PROCEDURE: V8 Clutch Job - Simple tools

[saluki540i]

I don't have access to verify this right now, but I'm almost 100% sure my DMF attachment bolts were T-60's. I remember this because I special ordered two of the longest ones I could get from snap-on, then had to grind them down to fit into the recesses. Talk about making me cry. Luckily I only ground one down. Mine were really in there, and I used an Ingersoll-Rand Titanium Impact gun to break them free. Torquing the new flywheel in place was a pain to do by myself too...

[Ross]

I suspect both sizes were used, T50 and T60. My experience was on a '94 530 employing the T50 bolt heads.
For the amount of torque required to break mine loose a larger tool would have been desireable. It took a brand new BMW tool, valve grinding paste and very powerful impact gun to remove two of the bolts. Mine was a replacement Alusil engine so not a factory installation and perhaps overtightened by some mechanic.
Contrary to how my car was equipped every published source indicated a T60 size, including the BMW service tool catalog.

[Ferret]

I suspect both sizes were used, T50 and T60. My experience was on a '94 530 employing the T50 bolt heads.
For the amount of torque required to break mine loose a larger tool would have been desireable. It took a brand new BMW tool, valve grinding paste and very powerful impact gun to remove two of the bolts. Mine was a replacement Alusil engine so not a factory installation and perhaps overtightened by some mechanic.
Contrary to how my car was equipped every published source indicated a T60 size, including the BMW service tool catalog.

Ross, I'm suspecting that the 530 and 540 use very different flywheels... did your 530 have a dual mass flywheel in it? I'm going to do some rummaging around now and find out if there's some differences, will report back!

[yaofeng]

This is hind sight but I hope you did not loctite the flywheel bolts. The construction of the crank shaft rear flange on the V8 is such that the flywheel bolt holes do not penetrate the flange so there is no concern of the engine oil seeping out through the threads. BMW recommends to oil the bolt before tightening. If you loctite, chances are you'll strip the torx head the next time around, if there is one.

[Ferret]

I've not actually taken the flywheel off yet as I'm still looking for a replacement 6 speed box - it doesnt seem worth shelling the extra money out if I've got to take the whole thing apart in the near future again anyway.

I've done a bit of rummaging, all the running gear on the 530 is different to that on the 540, so it's *very* possible that the 530 and the 540 has different sized torx bolts in it:

530:
Crankshaft: 11 21 1 725 824
Flywheel: 21 21 1 223 508 Dia: 240mm £394/788USD (?! doesnt say who it's made by)
Clutch: 21 21 0 415 938 Dia: 240mm £175/350USD (LUK)

540:
Crankshaft: 11 21 1 729 261
Flywheel: 21 20 1 223 453 Dia: 265mm £165/330USD (LUK)
Clutch: 21 21 1 223 556 Dia: 265mm £213/426USD (LUK)