What is holding this 2002 X5 3.0i cylinder head down? Head bolts removed
 

Hi All ,

I am posting pics of my 2002 BMW X5 3.0i m54 cylinder head. I am replacing head gasket and already removed the head bolts but something is still holding head down. Hoping somebody here can look at photos and see what I missed. Exhaust manifold is unbolted and separated.

Thanks for your help!

Aaron

did you remove the 2 small bolts that are located on the front of the head.(where the vanos guide seat) there is also one on each side.
If they are out you shod use a rubber mallet so that it come loose

The 2 bolts you mentioned, are they the torx bolts under where the secondary timing chain tensioner sits? I couldn't reach one of the bolts, so I left both because I assumed the are connected only to head and not lower half of engine. As for the other two external bolts I think I got them, unless they are on the outside. I had trouble figuring out which external bolts you were pointing at.

Thanks,

Aaron

The middle Awroes are pointing at the 2 bolts that hold a timming guide.those other2 Aweoes are pointing at the outer edge on the inside the two you mention must be remove in order to remove the head.
Cheers

I ended up removing the intake camshaft in an attempt to get at the supposedly e8 torx on the right side front of the head and in the process lost some nuts under the exhaust cam, so ended up pulling both. Still can't get a socket on the supposed right side e8 torx. E10 appears to big, and e8 to small. I don't have an e9 but am baffled why the left side would be e8 and the right a non standard e9. Any suggestions? Attached is a photo of this beast. As you can see the torx is almost no longer looking like a torx. Help...

BMW E39 5-series Service Manual

go to page 95, there are the instructions. it looks like there is some gunk build up on the small torx what I have done in the past is put the socket on the bolt with an extension making sure that is align with the bolt and tap it with a hammer.
Sorry that i fail to mention that the cams had to be off.
the small bolts shod both be E8

the link is for a E39 look for the m52tu/m54engine part and it will guide you. good luck.

Thanks for that info. A hammer and the e8 did the trick. I see why that needed to come out.

The head is still stuck held down. But I figured out why the two e8 torx bolts on the front right and left side I missed. I've been working in the dark with bad eyesight. I walked out this morning looked down, and there the two bolts were. Dark on dark hidden in oil.

Thanks,

Aaron

No problem... If your head is still stuck probably its your dowel pins that it's keeping it in place... Try to hit the cilinder head with a rubber mallet on the sides. If you took all of the 14 bolts and the 4 small ones, they shouldn't be anithing else holding it in place