door BMW 540i 1999 E39 Workshop Manual

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YOU are now in Volume I
I
Foreword ................... .. ........................................................................\
.......... v
Index
........................ .. ................................................................ rear of manual
General, 001 General Warnings and Cautions 002 Vehicle Identification and VIN Decoder
Maintenance OiO 020 Maintenance
Engine
100 Engine-General 110 Engine Removal and Installation
113 Cylinder Head Removal and
Installation
116 Cyiinder Head and Valvetrain 117 Camshaft Timing Chain
119 Lubrication System
200 Transmission-General
2 Transmission 210 clutch 230 ManualTransmission
I20 Ignition System
121 Battery, Starter, Alternator
130 Fuel Injection
160 Fuel Tank and Fuel Pump 170 Radiator and Cooling System
180 Exhaust System
240 Automatic Transmission
250 Gearshift Linkage 260 Driveshaft
Suspension, 300 Suspension, Steering and 330 Rear Suspension
Brakes-General 331 Final Drive
Steering and No Front Suspension 340 Brakes
320 Steering and Wheel Alignment
400 Body-General
410 Fenders, Engine Hood 411 Doors
412 Trunk Lid, Tailgate
510 Exterior Trim, Bumpers 512 Door Windows
Equipment 513 Interior Trim
7
Equipment and 720 seat Belts
Accessories 721 Airbag System (SRS)
OBD On-Board Diagnostics
. ............ ..
515 Central Lociting and
Anti-Theft
520 Seats 540 Sunroof
.................................................................... Foreword .............................. .. v
Index ................... .. ................................................................ rear of manual
Electrical
6 system
600 Electrical System-General 620 Instruments
610 Electrical Comoonent Locations 630 Liohts
611 wipers and washers 612 Switches eati in^ and Air Conditioning
Radio
. ........... ........ .........................
Electrical Wiring Diagrams

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General
ADVICE FOR THE BEGINNER
The tips that follow are general advice to help the do-it-your-
self BMW owner
periorm repairs and maintenance taslts
more easily and more professionally.
Planning ahead
Know what the whole job requires before starting. Read the
procedure thoroughly, from beginning to end, in
orderto know
just what to expect and what parts will have to be replaced.
Workshop practices
Keeping things organized, neat, and clean is essential to do-
ing a good job. When working under the hood, iender covers
will protectthe finish from scratches and otherdamage. Make
sure the car finish is clean so that dirt under the cover does
not scratch the iinish.
Any repair job will be less troublesome if the parts are clean
For cleaning old parts, there are many solvents and parts
cleaners commercially available.
For cleaning parts prior to assembly, commercially available
aerosol cans of parts cleaner or brake cleaner are handy to
use, and the cleaner will evaporate completely.
WARNING-
Most solvents used for cleaning parts are highly flammable
as well as toxic, especially in aerosol form. Use with extreme
care. Do not smoke. Do not use these products indoors or
near any source of heat, sparks or flame.
Non reusable fasteners
Many fasteners used on the cars covered by this manual
must be replaced with new ones once they are removed.
These include but are not limited to: bolts, nuts (self-locking,
nylock, etc.), roll pins, clips and washers. Genuine BMW
parts should be the only replacement parts used for this pur-
pose.
Some bolts are designed to stretch during assembly and are
permanently altered, rendering them unreliable once re-
moved. These are known as torque-to-yield fasteners. Al-
ways replace fasteners where instructed to do so. Failure to
replace these fasteners could cause personal injury
orvehi-
cle damage. See an authorized BMW dealer for applications
and ordering information.

