front alignment BMW 540i 2001 E39 Owner's Manual

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Steerina and Wheel ~lianmentl
Proper handling, stability and driving ease depend upon the
correct alignment of all four wheels. The front axle is aligned
in relation to the rear axle, then the front wheels are aligned in
relation to one another. This is known as a four-wheel or
thrust-axis alignment.
Front and rear alignment specification are given in tables at
the end of this repair group.
BMW E39 cars use a sophisticated multi-link suspension at
the front and rear of the car. Proper alignment requires com-
puterized alignment equipment.
Camber
Front wheel camber is set at the factory and cannot be adjust-
ed. Rear wheel camber is fully adjustable.
Always set rear camber before adjusting toe
Before making rear camber adjustment, install a new rear
control arm mounting nut
(arrow) and tighten.
- Loosen mounting nut one-half to one full turn.
Using eccentric bolt, adjust camber to factory settings.
Tighten nut only after car has been lowered to ground and
suspension has settled.
Tighten nut while counterholding adjustment bolt.
Tightening torque
Camber adjusting nut (rear)
MI2 (sedan)
- MI4 (Sport Wagon)
115 Nm (85 ft-lb)
174 Nm (128 ft-lb)
Caster
Front and rear caster are fixed by the design of the car and
deviations are usually the result of worn or damaged suspen-
sion or body parts.
- Check front suspension arms and bushings for wear, dam-
age and deformation if front caster problems are present.
- Check rear axle subfrarne and traction struts if rear caster
problems are present.

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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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Steering and Wheel Alignment
- Tighten nut while counterholding adjusting bolt,
- Tighten nut only after car has been lowered to ground and
suspension has settled.
Preparing for alignment
- The following conditions are necessary prior to wheel align-
ment:
Correct wheels and tires are installed, in good condition,
and are at the correct inflation pressures.
All steering and suspension parts and bushings are un-
damaged and show no signs of abnormal wear. Wheel
bearings are in good condition.
Ride height is in accordance with specifications. See
300
Suspension, Steering and Brakes-General.
Car is in normal loaded position. See below.
* Cars with air suspension: Remove air suspension power
fuse.
Normal loaded position
Each front seat
68 Kg (I50 lb)
Center of rear seat
Trunlc
Fuel tank
68 Kg (150 lb)
21 Kg (46 lb)
Full
Alignment specifications tables
In the alignment specification tables that follow, reference is
made to the various types of suspension used in
E39 cars.
The type of suspension can be identified by loolting at the la-
bel on the front strut tube.
Identifying symbol
None
Solid circle
Solid triangle
M5
Circle
Triangle Version
Standard suspension
Sports
suspension
Sports suspension
M sport package
Standard suspension
Sports suspension Model
Sedan
6-cylinder sedan
V-8 sedan
V-8 sedan
Touring (Sport Wagon)
Touring (Sport Wagon)

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Isteering and Wheel Alignment
6-cylinder sedan (5251,5281,530i)
Parameter
Front axle
. .. I I I
Outside wheel (approx. ") / 33.5 133 133
M Sport
suspension
Standard
suspension
With
i 20" wheel loclc
Front wheel displacement
Inside wheel
(approx. ")
Sport suspension
O0 5' i 10'
- 36' i 30'
-ID56'-t30'
N/A
6" 41' i 30'
Total toe
Camber (difference between lefffright maximum
40')
Track (differential angle with 20" lock on inside wheel)
Caster (difference between lefffright maximum
30')
With i 10" wheel locic
6" 42' i 30'
0°i15'
42
. .. I I I
Rear axle
6-cylinder Sport Wagon (5251,5281)
0"5'il0'
-13'+30'
-1" 56' -t 30'
N/A
6" 28' i 30'
OD5'i10'
- 36' i 30'
-1" 56' i 30'
N/A
6" 41' i 30'
6" 55'
i 30'
0'2 15'
41.5
0" 22'
-t 4'
0" i 12' Geometrical axis deviation
6' 55' i 30'
0"
i 15'
41.5
0°22'i4' Total toe 0" 22' i 4'
Camber (difference between leitlright maximum 15') 1-20 04' ?- 5' 1-2" 04' i 5'
O"i12'
Sport suspension
Parameter
- I I
. .. I I
Outside wheal (approx. ") 133.5 133
-2' 04' -t 5'
OO-t 12'
Standard suspension
Wlth i 10" wheel lock
I I
Front axle
With
i 20" wheel lock 16" 42' i 30' 16" 55'i30'
6" 28' i- 30'
0"
i 15' Front wheel displacement
. .. I I
Rear axle
D"5'iIO'
- 36' i 30'
-I056'i30'
NIA
Total toe
Camber (difference between
IeWright maximum 40')
Track (differential angle with 20" lock on inside wheel)
Caster (difference between
lefffrioht maximum 30') 6" 41'
+ 30'
Inside wheel (approx. ") 142 141.5
OOi 15'
0"5'i10'
- 13'i30'
-1" 56' i 30'
N/A
0" 16'i 10' Total toe
0" i 12' Geometrical axis deviation
Camber (difference
between iefffright maximum
15') /-lo 50' i 20' 1-1" 50'i20'
0" 16'f 10'
0" il2'

