check engine BMW 540i 2001 E39 Manual Online

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I Lubrication System - I
Oil pressure, checking
The oil pressure warning switch is located at the base of the
oil filter housing.
In 6-cylinder engines access to oil pressure warning switch
connector (arrow) is extremely restricted (intake manifold re.
moved for the purpose of illustration).
V-8 engine oil pressure warning switch (arrow) is at base of
oil filter housing on left engine compartment inner fender.
Oil pressure is tested by removing oil pressure switch and in-
stalling oil pressure gauge in its place.
Unscrew oil filter cap in order to allow engine oil to drain back
down into oil pan.
Disconnect harness connector from oil pressure switch and
remove switch.
NOJE-
Thoroughly clean around the oil pressure switch before
removing it.
Be prepared to catch leaking oil with a shop towel.
- Install pressure gauge in place of oil pressure switch,
- With gauge installed, start engine and allow to reach operat-
ing temperature. Check oil pressure. See Table b.
NOJE-
For the most accurate test results, the engine oil and filter
should be new. The oil should be the correct grade.
Table b. Engine oil pressure
At idle 0.5 bar (7 psi)
At elevated speed
6-cylinder engine 4.0 bar
(59 psi)
V-8 engine 4.5 bar (66 psi)

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. .- -
L
- --
- - -. - -- Lubrication ~~stern
- Remove pressure gauge and reinstall pressure switch with
new sealing washer.
Tightening torque
Oil pressure switch to oil filter housing 27 Nm (20 ft-lb)
If testing shows low oil pressure, one or more of the following
conditions may be indicated:
Worn or faulty oil pump or faulty pump pressure relief valve
Worn or damaged engine bearings
Severe engine wear
Any of these conditions indicate the need for major repairs.
Oil pressure warning system, testing
4 When the ignition is turned on, the oil pressure warning light
comes on. When the engine is started and the oil pressure
rises slightly, the oil pressure switch (arrow) contact opens
and the warning light goes out. Make sure the oil level is cor-
rect before making tests.
- Turn ignition switch on.
- Warning light on instrument panel must light up
- Remove connector from oil pressure switch.
Warning light on instrument panel must go out.
NOTE-
If the light does not go out, the wiring to the switch is most
likely grounded somewhere between the switch terminaland
the warning light See
ELE Electrical Wiring Diagrams for
electrical schematics.
- If warning light does not light when ignition is on, remove con-
nector from oil pressure switch and use a jumper wire to
ground connector terminal to a clean metal surface. The oil
pressure warning light should come on.
NOTE-
If there are two wires to the oil pressure switch, ground the
brown/green wire that carries the signal to the warning light.
- If the warning light comes on, check the switch as described
in the next step. If the warning light does not come on, the
wiring to the instrument cluster or to the light itself is faulty.

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Lubrication System
To test switch, connect an ohmmeter between terminal in
switch body (arrow) and ground. With engine off, there
should be continuity. With engine running, oil pressure
should open switch and there should be no continuity. Re-
place a faulty switch.
CAUTION-
Keep in mind that low oil pressure may be preventing the
switch from turning the light out
If the light remains on while
the engine is running, check the oil pressure as described
earlier. Do not drive the car until the problem is corrected. The
engine may be severely damaged.
Crankshaft rear main seal replacement requires removal of
the transmission and flywheel.
Crankshaft rear main seal, replacing
(&cylinder)
- Remove transmission. See 230 Manual Transmission or
240 Automatic Transmission.
- Manual transmission vehicles: Remove clutch pressure plate
and disc. See
210 Clutch.
- Remove flywheel. See 210 Clutch or 240 Automatic Trans-
mission.
- Drain engine oil.
4 Remove seal carrier bolts from oil pan (arrows). Loosen all
oil pan bolts.

