentions: '71 2002, '87 325, '90 325ic, '92 525it, '93 325i, '94 530i