BMW 540i 1998 E39 Workshop Manual
Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 1998, Model line: 540i, Model: BMW 540i 1998 E39Pages: 1002
Page 601 of 1002

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Gearshift ~inkaael 
Gearshift lever, removing 
(manual transmission) 
Use the accompanying illustration  as a guide when removing 
and  installing  the gearshift  linkage. 
- Remove shift knob  by pulling knob straight  off shift  lever. 
NOTE- 
Pull up on  the  shift  knob  with about 90 lbs. of force.  Do not 
twist 
knob or locating  key can  be damaged. 
- Squeeze sides  of shift boot  to unclip  from center  console. 
Pull boot  up and  off shift  lever. 
- Remove  sound insulation at base  of shift  lever. 
- Raise vehicle  to gain access to underside  of vehicle. 
- -- 
WARNING- 
Male  sure the car  is stable  and well supported  at all tfmes. 
Use a professional automotwe hft orjaclc stands  designed for 
the  purpose. 
A floorjaclc 1s not  adequate support. 
- Remove  complete  exhaust system.  See 180 Exhaust 
System. 
- Remove  driveshaft. See 260 Driveshaft. 
- Support transmission with transmission  jack.  Remove 
crossmember from rear  of transmission. 
- Lower  rear of transmission to  access gearshift  linkage. 
CA UTIOI\C 
Tilting the engine  to lower  the transmission  can lead  to 
damage  to various components  due to lack  of clearance. 
4 Working above  transmission, disconnect selector rod: 
* Pull off shift  rod retaining circlip (A). 
Remove  washer (6). 
Disengage  selector rod (C) from gearshift  lever.    
Page 602 of 1002

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250-4 
I Gearshift Linkage 
Release gearshift lever mounting  ring from below using BMW 
special spanner 25 1 110. Turn tool 90' ('I, turn) 
counterclockwise. 
Push shift lever  up to remove from  shift console, 
Raise transmission  and temporarily install transmission 
crossmember. 
Lower vehicle. Working from  inside passenger  compart- 
ment,  pull up  on shift lever to remove  it together with inner 
rubber boot and shift lever mounting ring. 
Gearshift  lever, installing 
(manual transmission) 
- Clean  old grease  from shift lever  ball and  mounting  ring. 
Also clean shift  console bowl. Lubricate with  molybdenum 
disulfide grease. 
- Insert shift  lever together with  inner boot and mounting  ring 
into  center  console. 
4 Align  shift lever  mounting ring locking tabs with  slots 
(arrows)  in shift  console  bowl. Press down until  ring 
snaps into place. 
NOTE- 
lnstall mounting ring witli arrow  pointing  toward front  of car. 
4 Pull inner rubber boot  over shift console  bowl (arrows)  to 
seal base  of shift  lever. 
NOTE- 
lnstall rubber  boot witli arrow  pointing toward front of car. 
- Raise car  and support  transmission.  Remove transmission 
crossmember and lower transmission  to access base  of shift 
lever. 
CAUTIOI\C 
Tilting  the engine  to lower  the transmission  can lead  to 
damage  to various  components due  to lack  of clearance.    
Page 603 of 1002

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Gearshift Linkage 
- Connect selector rod to shift  lever.  Lift transmission,  install 
crossmember  and tighten crossmember  bolts. 
Install driveshaft  and heat shield. See 
260 Driveshaft. 
Reinstall  exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System. 
. Lower vehicle.  Install shift boot.  Push shift ltnob on lever. 
Tightening  torque 
Driveshaft 
CV joint  to final  drive flange 
. MI0 (Tom bolt) 
70 Nm  (51 ft-lb) 
. M8 (compression  nut)  32  Nm (24 ft-lb) - Driveshaft  clamping sleeve 
- MI0 ribbed nuts 
80 Nm (59 ft-lb) 
MI0 compressed nuts  64 Nm  (47 ft-lb) 
Flex-disc  to driveshaft  or transmission flange 
MlO (8.8 grade)  48 
Nm  (35 ft-lb) 
. MI0 (10.9 grade)  60 
Nm  (44 ft-lb) 
- MI2 (10.9 grade) 100 Nm (74 ft-ib) 
MI4 140 Nm (103 fi-lb) 
Transmission crossmember 
. to transmission  21  Nm (15 ft-lb) 
. to chassis  42 Nm  (30 ft-lb)    
Page 604 of 1002

