120 BMW 540i 1997 E39 Repair Manual

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240-6
I Automatic Transmission Automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
The E39 automatic transmission is filled with either Dexron Ill
ATF or Texaco 80728, a life time oil.
CA UTIOI\C
Use only the transmission fluid that is approved for use by
BMW All other fluids will cause non warrantable transmis-
I sion damage.
Mixing different types of transmission fluids will lead to
transmission failure.
NOTE-
The type of transmission lubricant used can be found on a
stickeron the transmission pan. Dexron
111ATF (blacksticker)
reads "ATF-Oil': Special life time oil (green sticker) reads
'Life-Time Oil': If in doubt, consult an authorized
BMW dealer
for alternate fluid use and current information regarding
transmission operating fluids.
ATF level, checking
Check ATF level if there is evidence of a leak, a complaint re-
lated to fluid level or afler transmission repairs.
The automatic transmission is not equipped with a dipstick.
Checking the ATF level requires that the transmission be at
operating temperature during the checking procedure.
NOTE-
Vehicle must be level throughout tests
- Drive vehicle to warm up ATF to operating temperature.
- Connect BMW diagnostic scan tool DiSplus, MoDiC, GTI or
equivalent to determine transmission oil temperature.
ATF level checking
Fluid temperature
30' - 50°C (85' - 120" F)
- With engine running, switch on air conditioning to increase
engine idle speed.
- Apply parking brake.
- While applying foot brake firmly move gear shift selector
lever through
all gear positions, pausing in each gear briefly.

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31 0-8
Front Suspension
Slide strut assembly out of steering lknucltle pinch collar. If
necessary use pry bar.
CA UTIOI\C
Do notpullstrut out of steering knuckle with twisting motion.
This can scratch and damage the strut.
Disassemble and reassemble strut assembly as described
later.
When installing new strut, be sure to align locator letter (A)
on strut body with slot in steering
lknuckle pinch collar (6).
Struts are marked with L for left and R for right.
Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Make sure strut shoulder (below locator letter) bottoms out
in steering knuckle pinch collar.
Use new self-locking nuts and bolts.
When attaching stabilizer
lrnk to strut, use a thin wrench to
counterhold
link ball joint while t~ghtening nut.
- Have car professionally al~gned when job IS complete.
Tightening torques
Brake caliper to steering knuckle
110 Nm (81 ft-ib)
Road wheel to hub 120 ti0 Nm (89 t7 ft-lb)
Stabilizer bar
link to strut 65 Nm (48 It-lb)
Steering knucltle pinch bolt at strut 81 Nm (60 It-lb) - mountlng collar
Steering tle rod to steerlng knuckle 65 Nm (48 it-lb)
Strut assembly top to strut tower 24 Nm (18 it-lb)
- - -

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Front Suspension
< Use BMW special tool 31 2 240 or equivalent to separate
control arm ball joint from steering ltnuckle.
- When installing control arm, make sure all thread bores.
bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.
- Install bushing end of control arm to subframe, using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-locking nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
- Install control arm ball joint to steering lknucltle using a new
self-locking nut. Tighten fully.
- Install wheel and lower car.
- Load car to normal loaded position as described under Ride
height. See
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-Gen-
eral. Bounce suspension a few times.
- With car on ground and loaded, tighten control arm bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques
Control arm to steering ltnuckle
80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Control arm to subframe 110 Nm (81 It-lb)
Road wheel to hub 120ilO Nm (8957 it-lb)
Control arm, removing and installing
(V-8 models)
- Raise car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural
cliassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
Loosen and remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(A) while
counterholding ball joint
(B). Disconnect stabilizer link from
stabilizer bar.
- Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.

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310-1 5
Front ~us~ension/
4 Remove control arm fasteners (arrows). Lightly tap inner
control arm mounting bolt out of subframe.
Use
BMW special tool 31 2 240 or equivalent to separate ball
joint from steering knuckle.
When installing control arm, make sure all thread bores,
bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.
lnstall bushing end of control arm to subframe, using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-loclting nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
lnstall control arm ball joint to steering knuckle, using new
self-locking nut. Tighten fully.
- Slide strut back into position and tighten strut pinch bolt fully.
- Install wheel and lower car.
- Load car to normal loaded position as described under Ride
height. See
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-Gen-
eral. Bounce suspension a few times.
- With car on ground and loaded, tighten control arm bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques
Control arm to steering knuckle 80 Nm
(59 ft-lb)
Control arm to
subframe 78 Nm (58 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120
f 10 Nm (89 +7 ft-lb)
Stabilizer bar
link to stabilizer bar
59 Nm (44 fl-lb)
Strut pinch bolt
81 Nm (60 it-lb)

