What FI said. Push the torque converter towards the transmission when all the bolts are out in case it got friendly with the flex plate over time. If you're paranoid, you can wedge a rod through a hole in the bell housing to ensure the torque converter doesn't come off with the engine. Then anchor is with the bungee while the engine's out.

In a 126 SD you can lie belly on valve cover to work on a number of bell housing bolts. Can you do the same in a 240D

Sixto
87 300D