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pearshift Linkage 
~UTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 
GEARSHIFT 
Automatic transmission  gearshift  mechanism 
automatic 
5-speed Steptronic (5251,530i) 
1. Shift lock solenoid 
2. Shifter assembly 
3. Shift  cable 
4.  Support bracket 
5. Selector lever 
Gearshift mechanism, adjusting 
(automatic transmission) 
- Position  gearshift  lever in Park. 
- Raise vehicle  to gain  access  to shift  linkage. 
WARNING - 
Make sure  the car  is stable  and well supported  at all times. 
Use  a professional  automotive 
lift orjack stands designed  for 
the  purpose. 
4 Counterhold bushino A  and  loosen  cable clam~ino nut 6. 
Push cable  end backward  away from engine  (arrow 2). 
Release pressure on  cable. 
Tighten clamping nut. 
/ CAUTION-- 
Tightening  torque 
Shift  cable  clamping  nut 
10 Nm (7.5 it-lb)    
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250-7 
Gearshift ~inka~el 
Automatic shiftlock, checking function (automatic transmission) 
The automatic shiftlock  uses an electric solenoid to  lock the 
selector  lever in Park or Neutral.  Depressing the foot bralte 
with  the ignition on energizes the  solenoid, allowing the lever 
to  be  moved into a drive gear. The solenoid is  energized only 
when  the engine  speed is  below 2,500 rpm and the vehicle 
speed is below 
3 mph (5 kph). The solenoid is  mounted in the 
right side  of the selector  lever housing. 
... nir r 
Shiftlock 
4 Automatic  shiftlock prevents drive  gear selection until  brake 
pedal is depressed. 
With engine running  and car stopped, place  selector lever 
in  Park  or Neutral. 
Without  depressing  bralte pedal,  check that selector lever 
is 
loclted in position (Parlt  or Neutral). 
Depress brake pedal  firmly. Solenoid should  click audibly. 
Check  that selector  lever can now be moved  out of 
Parlt or 
Neutral. 
parking 
brake on  and  with extreme caution. 
solenoid 
0012713 
With selector 
lever in Park  or Neutral  and bralte pedal de- 
pressed, raise engine  above 2,500 
rpm. Check  that selec- 
tor  lever cannot  be moved out  of Park  or  Neutral. 
If any  faults  are found  check the electrical  operation  of the 
shiftloclt solenoid  and checlt for wiring  faults to or  from  the 
transmission control module (TCM).  See 
610 Electrical 
Component Locations  and ELE  Electrical Wiring 
Dia- 
grams. 
NOTE- 
NOTE- 
The solenoidis controlled  via the TCM, using brake pedalpo- 
sition, engine speed,  and road  speed  as controlling  inputs. 
The 
next  test should be  performed  in an  open area  with the    
Page 606 of 1002

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250-8 
Gearshift Linkage 
-;Ag Gate "",?it., 
Shift interlock, checking function 
(automatic  transmission) 
4 The shift interlock uses a cable between  the ignition switch 
and  the shift  lever  to lock  the shift lever  in the park position 
when  the key is  in the off  position  or removed.  This feature 
also  prevents  the key 
from being  removed from  the ignition 
lock  until the  selector  lever is  in Park. 
Shift selector lever  to Park  position and  turn ignition key to 
the  off position. 
Remove ignition  key.  Checlc that selector lever cannot  be 
shifted out  of Park  position. 
Turn  ignition  lkey on and  depress 
brake pedal.  Checlc  that 
selector lever moves freely  from gear to gear. 
With selector  lever  in a gear  position  other than  Park, at- 
tempt  to turn  lkey to off  position  and remove.  Key should not 
go  into off position. 
If  any faults  are found check cable  for lkinks  and 
check 
cable attachment  points  for damage  or faults. 
NOTE- 
* It must only  be possible  to remove ignition ley with 
selector  lever 
in Park position. 
* Do not link shift interlocl( cable. 
Shift  interlock repair  is covered 
in 320 Steering  and 
Wheel Alignment.    
Page 607 of 1002

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................. General ............................ 260-2 Driveshaft. installing 260-10 
.................. Special tools ........................ .26 0.2 Flex.disc. replacing  260-1 1 
..... Driveshaft description ................. .26 0.3  Center bearing  assembly. replacing  260-12 
........ Troubleshooting ..................... .26 0.3  Front centering guide. replacing  260-13 
Constant velocity 
(CV) joint.  replacing .... 260-14 Driveshaft Service ................. .26 0.6 
Driveshaft. aligning 
................... .26  0.7 
Driveshaft. removing 
................. .26 0.8    
Page 608 of 1002