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Lubrication stern/
Remove remaining seal carrier bolts (arrows) and carefully
remove seal carrier without damaging the oil pan
gasltet.
CAUTION-
After removing seal carrier, checlc oilpan gasket for damage.
If gasket is damaged during removal, remove oil pan (as de-
scribed later) and replace
gasket.
< Remove old seal and install new seal into seal carrier using
BMW special tools
11 1 260 and 00 5 500.
NOTE-
A new radial seal is used from 4/98 production, and is the
only version available from
BMW as a replacement. The
new
sealno longer uses a spring to support the sealing lip.
Do not
lcinlc or damage the sealing lip. Do not touch with
fingers.
* BMW offers the rear main seal carrier and seal in a lit A
plastic support bushing, required for sliding the seal over
the crankshaft, is included with the
lcit.
I CAUTION- 1
Do not use BMW special tool 1 I 2 213 (mstallation guide)
with the new style seal. Use only the special tool
supphed
with the seal lcit.
When reinstalling seal carrier to crankcase:
Check locating sleeves for damage.
Replace
gasltet between rear main seal carrier and crank-
case.
Apply thin coat of
3 Bond 8 1209 or equivalent sealant to
oil pan gasket sealing surfaces.
* Lubricate crankshaft seal contact surface.
Use plastic support bushing
(A) that comes with seal ltit as
an installation
quide, fittina seal over end of crankshaft. Use - -
care to push seal carrier and support bushing on straight,
without tilting sideways. Remove support bushing.
- lnstall seal carrier bolts and torque to specifications.
4 Use new bolts (arrows) at base of seal carrier. Coat threads
with sealing compound before installing.
- Install and tighten oil pan bolts.

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I Lubrication System -
- Remainder of assembly is reverse of disassembly.
Install flywheel, clutch or torque converter and
transmission.
Fill engine with oil.
- Run engine and check for leaks.
Tightening torques
Oil
drain plug fo oil pan (MI21 25 Nm (18 ft-lb)
Oil pan to engine
block
M6 (8.8 grade) 10 Nm (89 in-ib)
M6 (1 0.9 grade) 12 Nm (9 ft-lb)
M8 (8.8 grade) 22 Nm (1 6 it-lb)
Rear main seal carrier to crankcase
M6 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
ME 22 Nm (16 ft-lb)
Crankshaft rear main seal, replacing (V-8)
- Remove transmission. See 230 Manual Transmission or
240 Automatic Transmission.
- Manual transmission vehicles: Remove clutch pressure plate
and disc. See
210 Clutch.
- Remove flywheel. See 210 Clutch.
- Drain engine oil.
4 Remove bolts (A) retaining rear main seal carrier, including
bolts at (arrows) oil pan.
Carefully separate seal carrier from oil pan gasket and re-
move carrier.
CAUTION-
Do not damage oil pan gasket.
< Remove old seal and reinstall new seal into seal carrier using
) BMW special tools 11 1 230 and 00 5 500.

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- When reinstalling seal carrier to crankcase:
Check locating sleeves for damage.
Replace gasitet between rear main seal carrier and
cranlt-
case.
Apply thin coat of
3 Bond 8 1209 or equivalent sealant to
oil pan
gasltet sealing surfaces.
* Lubricate crankshaft and seal contact surfaces.
4 Use BMW special tool 11 2 390 as an installation guide in fit-
ting seal over end of cranltshaft. Use care to push seal carrier
and support bushing on straight, without tilting. Remove in-
stallation guide carefully.
- Replace sealing washers under seal carrier mounting bolts.
- Install seal carrier mounting bolts and torque to specilica-
tions.
- lnstall oil pan bolts.
- Remainder of assembly is reverse of disassembly.
Install flywheel using new bolts,
Install clutch or torque converter and transmission.
* Fill engine with oil.
Run engine and
checlt for leaks.
Tightening torques Flywheel to crankshaft (use new bolts)
120 Nm (89 ft-lb)
011 dra~n plug to 011 pan (M12) 25 Nm (18 ft-lb)
Oil pan to
eng~ne block
M6 (8.8 grade) 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
M6 (1 0 9 grade) 12 Nm (9 ft-lb)
M8 (8.8 grade) 22 Nm (16 ft-lb)
Rear main seal carrier to crankcase
M6 10 Nrn (89 in-lb)
ME 22 Nm (16 ft-lb)

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11 9-1 0
Lubrication System
Oil pan, removing and installing
(6-cylinder)
The engine oil pan removal procedure requires that the en-
gine be supported from the top and the front suspension
sub-
frame be lowered.
- Raise car and place securely on jack stands.
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive
lift orjackstands designed for
- Remove splash shield from under engine.
- Drain engine oil as described in 020 Maintenance.
4 Remove oil dipsticlc guide tube:
Disconnect fuel lines and wiring harness from
bracket (A).
- Disconnect oil separator hose (B) from base of guide tube.
Remove mounting bolt
(C) from left engine mounting
bracket and remove tube from oil pan.
NOTE-
* If necessary, remove air filter assembly for better access to
dipsticlc tube.
The dipstick guide tube is sealed in the block using an
O-
ring. Check that the O-ring comes out with the tube.
4 Lift hood into assembly position:
While supporting the hood, disconnect hood support
struts.
Raise hood and install
loclting bolts (arrow) in right and left
hinges.
WARNING-
Be sure to support hood while disconnecting support struts.

