1997 BMW 525i headlight

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Spare parts kit
Carrying a basic set of spare parts can prevent a rninorbreak-
down from turning into a major repair annoyance. The list be-
low is a good place to start.
Spare parts kit
- basic
Polyribbed drive
belt(s)
BMW engine oil: one or two quarts
BMW engine coolant:
1 gallon of premixed 50150 BMW
anti-freeze and water
Fuse assortment:
7.5A. IOA, 1 5A, 20A, 30A. 50A
Radiator hoses: upper and lower
Spare parts
kit - additional contents
Exterior lighting bulbs: headlight, bralte light, turn signal,
and taillight
* Wiper blades or blade inserts
Brake fluid: new, unopened bottle, DOT
4 specification
Main relay for DME system

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--- -
Maintenance
Table b. Inspection I Service (continued)
I I I I
Warm engine Dealer service
required recommended
Check windshield
washer fluid level and
antifreeze protection.
Add washer fluid as necessary.
Replace ventilation
microfilter. (Note:
reduce replacement intervals in dusty
operation conditions)
Reset Service interval Indicator
(Sil).
Additional
repair
information
Tools Required
*
eck aim of washer jets and adjust if
necessary.
covers, obvious damage or attachment o
s or accessories.
Road test
Check braking performance, steering,
heating and air conditioner operation.
Check manual transmission and clutch
operation or automatic transmission
operation. New
parts
required
*
Bodylelectrical
121
630
630
Checic battery state of charge
Check operation of:
headlights,
parking iights, back-up lights.
license plate lights, interior lights,
glove box
illumination, engine compartment light,
trunk light, turn signals, emergency
flashers, stop iights.
Check operation of horn and headlight
dimmer switch
:i:

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Battery, Starter, ~iternatorl
The battery is mounted in the right side of the luggage com-
partment, concealed behind a trim panel. Battery capacity is
determined by the amount of current needed to start the vehi-
cle and by the amount of current consumed by the electrical
system. This will vary from model to model.
BMW batteries are rated by
amperelhours (Ah) and cold
cranking amps (CCA) rating, which are listed on the battery.
The Ah rating is determined by the average amount of cur-
rent the battery can deliver over time without dropping below
a specified voltage. The CCA is determined by the battery's
ability to deliver starting current at
On F (-18" C) without drop-
ping below a specified voltage. Always replace the battery
with one having the same or higher ratings.
Battery testing
Battery testing determines the state of battery charge. On
conventional or low-maintenance batteries. the most com-
mon method of testing the battery is that
ofchecking the spe-
cific gravity of the electrolyte using a hydrometer. Before
testing the battery, check that the cables are tight and free of
- corrosion.
Hydrometer testing
Before hydrometertesting, load the battery with 15 amperes
for one minute. If the battery is installed in the vehicle, this can
be done by turning on the headlights without the engine run-
ning. The state of battery charge based on specific gravity
values are given in Table
b. Specific gravity of battery elec-
trolyte at
27" C (80°F).
The hydrometer indicates the specific gravity of the electro-
lyte. The more dense the concentration of sulfuric acid in the
electrolyte, the higher the state of charge
NOTE-
Electrolyte temperature affects hydrometer reading. Checlc
the electrolyte temperature with a thermometer. Add 0.004 to
the hydrometerreading
forevery 6°C (10°F) that the electro-
lyte is above 27°C
(80°F). Subtract 0.004 from the reading
forevery 6°C (10°F) that the electrolyte is below27"C
(80°F).

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.
Battery, Starter, Alternator
Table b. Specific gravity of battery electrolyte at 27°C (80°F)
Specific gravity State of charge
1.265 Fully charged
1.225 75% charged
1.190 50% charged
1.155 25% charged
1.120 Fully discharged
if the specific gravity is at
orabove 1.225, butthe battery lacks
Dower for
startinq, determine the battew's service condition
with a load volta& test. if the average specific gravity of the
six cells is below 1.225, remove the battery from the luggage
compartment and recharge.
Battery open-circuit voltage test
Before testing, load battery with 15 amperes for one minute
with battery load-tester or turn on headlights for about one
minute without engine running. Connect digital voltmeter
across battery terminals. Open-circuit voltage levels are giv-
en in Table
c. Open-circuit voltage and battery charge.
If open-circuit voltage is
OK but battery still lacks power for
starting, perform a load voltage test.
If open-circuit voltage is
below 12.4 volts, recharge battery
and retest.
Table c. Open-circuit voltage and battery charge
Open-circuit voltage State of charge
12.6 V or more
12.4 V
12.2v
12.0 v
Fully charged
75% charged
50% charged
25% charged
11.7Vorless Fully discharged
Battery load voltage test
A battery load tester is required for a load voltage test. The
test is made by applying a high resistive load to the battery
terminals and then measuring battery voltage. The battery
should be
fully charged forthe most accurate results. The bat-
tery cables must be disconnected before
malting the test. Re-
place the battery if the voltage is below that listed in Table d.
Battery load test
- minimum voltage.

