so the part arrived today (part no. 079 103 464 d), and thanks to barryrs as well for his help (he's had to do this too).
short version, its easy enough to do.
- airbox ->throttle body pipe off (two big jubilee clips so easy enough)
- remove breather piping from the oil separator and the crank case, secure elsewhere (duct tape provided the help for me)
- remove top two bolts (easy enough, torx t30 heads)
- remove bolt underneath the circular part - this is a pain!. I had a very low profile bit ratchet (
http://goo.gl/Yc31di ) that has saved me a few times, I taped it up to an extension bar from a 1/4 inch socket set to get it a tad longer, so it was easier to access from the side.
I got one hand to it and guided the socket in, and it was nice and easy to loosen up.
once I got it out a few turns, i reverted to an old trick, and got some heavy thread tied around it (and a good job too, as its bloody awkward to get out without dropping) - see below
- manoeuvered the separator out to the left hand side of the engine bay (looking at it from the front) and there was enough space to get at the piping on the bottom of the thing
- the pipe is held in place with a standard audi crimp clip, so light application of a needle nose pliers loosened it up enough to ease it off
- new separator put in place, and pipe re-attached with a jubilee clip (the crimp clip was actually re-usable, but didnt want to chance it)
- putting it back in is straightforward enough, apart again from the bottom bolt. thread around it again, and a needle nose pliers to insert it from the left hand side, and use your other hand to guide it in and get a turn on it, then you are good to go. if you have big paws like me, this is a pain
but all done now, engine was smooth before, but much better now!
hth
t.
