Alternator Help (URGENT)

[slowlanemcvane]

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.

[aclockwrk]

Please see this thread.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-e70-4-8i.html

there are two star bolts you need to remove that attach the alternator to the engine block. Not sure you have already removed them
Once those are removed it should slide right out. At least it did for me.

My big issue was fitting in the new one. Lot's of cursing and same thoughts of C4.
My issue was on the new alternator the bushing was pushed out and it would not allow the alternator to slide back into place. Just FYI if you hit an issue getting the alternator back in.

[slowlanemcvane]

I appreciate your response. I have removed the bolts you described, and the alternator is now sitting freely in its mounting location. I can get it to swing a little out away from the mount lugs where it would bolt to the alternator bracket, but for the life of me I can't get it to slide forward.

[slowlanemcvane]

Okay, got it. Finally. Apparently I found the right sequence of swear words and obscene gestures to convince my car that I wasn't kidding when I said I would use dynamite.