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01 0-1 2
1 General
Information you need to know
Model
When ordering parts it is important that you know the correct
model designation for your car. Models covered in this E39
manual are the
525i,5281,530i, 540i in Sedan and Station
Wagon body styles.
Model year
This is not necessarily the same as date of manufacture or
date of sale.
A 1999 model may have been manufactured in
late 1998, and perhaps not sold until early 2000. It is still a
1999 model. Model years covered by this manual are 1997 to
2002.
Date of manufacture
This information is necessary when ordering replacement
parts or determining if any of the warranty recalls are applica-
ble to your car. The label on the driver's door below the door
latch will specify the month and year that the car was built.
Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN)
This is a combination of letters and numbers that identify the
particular car. The VIN appears on the state registration doc-
ument, and on the car itself. One location is on the right front
strut tower in the engine compartment (arrow), another in the
lower left corner of the windshield.
Engine code
5 Series car covered in this manual are powered by
6 and 8 - cylinderengines. For information on engine codes and en- -. -
gine applications, see 100 Engine-General. -
Transmission code
The transmission type with its identifying code may be
impor- :
tant when buying clutch parts, seals, gaskets, and other .- transmission-related parts. For information on transmission
codes and applications, see 200 Transmission-General.

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Maintenance
Suspension, front, inspecting
Inspection of the front suspension and steering includes a
check of all moving parts
forwear and excessive play. Inspect
ball joint and tie-rod rubber seals and boots for cracks
ortears
that could allow the entry of dirt, water, and other
contaminants. See
310 Front Suspension.
Suspension, rear, inspecting
Differential and rear drive axle service consists of checking
and changing the gear oil, inspecting for leaks, and checking
the drive axle
CV joint boots for damage.
The areas where
lealts are most likely to occurare around the
drive shaft and drive axle mounting flanges. For more infor-
mation on identifying oil leaks and theircauses, see
330 Rear
Suspension and
331 Final Drive.
Tires, checking inflation pressure
Correct tire pressures are important to handling and stability,
fuel economy, and tire wear. Tire pressures change with tem-
perature. Pressures should be
checked oRen during season-
al temperature changes. Correct inflation pressures can be
found on the driver's door pillar and in the owner's manual.
Note that tire pressures should be higher when the car is
more heavily loaded.
WARNING-
Do not inflate any tire to a pressure higher than the tire's max-
imum inflation pressure listedon the sidewall. Use care when
adding air to warm tires. Warm tire pressures can increase as
much as
4 psi (0.3 bar) over their coldpressures.
Tires, rotating
BMW does not recommend tire rotation. Due to the car's sus-
pension design, the front tires begin to wear first at the outer
shoulder and the reartires begin to wearfirst at the middle of
the tread or inner shoulder. Rotating the tires may adversely
affect road handling and tire grip.
Transmission service, automatic
The automatic transmissions installed in E39 models are
filled with special automatic transmission fluid. The transmis-
sion lubricant type can be found on the "type-plate" on the
side of the transmission. The recommended lubricants are
listed earlier in this repair group. See Fluids and lubricants.
If in doubt, consult an authorized BMW dealer for alternate

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Maintenance
BODY AND INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Body and hinges, lubricating
Door locksand loclccylinderscan be lubricated with an oil that
contains graphite.
Body and doorhinges, hood latch and doorcheclc rods should
be lubricated with
SAE 30 or SAE 40 engine oil. Lubricate
seat runners with multipurposegrease. Do not apply any oil to
rubber parts.
If door weather-strips are sticking, lubricate
them with silicone spray or talcum powder. The hood release
cable should be lubricated as well.
The use of winter
lock deicer sprays should be lkept to an
absolute minimum, as the alcohol in the deicer will wash the
grease out of the lock assemblies and may cause locks to
corrode internally or to become difficult to operate.
Exterior washing
The longer dirt is left on the paint, the greater the risk of dam-
aging theglossy finish,
eitherby scratching or by thechemical
effect dirt particles may have on the painted surface.
Do not wash the car in direct sunlight. If the engine hood is
warm, allow it to cool. Beads of water not only leave spots
when dried rapidly by the sun or heat from theengine, but also
can act as small magnifying glasses and burn spots into the
finish. Wash the car with a mixture of lukewarm water and a
car wash product. Rinse using plenty of clear water. Wipe the
body dry with a sofl cloth towel or chamois to prevent
water-spotting.
Interior care
Dirt spots can usually be removed with lultewarm soapy water
or a dry foam cleaner. Use spot remover for grease and oil
spots. Do not pour the liquid directly on the carpet or fabric,
but dampen a clean cloth and rub carefully, starting at the
edge of the spot and working inward. Do not use gasoline,
naphtha, or other flammable substances.
Leather upholstery and trim
Leather upholstery and trim should be periodically cleaned
using a slightly damp cotton or wool cloth. The idea is to get
rid of the dirt in the creases and pores that can cause brittle-
ness and premature aging. On heavily soiled areas, use a
mild detergent (such as
wooliteQ) or other specially formulat-
ed leather cleaners. Dry the trim and upholstery completely

