1998 BMW 540i Head

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I Steering and Wheel Alignment
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Replace shear bolts at steering column mounting bracket.
Tighten until bolt heads shear off.
Make sure
interlock cable snaps into place.
When installing column top trim panel, replace expansion
nut for trim retaining screw.
NOTE-
The steering angle sensor must be coded using a BMW scan
tool if it has been replaced.
A steering angle offset check
must then be carried out using the same
BMW scan tool.
CAUTION-
Check steering system for freedom of movement through en-
tire steering column
adiustment range.
Tightening torques Steering shaft coupler
to steering shaft 25 Nm (18 ft-lb)
(replace bolt)
Steering column to body
22 Nm (16 ft-lb)
Steering column adjustment motors,
removing and installing
Remove lower dash panel mounting fasteners (A) and (B).
- Lower panel and disconnect wiring harness from back side.
- Remove steering column lower trim panel. See Steering col-
umn trim, removing and replacing.
- Disconnect electrical harness from motor.
Remove motor mounting fasteners (arrows)
Slide motor to side and forward to remove.
Installation is reverse of removal.

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320-28
[steering and Wheel Alignment
Pitman arm, removing and installing
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
Male sure the car is
firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
4 Set steering wheel in straight ahead position with tab (arrow)
aligned with mark on steering gearbox.
Remove center tie rod fastener and press tie rod out of pit.
man arm with BMW special
too1 32 1 190.
- Loosen and remove pitman arm pinch bolt
4 Mark A on steering gearbox shalt must be located in center
of
pitman arm slot.
- Reinstall center tie rod and tighten nut.
- Adjust pitman arm height as described later.
- Have vehicle professionally aligned.
Tightening torques
50:s,n5m Center tie rod to pitman arm 65
Nm (48 ft-lb)
(use new self-locking nut)
Pitman arm pinch bolt (note direction of threads) 61 Nrn (45 ft-lb)

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
Pitman arm, adjusting
As the vehicle suspension settles down, the toe on the left
and right wheels must remain identical for proper handling.
By adjusting the height of the
pitman arm, the left and right tie
rods are moved to the same ride level setting. This will opti-
mize straight-ahead travel on uneven road surfaces.
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
WARNING-
Male sure the car is iirmly supported on jack stands de-
signed ior the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
- Remove bolts from left and right inner control arm mounts.
Place
BMW special tool 32 2 140 through right side control
arm mounting bolt hole.
Loosen fastener
A and push pin El up so that it is firmly
against tie rod
(arrow). Tighten fastener A.
- Remove tool without disturbing position of pin El.
- Loosen pitman arm clamping bolt and slide arm up.
4 Place special tool 32 2 140 through left side control arm
mounting bolt hole.
Slide
pitman arm up or down until tie rod makes contact
with pin
(El).
Tighten pitman arm clamping bolt.
Tie rod height differences
Deviation between
left and right tie rod height -?-I .5 rnrn (LO6 in)

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330-5
Rear Suspension
REAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS
(SEDAN MODELS)
Rear strut assembly, removing and
installing
Replace struts and coil springs in pairs only.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING -
Male sure 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.
- Remove rear parcel shelf:
Remove rear seat headrests by pulling straight up.
Remove both rear roof pillar (C-pillar) trim panels.
Unbolt rear seat
belt anchors. See 720 Seat Belts.
Models with fixed rear seat: Remove rear seat backrest.
See 520 Seats.
* Models with fold-down rear seat: Remove rear seat back-
rest side sections. See 520 Seats. Fold down backrest.
* Working inside trunk, remove roller blind mounting nuts
and bolts, if applicable. Also disconnect roller blind har-
ness connector at right edge of rear seat backrest.
Gently pry rear speaker cover grilles and rear window defog-
ger grilles
(A) out of parcel shelf.
Carefully remove seat belt and headrest mount finisher
strips (B).
Remove
middle seat headrest anchor bolts (C). Remove
headrest anchor.
Remove expansion rivets (arrows) and lift out parcel shelf.
- Remove rear speakers.
- Remove rear wheels. Remove wheel arch trim
- Support rear wheel bearing carrier.
CAUTION-
The strutassembly prevents the drive axle and wheel bearing
carrier
from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bearing
carrierbefore disconnecting the strut mounting fasteners pre-
vents damage to the brake hose, parking brake cable and
drive axle
CV joints.

