Transmission stuck to M42

So I'm replacing my clutch, and I took out all the necessary bolts, shifter linkage, the bolts to the starter, etc. however when I try to pull the tranny apart, it won't separate from the engine more than a couple inches. There's a metal shield it seems to be stuck on. Any idea what's going on?

How many bolts did you remove from the bell housing to the engine?

11 of them

Originally Posted by jonesin

How many bolts did you remove from the bell housing to the engine?

That includes the ones to the starter motor.

If you've got them all, then you only need to pull them apart. They can stick.

Originally Posted by jonesin

If you've got them all, then you only need to pull them apart. They can stick.

What can stick? The housing and the engine? Because all the bolts are out. And the housing and engine are apart, however only by a couple inches. It seems the metal gasket is hindering somehow, is that possible?

If it's still in the car there are probably 100mb places where it could be bumping into something you can't see, but in answer to your question I think the the metal gaskets could possibly ether stuck to the bell housing and be catching on the fly wheel (I think I recall something annoying like that from taking mine off a couple months back) but it shouldn't take much to get it to let go.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Bimmer App

I've got it now thanks guys

There's a metal bracket on the passenger side that I always forget.