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Battery, Starter, ~lternatorl
WARNING-
Always wear protective goggles and clothing when perform-
ing a load test.
Table
d. Battery load test - minimum voltage
Ambient temperature Voltage*
27
" C (80" F) 9.6 V
-I 8' C (0"
F) 8.5 V
* Measure
after applying a 200 amp load for 15 seconds.
Closed-circuit current measurement
If the vehicle battery is discharged for an unknown reason,
perform a closed-circuit current measurement as the first test.
For diagnostic purposes, it is important to not disconnect the
battery. Disconnecting the battery may reset a faulty control
unit, preventing proper diagnosis.
The following test is generally completed overnight using a
multimeterwith a closed circuitcurrent measurement adaptor
with a recording function
- Check that battery voltage is 12 volts or higher. If lower,
recharge battery.
- Switch off electrical consumers (interior lights, telephone,
aftermarket equipment, or others).
- Open luggage compartment and remove battery trim panel.
Use screwdriver to lock latch on trunk lid or hatch, simulating
closed luggage compartment. Close other doors.
- Open driver's door, then close it, simulating driver entering
vehicle.
- Switch ignition to RUN position for at least five seconds, then
turn ignition to OFF position. This simulates driving vehicle.
- Open and close driver's door, simulating driver leaving
vehicle.
- Lock car and arm alarm.
- Wait at least 16 minutes for consumer cut-off.

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4 Disconnect and remove speed sensor electrical harness (ar-
row) from retaining mounts. (Lefl front wheel shown).
- During installation, apply thin coat of StaburagsBNBU 12/K
or equivalent grease to speed sensor and housing.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening torque
ABS wheel speed sensor to steering knuckle or 8 Nm (6 It-lb)
rear wheel bearing carrier
ABS impulse wheel
The front and rear impulse wheels are integral with the inner
wheel bearing seal and not available as separate part. See
310 Front Suspension or 330 Rear Suspension for wheel
bearing replacement procedures.
DSC lateral acceleration or rotational rate
(yaw) sensor, replacing
DSC system on 1998 cars (Bosch DSC Ill v. 5.3): Lateral ac-
celeration sensor and rotational rate (yaw) sensor are sepa-
rate units, both mounted underneath or in front of driver's
seat.
DSC system on 1999 and later cars (Bosch DSC
Ill v. 5.7):
Lateral acceleration sensor and rotational rate (yaw) sensor
are combined into one unit, located under driver's seat.
- Remove driver's seat. See 520 Seats.
- Lateral acceleration sensor (1 998 models): Remove lower
lefl door pillar trim (driver's
kick panel) to access sensor. Pull
up carpet as necessary to reach sensor harness connector
or fasteners.
4 Rotational rate (yaw) sensor (1998 models): Remove plastic
trim at door sill to access sensor (arrow). Pull up carpet and
move insulation forward as necessary to reach sensor har-
ness connector or fasteners.
- Combined lateral acceleration / rotational rate (yaw) sensor
(1 999 and later models): Remove plastic trim at door sill to
access sensor. Pull up carpet and move insulation forward as
necessary to reach sensor harness connector or fasteners.
- Disconnect electrical harness connector at sensor.
- Combined sensor (1 999 and later models): Remove sensor
bracket mounting screws.

