Starter on a '90 750il

[Kent Smith <KentS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

I'm new to the list, so if I'm asking a question covered in an earlier
posting, please accept my apologies.

I am trying to pull the starter out of my '90 750il.  Before starting, I
purchased a BMW 7 Series  Service Manual from Bentley Publishers.  The
instructions are quite brief, so I'll include most of them here:

- - Disconnect the negative battery terminal. (That one I was able to handle)
:-)
- - Raise the car (Ok, I'm 2 for 2!)
- - Working under the car remove the engine splash pan.
- - Drain windshield washer tank, then detach hose and electrical harness and
remove tank.
- - Working in the right side of the engine compartment, detach the
evaporative purge (carbon) canister and move it aside without disconnecting
ducts or hoses.
- - Remove right side exhaust manifold heat shield.

They continue, but I'll quit here.  

First dumb question:  What is the engine splash pan?  I laid under the car
for quite a while trying to find anything that fit that description. Is
there something that has fallen off my car that I should be seeing?  

Second: What is the "evaporative purge (carbon) canister".  The only thing I
could find that looked like a canister is a cylinder that is mounted to the
fender well on the right side of the engine right below the windshield
washer tank next to the dip stick tube.  It is about 3" in diameter, and
about 8" long.  It has two hoses the size of a fuel line sprouting out of
the rear end, and one the same size coming out of the front.  The biggest
puzzler that I have is how to move this canister "aside" when it has hoses
coming out of both ends which have absolutely no slack, and there's only
about 2" between it and the dip stick tube?  Furthermore, will I damage this
thing if I remove the clamps and pull it out?  That's the only way I can
think to get this thing out of the way!

Now you're really going to think I'm stupid...

Third: Is the exhaust manifold heat shield something that is removed from
the top side, or down underneath?  From up top, I can't get an arm down
inside any where near being able to put a wrench on anything, partly because
of this mysterious canister I'm afraid of disconnecting, as well as a bunch
of other unidentifiable stuff I'm afraid to mess with.  Down underneath I
find a piece of sheet metal that is definitely a heat shield of sorts, but
can only get one bolt out of it, but it's still attached to something on the
other end I can't get to.

I've worked on everything from Bugs to Peterbuilts, but have never seen
anything like this...I can barely touch the starter with the tip of one
finger from above or below!  I'm really disappointed that after spending
over $100 on this manual that it was virtually no help...no pictures of any
use either.

Thanks for everyone time!

Kent Smith

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