Intake Manifold Removal?

WCM3 · 02-26-2011, 06:29 PM

Hey guys,

I don't think I necessarily need to remove the whole manifold but maybe. When I originally bought my car there was only one nut on the top of the intake manifold. I didn't really think anything of it because it should be an easy fix. It looks like one of the BMW techs must have tightened it too much and actually broke the bolt. Is there a way to take just the intake manifold "cover" off and not have to remove the entire manifold?

Here's a picture for example. The nut on the left is still there, but all that is in the right hole is half a bolt.

Thanks for your help guys,
Mike

Jaypod · 02-26-2011, 06:53 PM

You can not just simply remove the top of the Manifold cover. It is a sealed unit. Those nuts on top do not just remove, my guess they are just there for structure. The manifold removes in one piece.

If the dealer broke it tell them to replace it.

BMRLVR · 02-26-2011, 07:19 PM

Like Jay said if the dealer broke it have them fix it.

The only proper way to fix the manifold would be to remove the entire manifold, remove the other fastener and separate the halves. Once you have that done you can replace the broken stud/bolt and re-seal the top and bottom halves of the manifold together with some kind of a silicone/urethane based sealer/adhesive.

There is no part # for the fasteners on the manifold so you will have to match them up with some generic fasteners.

One other option is someone may sell you a manifold from a car that had a supercharger installed on it. A new manifold retails for about $790 USD, put up a WTB add in the classifieds you may get lucky.

Kyoshi71 · 02-26-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaypod

You can not just simply remove the top of the Manifold cover. It is a sealed unit. Those nuts on top do not just remove, my guess they are just there for structure. The manifold removes in one piece.

If the dealer broke it tell them to replace it.

+1

Get those idiots to fix it. Those bolts/nuts breaking is common.

IMG · 02-26-2011, 09:12 PM

Take that car back to the dealer and tell them to take care of it.

JCtx · 02-27-2011, 12:11 AM

Folks, those bolts are only there to hold the two halves together while the epoxy cures. They have ZERO function once cured. And you can't remove the 2 halves without breaking them; they're ONE unit now. It's only a cosmetic problem. You can just glue the chrome head in place. I wouldn't want a dealer messing with my car just for that, but to each his own. Good luck.

808E90 · 02-27-2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Folks, those bolts are only there to hold the two halves together while the epoxy cures. They have ZERO function once cured. And you can't remove the 2 halves without breaking them; they're ONE unit now. It's only a cosmetic problem. You can just glue the chrome head in place. I wouldn't want a dealer messing with my car just for that, but to each his own. Good luck.

+1

Just glue it back

WCM3 · 02-27-2011, 06:53 AM

Thanks for all the comments guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Folks, those bolts are only there to hold the two halves together while the epoxy cures. They have ZERO function once cured. And you can't remove the 2 halves without breaking them; they're ONE unit now. It's only a cosmetic problem. You can just glue the chrome head in place. I wouldn't want a dealer messing with my car just for that, but to each his own. Good luck.

Actually this is my issue too. I was in there today installing my new AA filter and when putting the airbox back together I noticed the dealer didn't do it right the first time. They didn't sit it in the grooves correctly, and bent this one side back. I fixed it while I finished installing the filter and this is why I absolutely hate the dealer doing anything to this car.

Now replacing the whole manifold I would feel better myself doing. And the problem is, it was like this when I bought the car. And now the car has a tick over 50k miles on it so I doubt the dealer will do anything. I'm not quite sure how to prove they were the ones who messed with it in the first place.

And I really don't mind sourcing a new nut and just lightly epoxying or gluing it into place. I looked at realoem and couldn't even find a listing for that. Anybody have an extra one sitting around or know where to get it?

persian54 · 02-27-2011, 10:23 PM

When I was at EAS and we installed my painting manifold, we didn't know you couldn't just 'unscrew' them

So EAS was kind enough to get me new ones to glue onto my painted manifold :P

and glue the original back on as well since I have a lease and it would suck to take it in with that broken...

WCM3 · 02-28-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian54

When I was at EAS and we installed my painting manifold, we didn't know you couldn't just 'unscrew' them

So EAS was kind enough to get me new ones to glue onto my painted manifold :P

and glue the original back on as well since I have a lease and it would suck to take it in with that broken...

Thanks dude. Any part number for the new ones? I'm going to look at realoem again today.

MIGUEL-M3 · 10-01-2011, 01:17 AM

Hi guys, i want to know how to remove the intake cover? does anyone one have a step by step procedure with pics???

Rshane · 10-01-2011, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIGUEL-M3

Hi guys, i want to know how to remove the intake cover? does anyone one have a step by step procedure with pics???

I removed the manifold from one of my old Mustangs with a 100 shot of nitrous and a bad tune. I wouldn't recommend this method, but I'm sure a PM to the folks at ESS or Gitani would help you out.

