Complete manual download BMW 528i 1998 E39 Workshop Manual

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Errata information
We will evaluate submissions and post appropriate editorial
changes online as text errata or tech discussion. Appropriate
errata will be incorporated with the
boolc text in future printings.
Read errata information for this book before beginning work on
your vehicle. See the following web address tor additional
information:
http://unw.BentleyPublishers.com/errata/
WARNING-important safety notice
Do not use this manual unless vou are familiar with basic automotive reoair orocedures and safe
workshoo oracfices. This manual illustrates
the workshop procedures requked formoslservice work. It is not a subsiituti for full and up-to-date information from thevehiclemanufaciurer
or for proper training as an automotive technician. Note that it is not possible for us to anticipate all of the ways or conditions under which
vehicles may be serviced or to provide cautions as to all of the possible hazards that may result.
The vehicle manufacturer will continue to issue service information updates and parls retrofits
after the editorial closing of this manual. Some
of lhese updates and retrofits will apply lo procedures and specifications in this manual. We regret that we cannot supply updates to
purchasers of this manual.
We have endeavored to ensure the accuracy
of the information in this manual. Please note, however, that considering the vast quantity and
the complexity of the service information involved, we cannot warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this
manual.
FOR
THESE REASONS, NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR MAICES ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THATTHE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS FREE OF ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. AND WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILTTY AN0 OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, EVEN IFTHE PUBLISHER OR AUTHOR HAVE BEEN ADVISED OFA PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND EVEN IF A PARTICULAR
1 PURPOSE IS INDICATED IN THE MANUAL. THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR ALSO DISCLAIM ALL LlABlLrrY FOR DIRECT. INDIRECT. INCIDENTAL OR 1 I CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT RESULT FROM ANY USE OFTHE EXAMPLES, INSTRUCTIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION INTHIS BOOK. IN NO EVENT 1
I Your common sense and oood iudoment are crucial to safe and successful service work. Read orocedures throuoh before startino them. I . -- - -~ ~ ---~. - ~ ~~ Think about whether the condition of your car, &r level of mechanical skill, or your level of reading compreh&sion might resill in or
contribute in some way to an occurrence which might cause you injuly, damage your car, or result in an unsafe repair. If you have doubts
for these or other reasons about your ability to pelform safe repair work on your car, have the work done at an authorized BMW dealer or
other qualified shop.
Part numbers listed in this manual are for identification purposes only, not for ordering. Always check wilh your authorized BMW dealer to
verify part numbers and availability before beginning service work lhat may require new
park.
Before anempting any work on your BMW, read the 001 General Warnings and Cautions, and any WARNING or CAUTION that
accompanies a procedure in the service manual. Review the WARNINGS and CAUTIONS each time you prepare to work on your BMW.
I Spec a too s req.1 red to perlorm cena n service operations arc oenl fed n the manLa an0 arc recomrnenoeo lor JSC Jse ol loo s olner than those recommended In lh s serv ce manual may be oelnmcnlal lo lrlc car's sale open1 on as rvec as lne salely 01 lne person servcng I the car. I
Copies of this manual may be purchased from most automotive accessories and parts dealers specializing in BMW automobiles, from
selected booksellers, or directly from the publisher.
This manual was published by Robert Bentley,
Inc., Publishers. BMW has not reviewed and does not vouch for the accuracy of the
technical specifications and procedures described in this manuai.
Libratv of Conaress Cataloaino-in-Publication Data " " -
BMW 5 Series (E39) : service manual : 523. 528i, 530i. 540i, sedan, sport wagon, 1997,
1998, 1999,2000,2001,2002
~Acludes index.
ISBN 0-8376-0317-X (obi<) ,, , 1. BMW 5 series automobiles--Maintenance and repair--Handbooks manuals, etc. 1.
Robert Bentley, Inc.
TL215.8258623 2003 629.28'722--dc23 2003052231
Bentley Stock No. 8502
Editorial closing 08/03
090807 10987654
The paper used in this publication is acid
free and meets the requirements of the National Standard for Information Sciences-
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. @
OCopyright 2007 Robert Bentley. Inc. Bentiey Publishers is a trademark of Robert Bentley, Inc.
All rights reserved. All information contained in this manual is based on the information available to the publisher at the time of editorial
closing. The right is reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
ofhenvise, without the
prior written consent of the publisher. This includes text, figures, and tables. All rights reserved under Berne and Pan-American Copyright
conventions.
Cover photos of car exteriors by Jonathan Richard for
Bentley Publishers @ Robert Bentley, Inc. Cover design and use of blue band on
spine and back cover are trademarks
of Bentley Publishers. All rights reserved.
Manufactured in the United States of America

