Removing '92 525i 5-speed w/o removing exhaust, driveshaft?

[R Shaffner]

Another quick question for those who know...

It looks like one might be able to pull this transmission without having to remove the exhaust and driveshaft. Has anyone here done that? Looks like I might be able to undo and compress the driveshaft to the rear enough to get it out of the way.

(I think the clutch pivot pin is bad. I don't really want to mess with this old/rusty exhaust, and the stuck/fragile nuts and studs, if I don't have to. I also don't want to get the tranny loose and then find that I have to undo everything else.)

[Rufrob]

Highly doubt it. Really it’s not that hard. 30min tops if you don’t have rust nuts and bolts.

[OrientblauACS]

You need to drop the exhaust, remove the 6 bolts up front and the hangers and leave it in one piece.

For the drive shaft remove the flex disc and 2 bolts at center bearing and then you can tuck it out the way.

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[R Shaffner]

Got it. Not my car and my brother wants it back soon. Maybe the old rusted nuts won't be too bad. Thx!

[moroza]

Nope. At the very least, the exhaust needs to be lowered so that the driveshaft can be flexed out of the way. While in there, you may as well replace the exhaust hardware. PB Blaster and a good impact wrench for removal, stainless steel bolts with silicon bronze nuts and nickel-based anti-seize for reinstallation.

[eseeling]

be sure and put a big hose clamp on the guibo first.

[R Shaffner]

be sure and put a big hose clamp on the guibo first.

This one surprised me. Why?

[demetk]

This one surprised me. Why?

Me too.

[south42]

Me too.

They expand


Andy

- - - Updated - - -

Me too.

They expand


Andy

[south42]

I did remove my tranny without taking off my exhaust with a 535i. I have to let the muffler loose. I did this because I was worried about rusty nuts and hardware on the exhaust. Sadly I ended up cracking the pipe that was on the cat. So yes I did take the tranny out with out removing the exhaust, but in the end I had to replace a large part of the exhaust. Now for those people that live in nice areas (Southern US) that do not have the rust problem, I am assuming they could do it without a lot of problems.


Andy

[R Shaffner]

Finally got around to this after refreshing the front suspension.

This was the first time I've dealt with these copper-clad nuts. The big problem I had was that none on my sockets would fit properly on them. I had a deep 6-point 13mm socket that I thought would be perfect. But it wouldn't go on fully, even when I hammered it on. And the 6-point 14mm was clearly loose. I don't get it.

I finally got 5 of the nuts off using those sockets, but often the 13mm wouldn't fit all the way and just rounded the section that it did grab. I can't get a good angle on the 6th one, because the pipe and sway bar are in the way. But at least it's relatively easy to get to from the side. Later today I'll try vice grips or drill/Dremmel a slice off the nut off so I can expand it and get it off that way.

[R Shaffner]

Well, I did it, solo, in my driveway. Not God-awful but certainly not easy. Many contortions. FCP sent the wrong alignment tool and exhaust manifold to pipe nuts.

A transmission jack from Harbor Freight made the hardest part pretty easy (to lift and line the tranny up just right for a proper fit).