320 BMW 540i 1999 E39 Owner's Manual

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320-1 0
Steering and Wheel Alignment
Steering column
components
1. Steering lock
2. Lower steering shafl
3. Horizontal drive motor
4. Longitudinal adjusting drive
shafl
5. Steering column support
6. Vertical adjusting drive shafl
7. Vertical drive motor
8. Lower support ring for steering
angle sensor
9. Upper support ring for steering
angle sensor
10. Steering angle sensor
11. Upper steering shafl
12. Steering shafl bearing
13. Bearing inner sleeve
14. Circlip
15. Collar
16. Steering wheel mounting bolt
Steering column trim, removing and
replacing
- Tilt steering column down and extend fully.
- Remove plastic retaining screw from upper trim cover,
4 Push in sides of upper trim cover (arrow) to release from
lower trim. Pull back and up on upper trim.

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320-1 4
Steering and Wheel Alignment
Remove cable mounting fastener (arrow). Disconnect cable
from shift
linkage.
Remove old cable and replace with new cable.
Reinstall trim.
Interlock cable, adjusting
(models with automatic transmission)
- Remove center console trim panel.
- Place gear shift selector lever in PARK.
4 Loosen cable mounting fastener (A).
- Remove ignition key.
- Press down on interlock lever (B) and tighten cable mounting
fastener (A).
Steering column, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative cable from battery.
CAUTIOI\C
Prior to disconnecting the battea read the battery discon-
nection cautions given
in 001 General Cautions and
Warninqs.
- Remove steering wheel as described earlier.
m
- Remove steering column trim panels as described earlier.
' \L/>I - Remove steerinq shaft collar
Automatic transmission models: Loosen and disconnect in-
terlock shift cable (arrow) from ignition lock assembly.
4 - Disconnect steering angle sensor electrical harness.

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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.

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320-28
[steering and Wheel Alignment
Pitman arm, removing and installing
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
Male sure the car is
firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
4 Set steering wheel in straight ahead position with tab (arrow)
aligned with mark on steering gearbox.
Remove center tie rod fastener and press tie rod out of pit.
man arm with BMW special
too1 32 1 190.
- Loosen and remove pitman arm pinch bolt
4 Mark A on steering gearbox shalt must be located in center
of
pitman arm slot.
- Reinstall center tie rod and tighten nut.
- Adjust pitman arm height as described later.
- Have vehicle professionally aligned.
Tightening torques
50:s,n5m Center tie rod to pitman arm 65
Nm (48 ft-lb)
(use new self-locking nut)
Pitman arm pinch bolt (note direction of threads) 61 Nrn (45 ft-lb)

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320-31
Steering and Wheel ~li~nrnentl
ldler arm bushing, replacing
- Remove idler arm as described earlier.
< Press out bushing. Use BMW special tools 32 1 050 and 32
2 032 or equivalent press fittings.
4 Press in new bushing with BMW special tools 33 1 305 and
32 2 032 or equivalent press fittings.
4 Press new bushing in correct direction (arrow).
u ..... "A",
Press bushing in until lip makes firm contact (A) with idler
arm.
I
Installation is the reverse of removal
Use new self locking nuts to mount idler arm to
subframe
and traclc arm.
a Adjust pitman arm height as described earlier.
Have vehicle professionally aligned.
Tightening torques Center tie rod to idler arm
65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
;nl?mmn / (replace self-locking nut)
ldler arm to front
subframe
(replace sell-locking nut) 62
Nm (46 ft-lb)

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320-32
Steering and Wheel Alignment
Center tie
rod, replacing
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
WARNING-
Make sure tlie car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
cliassis points. Do not place jack stands under suspension
parts.
- Measure length of left and right (outer) tie rods. Write down
measurements.
NOTE-
Accurate measurement of the tie rod end with reference to
the center tie rod will help approximate correct wheel align-
ment when new parts are installed.
4 Remove self-loclting nuts connecting center tie rod to pitman
and idler arms. Press tie rod off pitman and idler arms using
BMW special tool
32 1 190 or equivalent.
4 Loosen left tie rod clamping bolt (arrow). Unscrew left tie rod
from center tie rod. Repeat for right.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Malte sure all threaded parts are clean.
. Coat threads with antiseize compound.
Replace self-loclting nuts.
Check tie rod end ball joints and idler arm bushing for wear.
Use tie rod measurements previously made to temporarily
set toe.
- Have car professionally aligned.
Tightening torques
Center tie rod to
pitman and idler arms 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
(replace self-locking nuts)
Left or right outer
tie rod clamping bolt 27 Nm (20 it-lb)

