1998 BMW 528i ECT

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020-30
Maintenance
fluid use and the most-up-to-date information regarding
transmission operating fluids.
The automatic transmission is not equipped with a dipstick.
Therefore, checking the ATF level is an involved procedure
which includes measuring and maintaining a specified ATF
temperature during the checking procedure.
For more complete
ATF service information, including
checking
ATF level and ATF filter replacement procedures,
see
240 Automatic Transmission.
Transmission service, manual
Manual transmission service consists of inspecting for leaks
and checking the fluid. Evidence of transmission leaks is
like-
ly to be seen around the driveshaft mounting flange and at the
bottom of the bellhousing.
NOTE-
For more information on identifying oil
leaks and their
causes, see 230 Manual Transmission and210 Clutch.
Transmission fluid, checking and filling
(manual transmission)
Tne manual transmss'on inslalleo 'n rne E39 models s f;lled
with a special liierime iluid (ivlTF-LT-I). oi. ordinarily
does
not need to be changed.
< Check manual transmission oil level at transmission filler plug
(A). Make sure car is on level surface.
NOTE- Transmission fluid level
checking and replacement
procedures are covered in 230 Manual Transmission.
Wheels, aligning
BMW recommends checking the front and rear alignment
once a year and whenever new tires are installed.
NOTE-
See 320 Steering and Wheel Alignment for a more detailed
discussion of alignment requirements and specifications.

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Maintenance
BODY AND INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Body and hinges, lubricating
Door locksand loclccylinderscan be lubricated with an oil that
contains graphite.
Body and doorhinges, hood latch and doorcheclc rods should
be lubricated with
SAE 30 or SAE 40 engine oil. Lubricate
seat runners with multipurposegrease. Do not apply any oil to
rubber parts.
If door weather-strips are sticking, lubricate
them with silicone spray or talcum powder. The hood release
cable should be lubricated as well.
The use of winter
lock deicer sprays should be lkept to an
absolute minimum, as the alcohol in the deicer will wash the
grease out of the lock assemblies and may cause locks to
corrode internally or to become difficult to operate.
Exterior washing
The longer dirt is left on the paint, the greater the risk of dam-
aging theglossy finish,
eitherby scratching or by thechemical
effect dirt particles may have on the painted surface.
Do not wash the car in direct sunlight. If the engine hood is
warm, allow it to cool. Beads of water not only leave spots
when dried rapidly by the sun or heat from theengine, but also
can act as small magnifying glasses and burn spots into the
finish. Wash the car with a mixture of lukewarm water and a
car wash product. Rinse using plenty of clear water. Wipe the
body dry with a sofl cloth towel or chamois to prevent
water-spotting.
Interior care
Dirt spots can usually be removed with lultewarm soapy water
or a dry foam cleaner. Use spot remover for grease and oil
spots. Do not pour the liquid directly on the carpet or fabric,
but dampen a clean cloth and rub carefully, starting at the
edge of the spot and working inward. Do not use gasoline,
naphtha, or other flammable substances.
Leather upholstery and trim
Leather upholstery and trim should be periodically cleaned
using a slightly damp cotton or wool cloth. The idea is to get
rid of the dirt in the creases and pores that can cause brittle-
ness and premature aging. On heavily soiled areas, use a
mild detergent (such as
wooliteQ) or other specially formulat-
ed leather cleaners. Dry the trim and upholstery completely

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020-32
Maintenance
using a soft cloth. Regular use of a good quality leather condi-
tioner will reduce drying and cracking of the leather.
Polishing
Use paint polish only if the finish assumes a dull loolc afler
long service. Polish can be used to remove tar spots and tar-
nish, but
afleiwards a coat of waxshould be applied to protect
the clean finish. Do not use abrasive polish or cleaners on
aluminum trim or accessories.
Seat belts
Dirt and other abrasive particles will damage seat belt web-
bing. If it is necessary to clean seat belts, use a mild soap so-
lution. Bleach and other strong cleaning agents may weaken
the belt webbing and should be avoided.
WARNING-
Do not clean the seat belt webbing using dry cleaning or oth-
er chemicals. Allow wet belts to
dry before allowing them to
retract.
-
The condition of the belt webbing and the function of the re-
tractor mechanisms should be inspected. See
720 Seat Belts
for seat belt inspection information.
Speciai cieaning
Tarspots can be removed with a bug and tar remover. Never
use gasoline,
lterosene, nail polish remover, or other unsuit-
able solvents. Insect spots also respond to tar remover.
A bit
of baking soda dissolved in the wash water will facilitate their
removal. This method can also be used to remove tree sap
spots.
Washing chassis
Periodic washing of the underside of the car, especially in
winter, will help prevent accumulation of road salt and rust.
The best time to wash the underside is just afler the car has
been driven in wet conditions. Spray the chassis with a pow-
erful jet of water. Commercial or self-service carwashes may
not be bestforthis, as they may recycle the salt-contaminated
water.
Waxing
For a long-lasting, protective, and glossy finish, apply a hard
wax after the car has been washed and dried. Use carnauba
or synthetic based products. Waxing is not needed after
every washing. You can tell when waxing is required by
look-

