Manual release BMW 540i 1997 E39 Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Steering and Wheel Alignment
4 Release lock (A) and pull up on harness connector (6) to dis-
connect ignition switch harness.
. Remove wire harness bracket fastener (C).
4 Remove shear bolts (arrows) using a chisel or punch.
NOTE-
The shear bolts can be drilled and then removed using an
easy-out.
- Remove steering column lock housing.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Tighten new shear bolts until bolt heads shear off.
ignition interlock cable, removing and
installing (models
with automatic
transmission)
- Remove steering column trim panels as described earlier.
4 Loosen and disconnect interlock cable (arrow) from ignition
lock assembly.
- Remove center console trim panel.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
320-1 5
Steering and Wheel ~li~nmentl
Remove steering shaft coupler clamping bolt (arrow) at base
of column.
Slide lower steering shaft forward to gain access to column
mounting shear bolts.
< Drill steering column mounting shear bolts (arrow) and use
easy-out to remove.
Remove upper steering column mounting bolts
(arrows).
Remove upper steering column.
Disconnect electrical harnesses from steering column
switches.
4 Release lock (A) and pull up on harness connector
connect harness.
Remove wiring harness mounting bolt
(C).
- Remove steering column assembly.
(B) to dis.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-8
Rear Suspension
4 Compress spring and install it and related components to
shock absorber. Use new self-locking upper strut mounting
nut.
1. Upper strut mount self-locking nut
2. Washer
3. Poor road surface adapter
4. Upper spring seat
5. Upper strut mount
6. Upper rubber bumper seat
7. Rubber bumper
8. Coil spring
9. Dust boot
10. Lower spring seat
I I. Strut
WARNING-
Male sure the upperself-locking nut is fully tightened before
releasing the spring compressor.
Tightening torque
Upper strut mount to strut shaft
27 Nm (20 ft-lb)
(M14, replace self-locking nut)
4 Before releasing spring tension, position upper strut mount
so that one threaded stud is on a plane with flat end of strut
bushing at other end of strut.
- Release spring compressorslowly, positioning spring ends in
shoulders of spring seats.
- Reinstall strut assembly in vehicle, as described above in
Rear strut assembly, removing and installing.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Rear Suspension Swing arm, removing and installing
(Sport Wagon models)
- 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
suspension parts.
CAUJION-
Model with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electricalplug
beforeperforminganyrepairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under the spare tire in the floor of the
cargo compartment.
< Model with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
NOJE-
Vehicle will stand quite low
- If applicable: Detach air supply line from shock absorber.
Plug ports and lines to
lkeep out dirt.
- Model with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.
4 Working at top of coil spring, press center cap down or pry
upward to remove. If pushed down, remove from inside coil
spring from under car.
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool
33
2 301 between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool
33
2 304 from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-1 9
Rear suspension1
Swing arm ball joint, replacing
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
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
suspension
parts.
- Sport Wagon model: Support wheel bearing carrier from be-
low.
CA
UTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the
shoclc absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the brake hose, park-
ing
brake cable and drive axle CVjoints.
- Model with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shoclc absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Sport Wagon model: Remove shock absorber lower mount-
ing bolt.
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
Model with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under
the spare tire in the floor of the
carao
comoartment.
4 Model 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.
- Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-24
Rear Suspension
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301 between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool 33
2 304 from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
4 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.
4 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
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorber prevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting iastenerprevents damage to the brake hose,
parl-
ino brake cable and drive axle CV ioints.
- Models with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shock absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Remove shoclc absorber lower mounting bolt

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
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),

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-35
Rear Suspension
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Always use new self-loclting nuts.
Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating suriaces are
clean.
Make sure long lower strut bushing fits in hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Stake axle collar nut after tightening.
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier
8 Nm (6 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub 16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad carrier (caliper) to wheel 65
Nm (48
ft-lb)
bearing carrier
Rear axle shaft to hub
(M27) 300 Nm (221 ft-lb)
Rear strut to wheel bearing carrier 127
Nrn (94 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120+10 Nm
(89
i7 ft-lb)
Swing arm to wheel bearing carrier 256
Nrn (189 ft-lb)
Upper front control arm (traction strut) to 65 Nrn
(48
ft-lb)
wheel carrier
Upper rear control arm to wheel carrier 142
Nrn (105
ft-lb)
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
- 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
suspension parts.
Models
with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electricalplug
beforepedormingany repairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under the spare tire in the floor of the
cargo compartment.
-- 4 Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
-- 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.
i~B,!n,,ayPubi.l,c~u.c~"~-A~~ R

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
331-16
I Final Drive
Worlting at top of coil spring, press center cap down or pry
upward to remove. If pushed down, remove from inside coil
spring.
4 Worlting from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301
between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from the bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Worlting in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool
33
2 304
from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
4 Worlting 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 end lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
- Model with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes at air
distribution assembly to release system pressure.
WARNING-
The vehicle will lower when tlie airpipes are loosened.
- Remove final drive. See Final drive, removing and install-
ing.