transmission fluid BMW 540i 1998 E39 Owner's Manual

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230-6
Manual Transmission
Manual transmissions installed in the 5 Series are normally
filled with a "Lifetime" manual transmission fluid
(BMW MTF
LT-I) and do not require periodic fluid changes. Transmis-
sions filled with MTF LT-I lifetime oil are identified with a yel-
low label near the transmission fill plug labeled "Lifetime Oil
MTF-LT-1".
Transmission fluid level, checking
- Drive vehicle for a few miles to warm transmission.
- Raise and safely support vehicle to access transmission
filler plug.
CAUTION-
Make sure the car is stable and well supporfedat all times.
4 Remove side filler plug (B). Insert finger into hole to check
fluid level. If fluid level is up to bottom of filler hole (finger is
wetted by transmission fluid), level is correct.
NOTE-
* Check and fill transmission with car on level surface.
5-speed transmission shown in illustration. 6-speed trans-
mission is similar.
- Install and torque filler plug.
Tightening torque
Transmission drain or fill
plug
to transmission case SO Nm (37 it-lb)
Transmission fluid, replacing
- Drive vehicle for a few miles to warm transmission.
- Raise and safely support vehicle to access drain plug.
CAUTION-
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive lift
orjack stands designed
for the purpose.
A floor jack is not adequate support.
Check that the
fill plug is not seizedprior to draining
transmission fluid.

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230-7
Manual Transmission
Place drain pan under transmission and remove drain plug
(A) at bottom of transmission.
Drain fluid.
lnstall and torque drain plug.
Remove fill plug
(6) from side of transmission.
Slowly fill transmission with fluid until fluid overflows fill
hole.
lnstall and torque fluid fill
plug.
NOJE-
5-speed transmission shown in illustration. 6-speed trans-
mission is similar.
Fluid capacity
Initial fill
newirebuilt Transmission unit Fluid change
Getrag S5D 250G 1.1 liter (1.2 US qt) 1.0 liter (1 .l US qt)
Getrag S6S 420G 1.9 liter (2.0 US qt) 1.7 liter (1.8 US qt)
ZF S5D 3202 1.3 liter (1.4 US at) 1.2 liter (1.3 US qt)
Tightening torque
Transmission drain or
fill plug to transmission 50
Nm (37 ft-lb)
case
Back-up light switch, replacing
- Raise and safely support vehicle to access back-up light
switch.
WARNING -
4 Unscrew switch from transmission.
Back-up light switch location on transmission varies.
Refer to illustration.
- Install new switch.
Tightening torque Back-up light switch
18 Nm (13 ft-lb)
to transmission
ission fluid level before lowering vehicle.

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230-9
Manual ~ransmissionl
Carefully pry out selector shaft oil seal with BMW special tool
23
0 210, or with a narrow seal remover or small screwdriver.
Coat new selector shaft seal with transmission fluid. Drive
new seal in flush with housing. Use
BMW special seal instal-
lation tool
23 0 220 or equivalent and a soft-faced (plastic)
hammer.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing:
Install driveshaft using new
loclc nuts.
Check transmission oil level, topping up as necessary.
Tightening torques Aluminum driveshaft to flex-disc
. MI2 (use Dacromet-coated washers) 90 Nm (66 ft-lb)
Driveshaft CV joint to final drive flange
MI 0 (Torx bolt) 70
Nm (51 ft-lb)
M8 (compression nut) 32
Nm (24 ft-lb)
Flex-disc to transmission flange or driveshaft
MI0 (8.8 grade) 48 Nm (35 ft-lb)
MI0 (10.9 grade) 60
Nm (44 it-lb)
MI2 (8.8 grade) 81
Nm (60 ft-lb)
MI2 (10.9 grade) lo0 Nm (74 ft-lb)
- MI4 140 Nm (103 ft-lb)
Transmission crossmember
to transmission (ME) 21 Nm (15 ft-lb)
. to chassis (M10) 42 Nm (30 ft-lb)