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Engine-General
This section covers system descriptions and general informa-
tion on engines and engine management systems. Also cov-
ered is basic engine troubleshooting.
For specific repair procedures, refer to the appropriate repair
group:
110 Engine Removal and Installation
0 113 Cylinder Head Removal and Installation
116 Cylinder Head and Valvetrain
0 117 Camshaft Timing Chain
119 Lubrication System
120 Ignition System
130 Fuel Injection
0 170 Radiator and Cooling System
E39 models are fitted with a variant of either an inline 6-cylin-
der or a
V-8 engine. See Table a.
Table a. Engine specifications

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Engine identifying features
4 The M52 engine (MY97-98 528i) used a single on-off vari-
able intake valve timing system (called VANOS). The cylinder
block is cast iron and the cylinder head is aluminum. The en-
gine management system is Siemens MS 41
.I and features
NGK-type (0-5 volt) oxygen sensors.
NOTE-
VANOS is an acronym based on the German words Variable
Nocltenwellen Steuerung (variable camshaft timing).
4 The M52 TU engine (MY99-00 5281) and the M54 engines
(MY01-02 525il530i) are fitted with double VANOS. The en-
gine
blocits are constructed of aluminum alloy with cast iron
cylinder sleeves.
4 The double VANOS (variable camshaft control) system incor-
porates true variable control of both the
intake and exhaust
camshafts, as compared to the single VANOS system on the
M52 engine
(onloff control of the intaite camshaft only).
The M54 engines use a fully electronic throttle control (drive
by wire). There is no accelerator cable connecting the throttle
pedal to the throttle housing in these cars.

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100-4
I Engine-General
The M62 90" V8 engine uses four valves per cylinder, double
overhead camshafts and light alloy cylinder head and cylin-
der
bloclc engine construction.
On 1997 and 1998 540i models, Bosch engine management
systems are utilized. Table a lists engine management sys-
tem applications.
4 For the 1999 model year, the M62 TU VANOS engine was in-
troduced to the 540i models. This engine is primarily a carry-
over from the earlier M62 engine, but contains many unique
identifying components and technology:
Variable camshaft timing (VANOS) for the intake valves.
Bosch ME 7.2 engine management system with electronic
throttle control. There is no accelerator cable connecting
the throttle pedal to the throttle housing in these cars.
Compact water-cooled generator (alternator).
E39 vehicles are equipped with sophisticated self-diagnostic
engine management systems. These systems monitor and
store diagnostic fault information. If the malfunction indicator
lamp (MIL) illuminates, the first diagnostic test should be to
connect a dedicated scan tool for BMW automobiles and in-
terrogate the fault memory.
If the malfunction indicator light (MIL) comes on orflashes, it
indicates that an emissions-related fault has occurred and
that fault information is stored in memory within the ECM.
4 The MIL in E39 cars displays one of these warning graphics
in the instrument cluster.
The diagnostic capabilities of these systems have the poten-
tial to save hours of diagnostic time and prevent incorrect
5 placement. See OBD On-Board Diagnostics.

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Two common causes of driveability problems are incorrect
system voltage and bad grounds.
System voltage
Digital motor electronics (DME) requires that the system (bat-
tery) voltage be maintained within a narrow range of DC volt-
age.
DC voltage levels beyond or below the operating range,
or any
AIC voltage in the electrical system can cause havoc.
When troubleshooting an illuminated MIL, make sure the bat-
tery is fully charged and capable of delivering all its power to
the electrical system. An undercharged battery can amplify
AIC alternator output ripple.
To
make a quick check of the battery charge, measure the
voltage across the battery terminals with all cables attached
and the ignition off.
Afully charged battery will measure 12.6
volts or slightly more, compared to 12.1 5 volts for a battery
with a 25% charge.
The DME system operates at low voltage and current levels,
making it sensitive to small increases in resistance. The elec-
trical system is routinely subjected to corrosion, vibration and
wear, so faults or corrosion in the wiring harness and connec-
tors are not uncommon. Check the battery terminals
forcorro-
sion or loose cable connections. See 121 Battery, Starter,
Alternator for additional information.
If a battery cable connection has no
v~sible faults but is still
suspect, measure the voltage drop across the connection. A
large drop indicates excessive resistance, meaning that the
connection is corroded, dirty, or damaged. Clean or repairthe
connection and retest.
NOTE-
For instructions on conducting a voltage drop test and other
general electrical troubleshooting information, see
600 Elec-
trical System-General.
Visually inspect all wiring, connectors, switches and fuses in
the system. Loose or damaged connectors can cause inter-
mittent problems, especially the small terminals in the ECM
connectors. Disconnect the wiring harness connectors to
check for corrosion, and use electrical cleaning spray to re-
move contaminants.
Main grounds
Good grounds are critical to proper DME operation. If a
ground connection has no visible faults but is still suspect.
measure the voltage drop across the connection. A large volt-
age drop means high resistance. Clean or repair the connec-
tion and retest.
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100-6
( Engine-General
The main grounds for the fuel and ignition circuits of the DME
system are illustrated below; see 610 Electrical Component
Locations for additional ground and component locations.
4 Ground for engine management system in right rear of en-
gine compartment on E-box bulkhead (arrow).
6-cylinder models: Grounds
for ignition coils (arrows)
4 V-8 models: Grounds for ignition coils, at cylinders 3
(arrow) and 7.
4 Fuel pump ground (arrow) below right tail light in luggage
compartment.
NOTE-
Ground location for sedan shown, wagon models may
differ.