1997 BMW 540i Ele

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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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250-8
Gearshift Linkage
-;Ag Gate "",?it.,
Shift interlock, checking function
(automatic transmission)
4 The shift interlock uses a cable between the ignition switch
and the shift lever to lock the shift lever in the park position
when the key is in the off position or removed. This feature
also prevents the key
from being removed from the ignition
lock until the selector lever is in Park.
Shift selector lever to Park position and turn ignition key to
the off position.
Remove ignition key. Checlc that selector lever cannot be
shifted out of Park position.
Turn ignition lkey on and depress
brake pedal. Checlc that
selector lever moves freely from gear to gear.
With selector lever in a gear position other than Park, at-
tempt to turn lkey to off position and remove. Key should not
go into off position.
If any faults are found check cable for lkinks and
check
cable attachment points for damage or faults.
NOTE-
* It must only be possible to remove ignition ley with
selector lever
in Park position.
* Do not link shift interlocl( cable.
Shift interlock repair is covered
in 320 Steering and
Wheel Alignment.

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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.

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300 Suspension. Steering and Brakes .
Genera8
General ........................... .30 0.2
Aluminum suspension components
...... .30 0.2
Front Suspension ................. .30 0.2
Front suspension 6-cylinder models
(525i.5281. 530i) ..................... .30 0.3
Front suspension V-8 models (540i) ...... .30 0.4
Rear Suspension .................. .30 0.5
Sedan models
....................... .30 0.5
Rear suspension sedan models ........ .30 0.6
Sport Wagon models ................. .30 0.6
Rear suspension Sport Wagon
(with coil springs)
.................... .30 0.7
Rear suspension Sport Wagon
(EHC with air springs)
................. .30 0.8
EHC operational diagram .............. .30 0.9
Steering ......................... .30 0.10
Rack-and-pinion steering ............. .30 0.10
Recirculating ball and nut steering ...... .30 0.10
..................... Brake System 300-10
Wheels and Tires ................. 300-1 1
............... Rim and tire sizes table 300-1 1
Electronic Brake and Stability
.................. Control Systems 300-1 1
E39 electronic brake and stability
........ control systems application table 300-12
........................ ABS system 300-1 2
Automatic Stability Control (ASC)
....... 300-12
ABSIASC traction control system ....... 300-13
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
........ 300-14
Ride Height ....................... 300-14
......... Front ride height specifications 300-1 5
......... Rear ride height specifications 300-16

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[~us~ension, Steering and Brakes - General
This section of the manual covers front and rear suspension,
braking and steering systems, and contains wheel, tire and
wheel alignment information and specifications. Also covered
here are the integrated braking and suspension systems in-
cluding
antilock braking (ABS), traction control (ASCIDSC),
and electronic height control (EHC).
Vehicle ride height information is at the end of this repair
group. Alignment information is in
320 Steering and Wheel
Alignment.
Aluminum suspension components
In order to reduce vehicle weight, aluminum suspension com-
ponents are used in some models. A test with a magnet will
easily reveal the metal used. If working with aluminum com-
ponents, be sure to read and follow the cautions below.
CAUTION-
* Due to the chemical and corrosion characteristics of alumi-
num, do not bring into contact with battery acid.
Do not use wire brushes with brass or iron bristles.
Only use brushes with stainless steel bristles.
Do not expose to flying sparks from
grinding/cutting op-
erations.
Do not subject to steel welding splashes.
Do not expose to temperatures over
80°C (176"F),
even for short periods. Temperatures in painting facili-
ties are not a problem.
The E39 front suspension subframe is used as a rigid mount-
ing platform for the front suspension arms, stabilizer bar and
steering gear.
The suspension arms, known as the lower control arms and
the tension struts (thrust arms), are connected to the
sub-
frame through rubber bushings. The arms are connected to
the steering
knucltles in a double pivot configuration.
Each front strut assembly includes a tubular strut and a coil
spring. The upper strut mount includes a bearing. The lower
end of each strut housing is fitted to the steering knuckle. The
integral wheel bearing and hub are bolted to the steering
Iknucltle.
6-cylinder and V-8 models use different steering systems and
other front suspension components.

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300-5
Suspension, Steering and Brakes - ~enerall
The E39 rear suspension subframe is used as a rigid mount-
ing platform
forthe differential (also called final drive) and rear
suspension components. The differential is mounted to the
subframe and the subframe is bolted to the body through rub-
ber bushings which help isolate drivetrain noise and vibration.
The
€39 rear suspension is known as a modified multi-link
system. Three control arms on each side locate the rear
wheels.
The lowercontrol arm, called the swing arm, is attached to the
wheel bearing carrier through a pivoting integral link.
An eccentric mounting bolt at the rear inner mounting of the
swing arm is used for rear camber adjustment.
The inner end of the upper front control arm, called the trac-
tion strut, is also mounted with an eccentric fastener, used to
adjust rear toe.
Drive axles with constant-velocity (CV) joints at both ends
transfer power
from the differential to the road wheels.
Sedan models
The rear suspension in sedan models uses coil springs over
strut shock absorbers. The bottom of each strut bolts to the
wheel
carrier.The top strut mount attaches just below the rear
parcel shelf of the car.
Sedan models fitted with EDC (Electronic Dampening Con-
trol) use air struts.

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300-6
/Suspension, Steering and Brakes - General
Rear suspension sedan models
Coil spring
Strut
-
'01 arm
Sport Wagon models
In order to provide a wide, ilat iloor in the cargo compartment,
the rear suspension on the Sport Wagon is unique to itself.
The shoclcabsorber is attached diagonally between the lower
swing arm and a mounting bracket on the subframe. The
spring on each side is mounted between a perch at the top
oi
the wheel bearing carrier and the bottom of the cargo com-
partment floor.
Starting with
1999 Sporl Wagon models, a self-leveling air
suspension system with electronic height control (EHC) was introduced. The system is standard on
V-8 models and op-
tional on 6-cylinder models.
On models fitted with electronic height control (EHC) rear
suspension, the standard coil springs are replaced by air
springs. Air pressure in the air springs is automatically con-
trolled by the
EHC system to compensate for ride height and
load variations.

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Suspension, Steering and Brakes - General
WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire size is critical to the properoperation of the antilock brake
system and traction control system. Several differentstyles of
wheels in
15,16, and 17 inch diameters are available from an
authorized BMW dealer.
Rim and tire size applications are listed in the table below.
Rim and tire sizes table
ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND STABILITY
CONTROL SYSTEMS
Model
5251
5281
530i
540i (manual
transmission)
540i (automatic
transmission)
All
E39 vehicles are equipped with the Antilock Braking Sys-
tem
(ABS). Early production models featured ABS with Auto-
matic Stability
control (ABSIASC). Later models came
equipped with ABS and Dynamic Stability Control
(ABSIDSC). DSC builds upon the existing ABSIASC system
to provide electronic control of drive and braking systems to
insure vehicle stability.
This manual will refer to these systems as ABS. ASC or DSC
will be specified when necessary. ABS component replace-
ment is covered in
340 Brakes.
Standard
ABS applications are shown in the accompanying table
Rim size
16x7
15x7
16x7
17x8
16x7 Optional
Tire size
225160R-15
235145-1 7
225155-1 6
Rim size
17x8
Front 17
x 8 Rear 17 x 9
17 x 8
Front 17x8
Rear 17x9
Front 17 x 8
Rear 17 x 9 Tire
size
245145R-17
Front 235145-1 7
255140R-17
235145R-17
Front 235145-1 7
Rear
255140R-17
Front 235145-17
Rear 255140R-17