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
V-8 Sedan (540i)
I Front axle I
Parameter Standard
suspension
Total toe
.
Track (differential angle with 20" ioclc on inside wheel)
Caster (difference between
leftiright maximum 30')
With i 10° wheel loclc
With i 20" wheel lock
Front
wheel displacement
Inside
wheel (approx. ")
Outside wheel (approx. ")
M Sport suspension
Camber (difference between
leitiright maximum 40') 1- 13'i30' 1- 30' i 30' 1- 37' i 30'
0" 10'i 10' 0" 14'ilO'
Sport suspension
0" 14'i 10'
Rear axie
-1°35'i30'
N/A
6" 18'+30'
6' 36' i 30'
0"
i 15'
42
32.6
Total toe
Camber (difference between
IeWright maximum 15')
Geometrical axis deviation ~~
V-8 Sport Wagon (540i)
O"10'iW
-lo 49' i 5'
O"i12'
0" 22' i 4'
-2' 04' i 5'
0"
i 12'
Parameter
-1 " 43 'i 30'
NIA
6" 27'
i 30'
6"49'i30'
Pilo'
41.5
32
0°22'i4'
-2" 04' i 5'
O"i 12'
-ID 44' i 30'
N/A
6" 34' i 30'
6' 50' 130'
0" i 15'
42
31.8
Standard suspension Sport suspension
Front axie
0" 14'210'
-37i30'
-la44'+30'
N/A
6" 34' i 30'
6' 50' i 30'
O0i15'
42
31.8
0"
16'2 10'
-I050'i20'
0" i 12'
Total toe
Camber (difference between
ieftiright maximum 40')
Track (differential angle
with 20" loclc on inside wheel)
Caster (difference between
leftiright maximum 30')
With i 10" wheel lock
With i 20° wheel lock
Front wheel displacement
Inside wheel (approx.
")
Outside wheel (approx. ")
0" 14'i 10'
-13'i30'
-1" 35' i 30'
N/A
6' lS'i30'
6' 36' i 30'
On+ 15'
42 32.65
Rear axle
Total toe
Camber (difference between
lettiright maximum 15')
Geometrical axis deviation
0" 16'i 10'
-I050'i20'
0" i 12'

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330-1 3
Rear Suspension
1 1 4 Check roll fold of air spring (arrows). Reinstall only if roll fold
is undamaged and formed correctly.
- To install air spring:
Check sealing O-rings at air spring inlet. Replace
if dam-
aged. Do not grease O-rings. Reinstall protective plug.
* Install spring above suspension subframe. Make sure ec-
centric lug at bottom of air spring fits in recess of
subframe
spring seat.
Reattach top spring mounting clips.
- Reattach air line connections.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening torques
Air line connection
2 Nm (1 8 in-lb)
Air spring
to wheel bearing carrier 20 Nm (1 5 ft-lb)
Road
wheel to hub 120 510 Nm (89-F-7 ft-lb)
REAR SUSPENSION ARMS,
SUBFRAME AND BUSHINGS
A damaged suspension arm orworn bushings will change the
rear wheel alignment and may adversely affect handling and
stability.
WARNING-
Do not attempt to straighten a damaged suspension arm.
Bending or heating may
weaken the original part. Always re-
olace a damaoed susoension arm.
Rear suspension arm
components
1. Eccentric washer
(for rear toe adjustment)
2. Upper front control arm
(guide link or traction strut)
3. Outer swing arm bushing and
integral link
4. Swing arm (lower control arm)
5. Upper rear control arm
(wishbone)
6. Wheel bearing carrier
7. Circlip
8. Swing arm ball joint
9. Eccentric washer
(rear camber adjustment)

