check engine light BMW 540i 1998 E39 Owner's Guide

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Fuel Tank and Fuel Pump
Evaporative system troubleshooting
- Start by accessing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) using a
BMW or BMW compatible aftermarket scan tool.
For purposes of OBD
II emissions compliance, the DME
system sets a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) when it de-
tects a leak that is equal or larger than minimum
lealc
sensed by system.
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is illuminated upon sec-
ond recurrence of fault. See OBD On-Board Diagnostics.
- When leak testing, observe following conditions to obtain
plausible results:
Fuel tank
'1, to 'I., full.
0 Vehicle parked for at least 2 hours to allow fuel to reach
room temperature.
Ideal fuel temperature is 10"- 20°C
(50"
- 68" F).
Do not refuel immediately before
lealc test.
- If a leak is detected, check the following areas:
* Fuel filter cap (leaking or off).
Fuel tank ventilation lines leaking at fuel
tank or activated
carbon canister.
i
Tank ventilation valve leaking (in engine compartment).
Fuel level
sensorlfuel pump cap leaking.
Evaporative system component replacement is covered later
in
th~s group in Fuel Tank and Fuel Lines.

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- Raise and safely support vehicle
WARNING-
Make sure the car is stable and well supporied at all times.
Use a professional automotive /iff orjack stands designed for
the
ournose. A floor jack is not adeouate suooort.
- If necessary, remove transmission splash shield.
- Disconnect fluid line from slave cylinder on lefl side of trans-
mission. Place pan under hose to catch dripping fluid.
4 Working underneath transmission, remove slave cylinder
mounting nuts (arrow) from clutch housing and remove
cylinder.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Check for wear on slave cylinder. Any wear except on tip is
caused by misalignment of clutch components.
Lightly coat
pushrod tip with molybdenum disulfide grease
(MolyltoteIB Longterm or equivalent).
. During installation be sure pushrod tip engages recess in
clutch release lever.
Fill fluid reservoir with clean fluid.
. Bleed clutch hydraulics as described earlier.
Tightening
toraues - -.
Clutch slave cylinder to transmission 22 Nm (16 R-lb)
Fluid line to slave cylinder 17 Nm (13 ft-lb)
The transmission must be removed from the engine to access
the clutch mechanical components. It is recommended that
the clutch disc, pressure plate and release bearing be re-
placed during a clutch overhaul.
Besure tocheck the bottom of the bellhousing foroil. If engine
oil is found, check for a faulty rear crankshaft main oil seal.
See
119 Lubrication for rear main seal replacement.
Clutch variations
Two versions of the clutch are used:
1997 528i (6 cylinder) uses traditional clutch components.
All
540i (V-8) and 1998 and later 6 cylinder models from
use a self-adjusting clutch (SAC).

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210-1 4
1 Clutch
Dowel sleeve I
Check flywheel location
and correct installation. dowel sleeve
(arrow)
for . damage
< When installing dual-rnass flywheel, position dowel sleeve
next to two locating notches (arrows).
- Lightly oil flywheel mounting bolt threads and torque to
specification.
Tightening torque
Flywheel to crankshaft 105 Nm (77 ft-lb)
CAUTIOI\C
Do not reinstall flywheel bolls with LoctiteCTJ or similar thread
locl~ing compound.
- Install transm~ssion as descr~bed in 230 Manual Transmis-
sion.
4 If flywheel was replaced, check pulse sensor (arrow) for cor.
rect installation depth.
- Remove pulse sensor.