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260-2 
1 Driveshaft 
This repair group  covers repair  and replacement of  the 
driveshaft and driveshaft components. 
Driveshaft repairs consist  of replacement  of front  flex-disc. 
center mount  or rear 
CV joint. If the driveshaft  joint is defec- 
tive,  replace  the complete driveshaft. 
Drive  axle repairs  are covered in 
331 Final Drive 
Special tools 
BMW suggests  the use  of certain special  tools in removing, 
installing  or servicing  the driveshaft  or its  components. 
4 Transmission jack 
(Tool  No. BMW 00  2 030) 
4 Transmission  support (for use with transmission  jack) 
/ (Tool NO. BMW  23 0 040) 
24 0 170 
1 
4 Transmission  support (for use with transmission  jack, 
A5S  560Z  transmission) 
(Tool  No. BMW  24 
0 170) 
24 0 250 
I 
4 Transmission  support (for use with transmission  jack, 
A5S 
4402 transmission) 
(Tool No. BMW  24 
0 250) 
4 Drlveshaft center mount allgnlng yg 
Tool No. BMW 26 1 000)    
Page 609 of 1002

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Driveshaft 
4 Driveshaft center slide nut spanner 
(Tool  No. BMW 
26 1 040) 
7, 25 1 Ho 4 cv joint  removal tool 
(Tool No. BMW 26 1 11 0) 
support assembly 
Driveshaft description 
4 The two-piece driveshaft  is connected  to the transmission  by 
a rubber flex-disc  and to the  rear final drive  by a constant ve- 
locity (CV) joint. 
A universal joint  is used  at the center  of the  driveshaft  and 
the  shaft  is supported in  the middle  by a center support 
bearing.  The bearing is mounted  in rubber  to isolate vibra- 
tion. 
- The  rear constant velocity joint  compensates  for fore and 
aft  movement  of the  drive  line. 
Troubleshooting 
The source  of driveline vibrations and noise can be  difficultto pin- 
point. Engine, transmission,  rear axle, or wheel vibrations  can be 
transmitted through  thedriveshaftto the car body. Noises from 
thecar may  be caused  by final drive problems,  or by  faulty  wheel 
bearings, drive axles,  or even 
wom or improperly inflated tires. 
NOTE- 
For  drive axle repair  information,  see 331 Final Drive 
Driveshaft noise or vibration may  be caused by worn 
ordam- 
aged components.  Check the universal joint for play. With  the 
driveshaft  installed, pull  and twist the driveshaft while watch- 
ing the  joint. The 
BMW specification for  play is very small,  so 
almost any noticeable play  could indicate a problem. 
Check  the torque  of the  fasteners  at the  flange connections. 
Check  the rubber  of the  flex-disc and center bearing  for dete- 
rioration or tearing. Check the driveshaft for broken or miss- 
ing balance  weights. The weights  are welded  tabs on the 
driveshaft tubes.  In addition to inspecting for faulty driveshaft 
parts,  the installed  angles of the driveshaft should also  be 
considered.    
Page 610 of 1002

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1 Driveshaft 
Further inspection requires removal  of the  driveshaft. Checlc 
the front centering guide  on the transmission output flange  for 
damage or 
misalignment. Also  check runout at the  transmis- 
sion output fiange and output shaft,  and at the  final drive  input 
fiange. Check  the bolt hole bores in the flange  for wear  and 
elongation. 
Driveshaft flange 
runout (max.  allowable) 
Transmission 
flange 
- Axial  play 0.10 mm (0.004 in.) 
Radial  play  0.07 
mm (0.003  in.) 
Spin  the driveshaft center bearing  and 
check ior smooth  op- 
eration without play. Check the constant velocity joint 
forwear 
or play.  Checlc the universal joint for wear or binding.  If it  is 
difficult  to move or binds,  the driveshaft section should  be 
replaced. 
Universal joint 
play 
Maximum allowable  0.15 
mm (0.006 in.) 
NOTE- 
With  the driveshaft installed, the  actual amount  that the drive- 
shaftjoint  pivots is limited.  For the most  accurate  test, check 
joint 
in its normal  range of movement. 
If inspection  reveals nothing wrong with  the driveshaft,  it may 
need to  be rebalanced.  This can be done  by a speciality drive- 
shaft repair shop. Also, 
checlc driveshaft alignment as  de- 
scribed  below. 
NOTE- 
Minor driveshaft  vibrations can often  be corrected  simply by 
disconnecting  the driveshaft  at the  final  drive  and reposition- 
ing it go", 180" or 270" in relation  to the final drive  input 
flange. 
The  troubleshooting table below lists symptoms 
oi driveshaft 
problems and their  probable causes. Most of the  repair  infor- 
mation  is contained within this repair group. There  are refer- 
ences  to other repair groups, where applicable.