535i head removal tips and tricks

[zygoteer]

I agree that there is no percentage in removing the intake just to remove the head - however, if your car is right-hand drive (difficult for me to even guess when as a 'big,big time poster' your profile is so comprehensively filled out in invisible ink!), then some of exhaust header bolts can be tricky to get to as the steering box is very close (and its also best to remove the steering box heatshield for access).

A tricky part comes when replacing the head with intake on, simply because the weight and bulk makes it quite awkward to line up everything when you are leaning over the engine bay (unless you happen to be superman), therefore a hoist is recommended to lower/manoeuvre it carefully - I was not so careful as I forgot to remove the oil dipstick first, and my small mis-judgement made the head snap off the plastic ring-pull of the dipstick, so had to get a new one - something that few people have a spare one of it seems ! - oh well

Oh and I fitted new head bolts and paid very careful attention to the tightening sequences in the Bentley with respect to rotational angles and final torques etc.
So far, 17k miles later all is still just fine

[Dash01]

[QUOTE=zygoteer]...some of exhaust header bolts can be tricky to get to as the steering box is very close (and its also best to remove the steering box heatshield for access).

Mine is a US version left hand drive, so the steering box is not an issue.

Presumably, the exhaust manifold can be unbolted and moved to the side enough to clear the studs.

I got the injection wiring harness off the fuel rail, except for one main cable at the rear that runs straight down, and it is not obvious where that one can be disconnected for removal.

Bentley says to put the wiring harness out of the way, but it's attached to the firewall and seems like it will interfere with pulling the head up and off. Were you able to work past that?