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I General Warnings and Cautions
WARNINGS (continued)
. The air conditioning system is filled with chemical refrigerant,
which is hazardous. The AIC system should be serviced only by
trained technicians using approved refrigerant recoverylrecycling
equipment, trained in related safety precautions, and familiar with
regulations governing the discharging and disposal of automotive
chemical refrigerants.
. Do not expose any part of the AIC system to high temperatures
such as open flame. Excessive heat will increase system pres-
sure and may cause the system to burst.
Some aerosol tire inflators are highly flammable. Be extremely
cautious when repairing a tire that may have been inflated using
an aerosol tire inflator. Keep sparks, open flame or other sources
of ignition away
from the tire repair area. Inflate and deflate the
tire at least four
times before breaking the bead from the rim.
Completely remove the tire from the rim before attempting any re-
pair.
Cars covered by this manual are equipped with a supplemental
restraint system (SRS), that automatically deploys
airbags and
pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
In the event oi a frontal or side
impact. These are explosive devices. Handled improperly or with-
out adequate safeguards, they can be accidently activated and
cause serious injury.
- The ignition system produces high voltages that can be fatal.
Avoid contact with exposed terminals and use extreme care when
working on a car with the engine running or the ignition switched
on.
. Place jack stands only at locations specified by the manufacturer.
The vehicle
illtino iack su~olied with the vehicle is intended fortire -. , . changes only. A heavy duty floor jack should be used lo lift vehicle
before installing
jacl( stands. See 010 General.
- Battery acid (electrolyte) can cause severe burns. Flush contact
area
with water, seek medical attention.
Aerosol cleaners and solvents may contain hazardous or deadly
vapors and are highly flammable. Use only in a well ventilated ar-
ea. Do not use on hot surfaces (engines, brakes, etc.).
Do not remove
coolant reservoir or radiator cap with the engine
hot. Danger of burns and engine damage.
CAUTIONS-
See also WARNINGS
- if you lack the slqills, tools and equipment, or a suitable worl(shop
for any procedure described in this manual, leave such repairs to
an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified shop.
BMW is constantly improving its cars and sometimes these
changes, both in parts and specifications, are made applicable to
earlier models. Therefore, part numbers listed in this manual are
for reference only. Always check with your authorized BMW deal-
er parts department for the latest information.
Before starting a job, make certain that you have all the neces-
sary tools and parts on hand. Read ail the instructions thorough-
ly, and do not attempt shortcuts. Use tools appropriate to the
work and use only replacement parts meeting BMW specifica-
tions.
Use pneumatic and electric tools only to loosen threaded parts
and fasteners. Never use these tools to tighten fasteners, espe-
cially on light alloy parts. Always use a torque wrench to tighten
fasteners to the tightening torque specification listed.
Be mindful of the environment and ecology. Before you drain the
crankcase, find out the proper way to dispose of the
oil. Do not
pour
oil onto the ground, down a drain, or into a stream, pond or
lake. Dispose of waste in accordance with Federal, State and
Local laws.
The control module for the anti-lock brake system
(ABS) cannot
withstand temperatures from a paint-drying booth or a heat
lamp
in excess of 203" F (95°C) and should not be subjected to tem-
peratures in excess of 185°F
(8S°C) for more than two hours.
- Before doing any electrical welding on cars equipped with ABS,
disconnect the battery negative
(-) terminal (ground strap) and
the ABS control module connector.
- Always make sure ignition is off before disconnecting battery.
Label battery cables before disconnecting. On some models, bat-
tery cables are not color coded.
Disconnecting the battery may erase fault code@) stored in control
module memory. Using special BMW diagnoslic equipment, check
lor
iauit codes prior to disconnecting the battery cables. If the mal-
I.mct on ndicator Ignt (MIL) s I. ..minaled. see OBD On-Board
Diaanostics
Tl11s iant is iuenlfted as lne Check Ena~ne oht
(1997-2000 models jor~ervlce Engine Soon light (2061 andlater
models). If any other system iaults have been detected (indicated
by an illuminated warning light), see an authorized BMW dealer.
If a normal
or rapid charger is used to charge battery, the battery
must be disconnected and removed from the vehicle in order to
avoid damaging the vehicle.
- Do not quick-charge the battery (for boost starting) for longer
than one minute. Wait at least one minute before boosting the
battery a second time.
* Connect and disconnect a battery charger only with the battery
charger switched off.
- Sealed or "maintenance free" batteries should be slow-charged
only, at an amperage rate that is approximately 10% of the bat-
tery's ampere-hour (Ah)
rating.
. Do not allow battery charging voltage to exceed 16.5 volts. If the
battery begins producing gas or boiling violently, reduce the
charging rate.
Boosting a sulfated battery at a high charging rate
can cause an explosion.