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400 Body-General
........................ General ........................... .40 0.2 Roof paddin~ 400-7
Body Assembly ................... .40 0.2
Body dimensions (in inches)
............ .40 0.2
Bodyshell
........................... 400-3
Exterior and aerodynamics
............. .40 0.3
Sport Wagon ...................... .40 0.4
Tailgate
............................ .40 0.5
Tailgate lock system
.................. .40 0.5
Rear wiper system ................... .40 0.6
Antenna and sound system ............ .40 0.6
Safety and Security Features ....... .40 0.7
Safety cage
......................... .40 0.7
Door locks and door handles
........... .40 0.7
.
........................... Seat belts 400-7
Airbags ............................ 400-8
Battery safety terminal (BST)
........... 400-9
Security
............................ 400-9
Interior Features ................... 400-9
............................. Seats 400-10
Instruments and controls .............. 400-10
Central body electronics
.............. 400-1 1
Heating and Air
Conditioning (IHKA)
............... 400-12

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Body shell
Exterior and aerodynamics
Crash behavlor -frontal impact
-side impact
Body
-rear impact Structural body components -rigidity
-rollover -strength -vibrations -acoustics
Bumpers compartment lid -bendable Seets,.steerlng system .dents -vibrations bars -vibration patterns
Fenders -aerodvnamic
With its traditional styling features, such as the ltidney grille.
circular headlights behind a glass cover (for reasons of
streamlining), and the
"kiclt" in the rear most roof pillar (C-pil-
lar), the E39 can be immediately recognized as a BMW.
The BMW 5 Series chassis is a unibody design constructed of
high strength steel. Attaching parts, such as the front fenders,
rear quarter panels, doors,
trunk lid and hood are also con-
structed of
steel.
Computer aided design (CAD) techniques have been used in
refining the
E39 body to reduce vehicle weight while retaining
strength and increasing torsional rigidity. For good handling
purposes, the more rigid the structure the more precisely the
suspension can operate.
Wind resistance
Windows bonded flush to the body and the guided flow of
cooling air into the engine compartment provide the
carwith a
good coefficient of drag (Cd).
E39 cars have been designed
for balanced aerodynamics but not necessarily an extremely
low Cd. See table below.
Windshield wipers are designed for effectiveness at speeds
up to and beyond 200
ltph (124 mph).
Coefficient of aerodynamic drag (Cd)
6-cylinder sedan 0.30
V-8 sedan 0.31
6-cylinder Sport Wagon 0.31
V-8 Sport Wagon 0.33
Fenders
The exterior panels are corrosion-resistant zinc coated (gal-
vanized) steel. The front fenders are bolted on. For front fend-
er replacement information, see
410 Fenders, Engine
Hood.

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Body-General
SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES
A number of new or improved safety and security features are
incorporated in
E39 cars.
Safety cage
4 The body safety cage is a continuation of an established
BMW concept for passenger protection. Tubular impact
structures built into the body provide protection against pas-
senger injury during front or rear impacts.
Door locks and door handles
4 The door handles allow easy door opening, but are secure in
accidents.
Electrical components in the locks are fully encapsulated and
cannot be picked easily. The door handles, latches and
loclc
assemblies offer reliability and security against theft.
Door position and
loclc condition are detected by hall sensors.
Roof padding
In addition to the side and head protection airbags, there is
supplementary padding at the roof pillars and along the roof
above the doors. This is positioned to present energy absorb-
ing
surlaces to passengers thrown around by side impact
forces.
Seat belts
Each front seat belt assembly has a height-adjustable anchor
at the 8-pillar.
An automatic pyrotechnic (explosive charge) tensioner tight-
ens the front belt at the buckle upon impact, snugging up lap
and shoulder segments of the belt. The tensioners are de-
signed to automatically tension the belts by about
2 inches
(55 mm) in the event ofa collision.
A force limiter puts an upper limit on the amount of iorce each
belt can exert on the passenger.