2. It is very important to find a suitable place for work. It is necessary to allocate a work space that would provide free access to the car. If the garage area is not enough for this, you can limit yourself to, at a minimum, any free clean area with a flat surface.
3. Before you start disassembling them, wash the engine compartment, engine and gearbox - this will improve visibility of the work area and help keep the tool clean.
4. You will need a lift that can handle more than the combined weight of the engine and transmission. Safety is of the utmost importance given the potential hazards involved in lifting the unit from the vehicle.
5. If you are removing the engine for the first time. You will need an assistant. It would not be a bad idea to consult with someone who already has such experience. There are some operations related to dismantling and extracting the engine from the car that are not safe to perform alone.
6. Plan your actions. Before you start work, get or borrow all the necessary tools and equipment. For complete safety and relative ease of work, you will need: a lift designed for the total weight of the engine with transmission, a jack dolly of the same lifting capacity, a full set of wrenches, including socket heads, the list of which is given at the end of this book, wooden blocks and a large number of rags and solvents for washing away spilled oil, coolant and fuel. If you have to rent any tools or equipment, agree in advance that you will receive them at the right time, and before that, perform all operations that are possible without their use; this will save your time and money.
7. Consider in your plans that the car will not be used for some time, especially if you are planning a major engine overhaul. Read this entire section and plan the work taking into account your experience, time, tools and available space. Some repairs can only be performed at BMW service stations; they usually have a tight work schedule, so before you start disassembling the car, it is useful to consult with them in advance about the possible time frame for the work.
8. Always use extreme caution when removing the power unit from the engine compartment. Careless actions can result in serious injury. Proper planning and reasonable time investment will allow you to complete the job successfully and without incident.
9. On all models, the engine is removed without the transmission. First, separate the engine from the transmission, then pull the engine out of the car.