Pantech

2015 Panamera 3.6 base.
Researched videos, factory service manual and forums.
I have the fuel rail, harness out of the way and knock sensors unplugged.
Starter is disconnected completely. I cannot pull it out with what I’m assuming is a aluminum coolant tube running down the center.
Any magical way to get this thing out that I’m missing?


Copland pipe?

justabout

Good question! If it’s like the v8 there are two bolts at the rear of the engine but one of them is impossible to remove without loosening the wire conduit by the firewall. Ciaka on 6speedonline was able to remove the starter without removing the coolant tube. The instructions are posted there.

Pantech

Thanks,
I looked at his post. Excellent write up.
After looking at his photos it looks like the V8 has about 2” more clearance.
Looks like the coolant tube will have to come out.
Does it just unbolt from the back any the tube pulls out of the front section or does that side also have to unbolt as well?

justabout

Has to slide backwards about 1/2 inch. Lifting the wiring conduit to get one of the tube hold down bolts will be a challenge. Service manual indicates two bolts holding the wiring conduit down, probably between the conduit and the firewall. Can’t tell from the figure. You will need a scope to figure that out. Only other way is to remove the thermostat housing to allow the pipe to moved out of the way to but that is a lot of work. (Do not recommend, unless you’re doing PM for water pump and thermostat. If you go that route, I found an 12 point 8 mm box wrench was small enough to loosen the left hold down pipe bolt. Make it loose enough to put movement in the pipe to remove when lifting the thermostat housing. The bolt is an e Torx but the box wrench fits perfectly.)

Be prepared to replace the 2 orings on the tube.

I’ve been told all modern cars have these difficulties for servicing, not just the German cars.

Pantech

Thanks for the info,
I will definitely go with the route of pulling from the firewall side.
Agree,
Many manufacturers are making cars tougher to work on.
Also with all the tech in todays cars many smaller local shops here only work on older cars due to the yearly cost for access to each manufacturers software.
It’s not my first car rebuild but it is my first flood rebuild so there’s quite a bit of learning and research in my future 😂

justabout

Poster on here also restored a flood car. I believe it is “rbruelle”. He has a lot of experience with the panamera electrical system.

Pantech

Thanks again!
I have read through his posts, very informative.
Quite the detailed journey.
I did attempt to reach out via messaging.

The method of communication of certain module groups is what I need to learn most.

chassis

Do you have PIWIS? A guy on the MB site did a flood car and XENTRY (MB equivalent of PIWIS) was essential; the project would not have been possible without it.

Pantech

I ordered one two months ago.
from VXDAS.
Claimed to be in stock.
Giving me the runaround about no stock now, then they claimed bad computer boards and now 15 days of Chinese New Year.
I have a durametric to get started until it arrives.

justabout

Sometimes I miss messages. @rbrunelle is retired and probably not as attentive to Rennlist after his major contributions over the years.