[JRUSH]

N55 335i. So I'm doing OFHG and I go to take that plastic mickey mouse clamp off to put an aluminum one on and a huge piece breaks and falls down inside the coolant hose! I tried everything to get it out but it's too far down there now. So I just spent the last 4 hours trying to get the entire hose off, it's literally only 1 bolt that is just about impossible to unloosen. Does anyone have any tips? I took my turbo outlet pipe off, i took the coolant reservoir off, i went under the car trying to be get the bolt from the bottom but no luck. Has anyone here replaced this hose before? I can reach it with an extension and swivel but the problem is I can not turn it as it is not made to rotate at that kind of angle.

[Marlo325]

I have replaced this hose and yes it's a PITA to reach. I used a 1/4 ratchet with extensions and a wobble joint from underneath. When you reinstall it you can choose to put the clamp in a postition where it's reachable from the top with a extra long flathead, or place it so you can reach it from underneath. I have some pictures that might help, but can't remember how to upload them here...

[jadams161]

This why you use radiator hose clamps, to compress hose closed prior to messing with the coolant flange.

[smass]

I think I removed the thermostat mounting bolts which allowed me to twist the thermostat around enough to get a socket on the bolt.

[Bmw1939]

Get a shop vac and suck it out?