I've done 4 w/o the tool:)

To answer the question for the N62, you don't need to remove anything other than the plastic under panel up front. Then you just compress the tensioner, remove belt. Easy peasy.

I've found the belts crack a lot sooner than one would like, at least in Vegas they do.

^Agreed. If you are just doing the belt... use this method. If you are doing the tensioners and idlers consider removing the fan assembly.

It's easy enough to remove, but I've done the tensioners/idlers w/o removing it, fwiw.

I hear you. Definitely can be done... I have large hands and enjoy extra work space whenever possible. Fan assembly is 5-10 minutes so I do it.

I'm the guy who removes the intake manifold to do CCV's on m54 engines even though it is perfectly doable with it in place. I see people do it all the time and the guys at the shop I was at never removed the manifold. :thumbup: