M54 3.0i Exhaust Gasket Replacement at Catalytic Converter

[Perrier]

Good thinking.
What do you do for a living by the way are you a project manager?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Perrier

Good thinking.
What do you do for a living by the way are you a project manager?

Means and Methods are usually left up to the contractor. I was a PM for 15 years and I would never tell a contractor how to perform a task. I will just call them out if they fail to follow the contract documents.

[richardb]

Originally Posted by Perrier

Good thinking.
What do you do for a living by the way are you a project manager?

I am not a PM. I have a few select places I bring my cars, 90% of work is DIY but some things I have to bring to the following places:

1. The Dealer $$$
2. The Skilled BMW Indie $$$
3. The Local General Repair Shop $

My exhaust gasket is going to number 3, where they will charge one hour labor for this repair. The Indie place will happily charge 3 hours for this simple job.

Now that I know there are bolts present, not studs, I may even attempt it myself this weekend after all. Sprayed it up with PB blast to help get it started!

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by richardb

....Now that I know there are bolts present, not studs, I may even attempt it myself this weekend after all. Sprayed it up with PB blast to help get it started!

Easy to do with a good 1/2 inch drive battery impact gun and sockets. On the tougher-to-access bolt heads, use a range of longer handles open end wrenches to hold. The long-handled offset metric box wrenches at harbor freight are a big help in this job.

3/8 impact gun probably wouldn't get it done.