E46 Repairs, BTDT opinions?

[PDenbigh]

MM,

I have a E46 330Ci (5 spd) with 240k on the odo. Been a great car as long as I've kept up with the usual stuff. I'm due for another round of wrenching, and I want your opinion on two things:

1. Should I just pull the engine out and do this stuff at once? (I have the space, tools (Edit: including a lift) and know-how already) and,
2. What else should I do while I'm already shoulders deep?

On the list:
-oil pan gasket
-motor mounts
-PCV system
-O2 Sensors (throwing codes like woah)
-Power steering lines
-Clutch possibly, if I pull the engine

Already complete:
-Cooling system top-to-bottom
-All other oil gaskets that get hard and spew
-Intake boots, idle air flapper valve thing, coilpacks and plugs, valve cover gasket, Vanos rebuilt


Looking at the oil pan and the PCV it just seems like a whole lot of work to change, and would be an equal amount of work or less to just pull the engine/transmission as a unit. I could then clean it all up and do the various repairs and inspections, and slide it back in fresh and clean.

I'm not against pulling it and accidentally reinstalling a M3 engine either, but from what I've seen on the foremz yo! this seems like an unnecessarily expensive project.

Opinions appreciated. Thanks!

Peter

[D_Eclipse9916]

S54...................................

No need to pull engine.

[Senor_Taylor]

I'm not sure if anyone can give you an answer to this. If you're willing to pull the motor and clean things up and put a new clutch in, go for it. It seems it'll make the PCV easier being able to get your head at an angle to look under the intake (which would save you a good chunk of time), and the oil pan gasket.

[SlimKlim]

An S54 swap would be a pretty insane amount of money to drop into a 240k 330ci chassis. I think I'd sell it for peanuts on CL and buy something else with what you'd spend for that swap before I got involved in that mess.

I'm not sure the oil pan and PCV system are really that bad to do in the car, unless the E46 is worse than the E36. It sounds like you just want to rip the motor out of something for funsies, so do it.

You might as well throw some rod bearings in there, you might want to replace your knock/cam/crank sensors for good measure (if the M54 has all of those), and throw in one of those lightweight eBay flywheels for INSTAREVS.

[PDenbigh]

S54...................................

No need to pull engine.

Ha, thanks.

Oil pan gasket isn't too bad with a lift then? 3-4 hrs in your opinion?

[PDenbigh]

You might as well throw some rod bearings in there, you might want to replace your knock/cam/crank sensors for good measure (if the M54 has all of those).

That's the kind of info I'm hoping to find - anything else that should be done while I'm in there as it relates specifically to the M54.

Thanks,
Peter

[SlimKlim]

Btw, have you done a recent compression check to make sure you're not about to waste a ton of time and money on a motor that needs more than just an quick refresh?

[PDenbigh]

Not a bad idea! Look at you being all proactive ;-). Thanks for the suggestion.

[Jake]

Oil pan gasket can be done with the motor in the car, on jack stands even. You having a lift would make it even easier. I'm assuming the process is the same between E36 and E46, but the gist of it is unbolting a few things, unbolting the subframe and letting it all sag by the control arms. You can then slide the oil pan out the front of the car.

I did motor mounts while I did the oil pan. PS lines are easy as well.

Does the clutch feel good, or is it starting to slip? I'd leave the motor in the car unless you really want to pull it, or unless the clutch is going - in which case, pull motor/trans as a unit and do it all out of the car.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Not a bad idea! Look at you being all proactive ;-). Thanks for the suggestion.

That's a lot of money (all those sensors) to throw in an M54. How long do you plan on keeping it?

Are you sure its not the oil filter housing thats leaking instead of oil pan. Oil pan doesnt take any longer than an E36. Pulling the intake manifold isn't that bad of a job either but maybe I am cheap. I would only do the requisites, and if something else fails it's not too terribly difficult to go back in there.

Oh, nobody has mentioned that you need a way to hold up the engine when you drop the subframe. Don't forget that step

[.RJ]

How is all of the vacuum hose shit not leaking already?