Ride height BMW 540i 1999 E39 User Guide

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
Pitman arm, adjusting
As the vehicle suspension settles down, the toe on the left
and right wheels must remain identical for proper handling.
By adjusting the height of the
pitman arm, the left and right tie
rods are moved to the same ride level setting. This will opti-
mize straight-ahead travel on uneven road surfaces.
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
WARNING-
Male sure the car is iirmly supported on jack stands de-
signed ior the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
- Remove bolts from left and right inner control arm mounts.
Place
BMW special tool 32 2 140 through right side control
arm mounting bolt hole.
Loosen fastener
A and push pin El up so that it is firmly
against tie rod
(arrow). Tighten fastener A.
- Remove tool without disturbing position of pin El.
- Loosen pitman arm clamping bolt and slide arm up.
4 Place special tool 32 2 140 through left side control arm
mounting bolt hole.
Slide
pitman arm up or down until tie rod makes contact
with pin
(El).
Tighten pitman arm clamping bolt.
Tie rod height differences
Deviation between
left and right tie rod height -?-I .5 rnrn (LO6 in)

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
- Tighten nut while counterholding adjusting bolt,
- Tighten nut only after car has been lowered to ground and
suspension has settled.
Preparing for alignment
- The following conditions are necessary prior to wheel align-
ment:
Correct wheels and tires are installed, in good condition,
and are at the correct inflation pressures.
All steering and suspension parts and bushings are un-
damaged and show no signs of abnormal wear. Wheel
bearings are in good condition.
Ride height is in accordance with specifications. See
300
Suspension, Steering and Brakes-General.
Car is in normal loaded position. See below.
* Cars with air suspension: Remove air suspension power
fuse.
Normal loaded position
Each front seat
68 Kg (I50 lb)
Center of rear seat
Trunlc
Fuel tank
68 Kg (150 lb)
21 Kg (46 lb)
Full
Alignment specifications tables
In the alignment specification tables that follow, reference is
made to the various types of suspension used in
E39 cars.
The type of suspension can be identified by loolting at the la-
bel on the front strut tube.
Identifying symbol
None
Solid circle
Solid triangle
M5
Circle
Triangle Version
Standard suspension
Sports
suspension
Sports suspension
M sport package
Standard suspension
Sports suspension Model
Sedan
6-cylinder sedan
V-8 sedan
V-8 sedan
Touring (Sport Wagon)
Touring (Sport Wagon)

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330 Rear Suspension
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-2
Special tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-2
Rear suspension variations . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-4
Rear Struts and Springs
(sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-5
Rear strut assembly, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-5
Rear strut assembly, disassembling
and assembling
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-7
Rear Shock Absorbers and
Springs (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . . ,330-9
Rear shock absorber, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-9
Coil spring, removing and installing . . . . . ,330-1 1
Air spring, removing and installing
. . . . . . ,330-12
Rear Suspension Arms,
Subframe and Bushings . . . . . . . . . . ,330-13
Rear suspension arm components . . . . . . ,330-1 3
Swing arm, removing and installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-1 4
Swing arm, removing and installing (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-16
Swing arm ball joint, replacing . . . . . . . . . ,330-1 9
Upper rear control arm, removing
and installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . .330-22
Upper rear control arm, removing
and installing (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . .330-23
Upper front control arm (traction strut),
removing and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-25
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-26
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . . . . ,330-28
Rear subframe mounting bushings,
removing and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .330-31
Rear Wheel Bearings . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing
and installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . .
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing
and installing (Sport Wagon models)
. .
Rear wheel bearing, replacing . . . . . . .
Rear Stabilizer Bar
Stabilizer bar, removing and installing .
Stabilizer bar link, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronic Height Control (EHC)
Component Replacement
. . . . . . .
Electronic height control (EHC)
components
.....................
Air compressor pump relay, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EHC control module, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air supply unit, removing and installing
Ride height sensor, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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330-2
I Rear Suspension
This repair group covers removal and replacement of E39
rear suspension components. A general description of sus-
pension systems and ride height specifications can be found
in 300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes - General.
CAUTIOI\C
Some E39 models are equipped with aluminum suspen-
sion components. The following cautions apply:
Due to the chemical and corrosion characteristics of
aluminum, do not bring into contact with battery acid.
- Do not clean with wire brushes with brass or iron bris-
tles. Only use brushes with stainless steel bristles.
Do not expose to flying
sparl~s from grinding/cutting op-
erations.
* Do not subject to steel welding splashes.
0 Do not expose to temperatures over 80°C (176°F).
even for shortperlods. Temperatures in painting facili-
ties are not a problem.
Special tools
Special service tools are required for some of the work de-
scribed in this repair group. Most of these tools are special-
ized press jigs and pullers that might be replaced by standard
pullers of various sizes.
Read the procedures through before beginning any job.
< Strut upper mounting nut socket
(Tool No. BMW
31 2 21 0)
I Axle shaft removal and installation set
Spring compressor (Tool No. BMW
31 3 340.31 3 350)

