might need to drop the subframe soon on my 540i

[E39bmw]

After replacing the lower oil pan gasket, I noticed that the upper one is also leaking. So I guess Ill drop the subframe, replace that gasket and as well replace the timing chain guides and timing covers gaskets.
I know i would need to support the engine somehow while the subframe is removed, and i have no idea how i would do that.

And also, Im going to be removing the crank pulley to do the lower timing cover gasket job, but what tool would i need for this job? Anyone knows of the DIY for this job?

[NNY528I]

a fence post, several pairs of old underwear and a short piece of chain work quite nicely for this.

[E39bmw]

lol, is there a way to hold up the engine using lifts or something?

[sjbdeebo2]

Rule #1 on this board, don't listen to people who own MG's.
-You could pull the engine.
-You could try to lift the engine a little using a hoist. That is how I replaced an oil
pan gasket on my M30.

Search E38.org/e39 or something like that...

[E39bmw]

whats MG?

[sjbdeebo2]

A car company that manufactured cars for women.

[NNY528I]

A car company that manufactured cars for women.


Never heard that definition before.

As to methodology just search out Orxans thread on his suspension upgrade, we used a 4*4 fence post, some 2*2 posts a section of chain and several pairs of old underwear to protect the paint, worked like a charm except that we kept banging our heads on the post where it overhung the sides of the car. The nice part is its available to anyone at your local lowes or home depot.


lol, is there a way to hold up the engine using lifts or something?

I wasnt kidding, it works quite well and is cheap. Just FWIW I have an engine crane/hoist(its visible in some of the videos below if you dont believe me), but it is a big pain to work with if you also intend to work under the car.

Check out video number 5 for the engine support, the rest of the vids detail the work you are planning to do.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1225602

[boomshakalaka]

A car company that manufactured cars for women.


I literally laughed out loud.

[NNY528I]

I literally laughed out loud.

Keep laughing if I ever finish the 65 it will give your 540 a run for its money.

[mattmartindrift]

Keep laughing if I ever finish the 65 it will give your 540 a run for its money.



if you can't poke fun at the things you enjoy, you shouldn't use the internet.


that being said - it was pretty funny and I would own one [after i had a triumph tr6].

[ForceFed7]

Keep laughing if I ever finish the 65 it will give your 540 a run for its money.

Bench racing FTL. :lol

[jhstealth]

darn i thought only the i6's needed to have the tranny dropped, i thought the pan was accessable from under it :(

[E39bmw]

you can change the lower pan without dropping the subframe, but to replace teh upper one, you need to drop it. Also ill get under my car tomorrow to see because i have a feeling that i might be able to slide the upper oil pan on the subframe (if i remove the radiator)

[NNY528I]

if you can't poke fun at the things you enjoy, you shouldn't use the internet.


that being said - it was pretty funny and I would own one [after i had a triumph tr6].

If you thought I was upset or something my apologies, I should have included a smiley:D.


Bench racing FTL. :lol

Nothing Bench about it. I just need to finish putting the pieces I already have together. If you plug in the numbers on a car with 110hp weighing about 1400lbs you get a 0-60 of about 5.7 which comes in pretty close to a 540 at about 5.6. As I said, this isnt theoretical, I have all the hardware I just need to finish assembling it.

Here is a link to the car as I purchased it, I have done a lot of work since then.

http://www.attackbanana.com/modmg/s10-midget.php?PHPSESSID=02c20584e15aae58921b4f0eaef19 325

[Wolfen]

a fence post, several pairs of old underwear and a short piece of chain work quite nicely for this.


Imagine if my mechanic told me this. How comfortable would i be?

[ForceFed7]

Nothing Bench about it. I just need to finish putting the pieces I already have together. If you plug in the numbers on a car with 110hp weighing about 1400lbs you get a 0-60 of about 5.7 which comes in pretty close to a 540 at about 5.6. As I said, this isnt theoretical, I have all the hardware I just need to finish assembling it.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. You're already quoting numbers on a car you haven't even built yet. :rolleyes
It is bench racing until you put up a number. Till then keep toiling bro. :D


Imagine if my mechanic told me this. How comfortable would i be?
Depends on the underwear. :devillook

[NNY528I]

Imagine if my mechanic told me this. How comfortable would i be?

go watch the videos before you knock it. The difference is I have the tools to do it either way and the fence post makes a cheap and easy engine support that does the same job as a fancy tool but was actually more convenient than the shop crane, regardless, its a far cry from zip tying your cams in place during a delicate timing procedure.


Woulda, coulda, shoulda. You're already quoting numbers on a car you haven't even built yet. :rolleyes
It is bench racing until you put up a number. Till then keep toiling bro. :D


Oh its built, its just not finished, nothing theoretical(which is what I would call bench racing) just haven't finished the details(like right now the stupid radiator hoses need to be fabbed as the radiator has to be mounted backwards to clear the steering rack, its a tiny car just over 11 feet long and 4 feet wide, not a lot of room for anything)