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230-1 1
Manual ~ransmissionl
Coat new seal with transmission fluid. Use seal installation
drift (see table below) to drive seal into position until it is flush
with housing.
Output seal drives
Transmission
BMW special tool
Getrag S5D 250G 240110
ZF S5D 3202 23 2 300
inspect sealing surface on output flange. Replace if flange
surface is worn or damaged.
Heat output flange to about 176"
F (80" C) to aid in installa-
tion. This can be done by placing flange in hot water. Rein-
stall output flange to output shaft.
- Coat flange nut with LoctiteB243 and reinstall. Torque in two
stages.
Tightening torques Output flange to output shaft
Stage I 190 Nm (140 ft-lb)
Stage II (after loosening) 120
Nm (89 ft-lb)
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing:
Install driveshaft using new nuts. See
260 Driveshaft.
Check transmission fluid level, topping up as necessary
Tightening torques Aluminum driveshaft to flex-disc
- MI2 (use Dacromet-coated washers) 90 Nm (66 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
. MI0 (Torx bolt) 70
Nm (51 ft-lb)
. M8 (compression nut) 32
Nm (24 ft-lb)
Flex-disc to transmission flange or driveshaft
- MI0 (8.8 grade) 48
Nm (35 ft-lb)
- MI0 (10.9 grade) 60
Nm (44 It-lb)
. MI2 (8.8 grade) 81 Nm (60 ft-lb)
. MI2 (10.9 grade) I00 Nm (74 It-lb)
M14 140 Nm (103 It-lb)
Transmission crossmember
- to transmission (ME) 21 Nm (15 It-lb)
- to chassis (M10) 42 Nm (30 It-lb)

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230-1 3
Manual ~ransmissionl
I 4 Remove shims under collar nut and set aside.
- Use puller to remove output flange
4 Use BMW special tool 00 5 010 or other suitable seal puller
to remove seal from transmission housing.
4 Coat new seal with transmission fluid. Use seal installation
drift, BMW special tool 23 2 480 or equivalent, to drive seal
into housing as far as it will go.
- Inspect sealing surface on output flange. Replace if worn or
damaged.
- Coat sealing lip of seal, sealing surface of output flange and
transmission splined shaft with transmission oil.
4 Press output flange on output shafl using BMW special tool
23 3
010.
. Counterhold flange with BMW special tool 23 0 020.
Tighten special tool 23 2 010 to 200 Nm
(148 ft-lb).
Remove
special tools.

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230-14
I Manual Transmission
If installing new output flange: Recalculate thickness of
shims based on difference in height between output shaft
surface and collar nut support surface. Shims must be within
the output flange preload specification below the collar nut
support surface.
Output flange preload Difference between heights of shaft and output 0.05
- 0.22 mm
flange sealing
suriace MINUS thickness of shims (0.002 - 0.009 in)
NOTE-
Shims are available in increasing sizes of 0.1 mm from
1.4 mm to 2.1 mm (0.055 in to 0.083 in) from BMWparts.
- Install shims. Install and torque flange collar nut.
Tightening torques Output flange to out put shaft
. Stage I 190 Nm (140 ft-lb)
. Stage II (after loosening) 120 Nm (89 it-lb)
- Use BMW special tool 23 2 470 to install flange nut retaining
plate.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing:
Install driveshaft using new nuts. See
260 Driveshaft.
Checlc transmission fluid level, topping up as necessary.
Tightening torques
Aluminum driveshaft to flex-disc
- MI2 (use Dacromet-coated washers) 90 Nm (66 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
MI0 (Tom bolt)
70 Nm (51 ft-lb)
M8 (compression nut) 32 Nm (24 ft-lb)
Flex-disc to transmission flange or driveshaft
* MI0 (8.8 grade) 48 Nm (35 ft-lb)
- MI0 (10.9 grade) 60 Nm (44 ft-lb)
. MI2 (8.8 grade)
81 Nm (60 ft-lb)
MI2 (10.9 grade) 100 Nm (74 ft-lb)
- MI4 140 Nm (1 03 ft-lb)
Transmission
crossmembe~
to transmission (ME)
to chassis (M10)
21 Nm (15 ft-lb)
42 Nm (30 it-lb)

