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240-1 0
Automatic Transmission
TRANSMISSION REMOVAL AND
INSTALLATION
Removal and installation of the transmission is best accorn-
plished on an automotive lift using a transmission jack. Use
caution and safe workshop practices when working beneath
car and lowering transmission.
Torx-head bolts are used to mount the transmission to the
bellhousing.
Besure to have appropriate tools on hand before
starting the job.
WARNING-
Be sure the vehicle is properly supported. The removal of the
transmission may upset the balance of the vehicle on a lift
CAUJION-
Tilting the engine to remove the transmission can lead to
damaae to various components due to
laclc of clearance. 1
Transmission, removing and installing
WARNING -
Allow engine and transmission to cool down before starting
work on the transmission.
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warninas.
4 V-8 engine: Remove plastic engine cover.
Early models: pry out protective caps
(arrows), then re-
move nuts securing cover.
Lift off cover.
Later models: depress four studs to release, then lift off
cover.

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Automatic ~ransmissionl
II I
4 Install engine support across engine bay. Raise and safely
support vehicle.
Make sure the car is stable and
we1 supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive lift
orjaclc stands designed for
CAUTIOI\C
Removal of transmission will cause engine to tip unless en-
gine support is used.
- Remove splash shields from underside of vehicle.
- &cylinder models: Detach front stabilizer bar from stabilizer
bar
links. Swivel stabilizer bar upward.
- Drain ATF from transmission as described earlier.
- Remove exhaust system and exhaust heat shield. See 180
Exhaust System.
- Disconnect driveshaft from transmission and hang to one
side. See
260 Driveshaft.
4 With selector lever in park:
Hold
linkage clamping bolt (A) stationary when loosening
selector lever cable clamping nut
(6).
- Loosen cable clamping nut and remove cable from bracket
(ASS
3252 transmission shown).
- Where applicable, disconnect vehicle speed sensor harness
connector.
4 Disconnect main electrical harness connector(s) from trans-
mission by turning bayonet lock
ring(s) (arrows) counter-
clocltwise.
A4S
310R transmission: Harness connector at right rear of
transmission.
ASS
360R / ASS 390R transmission: Harness connector
(arrow) at right rear of transmission.
ASS 3252 transmission: Two connectors (arrows) on left
side of transmission.
ASS 5602 transmission: Harness connector at right rear of
transmission.
- ASS 4402 transmission: Harness connector at top left rear
of transmission.
- Remove wiring harness from transmission housing

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Gearshift ~inkaael
Gearshift lever, removing
(manual transmission)
Use the accompanying illustration as a guide when removing
and installing the gearshift linkage.
- Remove shift knob by pulling knob straight off shift lever.
NOTE-
Pull up on the shift knob with about 90 lbs. of force. Do not
twist
knob or locating key can be damaged.
- Squeeze sides of shift boot to unclip from center console.
Pull boot up and off shift lever.
- Remove sound insulation at base of shift lever.
- Raise vehicle to gain access to underside of vehicle.
- --
WARNING-
Male sure the car is stable and well supported at all tfmes.
Use a professional automotwe hft orjaclc stands designed for
the purpose.
A floorjaclc 1s not adequate support.
- Remove complete exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust
System.
- Remove driveshaft. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Support transmission with transmission jack. Remove
crossmember from rear of transmission.
- Lower rear of transmission to access gearshift linkage.
CA UTIOI\C
Tilting the engine to lower the transmission can lead to
damage to various components due to lack of clearance.
4 Working above transmission, disconnect selector rod:
* Pull off shift rod retaining circlip (A).
Remove washer (6).
Disengage selector rod (C) from gearshift lever.

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250-4
I Gearshift Linkage
Release gearshift lever mounting ring from below using BMW
special spanner 25 1 110. Turn tool 90' ('I, turn)
counterclockwise.
Push shift lever up to remove from shift console,
Raise transmission and temporarily install transmission
crossmember.
Lower vehicle. Working from inside passenger compart-
ment, pull up on shift lever to remove it together with inner
rubber boot and shift lever mounting ring.
Gearshift lever, installing
(manual transmission)
- Clean old grease from shift lever ball and mounting ring.
Also clean shift console bowl. Lubricate with molybdenum
disulfide grease.
- Insert shift lever together with inner boot and mounting ring
into center console.
4 Align shift lever mounting ring locking tabs with slots
(arrows) in shift console bowl. Press down until ring
snaps into place.
NOTE-
lnstall mounting ring witli arrow pointing toward front of car.
4 Pull inner rubber boot over shift console bowl (arrows) to
seal base of shift lever.
NOTE-
lnstall rubber boot witli arrow pointing toward front of car.
- Raise car and support transmission. Remove transmission
crossmember and lower transmission to access base of shift
lever.
CAUTIOI\C
Tilting the engine to lower the transmission can lead to
damage to various components due to lack of clearance.