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[Rear Suspension Swing arm, removing and installing
(sedan models)
CAUTION-
If working on a vehicle with compressed airshock absorbers,
disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore performing any repairs.
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
sus~ension Darts.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
Remove
ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE-
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.

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Rear ~us~ensionl
Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools
33 2 302,33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33 2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
4 Remove ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the
brake hose, park-
ing brake cable and drive axle
CVjoints.
- Remove shock absorber lower mounting bolt
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE -
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt.

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330-27
Rear ~uspensionl
- If equipped, remove ride height sensor connectors.
Support final drive unit from below using transmission jack
(BMW special tools 00
2 030 and 33 4 390 or equivalent).
NOTE-
Special tool 33 4 390 will need modifications to cradle the ii-
nal drive properly.
4 Remove right and left suspension trim panels (arrow)
4 Remove right and left lower strut mount bolts (arrow)
Remove rear suspension
subframe by removing 4 mounting
bolts (arrows).
Carefully lower rear suspension
subframe away from body to
remove.

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Rear Suspension
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System.
- Detach driveshaft from differential. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect brake fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Remove left and right ABS sensors from wheel bearing car-
riers.
Disconnect parking brake cable from brake shoe expander.
See 340 Brakes.
Remove heat shield from above driveshaft
If equipped, remove ride height sensor connectors
CAUTION-
Models with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
locatedbeneath a coverunder
thespare tire in the floorof the
carqo compartment.
Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
WARNING -
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened. 1
- Working underneath rear suspension, lift wheel bearing car-
rier to relieve rear spring tension. Then unbolt air spring
mounting bolt from seat on wheel bearing carrier.
4 Support final drive unit from below using transmission jack
(BMW special tools 00 2 030 and 33 4 390 or equivalent).
NOTE-
Special tool 33 4 390 will need modifications to cradle the fi-
nal drive properly
4 Remove right and left suspension trim panels (arrow),

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---
Rear Suspension
ELECTRONIC HEIGHT CONTROL
(EHC) COMPONENT REPLACEMENT
Sport Premium rear suspension is an option on Sport Wagon
models and standard on
1999 and later V-8 Sport Wagons.
This suspension incorporates electronic height control
(EHC)
using air springs.
With vehicle lifted off the ground,
if the rear air springs can be
compressed by hand, either the spring is defective or the sys-
tem is depressurized.
Locate
EHC faults using BMW scan tools DIS or MoDiC. EHC
description and some troubleshooting is covered in 300 Sus-
pension, Steering and Brakes-General.
Air spring replacement is covered earlier in this chapter. See
Air spring, removing and installing.
CAUTION-
Maintain high levels of cleanliness around air line connec-
tions when disassembling and assembling air suspension
components. Even
small dirt particles can cause leakage in
the pressurized system.
Electronic height control
(EHC) components
1. Air spring
2. 1 liter air reservoir
3. EHC control module
4. Air supply distributor
5. Airsupply pump
(under spare tire)
6. Air spring mounting bolt
(at wheel bearing carrier)
7. Rear ride height sensors
(Hall effect)
8. Air supply pump relay

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-- I
I: ... . -. Rear Suspension! -- .- -
Air compressor pump relay, removing and
installing
- Working in cargo compartment, remove spare wheel.
4 Remove air supply pump fasteners (arrows). Turn pump
over.
- Turn relay plug 45" and remove relay.
EHC control module, removing and
installing
The EHC control module is mounted on the right side of the
spare tire
well in the cargo compartment.
- Remove spare tire.
4 Remove electrical components cover (A).
- Release control module wiring harness plug loclting clip (B)
and remove module.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
- After assembly, reset ride height using BMW diagnostic scan
tool DIS.
Air supply unit, removing and installing
CAUTION-
Maintain high levels of cleanliness around air line connec-
tions when disassembling and assembling air suspension
components. Even small dirt particles can cause
leakage in
the pressurized system.
When the airsupply unit is removed for any reason, reset ride
height using BMW scan tools DIS or
MoDiC.
- Remove spare tire.
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