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General
ADVICE FOR THE BEGINNER
The tips that follow are general advice to help the do-it-your-
self BMW owner
periorm repairs and maintenance taslts
more easily and more professionally.
Planning ahead
Know what the whole job requires before starting. Read the
procedure thoroughly, from beginning to end, in
orderto know
just what to expect and what parts will have to be replaced.
Workshop practices
Keeping things organized, neat, and clean is essential to do-
ing a good job. When working under the hood, iender covers
will protectthe finish from scratches and otherdamage. Make
sure the car finish is clean so that dirt under the cover does
not scratch the iinish.
Any repair job will be less troublesome if the parts are clean
For cleaning old parts, there are many solvents and parts
cleaners commercially available.
For cleaning parts prior to assembly, commercially available
aerosol cans of parts cleaner or brake cleaner are handy to
use, and the cleaner will evaporate completely.
WARNING-
Most solvents used for cleaning parts are highly flammable
as well as toxic, especially in aerosol form. Use with extreme
care. Do not smoke. Do not use these products indoors or
near any source of heat, sparks or flame.
Non reusable fasteners
Many fasteners used on the cars covered by this manual
must be replaced with new ones once they are removed.
These include but are not limited to: bolts, nuts (self-locking,
nylock, etc.), roll pins, clips and washers. Genuine BMW
parts should be the only replacement parts used for this pur-
pose.
Some bolts are designed to stretch during assembly and are
permanently altered, rendering them unreliable once re-
moved. These are known as torque-to-yield fasteners. Al-
ways replace fasteners where instructed to do so. Failure to
replace these fasteners could cause personal injury
orvehi-
cle damage. See an authorized BMW dealer for applications
and ordering information.

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01 0-1 0
General
Electrical testing
Many electrical problems can be understood and solved with
only a little fundamental knowledge of how electrical circuits
function.
Electrical current
only flows in a complete circuit. To operate.
every electrical device in the car requires a complete circuit
including a voltage source and a path to ground. The positive
(+) side of the battery is the original voltage source, and
ground is any return path to the negative
(-) side of the bat-
tery, whether through the wiring harness or the car body. Ex-
cept for portions of the charging system, all electrical current
in the car is direct current (DC) and flows from positive
(+) to
negative
(-).
4 Switches are used to turn components on or off by complet-
ing or interrupting the circuit.
A switch is "open" when the cir-
cuit is interrupted, and "closed" when the circuit is completed.
See
600 Electrical System-General for electrical trouble-
(LW, 1 shooting
Wire repairs
Light bulb
(consumer) ' - Repairs to a wiring harness require special care to make the
repair permanent. The wire ends must be clean.
if frayed or
Car body otherwise damaged, cut off the end and remove enough insu- (ground) i Battery lation to complete the repair. if the wire is too short, splice in a BOZLiEL new piece of wire of the same size and make two connec-
tions.
Use connectors that are designed for the purpose. Crimped
on orsoldered-on connectors are best. Crimp connectors and
special crimping pliers are widely available. If soldering, use
needle nose pliers to hold the wire near the solder joint and
create a "heat dam". This keeps the heat and the solder from
traveling up the wire. Always use a solder made specifically
for electrical
work (rosin core).
NOJE-
Twisting wires together to make a repair is not recommend-
ed. Corrosion and vibration will eventually spoil the connec-
tion and may lead to irreparable damage to sensitive
electronic components.
Insulate the finished connection. Electronics stores can sup-
ply heat-shrinkable insulating tubing that can be placed on to
the wire before connecting, slid over the finished joint, and
shrunic to a tight fit with a heat gun or hair dryer. The next best
alternative is electrical tape. Make sure the wire is clean and
free of
solder flux or other contamination. Wrap the joint tight-
ly to seal out moisture. See
600 Electrical System-General
for more information.