JCtx · 10-01-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIGUEL-M3

does anyone one have a step by step procedure with pics???

No, but a pic of it removed is better than nothing

. You need to remove intake, coolant tank (moved aside), engine covers, and driver's PCV valve as a minimum. Then loosening all 8 TB clamps with a long extension and a socket, rather than a screwdriver. You have to be mechanically inclined to attempt that, but it's not difficult; just time consuming, especially wiggling the damn thing off and on; that's the hardest part. Otherwise you'd have to remove the tower bracing, and that'd take a lot longer. Good luck.

I left off the engine covers; engine looks sportier and sexier IMO

. And next time it'll be much easier to remove the intake cover, if needed. But had to sand/polish all bolts with blue stain since no solvent removed it, plus other cosmetic changes. Here's the result:

THE TECH · 12-28-2011, 02:08 PM

Any reason why you removed it?

I'm taking mine off today or tomorrow.

02-26-2011, 06:29 PM	#1
WCM3 Î canŧ főcus mŷ attėntĭon 72 Rep 1,406 Posts Drives: 13 Rubicon Join Date: May 2008 Location: Morgantown, Pa iTrader: (7)	Intake Manifold Removal? Hey guys, I don't think I necessarily need to remove the whole manifold but maybe. When I originally bought my car there was only one nut on the top of the intake manifold. I didn't really think anything of it because it should be an easy fix. It looks like one of the BMW techs must have tightened it too much and actually broke the bolt. Is there a way to take just the intake manifold "cover" off and not have to remove the entire manifold? Here's a picture for example. The nut on the left is still there, but all that is in the right hole is half a bolt. Thanks for your help guys, Mike __________________ 2011 M3 Coupe - Individual Fire Orange/Black Novillo Extended Leather, 6MT, Mode Carbon, Eisenmann Race, BBS CH-R, BC Coil-overs (Sold) 1995 M3 Coupe - Avus/Hurricane, AEM EMS, Precision Turbo, Boostlogic, H&R, Fikse FM/5, MaxVelocity, Maximum PSI, 20% Tint, etc etc..(Sold) 2009 M3 Coupe - AW/Fox Red, 6MT, Carbon Roof, Shadow Trim, etc (Sold)
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02-26-2011, 06:53 PM	#2
Jaypod Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,971 Posts Drives: Frozen M3, AM V8V, 991 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (7)	You can not just simply remove the top of the Manifold cover. It is a sealed unit. Those nuts on top do not just remove, my guess they are just there for structure. The manifold removes in one piece. If the dealer broke it tell them to replace it.
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02-26-2011, 07:19 PM	#3
BMRLVR Grease Monkey 295 Rep 2,646 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3,1994 Euro E36 M3/4 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada iTrader: (3)	Like Jay said if the dealer broke it have them fix it. The only proper way to fix the manifold would be to remove the entire manifold, remove the other fastener and separate the halves. Once you have that done you can replace the broken stud/bolt and re-seal the top and bottom halves of the manifold together with some kind of a silicone/urethane based sealer/adhesive. There is no part # for the fasteners on the manifold so you will have to match them up with some generic fasteners. One other option is someone may sell you a manifold from a car that had a supercharger installed on it. A new manifold retails for about $790 USD, put up a WTB add in the classifieds you may get lucky. __________________ 2011 E90 M3 ZCP - Individual Moonstone/Individual Amarone Extended/Individual Piano Black With Inlay:LINK!!! 1994 Euro E36 M3 Sedan - Daytona Violet/Mulberry:LINK!!!
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02-26-2011, 09:12 PM	#5
IMG 1122 Rep 7,690 Posts Drives: E36 M3 Track car,Ess E90 M3 DD Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Location iTrader: (6)	Take that car back to the dealer and tell them to take care of it.
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02-27-2011, 12:11 AM	#6
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Folks, those bolts are only there to hold the two halves together while the epoxy cures. They have ZERO function once cured. And you can't remove the 2 halves without breaking them; they're ONE unit now. It's only a cosmetic problem. You can just glue the chrome head in place. I wouldn't want a dealer messing with my car just for that, but to each his own. Good luck.
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02-27-2011, 10:23 PM	#9
persian54 Lieutenant General 923 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	When I was at EAS and we installed my painting manifold, we didn't know you couldn't just 'unscrew' them So EAS was kind enough to get me new ones to glue onto my painted manifold :P and glue the original back on as well since I have a lease and it would suck to take it in with that broken... __________________ From E93 335i to E89 Z4 to E93 M3/E89 Z4 to E350/SL550
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10-01-2011, 01:17 AM	#11
MIGUEL-M3 New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: E92M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: PHILIPPINES iTrader: (0)	Hi guys, i want to know how to remove the intake cover? does anyone one have a step by step procedure with pics???
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12-28-2011, 02:08 PM	#14
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Any reason why you removed it? I'm taking mine off today or tomorrow.
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