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320-34
I Steerins and Wheel Alignment
Front toe and toe difference angle
Toe is the difference in the distance between the front of the
front wheels and the rear of the front wheels. It is adjusted by
altering the length of the tie rods.
Toe difference angle determines the progressively different
paths taken by the front wheels as the car is turning. In
V-8
models, it is set by the pitman arm adjustment, but depends
on accurate setting of the toe.
Toe adjustments should only be made on specialized align-
ment equipment and only with the car in normal loaded posi-
tion, described below.
- Set front wheel toe at tie rod ends:
4 6-cylinder models: Loosen tie rod lock nut (A).
Adjust toe by turning inner tie rod (B) to change length
- V-8 models: Loosen left and right tie rod clamp bolts.
Adjust toe by turning inner tie rod to change length.
NOTE-
* Steering rack or steering gearbox can be centered by
aligning centering mark on steering shaft
with lug on steer-
ing rack.
To keep steering wheel centered, adjust both tie rods equal
amounts.
&cylinder models: Make sure the rubber boot on the rack
moves freely on the tie rod and does not become twisted.
Tightening torques
Tie rod clamp bolt
Tie rod collar
nut
27 Nm (20 ft-lb)
45 Nm (33 A-lb)
Rear toe
To adjust rear wheel toe, turn eccentric inner mounting bolt in
upper front control arm (traction strut).
NOTE-
Always adjust rear camber first.
- Before making toe adjustment, install new
mounting nut and tighten.
- Loosen nut one-half to one full turn.
4 Turn eccentric bolt (arrow) to adjust toe. rear
control arm

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340-28
Brakes
- Remove sensor mounting screws. Lift sensor away from
bracket.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
CAUTION-
Be sure to tighten the DSC acceleration sensor(s) and
mounting bracket, if applicable, to specified torques. The
sensor
is vibration sensitive and subject to cause DSC
malfunctions if installed improperly.
a After replacing the sensor, perform sensor adjustment
using either DIS or
MoDiC under Service Functions
menu.
Tightening
torques
Lateral acceleration I rotational rate sensor 8 Nm (6 R-ib)
to bracket
Sensor bracket to body
8 Nm (6 ft-lb)
DSC steering angle sensor, removing and
installing
4 Remove lower dash panel mounting fasteners (A) and (5).
- Remove steering column lower trim panel. See 320 Steering
and Wheel Alignment.
Remove steering shaft clamping bolt (arrow).
Disconnect sensor wiring harness connector.

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51 3-1 5
I Interior Trim
Dash panel support, removing and
installing
- Remove lower dash panel. See Lower dash panel assem-
bly, removing and installing.
- Remove upper dash panel. See Upper dash assembly, re-
moving and installing.
- Remove upper steering column fasteners. See 320 Steering
and Wheel Alignment.
4 Remove dash support fasteners (arrows).
Remove wire ties as necessary and remove support.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Rear parcel shelf, removing and installing
(models without rear
HPS airbags)
WARNING-
On 1998 and later models, rear Head Protection System
(HPS)
airbags may be installed (optional equipment). The
procedure given below does not covermodels with rear HPS
airbags. See721
Airbag System (SRS).
- Remove C-pillar trim panels. See Rear window pillar trim
panel (C-pillar), removing and installing.
- Remove rear seat backrest. See 520 Seats.
- Rear parcel shelf removing:
Remove center headrest fasteners.
Remove
seatbelt floor mounting fasteners.
Carefully pry out safety belt trim panels and feed
seatbelt
through slots.
. . . - -. . . . . . . . . Remove expansion rivets and slide pane fonvard to re-
move.
< Remove expanson r:vets (arrows).
Remove vent panels (A).
Remove speafter pane s (B).
Remove center head rest s-pporl fasteners (C).
Slioe parcel shelf forward lo remove.
- lnsta lation s reverse of removal.

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51 5-1 6
Central Locking and Anti-Theft
DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS
In the procedures that follow, door handle removal, door lock
cylinder removal and door latch removal are covered for the
left front door. Other doors are similar although simpler, due
to the
lack of lock cylinder.
Inside door release removal is covered in the procedure for
inner door
ane el removal. See 411 Doors.
Door handle (outer), removing and
installing
NOTE-
IfBMWspecial tools 51 3201 and51 3 203 are available, the
door handle can be removed without removing the door trim
panel or door
airbag. Use the access hole behind the rubber
sealing plug on the door edge.
- Close window on front door.
- Disconnect battery negative (-) cable.
CAUTlOG
Prior to disconnecting the batter)! read the battery discon-
nection cautions given
in 001 General Warnings and Cau-
tions.
Remove front door trim panel. See 411 Doors.
Remove door-mounted air bag. See 721
Airbag System
(SRS).
Remove rubber sealing plug (arrow) from door edge
NOTE-
In the photo below, door handle and lock cylinder carrier are
shown on the work bench for clarity.
Working inside door cavity:
- Use long thin screwdriver to release locking tab A. Push
screwdriver through hole for rubber sealing plug.
Slide locking plate
B toward front of door.
Working on outside of door, lift out lower edge of handle and
pull down to remove.
Installation is reverse of removal,
Tightening torques
Airbag to door (replace screws) 8.5 Nrn (75 in-lb)