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Radiator and Cooling System
Remove rubber trim strip between top of shroud and radiator.
Using 32 mm wrench
(BMW special tool 11 5 040) on fan
clutch nut (arrow), turn wrench in a clockwise direction
(working from front of car) while counterholding pulley with
BMW special tool
11 5 030. Spin fan off coolant pump.
NOTE-
The radiator cooling fan nut (32 mm wrench) has left-hand
threads.
Unclip AUC (air quality) sensor from shroud,
M54 engine: Disconnect auxiliary coolant pump from base of
fan shroud.
Lift fan and shroud together out of engine compartment.
To replace fan clutch, remove fan mounting bolts and sepa-
rate viscous clutch from fan.
Installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening
torques
Clutch nut to pump
Without
BMW tool 11 5 040 40 Nm (29 ft-lb)
With BMW tool 11 5 040 30 Nm
(22 ft-lb)
Fan to viscous clutch 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
Electric cooling fan, removing and
installing
The electric cooling fan is mounted behind the front bumper,
in front of the
A/C condenser.
- Remove front bumper. See 510 Exterior Trim, Bumpers.
- Remove left and right headlights. See 630 Lights,
- Where applicable, detach horizontal air ducts behind front
bumper and fold to side.
- Disconnect fan electrical connector on right side of radiator
shroud and lay aside.
- Detach wire loom from air duct in front of cooling fan
- Pry out expansion rivets holding air duct. Slide air duct down-
ward to remove.

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31 0-5
Front ~uspensionl
Front strut assembly, removing and
installing
- Raise car and remove front wheel.
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points.
Do not place jack stands under
suspension
parts.
- Unbolt bralte caliper assembly, lkeeping bralte hose connect-
ed. Secure brake caliper to body with wire. Do not let it hang
from brake hose. See
340 Brakes.
Remove ABS pulse sensor mounting bolts (arrows) and re-
move sensor from housing.
Detach ABS sensor wire harness and bralte pad wear sensor
wire harness (if equipped) from strut housing.
Loosen and remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut while
counterholding
link ball joint. Disconnect stabilizer link from
strut.
NOTE-
Use a thin wrench to counterhold shaft of stabilizer bar link
ball joint.
- Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.
4 Remove outer tie rod end nut. Use BMW special tool 31 2
240 or equivalent to press tie rod end out of steering arm.

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/~ront Susaension
Front suspension arms FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS
Scyllnder models (5251,5281,530i)
Control arms and tension struts are attached to the front sub-
Front suspension arms V-8 models (5401)
frame through rubber bushings and to the steering ltnuckles
by ball joints.
NOTE-
Tension struts are sometimes called thrust arms or thrust
rods.
Control arms or tension struts are sometimes called lower
front arms or lower rear arms.
Inspect ball joints for wear and looseness. lnspect bushings
for wear or fluid
lealts. The ball joint can only be replaced as
part of an entire suspension arm assembly. Some suspen-
sion arm
bushinas are available as re~lacement Darts. Al-
ways replace in pairs
NOTE-
Steering wheel vibration during braking (usually at road
speeds of
50 to 60 m.p.h.) are often causedby faulty suspen-
sion arm bushings, not out-of-true brake rotors.
Some special tools may be required to remove suspension
arms and to replace bushings. Read procedures through be-
fore beginning the job.
Control arm, removing and installing
(6-cylinder models)
- Raise car and remove wheel
Male sure
that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension
parfs.
Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.
Remove control arm fasteners (arrows). Lightly tap inner
control arm mounting bolt out of subframe.

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Front Suspension
< Use BMW special tool 31 2 240 or equivalent to separate
control arm ball joint from steering ltnuckle.
- When installing control arm, make sure all thread bores.
bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.
- Install bushing end of control arm to subframe, using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-locking nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
- Install control arm ball joint to steering lknucltle using a new
self-locking nut. Tighten fully.
- Install wheel and lower car.
- Load car to normal loaded position as described under Ride
height. See
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-Gen-
eral. Bounce suspension a few times.
- With car on ground and loaded, tighten control arm bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques
Control arm to steering ltnuckle
80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Control arm to subframe 110 Nm (81 It-lb)
Road wheel to hub 120ilO Nm (8957 it-lb)
Control arm, removing and installing
(V-8 models)
- Raise car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural
cliassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
Loosen and remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(A) while
counterholding ball joint
(B). Disconnect stabilizer link from
stabilizer bar.
- Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.