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- - ..
General
Many of the maintenance and repair tasks in this manual call
forthe installation of new parts, orthe use of new gaskets and
other materials when reinstalling parts. Most often, the parts
that will be needed should be on hand before beginning the
job. Read the introductorytext and the complete procedure
to
determine which parts will be needed.
NOTE-
For some biggerjobs, partial disassembly and inspection is
required to determine a complete parts list. Read the proce-
dure carefully and, if necessary, male other arrangements to
get the necessary parts while your car is disassembled.
Genuine BMW parts
Genuine BMW replacement parts from an authorized BMW
dealer are designed and manufactured to the same high stan-
dards as the original parts. They will be the correct material.
manufactured to same specifications, and guaranteed to fit
and work as intended. Most genuine BMW parts carry a limit-
ed warranty.
Many independent repair shops make a point of using genu-
ine
BMW parts, even though they may at times be more ex-
pensive than parts from other sources. They know the value
of doing the job right with ihe right parts. Parts from other
sources can be as good as BMW parts, particularly if manu-
factured by one of
BMW's or~ginal equipment suppliers, but it
is often difficult to know.
BMW is constantly updating and improving their cars, often
malting improvements during a given model year. BMW may
recommend a newer, improved part as a replacement, and
your authorized dealer's parts department will know about it
and provide it. The BMW parts organization is best equipped
to deal with your BMW parts needs.
Non returnable parts
Some parts cannot be returned, even for credit. The best ex-
ample is electrical parts, which are almost universally consid-
ered non returnable. Buy electrical parts carefully, and be as
sure as possible that a replacement is needed, especially for
expensive parts such as electronic control units. It may be
wise to let an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified shop
confirm your diagnosis before replacing an expensive non re-
turnable
Dart.

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01 0-1 4
General
Specialty tool suppliers
Peake Research, Automotive Products Division
P.O. Box 28776
San Jose, CA 95159
408-369-0406
[email protected]
http://www.peakeresearch.com
Basic tool requirements
The basic hand tools described below can be used to accom-
plish most of the simple maintenance and repair tasks.
Screwdrivers
4 The common flat-blade type, Phillips type, and TorxO type
screwdrivers will handle almost all screws used on
BMWs.
Two or three different sizes of each type will be required,
since a screwdriver of the wrong size will damage the screw
head.
Wrenches
4 Wrenches come in different styles, including open-end. 12
point box-end,
6 point box-end and flare nut. The basic open-
end wrench is the most widely used, but grips on only two
sides. The box-end wrench has better grip on all six sides of
a nut or bolt.
A 12 point box-end can loosen a nut or bolt where there is less
room for movement, while
a 6 point box-end provides better
grip. For hex fasteners on fluid lines, like brake lines and fuel
lines, a flare-nut wrench offers the advantages of a box-end
wrench with a slot that allows it to fit over the line.
The combination wrench is the most universal. It has one
open-end and one box-end. 10 mm and 13 mm wrenches are
the most common sizes needed.
A more complete set of
wrenches would include
6 mm through 19 mm sizes.

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Maintenance
0 Service due is shown with RESET if the measured con-
sumption limit has been reached and resetting is possible.
If RESET is not shown, the minimum limit has not been
reached and resetting is not possible.
While display is flashing, press button briefly to reset
Sll.
After display has shown new interval, the following will
appear in display for approximately
2 seconds: END SIA.
NOTE-
The system can only be reset again after the vehicle has
been driven approximately 50 to
75 miles (consumes at
least2.5gallons of fuel). If the display shows RESETwhen
resetting, the minimum driving distance has been fulfilled
and the system can be reset again.
0 It is possible to interrupt and end the reset procedure by
changing the position of the ignition
ley.
lnspection I, lnspection II
The Service Interval Indicator (SII) signals the need for main-
tenance and inspection. There are two sets
of inspection re-
quirements, alternating throughout a car's maintenance
history. If the last inspection interval was lnspection I, the next
inspection interval (following an oil service) will be lnspection
11, the next after that will be lnspection I, and so on.
lnspection
I tasks are listed in Table b. lnspection I Service.
lnspection
II includes most of the tasks from lnspection I with
additional lnspection
II tasks. A complete listing of lnspection
II tasks is in Table c. lnspection I1 Service.
NOTE-
For reference, the BMW lnspection I and lnspection I1 re-
quirements are approximately equivalent to the maintenance
requirements that other European manufacturers specify.
ln-
spection I is normally due at intervals with a maximum of
30,000 miles or
24 months. lnspection I1 is normally due at
intervals with a maximum of 60,000 miles or
48 months.