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330-23
Rear Suspension
Remove rear control arm:
Remove inner control arm bolt
(A).
Detach plastic wiring harness support (B).
* Remove outer control arm ball joint nut (C). Press ball joint
out of rear wheel bearing carrier.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Always use new self-locking nuts.
Malte sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Inner control arm mounting bolt must thread to rear (bolt
head at front).
Tighten fasteners to final torque only afler vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening
torques
Control arm to subframe (M12) 110 Nm (81 ft-ib)
Control arm
ball joint to wheel bearing 142 Nm (105 ft-lb)
carrier
(M14)
Quick coupling screw to air shock absorber
2 Nm (18 in-lb)
Road wheel
to hub 120-flONm
(89 i7 ft-lb)
Upper rear control arm, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
CAUTIOG
Disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore
perlorming any repairs. Pump is located beneath a cover
under the spare tire in the floor of the
carqo compartment.
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jaclc stands de-
signed for the purpose.
Place jaclc stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.
Worlting at top of coil spring, press center cap down or pry
upward to remove. If pushed down, remove from inside coil
spring from under car.

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330-25
Rear Suspension
Remove rear control arm:
Remove inner control arm bolt
(A). Push shock absorber
out of the way to slide bolt out.
Detach plastic wiring harness support
(B).
Remove outer control arm ball joint nut (C). Press ball joint
out of rear wheel bearing carrier.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
* Always use new self-locking nuts.
Maite sure
ail threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Inner control arm mounting bolt must thread to front
(bolt . head at rear).
Make sure long lower shock absorber bushing fits in hole
in suspension swing arm.
* Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening torques Control arm to
subframe (M12) 110 Nm (81 ft-ib)
Control arm ball joint to wheel bearing
142 Nm (105 ft-lb)
carrier
(M14)
Quick coupling screw to air shocit absorber
2 Nm (18 in-lb)
Road wheel to hub
Shoclc absorber to lower control arm 127 Nm (94 it-lb)
Upper front control arm (traction strut),
removing and installing
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING-
Maice sure 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
< Mark location of inner control arm eccentric washer (rear toe

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330-47
Rear suspension/
Ride height sensor, removing and installing
Hall effect sensors for vehicle height detection are mounted
on the
left and right sides of the rear suspension. A coupling
rod mounted between the rear suspension arm and the sen-
sor arm is used to send a varying voltage signal to the
EHC
control module.
Raise car and support safely.
WARNING-
Male sure the car is firmly supported on jaclc stands de-
signed
for the purpose. Place jaclc stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jaclc stands under
sus~ension Darts.
Working underneath rear of car, remove trim panel (arrow)
just ahead of suspension subframe.
Disconnect electrical harness connector from sensor.
4 Remove control rod mounting nut (arrow).Turn control rod to
access sensor mounting fastener.
- Remove sensor mounting fasteners.
- Remove ride height sensor.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Make sure sensor lever points outward. After assembly, re-
set ride height using BMW diagnostic scan tool DIS.
Tightening torques
Ride
height sensor to bracket 5 Nrn (44 lb-in)
Lever to height sensor
9 Nrn (80 ib-in)

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Brakes
Warnings and cautions
WARNING-
. E39 cars require special BMWsen/ice equipment toprop-
erly bleed the brake hydraulic system. See Bleeding
Brakes for additional information.
Semi-metallic and metallic brake friction materials in
brake pads or shoes may produce dangerous dust.
Brake fluid is poisonous, corrosive and dangerous to
the environment. Wear safety glasses and rubber
gloves when worliing with
bralie fluid. Do not siphon
brake fluid with your mouth. Dispose of brake fluid
properly
Do not reuse self-locking nuts, bolts or fasteners. They
are designed to be used only once and may fail if re-
used. Always replace them with new self-locliing fas-
teners.
CAUTlOI\C
Immediately clean bralie fluid spilled on painted surfaces
and wash with water, as
bralie fluid will remove paint.
Always use new brake fluid from a fresh, unopened
container.
Brake fluid will absorb moisture from the air.
This can lead to corrosion problems in the
braking sys-
tem, and will also lower the fluid boiling point.
. Plug open lines and brake fluid ports to prevent con-
tamination.
Only tighten brake hoses on front wheels
with wheels
in straight ahead position.
If carrying out electric welding
worlc, be sure to discon-
nect electrical harness connector from electronic con-
trol module.
Do not expose electronic control modules to high sus-
tained heat, such as in a paint drying booth. Maximum
heat exposure:-95°C (203
OF) for short periods of time-
85'C (185°F) for Ions periods of time (approx. 2 hours)