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-- . - .. . - Lubrication system]
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Replace self-locking nuts when reinstalling front suspen-
sion components.
Use new oil dipstick tube sealing O-ring.
After adding engine oil, start and run engine. Raise engine
speed to 2,500 rpm until oil pressure warning light goes out
(about 5 seconds).
NOTE-
BMW does not specify a front end alignment following this
procedure.
Tightening torques Front subfrarne to body rail
(M12, use new bolts)
8.8 grade
10.9 grade
12.9 grade 77 Nrn
(57 ft-lb)
105 Nrn (77 ft-lb)
110 Nrn (81 ft-lb)
Stabilizer bar link to stabilizer bar
65 Nrn (48 ft-lb)
Steering shaft universal joint clamping bolt
(use new bolt)
19 Nrn (14 it-lb)
Lower oil pan, removing and installing (V-8)
- The V-8 engine is equipped with a 2-piece oil pan. The fas-
teners in
V-8 engine oil pump assembly, including the
sprocket retaining nut, are known to loosen and fall off into
the oil pan. Be sure to install these fasteners with Loctite
O
or equivalent thread locking product and torque to specifica-
tions.
CAUTION-
It is recommended that the oil pump retaining bolts and oil
pump drive sprocket retaining nut tightening torque be
checkedany time the
oilpan is removed.
- Raise car and place securely on jack stands.
WARNING-
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive lift
orjack stands designed for
- Remove splash shield from under engine.
- Drain engine oil
- On cars with automatic transmission, remove ATF cooler line
brackets from oil pan.

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< 6-cylinder models: Remove intake manifold to access oil
pressure switch
(arrow).
V-8 models: Oil pressure warning switch (arrow) is located
under oil filter housing mounted to left inner fender panel.
NOTE-
Any time the oilpressure warning switch is removed, be sure
to replace the sealing washer.
Tightening torque Oil
~ressure switch to oil filter housins 27 Nrn (20 ft-lb)
Oil level warning switch, replacing
(6-cylinder and
V-8)
4 Oil level warning switch is located at bottom of the engine oil
pan.
Drain engine oil before attempting to remove level warning
switch.
Be sure to refill engine and check for leaks after work is
completed.
NOTE-
Any time the oil level warning switch is removed, be sure to
replace the sealing O-ring between switch and oil pan.

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Lubrication System
- Lower front suspension and remove oil pan, as described
earlier, to gain access to oil pump.
Remove oil pump
sprocket mounting nut (left-hand thread)
(arrow). Lift sprocket off together with drive chain.
Engines produced to 9/98: Remove oil pump with pick-up
tube. Pick-up tube is bolted to side of oil pump.
Engines produced from 9/98 to 01/00: Remove pick-up
tube, scraper tray and oil pump as a unit.
Engines produced from 01/00: Remove oil pump pick-up
tube bolts and remove pick-up tube before removing pump.
Remove mounting bolts from oil pump. Withdraw pump.
NOTE-
Record location of any spacers between pump and engine
bloclc Note positions of locating dowels.
- Remove cover from oil pump and check for wear or scoring.
Spin oil pump shaft and
check that gears turn smoothly. Re-
place pump if gears spin with difficulty
orany wear is present.
- Inspect oil pressure relief valve as described later.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Replace pick-up tube O-ring (if applicable).
- Align sprocket splines to oil pump shaft spl~nes before
tightening sprocket nut.
- After adding engine oil, start and run engine. Raise engine
speed to 2,500 rpm until oil pressure warning light goes out
(about 5 seconds).
Tightening torques Oil drain plug to oil pan 25
Nm (18 ft-lb)
Oil pan to engine
bloclc
M6 (8.8 grade)
M6 (10.9 grade)
M8 (8.8 grade)
10 Nm (89 in-lb)
12
Nrn (9 ft-lb)
22 Nm (16 ft-lb)
Oil pump sprocket to oil pump shait
(M10 x 1) (left hand thread)
25 Nm (1 8 it-lb)
Oil pump to crankcase (ME) 22 Nm (1 6 it-lb)
Oil pump pickup tube to cranltcase (M6) 10 Nm (89 in-lb)