Removing exhaust manifolds for head and gasket replacement

[mtiger_dds]

How in the world do you access the lower studs on the exhaust manifolds?

Is it easier to leave the manifolds on and remove part of the exhaust with the head? Access to the nuts and studs connecting the exhaust to the manifolds seems pretty tight with steering and suspension components partially blocking the view.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[sfdon]

Use the 12 mm wrenches in your tool kit.
It’s a little like being a dentist.

 

[mtiger_dds]

It’s a little like being a dentist.

Is this the time to put my knee on the patients chest for leverage?

 

[Stevehose]

The bottom ones are hard to get a wrench on, a small 10mm wrench done by feel. Some are accesible from the bottom of the car reaching up. The downpipes with the 3 nuts each are doable with a long extension, swivel, and ideally an air or electric impact gun.

 

[sfdon]

Howdy- drop the exhaust..

That’s the down pipes that have the 3 big copper nuts at each manifold all the way to the tail pipe...
Now - using the 12 mm box wrench remove the 6 copper nuts at each manifold.
Only use a box wrench to loosen the nuts

 

[Markos]

12 point wrenches help a lot once the bolt is free. I did all of mine by hand, but my car isn’t from Ohio.

 

[Peter Coomaraswamy]

I think you can remove the head with the manifolds on. It gives you something to hod on to

 

[Stevehose]

yes if you are taking the head off remove and reinstall the manifolds with the head off, I missed that part

 

[bavbob]

Do you have access to a lift? I went from below with extensions. I trust you know those downpipes are NLA from BMW although Ebay.de seems to have a bunch for sale.

 

[duct-tape]

literally did this today. I have 2 bolts on the head that are rounded (from the previous owner)
I was able to reach the 3 nuts on the downpipe using a 14mm and 2 wobble extensions (about 16 inches). you don't need a lift, I took the front wheel off, put a jackstand under the crossmember and did it laying on my back.

 

[sfdon]

Walloth...

 

[mtiger_dds]

literally did this today. I have 2 bolts on the head that are rounded (from the previous owner)
I was able to reach the 3 nuts on the downpipe using a 14mm and 2 wobble extensions (about 16 inches). you don't need a lift, I took the front wheel off, put a jackstand under the crossmember and did it laying on my back.

That's what I did yesterday. No lift here either, so I got it up on stands to figure out the access and soaked the bolts in penetrating fluid.

 

[mtiger_dds]

For verification, the pipes are part numbers 18111246262 and 18111246255, correct?

 

[duct-tape]

For verification, the pipes are part numbers 18111246262 and 18111246255, correct?

yes, that is the part that bolts to the manifold downpipe