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pearshift Linkage
~UTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEARSHIFT
Automatic transmission gearshift mechanism
automatic
5-speed Steptronic (5251,530i)
1. Shift lock solenoid
2. Shifter assembly
3. Shift cable
4. Support bracket
5. Selector lever
Gearshift mechanism, adjusting
(automatic transmission)
- Position gearshift lever in Park.
- Raise vehicle to gain access to shift linkage.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive
lift orjack stands designed for
the purpose.
4 Counterhold bushino A and loosen cable clam~ino nut 6.
Push cable end backward away from engine (arrow 2).
Release pressure on cable.
Tighten clamping nut.
/ CAUTION--
Tightening torque
Shift cable clamping nut
10 Nm (7.5 it-lb)

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250-7
Gearshift ~inka~el
Automatic shiftlock, checking function (automatic transmission)
The automatic shiftlock uses an electric solenoid to lock the
selector lever in Park or Neutral. Depressing the foot bralte
with the ignition on energizes the solenoid, allowing the lever
to be moved into a drive gear. The solenoid is energized only
when the engine speed is below 2,500 rpm and the vehicle
speed is below
3 mph (5 kph). The solenoid is mounted in the
right side of the selector lever housing.
... nir r
Shiftlock
4 Automatic shiftlock prevents drive gear selection until brake
pedal is depressed.
With engine running and car stopped, place selector lever
in Park or Neutral.
Without depressing bralte pedal, check that selector lever
is
loclted in position (Parlt or Neutral).
Depress brake pedal firmly. Solenoid should click audibly.
Check that selector lever can now be moved out of
Parlt or
Neutral.
parking
brake on and with extreme caution.
solenoid
0012713
With selector
lever in Park or Neutral and bralte pedal de-
pressed, raise engine above 2,500
rpm. Check that selec-
tor lever cannot be moved out of Park or Neutral.
If any faults are found check the electrical operation of the
shiftloclt solenoid and checlt for wiring faults to or from the
transmission control module (TCM). See
610 Electrical
Component Locations and ELE Electrical Wiring
Dia-
grams.
NOTE-
NOTE-
The solenoidis controlled via the TCM, using brake pedalpo-
sition, engine speed, and road speed as controlling inputs.
The
next test should be performed in an open area with the

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Driveshaft
4 Driveshaft center slide nut spanner
(Tool No. BMW
26 1 040)
7, 25 1 Ho 4 cv joint removal tool
(Tool No. BMW 26 1 11 0)
support assembly
Driveshaft description
4 The two-piece driveshaft is connected to the transmission by
a rubber flex-disc and to the rear final drive by a constant ve-
locity (CV) joint.
A universal joint is used at the center of the driveshaft and
the shaft is supported in the middle by a center support
bearing. The bearing is mounted in rubber to isolate vibra-
tion.
- The rear constant velocity joint compensates for fore and
aft movement of the drive line.
Troubleshooting
The source of driveline vibrations and noise can be difficultto pin-
point. Engine, transmission, rear axle, or wheel vibrations can be
transmitted through thedriveshaftto the car body. Noises from
thecar may be caused by final drive problems, or by faulty wheel
bearings, drive axles, or even
wom or improperly inflated tires.
NOTE-
For drive axle repair information, see 331 Final Drive
Driveshaft noise or vibration may be caused by worn
ordam-
aged components. Check the universal joint for play. With the
driveshaft installed, pull and twist the driveshaft while watch-
ing the joint. The
BMW specification for play is very small, so
almost any noticeable play could indicate a problem.
Check the torque of the fasteners at the flange connections.
Check the rubber of the flex-disc and center bearing for dete-
rioration or tearing. Check the driveshaft for broken or miss-
ing balance weights. The weights are welded tabs on the
driveshaft tubes. In addition to inspecting for faulty driveshaft
parts, the installed angles of the driveshaft should also be
considered.

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-.- .
/ Driveshaft Driveshaft, removing
CAUTION-
. Be sure the wheels are off the ground before removing the
driveshak Set the parl(ing brake before removing the
driveshaft.
Once the driveshaft has been removed, the vehicle can
roll regardless of whether the transmission is in gear or
not.
The driveshaft is mounted to the transmission and final
drive
with self-locliing nuts. These nuts are designed to
be used only once and should be replaced during reas-
sembly.
Remove complete exhaust system. See
180 Exhaust
System.
- Remove exhaust heat shields.
- Support transmission with transmission jack.
< Loosen transmission mount nuts (arrows) on real
transmission support crossmember.
- Release wiring harness retainers from rear transmission
support crossmember.
< Remove mounting bolts (arrows) for rear transmission sup-
port crossmember. Slide crossmember rearward to remove.
- Matchmark front and rear driveshaft halves to corresponding
transmission output and final drive input flanges.
4 Remove nuts securing driveshaft mounting bolts at transmis-
sion output flange. Counterhold bolts (arrows) at transmis-
sion flex-disc. Discard old nuts.
- Hang driveshaft front section from body using stiff wire.