Remove re-enforcement plate underneath

staneee · #1 02-20-2010, 03:25 PM

Anyone know how to remove the re-enforcement plate underneath the engine. The 17mm bolts are spinning with the nuts. It looks impossible to get at the nuts.
Is there a trick to removing this?

I need to check the exhaust/turbo connections and this is the easiest way.

lo_jack · #2 02-22-2010, 05:24 PM

There is no trick as far as I know. If you get under there and back the nuts up from above with a ratcheting wrench and remove the bolt from below with a socket, it comes of in 10 minutes.

Keep in mind the front sway bar also mounts to some of those bolts, and you need to line the sway up first and get those rear bolts in going straight so the sway will go back on right first.

Don't forget the front little bolts that go to the splash shield.

killcrap · #3 02-22-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staneee

Anyone know how to remove the re-enforcement plate underneath the engine. The 17mm bolts are spinning with the nuts. It looks impossible to get at the nuts.
Is there a trick to removing this?

I need to check the exhaust/turbo connections and this is the easiest way.

there is a trick to it, use 16MM short wrench and a 16MM ratchet.

lo_jack · #4 02-22-2010, 06:02 PM

Well sure, as long as you back the nut up with whatever you have that fits in there (the front ones you can get to from the sides) you can get it on and off. That's hardly a trick.

killcrap · #5 02-22-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo_jack

Well sure, as long as you back the nut up with whatever you have that fits in there (the front ones you can get to from the sides) you can get it on and off. That's hardly a trick.

i guess you just dont get it. the OP is using 17mm socket when it requires a 16mm socket.

lo_jack · #6 02-22-2010, 06:52 PM

Using the correct tool is also not a trick.

I did miss that though. I don't remember what size it is.

Now that I think about it though, make sure you put something under the reinforcement panel so that when you get most of the bolts out and it is hanging by the last one, it doesn't fall.

dragoncoach · #7 02-22-2010, 08:07 PM

It may not be a trick but it sure as heck helps to use the correct size wrenches and sockets.

oldskewel · #8 12-16-2014, 03:48 AM

Confirming since I just did this yesterday on my 2001 X5 3.0i ...

16 mm bolt head goes up into a 16 mm nut.

Yes, you need to use some sort of wrench up top to stop the nut from spinning, but on my car at least, there was nothing resembling a trick involved in doing that.

10 mm bolt head on the screws for the plastic splash shield.