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I Rear Suspension
4 When installing subframe bushing, be sure alignment arrows
point front and rear.
Coat new mount with
CircolightB anti-friction agent.
< Draw new bushing into subframe using BMW special tools 33
4152,334153,334154,334155,334157.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
* Tighten suspension arm and shock absorber fasteners to
final torque only after vehicle has been lowered and
sus-
oension has settled.
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing and
installing (sedan models)
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jaclc stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place
jaclc stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jaclc stands under
suspension parts.
4 With an assistant applying brakes, break free and remove
staked collar nut (arrow).
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect brake fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Disconnect parking brake cable from brake shoe expander.
See 340 Brakes.

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Fenders, Ensine HOO~I
Hood release cable and spring pins,
adjusting
Before adjusting hood pins, be sure the hood is aligned even-
ly to fenders and front panel.
- Malte sure bowden cable, which connects both hood loclts
together, is seated in lock guide on both left and right loclts.
4 Loosen hood spring pin bolts (A) and retaining hoolt bolts (B)
at hood on left and right sides only enough to allow move-
ment.
- Lower (but do not fully latch) hood several times so pins on
hood center themselves in lower loclts.
NOTE-
Do not let hood lock with latch bolts loose
- Tighten hood spring pin bolts and latch bolts when alignment
is correct.
- Remove one bolt at a time from each side, clean and coat
with
LoctiteB 270 or equivalent, and reinstall. Repeat pro-
cess on all other bolts.
- Adjust rubber stop buffers above headlight assemblies. See
Hood, aligning.
- Test hood for correct closure and opening. If hood does not
spring open, lengthen spring pins.
- To lengthen spring pin, loosen locltnut (arrow) with wrench
inserted through spring, then turn pin counterclocltwise.

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-
Exterior Trim, Bumpers
This repair group includes repair information for the outside
rearview mirrors, front and rear bumpers, and the easily re-
movable exterior trim parts.
Many of the mirror components are separately available from
an authorized
BMW dealer, including the glass and outside .
plastic housing.
The
E39 models offered two types of outside mirrors, stan-
dard mirrors or automatic dip mirrors.
Outside mirror glass, replacing
CAUTIOI\C
Mirrorshould be at or above room temperature before remov-
al.
Othe~lise, small plastic parfs or glass may break.
Outside mirror glass without automatic dip control,
replacing
Insert thin pry tool (plastic or tape-wrapped screwdriver) be-
tween bottom mirror edge and mirror housing and carefully
pry out mirror glass from housing.
If equipped with heated mirrors: remove heating element
har.
ness connectors from back of mirror glass.
Installation: Connect mirror heating harness if equipped.
Ensure correct alignment of locking pins.
Press mirror glass firmly until it
locks in place.

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Sunroof, adjusting
The sunroof is controlled by a set of cables that move the sun-
roof panel along guide rails when the motor is operated. The
sunroof can be adjusted without removing it from the car.
NOTE-
Be sure to check drains in front corners of sunroof carrier if
water is entering car through headliner.
- The sunroof panel should be adjusted under the following cir-
cumstances:
Sunroof misaligned with roof.
Sunroof does not close squarely.
* Wind noise at high speeds (sunroof closed).
Sunroof has been removed.
For correct sunroof alignment:
Sunroof must be fully closed.
Gap must be even all around edge of sunroof.
Front of sunroof must be flush to
1 mm (0.04 in.) below sur-
face of roof.
. Rear of sunroof must be flush to 1 mm (0.04) above sur-
face of roof.
NOTE-
Use a credit card to measure the gap. The card sllould insert
through the gap with equal resistance all around the perimeter.
Sunroof with steel roof panel, adjusting
- The headliner panel must be disengaged from the drive as-
sembly and moved rearward in order to access the roof panel
attaching screws.
CAUTIOI\C
Sunroof panel must never be moved to open position when . .
I the headliner is disenaaaed. 1
- Start with a fully closed roof panel.
- Remove drive motor access cover. See Sunroof motor, re-
placing.
Using hex key from tool kit, turn motor drive 90" counter-
clockwise.
Rear of sunroof panel will drop
2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in).
This disengages headliner from sunroof panel.
- Push headliner panel rearward, exposing roof panel attach-
ing screws.