Has anyone pulled a motor on an 04 M3 SMG? Are there any write ups out there? Is there anything to look out for when pulling it? Special tools needed?

 

Dont have time to do write ups. Depends how much talent/tools you have I suppose. I drop them out the bottom in about 2 hours. It will probably take a home wrencher an entire weekend depending upon the above 2 items. I dont open any SMG lines and just remove the trans/pump/lines as an assembly.


Whats wrong with it

 

I have a pretty good amount of tools but no specfic BMW tools so I wasn't sure if any were needed to pull the motor. Also have a lift in my garage which I heard helps when pulling this motor. I am looking at purchasing an 04 m3 that has a rod knock. I looked around and found used motors going for 3-5K depending on miles so figured it would be easier and cheaper to just pull this motor and throw another complete motor in the car. I really don't want to pull the motor and tear it apart and have it rebuilt because for one I have never worked on an M3 motor or any bmw motor for that matter and I'm sure it would be a learning curve to figure everything out.

The car has the smg transmission and I wasn't sure if there are things to be careful with when seperating the engine from the trans?

 

HAHA. I know what car this is. Let me guess, AA blower setup?

I use a hydraulic cart and drop the subframe and motor down on it. I use a separate trans. jack for the trans. Use a second person to hold the SMG pump after you've disconnected the res. line, etc. Have him hold the pump and lines after you remove the bolts from the trans/starter. Remove the trans on the separate trans jack and set the complete assembly aside. Do not open any lines.

If it needs a clutch you have to reset the clutch adaption values.

Swap over the harness, etc and swap it back it. I would buy a valve cover gasket and grommets and pull the cover and perform a valve adjustment while you have it out as well.

It will definately be a learning experience for you. Lots of inverted torx sockets. Universal and straight. You need a special tool to reuse the sachs self adjusting clutch if you decide to do so. Which at that point, you'll prob have to buy a new one.

 

Yeah it is the AA blower setup. Do you have any info on the car or anything you want to advise me of? Feel free to pm me.

Thanks for the info so far. If the car can be bought for the right price I am thinking about buying it and fixing it then having a nicer daily driver/ beater car. But I am not sure if its really worth the headache of pulling the motor finding a new motor and so on, so I am just trying to find out as much info before i buy myself a headache.

 

I have built more than a couple of these cars. My old roommates is owned by another member on here now. Made 508 wheel with all the goodies...

He had interest in picking up the black one on the cheap, which if I recall he had negotiated around 14/15k. I have 3 of his other BMWs here now, so he decided to stray away from another F/I M3 headache.

Granted the AA is a stellar setup, and very DD'able. But hes a deal maker, so unless its a steal he usually walks.

This car has potential. As the "knock" could be anything without actually hearing it in person. Somewhat suspicious that the car is still around. A decent blower setup with the kinks worked out of it will cost you more than 10k on a stock motor. If I were doing it, it wouldn't be a stock motor once I put it back together. Then again, the last build cost my buddy $20k. And that was me doing all the motor work for free. Minus VAC machining and assembling the shortblock, which was also at a fair discount.

And let me tell you, making power on these cars will cost money. This car will be a money pit... F/I and BMW = $$$$