Unbolting starter during clutch replacement
 

I have a 97 ti that I bought last year and I'm attempting my first clutch replacement. I have the bell housing bolts all removed and I'm able to open up a small gap between engine and transmission easily. For the starter I can't seem to find any bolts looking from the underside of the car, which I think means I have a threaded starter. Is there some way to remove a threaded starter from underneath or do I have to pull the intake manifold to get at it?

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Well I think I figured it out based on step 11 of this Z3 clutch replacement guide https://webspace.ringling.edu/~dplassma/cj/cj.html I was using the E36 clutch replacement guide on PelicanParts which got me confused.

So the starter should be unbolted at this point but I still can't get the bell housing to separate more than about an inch though.

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There is a metal dust shield in there that I remember kept it all from separating. Maybe that is still attached? It had bolts independent of the bell housing.

I found this DIY from Pelican:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...ch_Replace.htm

It is not 318ti specific but it is for the E36.

Thanks, I started with the Pelican guide but that Z3 guide I linked ended up being more accurate for my car.

My suspicion is that the starter dowels are stuck in the bell housing still.

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