E34 M60 Starter Removal - Here's how

[chazzer]

After trying to find a guide on this and coming up with nothing I have done a write up on how to do it - I learn't the hard way so you don't have to

Here’s how I did it,

Disconnect the battery before touching anything

Jack up the car and place on axle stands (there are two good chassis points for axle stands under the car) make sure the steering is dead ahead as it’s the best compromise for access (location of tie rod etc)

Where I have mentioned the side of the car either left or right this is as it would be sitting in the drivers seat.

Working from under the car remove the splash pan (there is no need to remove the forward one) although if you crawling under the car it will give you a bit more room to shuffle about.

At this point I got a lead light which I placed by the heat control solenoids at the back of the engine to give me light whilst working underneath, you will need some light though even if its only a head torch.

You will need to remove the heat shield on the left hand side of the engine, there are 4 10mm bolts holding this on one is located through the cross-member you will need a 3/8th socket and a small extension to get this one.

Once that is removed you will see the starter well some of it as it has its own heat shield, first remove the wiring from the starter, from memory you will need a 10mm spanner, 13mm spanner and 8mm for each of the nuts, as you can see each of the these is a different size so there is no need to label the wiring unless you want to…

The starter heat shield is held on by two 10mm nuts and one 10mm bolt, the bolt is on the side of the starter and is easy to get as is the lower nut on the heat shield although you may lose a little skin getting the top nut off, when these are off wiggle the heat shield back off the starter turn it on its side then it will come out between the centre tie rod and cross member.

Now for the difficult bit there are two torx bolts holding the starter on you are going to need:

E12 Torx socket
3/8th small extension (mine was about 2” in length)
Male 3/8th to female ½ inch adaptor
½ inch universal joint
2 X ½ inch long extensions
½ inch ratchet

The bottom torx bolt is relatively easy to get at, put the socket on first then the adaptor, universal joint, ½ inch extension and ratchet and undo and remove the bolt

The top bolt isn’t quite as easy as you can barely see it for starters!!! working from the underneath put the socket, small 3/8th extension together then the adaptor, universal joint and one of the ½ inch extensions feed it up between the exhaust downpipes and the transmission it’s a bit fiddly but with persistence you will get the socket on then add the other extension and the ratchet and un-do the bolt, once it was loosened I found it easier to remove the ratchet and turn the extension by hand.

The starter will drop away from the bell housing but will come to rest on the cross member, I left the top bolt in the bell housing as getting a bolt you can’t see in hole you can’t see in a place you can’t really get at is a pain, you cant get at it from underneath as the just isn’t room to get you arm up between the exhaust and transmission. The starter will come out end-on between the cross member and centre tie rod


Hope this helps if you find youself in the same position

Regards

Chaz