Timing chain, lower cover, remove and install

# Remove and install lower timing cover

Remove negative lead from battery. |
Disconnect Air Flow Meter (blue arrow) and loosen intake boot clamp (yellow arrow). Loosen both 10mm nuts (green arrows) and lift out air box assembly. |
Remove accessory belts.
Remove adjusting and pivot bolts from alternator and move alternator aside. |
Remove the two 13mm bolts securing alternator bracket to front of engine, and the 17mm bolt securing the bracket to the side of the cylinder block (not pictured). |
Remove bolts from power steering pump and place to the side, do not disconnect the hoses.
Remove reinforcement plate from rear of oil pan, at transmission. |
Drain engine oil
Drain coolant from cylinder block, drain is located on the right side of the block, behind the exhaust manifold. |
Remove the eighteen 10mm lower oil pan bolts. |
Remove lower oil pan.
Remove the three 10mm bolts connecting upper oil pan and lower timing cover. |
Loosen the rest of the upper oil pan bolts.
Lock flywheel with BMW special tool 11 2 100 or a large screwdriver.
Remove nut from the crank pulley, slide pulley off evenly. Pulley fit is a very tight tolerance, it must be removed evenly or will jam. If you pry it, do so from opposite sides at the same time, this will keep it even. |
Remove the timing chain tensioner plug from the right side of the cylinder head. Place a rag on the A/C compressor to catch the oil that will be released when the tensioner plug is removed. |
CAUTION: Plug is under considerable spring tension !
Remove tensioner spring and piston.
Remove the water pump.
Remove the 2 bolts joining the cylinder head and lower timing cover. |
Remove the remaining bolts retaining the lower cover to the cylinder block.
Free the oil pan gasket from the lower timing cover with a knife or similar narrow instrument.
If gasket is damaged, remove upper oil pan and replace gasket.
Remove lower timing cover.

### Installation

Replace front crank seal and timing cover gaskets.
Apply a small amount of silicone sealer to the points where the oil pan , cylinder block and timing cover meet, also where the timing cover meets the cylinder head.
Tighten cover bolts to correct torque

E30 M3 Repair Manual V2.7. Copyright ©1999-2001 Koala Motorsport & Brett Anderson