Disassembling the engine (BMW 3 Series E21)

Place the washed and cleaned engine on a rotating stand for disassembly.

Remove the cylinder head as described above.

Remove the protective cover and exhaust manifold. Remove the generator and starter.

Remove the water pump assembly (see subsection "Cooling system").

Remove the flywheel ring gear protective cover and lock the flywheel from turning with a locking device.

Remove the crankshaft pulley by unscrewing its mounting nut.

Remove the lower timing cover.

Remove the camshaft drive chain, making a timing mark on the front side of the chain with paint. Remove the chain guide shoe and tensioner shoe.

Unscrew the bolts securing the clutch housing to the flywheel and remove it together with the pressure plate. This will release the driven clutch plate, pay attention to its position: the protruding part of the hub is directed towards the pressure plate.

Remove the flywheel.

Remove the crankshaft rear oil seal holder, then press out the oil seal itself.

Drain the engine oil. Turn the engine upside down and remove the oil pan.

Remove the oil pump.

Check the markings on the connecting rod caps and main bearings (the covers are counted from the camshaft drive side) and label them if necessary.

Loosen the connecting rod bolt nuts, remove the connecting rod caps and lower connecting rod bearing shells and put them in order.

Carefully remove the pistons and connecting rods through the cylinders and place them next to the corresponding connecting rod caps and connecting rod bearing shells.

Remove the main bearing caps together with the lower shells. Remove the crankshaft from the bearing seats. Remove the upper main bearing shells and put them in order.