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230 Manual Transmission
General ........................... .23 0.2 Output shaft
seal. replacing (5-speed
.... Special tools ........................ .23 0.2 transmission) (transmission installed) 230-10
Manual transmission aoolications ....... .23 0.5 Output shaft seal. replacing (6-speed . . .... transmission) (transmission installed) 230-12 ........ Transmission Fluid Service .23 0.6 put shaft seal. replacing
Transmission fluid level. checking ....... .23 0.6 (transmission ............... 230-15
........... Transmission fluid, replacing .23 0.6
Transmission Removal ................... ..... Transmission External Service .23 0-7 and installation 230-1
Back-up light switch, replacing .......... .23 0-' Transmission, removing and installing 230-16 ...
Selector shaft seal. reolacina .
(transmission installed) ................ .23 0.8

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Driveshaft
- Road test vehicle to check for noise or vibration
CAUTION-
Do not reuse self-locking nuts. These nuts are designed to
be used only once.
Avoid stressing the flex-disc when torquing the bolts.
Do this by counterholding the bolts and turning the nuts
on the flange side.
Tightening torques
Alunlinum driveshaft to flex-disc
- MI2 (use 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)
MI 0 (1 0.9 grade) 60 Nm (44 ft-lb)
- Mi2 (8.8 grade)
81 Nm (60 ft-lb)
- MI2 (10.9 grade) I00 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)
NOTE-
Boltgrade is marked on the bolt head. When replacing bolts,
only use bolts of the same strength and hardness as the orig-
inals installed.
Flex-disc, replacing
- Checlc flex-disc between front section of driveshafl and trans-
mission output flange for craclts, tears, missing pieces, or
distortion. Check for worn bolt hole bores in flange.
- If flex-disc needs replacement, remove driveshafl as de-
scribed earlier.
- Unbolt flex-disc from driveshaft.
NOTE-
Removal andinstallation of the bolts may be made easier by
placing a large hose clamp around the flex-disc, and tighten-
ing the clamp slightly to compress the rubber.

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331-12
Final Drive Final drive cover, removing and installing
- Remove final drive. See Final drive, removing and install-
ing.
I 1 4 Remove fasteners (arrows) from rear cover and remove cov-
er.
Clean cover and final drive housing sealing surfaces.
Install new
gasket with cover.
* Installation is reverse of removal.
- Check differential oil level. See Differential oil level, check-
ing.
Tightening
torque
Final drive cover to final drive housing
. M10 (8.8 grade) 45 Nm (33 ft-lb)
M10 (10.9 grade) 90 Nm (66 ft-lb)
Final drive mounts, replacing
- Remove final drive. See Final drive, removing and install-
ing.
Rear final drive mounts
- Remove rear final drive rubber mounts using BMW special
tools333314,333315,334 181, and334 183.
4 Coat new mount with CircolightB anti-friction agent and in-
.
stall, noting the following:
Long bushing on mount must face forward (arrow).
A shows installation position of mounts.

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340-6
1 Brakes
Brake system troubleshooting
/symptom I Probable cause 1 Repairs
Brake squeal
Pedal goes to floor when
bralting
Low pedal after system bleeding
Pedal spongy or brakes work
only when pedal is pumped
Excessive braking effort
Brakes pulsate, chatter or grab
Uneven
bralting, car pulls to one
side, rear braltes
loclt
Brakes drag, bind or overheat Brake
pad carriers dirty or corroded or
pads loose (poor fit) in pad carrier
Braite pads heat-glazed or oil-soaked
Wheel bearings worn (noise most
pronounced when turning)
Incorrectly Installed brake pads,
parking bralte shoes, or bralte parts
Brake fluid loss due to system leaks
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty
Master cylinder faulty
Air in braite fluid
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty
Brake pads wet
Brake pads
heat-glazedorfluid-soalted
Vacuum booster or vacuum hose
connections to booster faulty
--- Warped brake rotors
Brake pads worn
Brake pads heat-glazed or oil-soaked Remove
brake pads and clean calipers. Use original
equipment pads for proper fit and use BMW anti-squeal
compound during installation,
Replace brake pads. Ciean rotors. Replace leaking caliper:
as required.
Replace worn bearings. See 310 Front Suspension
or33C
Rear Suspension.
Check component installation. Checldreplace anti-rattle
springs.
Checlt fluid level and inspect for signs of leakage.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Replace master cylinder.
Bleed system using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Use light pedal pressure to dry pads while driving.
Replace
bralte pads and rotors. Replace leaking calipers.
lnspect vacuum lines. Test vacuum booster and replace as
required. Test vacuum non-return valve for one-way flow.
Resurface or replace rotors.
Replace brake pads.
Clean rotors. Replace leaiting calipers.
Incorrect tire pressures or worn tires
Brake pads on one side of car heat-
glazed or fluid-soaked
Caliper or brake pads binding
Worn suspension components
Brake caliper or brake pads binding
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty lnspect
tire condition. Checlt and correct tire pressures.
Replace brake pads. Clean rotors. Replace leaking
calipers.
Clean and recondition brakes.
Inspect for worn or damaged suspension components. See
310 Front Suspension or 330 Rear Suspension.
Ciean or replace caliper.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using faclory or compatible diagnostic tool.

