[stevenh44]

I believe I have to remove the stiffening plate to have access to the front differential to replace fluid.
Bently manual says to replace fastners.
Plus it has an angle torque after initial torque spec.
So shouldnt i also replace the bolts as well?

Anyone have any experience with this or have the part numbers I would need?

thanks for any help!

[TheBigYahi]

It's part #7 on this diagram.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=31_0740

The bolt is the fastener that they're talking about. Most people I've heard from don't bother replacing them, I didn't. It's the aluminum ones for the engine that are really critical.

[stevenh44]

Originally Posted by TheBigYahi

It's part #7 on this diagram.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=31_0740

The bolt is the fastener that they're talking about. Most people I've heard from don't bother replacing them, I didn't. It's the aluminum ones for the engine that are really critical.

Thanks! But you still do the 90 degree torque ?

While i was under the car, i was looking at the water pump. Is there a way to tell if it's been replaced? It did not have the blue dot at the end of the screws and the thermostat was plastic.
Most of the threads I've seen, where metal therm. and had blue dots on aluminum bolts. I also was trying to look at the brand , but was hard to get a good look , what i could see looked like MARE?

[PhaseP]

I sometimes reused and sometimes replaced those.
Ideally should be replaced with new, because they are torqued to yield, meaning that last step of turning up to an angle is for stretching the bolt.
When I reuse I torque them by feel until tight enough.
My thinking since they have already been stretched they may break when stretched again.

[matteblue3er]

I've had that plate removed about 5-6 times from my car.

Never replaced hardware. Always used an impact to put it back on.

Of course I didn't sit on the bolt and hammer away at it. Just a few quick hits with an impact.

There are some things that require proper torque spec, others not so much. I think this falls into the category that it doesn't matter so much.

[Sidewinderpb]

Originally Posted by matteblue3er

I've had that plate removed about 5-6 times from my car.

Never replaced hardware. Always used an impact to put it back on.

Of course I didn't sit on the bolt and hammer away at it. Just a few quick hits with an impact.

There are some things that require proper torque spec, others not so much. I think this falls into the category that it doesn't matter so much.

+1

[BKV122]

Ive removed the plate many times as well. I cranked them tight with a ratchet, nothing crazy