Advice needed - diesel injector tool?

[paddythemac]

Hi all, bit of general advice needed on 3.0 (Bosch?) diesel injector removal. Car is running like a cement mixer at the moment, no.6 injector appears to have gone, a diagnostic & compression test seems to make it almost certain, so it has to come out! The "how to" posted here gives some pics of the method, but having done some more research, it seems that a dedicated removal tool of some kind makes the job a bit easier. There are several different types of removal tool available, I'm wondering if anyone has used the slide hammer type that seems prevalent? Also, what size is the removal socket (with the cutout for the injector connection), suggestions please?

thanks
Paddy

[Steamyrotter]

I didnt need anything special to get mine out..

I think I was lucky though as they all came out with a slight tap and then a wiggle by hand.


I have seen some scary methods on the web and youtube so was prepared for the worst..

[paddythemac]

Ha yep, I've seen some of them too, very scary and dubious methods used in some cases!! I thought I'd see fit any other plucky E53 owners had had THAT kind of experience & knew of the best tool to use to avoid it..? There's not much out there about removal from E53 engines, so if I were an optimist, Id say it may not be as much of a problem with these beasts.. However, on the other hand,given the luck I've had so far with this X5, it could be a "never seen this problem before" block and tackle job for me! I'll give it a go without special tools then later in the the week (if its not raining!) and post my findings..
Wish me luck.

[paddythemac]

Just had a thought steamyrotter - when you did yours, did you take each one out without taking off the electrical connector or not? And what kind of "tap" did you give it? A gentle one to the side, or the kind the missus gives me every time I tell her the car needs a bit of work doing.. (i.e. a good hard belt!) 

[Steamyrotter]

Took harness off top as was taking all 6 out.
Undid all fuel pipes from rail
Took 2 nuts from the sides
Tap on the top with palm of hand (so not much)
Then wiggled them free

All came out without swearing or resorting to block n tackle, or 8 foot plank!!!

[paddythemac]

Thanks for the heads up, the way you talk about it, it sounds easy.. Will let you know how I got on later this week!

[Steamyrotter]

Mine was 'surprisingly' easy.

So hopefully yours will be too..

[robsey29]

It would be best to get a bit of heat in them before pulling them out as this can also make it a bit easier.

[paddythemac]

Hey there all, one happy Northerner here! Diesel injector replacement went OK, cured the lumpy idle, car runs better and to cap it off, it passed the MoT this morning with no advisories or sucking of teeth from the tester!!!

Thanks in order to all for their tips and support, so I'll pass on a few too if I may, to encourage others to have a go. it was too cold & miserable to take any pics, tbh, but there are plenty of photos around to illustrate what I'm talking about, & I'll answer any questions to the best of my (limited) knowledge.

1. It's a ball ache, but I found it better to take off the inlet manifold completely to get decent access to the injectors - you might be able to work around it, but you have to undo all the bolts anyway and take off the fuel pipe to the duff injector to avoid potentially damaging it whilst pulling the injector out. Generally, there's no rocket science in the removal and nothing to recode electronically on the early models, but watch out for the dipstick bolt and the electrical connector at the back of the manifold in particular when taking that part off.
2. Strong coffee (I said it was cold!) & cold fingers are not a good mix - there are lots of tricky nuts & bolts to get at, so stay calm!
3. I was, like Steamy, lucky in that the injectors came out with a bit of gentle persuasion, tapping around the collar area & wriggling. An 8mm box spanner will help you with the nuts holding the bracket in place.
4. Make sure you order the right injector for your engine, same injector type doesn't fit all E53 engines! I got a recon from dieseljones.co.uk in Manchester, £96 inc VAT & the exchange rebate for the old one. Better than chancing it with a breaker part imo, given the amount of stripping down you'll need to do. You might also consider your glow plugs/relay whilst you're in there, kill two birds with one stone.
5. Make sure you keep everything that leads into the engine clean and tidy - and good luck.

[Steamyrotter]

Good to hear .
That was a bargain on prices.
Cost me £450 to get all 6 tested and then 2 refurbished.