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31 0-1 7
Front ~uspensionl
< Spread steering knuckle pinch collar with BMW special tool
31 2 200 to release strut tube.
- Pull steering knuckle down so strut tube slides up farenough
to gain better access to tension strut or tension strut nut.
4 Unscrew ball joint nut (arrow) from steering knuckle. Use
BMW special tool
31 2 240 to remove ball joint from steering
Iknucltle.
CAUTION--
Tale care not to damage the balljoint threads if the tension
strut
is to be reused.
- Remove through-bolt attaching tension strut to subframe.
- When installing tension strut, make sure all thread bores,
bolts, nuts and mating
suriaces are clean.
- Install bushing end of tension strut to subframe using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-locking nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
- Install tension strut ball joint to steering knuckle using new
self-locking nut. Tighten fully.
- Slide strut back into position and tighten strut pinch bolt fully.
- Install wheel and lower car.
- Load car to normal loaded position as described under Ride
height. See
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-Gen-
eral. Bounce suspension a few times.
- With car on ground and loaded, tighten tension strut bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques Road
wheel to hub 120-i-10 Nm (89+7ft-lb)
Stabilizer bar to subframe 24 Nm (1 8 ft-lb)
Tension strut to steering
knucltle
80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Tension strut
to subframe 110 Nm (81 ft-lb)
81 Nm (60 it-lb)
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31 0-21
Front Suspension
4 Remove four bearing hub mounting bolts (arrows) and tap
hub assembly out of steering knuckle.
4 Before installing new wheel bearing and hub assembly, be
sure hub and steering knuckle sealing surfaces are free of
dirt and grease.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Replace hub mounting bolts.
Use new self-locking nuts at steering tie rod and stabilizer
link.
Tightening
torques
Road wheel lugs to hub 120i-10 Nm (89i-7ft-lb)
Stabilizer link to stabilizer bar
Steering tie rod to steering
ltnuckle
Tension strut to steering
knucltie
Wheel bearing hub to steering
Itnucltle (replace bolts)
65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
65
Nm (48 it-lb)
80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
1
lo Nm (81 ft-lb)

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320-3
Steering and Wheel ~li~nmentl
4 Pitman arm height measurement gauge
/I (Tool NO. BMW 32 2 140)
-
4 Ball joint removal tool
(Tool No. BMW 31 2 240)
4 Ignition lock releasing tool
(Tool No. BMW 32 3
11 0)
4 Steering column shear bolt Toot socket (E8)
(Tool No. BMW 32 3 120)
4 Camber setting tool set
(Tool No. BMW 32 3 140)
4 Ring antenna removal tool
(Tool No. BMW
61 3 300)

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330-6
Rear Suspension
4 Remove rear strut top cover. Remove upper strut mounting
nuts (arrows).
Remove strut assembly lower mounting bolt (arrow).
Disassemble strut and spring assembly as described below
in Rear strut assembly, disassembling and reassem-
bling.
Installation of assembly to car is reverse of removal, noting
the following:
Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Install strut assembly top mount using new self-loclting
nuts.
Malte sure long lower strut bushing fits in
hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
Tightening torques Strut to wheel bearing carrier 127 Nm (94
it-lb)
Strut mount to body
Gray fasteners 28 Nm (21 ft-lb)
Yellow fasteners 24 Nm
( 18 it-lb) -
Road wheel to hub 120ilO Nm (89i7ft-lb)

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330-1 0
/Rear Suspension
- Remove rubber protective cap from shock absorber upper
mount.
- Remove shock absorber upper mounting nuts.
- Remove shock absorber lower mounting bolt. Lower shock
absorber out of wheel housing.
< Transfer shock top mounting plate, dust cover (if applicable)
and related components to new shoclc absorber.
1. Self-locking nut
2. Washer
3. Upper siioclc absorber mount
4. Rubber bumper seat
5. Rubber bumper
6. Dust boot
7. Shock absorber
8. Long lower bushing
Tightening torques
Shock absorber to upper mount
27 Nm (20 it-lb)
(M14, replace self-locking nut)
- Installation on car is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Install shock absorber upper mount to
subframe using new
self-locking nuts.
. Make sure long lower shock absorber bushing fits in hole
in suspension swing arm.
Tighten lower shoclc absorber bolt to its final torque once
car is on ground.
Tightening torques
Quick coupling screw to air 2 Nm (18 in-lb)
shock absorber
Road wheel to
hub 120 &I0 Nm (89 -f7 ft-lb)
Shock absorber to swing arm 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)
Strut mount to body
Gray fasteners
Yellow fasteners
24 Nm ( 18 it-lb)

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330-1 1
Rear Suspension
Coil spring, removing and installing
Raise car and remove rear wheels.
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.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect
bralte fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System.
- Disconnect driveshafl from final drive. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Detach parking bralte cables from mounting bracltets on sub-
frame.
< Support final drive unit from below using transmission jack
and
BMW special tool 33 4 390 or equivalent.
Remove rear suspension
subframe mounting bolts (arrows).
Lower rear
subframe until coil springs can be removed.
When reinstalling springs, replace upper and lower spring
pads if necessary.
Slowly lift suspension
back into position, making sure coil
springs are correctly seated in upper and lower spring seats.
Install and tighten
subframe mounting bolts. Note that on
each bolt, rubber-coated detent plate (arrow) must be in-
stalled at rear in driving direction
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal
Tightening torques Road wheel
to hub 12OilO Nm (89i-7 ft-lb)
Subframe to body 163 Nm (120 ft-lb)