My '04 R53 is finally oil tight for the first time since I bought it in 2012 after replacing the oil seals in the oil heat exchanger and the oil filter housing. I had to drop the exhaust manifold, remove part of the suspension, and pull a heat shield to do it but now it's done. The problem is that I have been unable to put the heat shield (parts list calls it the "starter heat shield") back in place and now have a horrible rattle. It's the shield under the exhaust that has a rubber grommit at top and bottom that fit over pins on the drivers side and a very small bolt that screws into the oil filter housing. No matter what I do I can't get the top and bottom holes to both line up with the pins. Put either pin in a hole and the other is over an inch away from fitting and no amount of tugging will make it line up. I finally just atached it at the top and put in the screw to make sure it didn't fall off completely and hoped for the best. Does anyone know any trick to refit this shield or will it hurt anything to just pull the darn thing off?

 

From the best I can infer. This shield is to protect the starter from the exhaust header heat. I found during my recent drivetrain modification project you have to be very methodical as the heat shields all have to be installed in a certain way, and during a point in the reassemble process. I know once you re-installed the passenger side drive axle this shield is very hard to get to with your hands. I reinstalled this shield from under with the car on jack stands and before the drive axle, lower engine mount, and steering cooling fan were re-installed.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hlight=starter

saw this thread today. the video shows this heat shield being unbolted and bent out the way near the beginning, then re-bent and reinstalled near the end. Hope it helps.

 

When my '06 was new I removed the heat shield ( can't leave things alone) and wrapped the header with thermotec to keep heat down. Ran that way for 7 more years (new owner still has it) and never had any problems other than still stocking the original takeoff part in my garage.
ISAMIN