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4 If oil level is low, add oil by removing oil filler cap (arrow) on
top of cylinder head
(6-cylinder oil cap shown, V-8 is sirnilar).
- Add only amount needed to bring oil level to upper mark on
dipstick, using an oil of correct viscosity and grade.
Engine oil and filter, changing
A complete oil change requires new oil, a new filter insert kit,
and a new drain plug sealing washer. The tools needed, a
17
mm drain plug socket or box wrench, a 36 mm socket or
wrench, and a drain pan (8
- 10 US qt. capacity), are de-
scribed in
010 General.
NOTE-
If using a "fast 1ube"service facility for oil changes, make sure
the technician hand-starts and torques the engine oil drain
plug using hand-tools. Power tools can strip the threads of
the plug and the oil pan.
Run engine for afew minutes to warm engine oil. Shut engine
off.
With car on level ground, place drain pan under oil drain plug.
Using a
36 mm socket, loosen and remove oil filter housing
cover (arrow). Remove filter cartridge and discard any
0-
rings (V-8 engine oil filter housing shown, 6-cylinder oil filter
housing is sirnilar).
Using a socket or box wrench, loosen drain plug at oil drain
pan. Remove plug by hand and let oil drain into pan
(V-8 en-
gine oil drain plug shown, 6-cylinder drain plug is similar).
WARNING -
Pull the loose plug away from the hole quicldy to avoid being
scalded by hot oil. It will run out
quiclcly when the plug is re-

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020-30
Maintenance
fluid use and the most-up-to-date information regarding
transmission operating fluids.
The automatic transmission is not equipped with a dipstick.
Therefore, checking the ATF level is an involved procedure
which includes measuring and maintaining a specified ATF
temperature during the checking procedure.
For more complete
ATF service information, including
checking
ATF level and ATF filter replacement procedures,
see
240 Automatic Transmission.
Transmission service, manual
Manual transmission service consists of inspecting for leaks
and checking the fluid. Evidence of transmission leaks is
like-
ly to be seen around the driveshaft mounting flange and at the
bottom of the bellhousing.
NOTE-
For more information on identifying oil
leaks and their
causes, see 230 Manual Transmission and210 Clutch.
Transmission fluid, checking and filling
(manual transmission)
Tne manual transmss'on inslalleo 'n rne E39 models s f;lled
with a special liierime iluid (ivlTF-LT-I). oi. ordinarily
does
not need to be changed.
< Check manual transmission oil level at transmission filler plug
(A). Make sure car is on level surface.
NOTE- Transmission fluid level
checking and replacement
procedures are covered in 230 Manual Transmission.
Wheels, aligning
BMW recommends checking the front and rear alignment
once a year and whenever new tires are installed.
NOTE-
See 320 Steering and Wheel Alignment for a more detailed
discussion of alignment requirements and specifications.

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Maintenance
BODY AND INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Body and hinges, lubricating
Door locksand loclccylinderscan be lubricated with an oil that
contains graphite.
Body and doorhinges, hood latch and doorcheclc rods should
be lubricated with
SAE 30 or SAE 40 engine oil. Lubricate
seat runners with multipurposegrease. Do not apply any oil to
rubber parts.
If door weather-strips are sticking, lubricate
them with silicone spray or talcum powder. The hood release
cable should be lubricated as well.
The use of winter
lock deicer sprays should be lkept to an
absolute minimum, as the alcohol in the deicer will wash the
grease out of the lock assemblies and may cause locks to
corrode internally or to become difficult to operate.
Exterior washing
The longer dirt is left on the paint, the greater the risk of dam-
aging theglossy finish,
eitherby scratching or by thechemical
effect dirt particles may have on the painted surface.
Do not wash the car in direct sunlight. If the engine hood is
warm, allow it to cool. Beads of water not only leave spots
when dried rapidly by the sun or heat from theengine, but also
can act as small magnifying glasses and burn spots into the
finish. Wash the car with a mixture of lukewarm water and a
car wash product. Rinse using plenty of clear water. Wipe the
body dry with a sofl cloth towel or chamois to prevent
water-spotting.
Interior care
Dirt spots can usually be removed with lultewarm soapy water
or a dry foam cleaner. Use spot remover for grease and oil
spots. Do not pour the liquid directly on the carpet or fabric,
but dampen a clean cloth and rub carefully, starting at the
edge of the spot and working inward. Do not use gasoline,
naphtha, or other flammable substances.
Leather upholstery and trim
Leather upholstery and trim should be periodically cleaned
using a slightly damp cotton or wool cloth. The idea is to get
rid of the dirt in the creases and pores that can cause brittle-
ness and premature aging. On heavily soiled areas, use a
mild detergent (such as
wooliteQ) or other specially formulat-
ed leather cleaners. Dry the trim and upholstery completely