If the M103 is anything like the M102 you'll find the front cover is attached to the pipe for the oil pump that sits in the bottom of the sump - on my M102 this pipe is also fitted to the first crankshaft bearing cap. Whilst I had read a lot about removing the cover on the M102 I found in practice you need to remove the sump as well - this wasn't mentioned by many (!) - I wonder if this is also the case for the (similar) M103?

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!