These damn starters

Anybody got any tips on how to get easier access to the starter bolts on an E30 coupe w/manual trans?

What I did was take the hood off. Take the lower motor mounts bolts off, get a engine crane and hook on the front loop up top. Lift up motor to get enough angle to see the bolts. Use about 3 foot of extensions to get up there and crank away. Thats how I did my clutch set up, which is essentially the same process minus removing transmission.

Remove 3 13 mm strut nuts, remove calipers, remove 13mm bolt in steering knuckle, disconnect ground strap, remove 4 engine cradle bolts and lower.

It's that simple see.

sure is a prick of a job with the engine installed. you usualy need 2 people to do it, one coming in from under neath to hold the nut on the back of the bolt, and one on the front to undo it. you could also undo the rear transmission mounts and support the transmission with a trolley jack, and let the whole engine/gearbox assy to tip downwards. this will give you more clearance

if you are buy yourself, just pull the engine, takes about an hour to remove, but its either that or remove intake and/or brake master cylinder, depending how much room you need and how big your hands are.

Originally Posted by SWISS

Remove 3 13 mm strut nuts, remove calipers, remove 13mm bolt in steering knuckle, disconnect ground strap, remove 4 engine cradle bolts and lower.

It's that simple see.

thats an epic win there. also had a great laugh too.

Well damn, so essentially there is no easy way to do it then eh? I'm by myself & I have no intention of pulling the motor just to do the starter. Thanks guys, guess I'm just gonna have to suffer through this.

DocNess, it is still a lot easier than removing anything from a R5 Turbo