[__G__]

Hi all, I need to remove the head from my E90 N55, I have most/all of the intake side removed, but the turbo side looks like a proper challenge to access. I think I can get to the top row of bolts ok, but I'm not sure about the bottom row.
I've seen photos of the heads removed and the turbo is still in situ, so I'm confident it's doable. Any advice for getting to the bottom row of bolts?
It's there anything else down there that might surprise me?

Thanks in advance

[Will_460cs]

Sorry to say...But its an engine out, It definitely quicker to take the engine out than struggle to take the head off in situ.

[__G__]

I didn't see this in time. We ended up removing the head with the engine in the car. Considering this is a ARHD car, that added to the challenge. It took 2x guys about 10hrs to get the head off. The following weekend I pulled the rest of the engine out because I refused to go through the trouble of putting it back in the same way. The biggest challenge is accessing the exhaust manifold etc.

The friend who helped me made a good point though. He said he'd prefer to take the head off rather than dealing with redoing the air con etc that is required when you remove the engine.

[Will_460cs]

I would aim to take the I air con compressor off and leave in the car... fiddly but should be possible

[yupetc]

Definitely easier with the engine cherry picked out of the car.

On an F15 LHD X5, job is much easier because there's enough room to clear and access those lower turbo-fold bolts. Normally, my routine is: 1) fish the motor out first, 2) take it apart, build the short block. 3) install short block to the transmission and anchor down all engine mounts. 4) install the head onto the short block. Button up the rest and done.

With the above method, I don't deal with a very heavy built block going back into the engine bay because aligning the transmission bolt and attaching the flywheel to the transmission is just too hard like this.