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230-1 8
Manual Transmission
- Unbolt clutch slave cylinder from side of transmission. Do not
disconnect fluid hose. Suspend slave cylinder from chassis
using stiff wire.
CA UTIOG
Unbolt clutch slave cylinder slowly to prevent air being
drawn into hydraulic system.
. Do not operate clutch pedal with slave cylinder re-
moved from transmission.
4 Put BMW special tool 11 7 370 or appropriate sized spacer
between engine oil sump and front axle support. Lower trans-
mission until engine is supported on spacer.
0 V-8 vehicle: Turn front wheels to prevent strain from being
placed on center tie rod.
All vehicles: Tilting the engine to lower the transmission
can lead to damage to various components due to lack
of clearance at rear of engine. Lower transmission
slowly
- Support front of engine with floor jack.
4 Disconnect shift rod from selector shaft coupling
- Disconnect shift console from top of transmission. See 250
Gearshift Linkage.
6-cylinder: Remove transrnisslon mounting Torx-head bolts
(arrows). Note length and locatlon of bolts.
Remove
transrnlssion by pulling backward untll transmls-
sion Input shaft clears clutch d~sc spl~nes, then pull down-
wards. Lower
transmlsslon jack to remove transrnlsslon. -
- - -
-

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Manual Transmission
4 V-8 engine: Remove transmission mounting Tom-head bolts
(arrows). Note length and location of bolts.
Remove transmission by pulling backward until transmis-
sion input shaft clears clutch disc splines, then pull down-
wards. Lower transmission jack to remove transmission.
- Installation is reverse of removal, keeping in mind the
following:
When installing a new transmission, be sure to transfer
parts from old transmission
if applicable.
Thoroughly clean input shafl and clutch disc splines. Light-
ly lubricate transmission input shaft before installing.
* Be sure bellhousing alignment dowel sleeves are located
correctly. Replace damaged sleeves.
Center rear of transmission in driveshaft tunnel before
tightening transmission support bracket.
NOTE-
In order to avoid difficulties in transmission removal at a fu-
ture time, use washers with Torx-head mounting bolts.
- Reinstall driveshaft. Use new nuts when mounting driveshaff
to transmission/flex disc. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Refill transmission with appropriate lubricant before starting
or towing car. See Transmission fluid service earlier in this
repair group.

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240 Automatic Transmission
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Special tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic transmission applications
. . . . . ,240-2 ATF, draining and filling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240-7
. . . . . ,240-2 Automatic transmission fluid
. . . . . ,240-4 pan and strainer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240-9
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240-4 Transmission Removal
and Installation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240-10 Automatic Transmission Fluid Transmission, removing and installing . . . 240-10 (ATF) Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,240-6
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) . . . . . . . ,240-6
ATF level, checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,240-6

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- .- -
Automatic Transmission
Electronics are used to control the operation of these auto-
matic transmissions. Steptronic transmission functions are
also programmed into the transmission control module
(TCM). The TCM monitors transmission operation for faults
and alerts the driver by illuminating the transmission fault indi-
cator on the instrument panel. Diagnostic trouble codes
(DTCs) stored in the TCM may be downloaded and interpret-
ed by trained technicians using special BMW diagnostic
equipment.
Some minor automatic transmission problems can be cor-
rected by changing the automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
and filter. Begin by checking ATF level and condition.
Checlc
to see if the fluid is dirty or has a burned odor indicating over-
heated fluid. The burned odor may be the results of burned
discs in theclutch paclts. The friction material from the burned
disc can clog valve body passages.
NOTE-
The E39 automatic transmission is not equipped with a dip-
stick.
Checking the ATF level must be done while monitoring
the ATF temperature with the engine idling. The
BMW dealer
is equipped with the special equipment to make this check.