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340-1 5
Brakes
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
- Clean brake caliper mounting bolts (7 mm Allen). Replace
ones which are not in perfect condition. Do not grease.
Top up brake fluid to MAX marking.
- Before driving car, pump bralte pedal several times so that
brake pads contact brake rotors.
Check that brake fluid level is correct. Top up if necessary.
Hold ignition key for at least
30 seconds in accessory po-
sition without starting engine. This clears any fault codes in
memory and turns off brake pad warning light.
Tightening torques Brake caliper to pad carrier
(7 mm Allen)
Front caliper
30 Nm (22 It-lb)
- Rear caliper 28 Nm (21 It-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120i 10 Nm (89i7 ft-lb)
Brake rotors, removing and installing
- Raise car and remove wheels
WARNING-
Male sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place jack stands under suspension
parts.
Remove brake caliper carrier bolts (arrows). Suspend brake
caliper from chassis using stiff wire.
NOTE-
Hydraulic brake line remains connected.
4 Remove bralte rotor mounting screw (arrow) and remove ro-
tor.
- Inspect rotor for cracks, signs of overheating and scoring.
- Minimum allowable thickness (MIN TH) is stamped on rotor
hub. Measure rotor braking surface with a micrometer at
eight to ten different points and use the smallest measure-
ment. Compare to specifications in table below.
- If rotor does not pass minimum thickness requirements or is
damaged, replace rotor.

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1 Brakes
- Remove precharge pump mounting bracket fasteners and re-
move pump.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Be sure to replace rubber pump mounts if damaged
01
worn.
Bleed brakes as described earlier.
Tightening torque Brake line
to precharge pump 18 Nrn (13 ft-lb)
DSC pressure sensor (1 999 - 2002 models)
On 1999 and later DSC systems, the DSC pressure sensor is
screwed into the DSC hydraulic unit (right rear of engine com-
partment).
WARNING-
* €39 cars require special BMW service equipment to prop-
erly bleed the brakes. Removal of the
DSCpressure sensor
is not recommended unless this equipment is available. For
safety reasons, the brake system on cars with ABS must be
bled using the procedures described in this repair group.
Switch off ignition and remove
key to male sure brake
system cannot be activated.
- Disconnect electrical harness connector at switch.
- Use BMW special tool 34 5 160 to remove and install sensor.
Inspect threads and sealing surfaces for damage.
* Work quicltly to avoid excessive brake fluid leakage.
Tightening torque
Pressure sensor
to hydraulic 19 Nrn (14ft-lb)
unit
- Reconnect harness connector
- Bleed front brakes as described earlier.
- Press on brakes and check for leaks at sensor.
- Turn on ignition and firmly depress brake pedal. Check that
DSC warning light does not come on.

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Fenders, Engine ~oodl
Adjusting detent buffers for hood:
Raise hood.
* Shape pieces of rubber (butyl) tape into two IOmm col-
umns and place on buffers
(A).
* Close hood.
Measure dimension of the compressed rubber tape.
Using measurement dimension, adjust detent buffer
(A)
Hood should be under a slight preload. (+0.5 mm).
Fellow the same procedure on the front buffers
(B).
- After adjustment have been made, check that hood lid is flush
against detent buffers and
if necessary repeat the adjust-
ment.
CAUTION-
To avoid excessive wind noise, the hood must not protrude
beyond the front side panels.