To get the best results you’d need to remove the engine cover (BMW refer to ‘gear case cover’) but doing that is a pretty big job. You would have to drain the engine oil and to get the casing off, remove the crankshaft pulley that drives the alternator belt (not easy without a special tool to hold it while you undo the large nut – final torque 140 Nm;-) The cover should then pull forward with both bearings still in the cover (crankshaft and timing gear) provided you’ve undone all the bolts around the cover! You would need to replace the oil seal in front of the timing cover bearing before reassembly to be on the safe side. Belt pulley to crankshaft M22 x 1.5 Initial torque, 40 Nm Final torque, 140 Nm