1998 BMW 540i Radiator and Cooling System

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
170-1 9
Radiator and Cooling System
Coolant pump Remove thermostat housing fasteners
(arrows) and remove
thermostat housing.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
- Keep sealing faces clean and free of oil.
Use new sealing gasket.
Fill system with coolant. See Coolant, draining and fill-
ing
(V-8 models).
Tightening torques
Block drain plug to block 25 Nm (18 it-lb)
Coolant hose clamp (32
- 48 2. 5 Nm (22 in-lb)
mm hose diameter)
Radiator drain plug to radiator 2
- 3 Nm (18 - 27 In-lb)
Thermostat cover to
coolant pump 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
Coolant pump, replacing (6-cylinder
models)
< The engine coolant pump is mounted in the front of the en-
gine in the timing chain cover.
- Drain cooling system as described earlier. See Coolant,
draining and filling (6-cylinder models).
WARNING-
Allow cooling system to cool before opening or draining sys-
tem.
- Remove cooling fan and fan shroud. See Mechanical (vis-
cous clutch) cooling fan, removing and installing.
- Remove coolant pump drive belt. See 020 Maintenance.
4 Remove coolant pump pulley bolts (arrows) and remove pul-
ley from pump.
- Remove nuts retaining pump to engine block.
NOTE-
The coolant pump is mounted on studs and retained by nuts.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
.," --
Radiator and Cooling System --- 1
insert two M6 screws (arrows) in tapped bores and tighten
uniformly until pump is free from timing chain cover (thermo-
stat and hoses have been removed for purposes of visual
clarity).
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Be sure to replace sealing O-ring and gaskets.
Coat O-ring with water-based lubricant during installation.
Refill with coolant. See Coolant, draining and filling
(6-
cylinder models).
Tightening torques
-
Coolant pump to timing chain 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
cover
Coolant pump pulley to coolant
10 Nm (89 in-lb
pump
Engine block drain plug to block 25 Nm (1 8 It-lb)
Radiator drain plug to radiator 2 - 3 Nm (I8 - 27 in-lb)
Coolant pump, replacing (V-8 models)
I 1 < The engine coolant pump is mounted in the front of the en-
gine in ;he timing chain cover.
1. Thermostat housing
2. Thermostat
3. Thermostat sealing O-ring
4. Water pump
5. Water pump gasket
- Drain cooling system. See Coolant, draining and filling (V-
8 models).
- Remove cooling fan and fan shroud. See Mechanical (vis-
cous clutch) cooling fan, removing and installing.
- Remove engine drive belts: See 020 Maintenance.
NOTE-
Mark direction of drive belt rotation if reusing belt,
- Remove vibration dampener. See 117 Camshaft and Tim-
ing Chain.
- Disconnect mass air flow (MAF) sensor electrical harness
connector. Remove air intake duct together with
MAF sensor.
- Disconnect coolant hoses from thermostat housing and cool-
ant pump housing.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Radiator and Coolina ~vsteml
- Disconnect thermostat and cooling system temperature sen-
sor plug connectors.
4 Remove thermostat housing fasteners and remove housing.
- Remove coolant pump pulley bolts and remove pulley from
pump.
Remove fasteners A and B (arrows).
NOTE-
* The coolant pump is retained to the block using different
length bolts.
0 Bolts A: M6 X 105 mm
0 Bolts 8: M6 X 35 mm
Slide coolant pump away from coolant pipes (arrows) while
being careful not to dislodge pipes from fittings at rear of en-
gine.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Replace all sealing O-rings and washers.
Coat O-rings with water-based lubricant during installation.
Fill system with coolant. See Coolant, draining and fill-
ing (6-cylinder models) or Coolant, draining and filling
(V-8 models).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
.. - --
Radiator and Cooling System
Tightening torques
Coolant pump to timing chain 10
Nm (89 in-lb)
cover
Coolant pump
pulley to coolant
pump
10 Nm (89 in-lb
Engine
blocic drain plug to block 25 Nm (18 ft-lb)
Radiator drain plug to radiator
2-3Nm(18-27in-lb)
Thermostat cover to coolant
pump assembly 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
Radiator, removing and installing
Removal of the radiator is similar for V-8 and 6-cylinder mod-
els.
- Raise front of car and support safely.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at aN times.
Use a professional automotive liff
orjaclc stands designed for
- Remove splash shield from under engine.
- Drain radiator and engine block. See Coolant, draining and
filling
(V-8 models).
WARNING -
Allow cooling system to cool before opening or draining sys-
tem.
< Remove air filter housing:
Disconnect electrical harness connectors
(A and B).
Loosen clamps (C and D).
Remove mounting fastener (arrow) and remove air filter
housing together with mass air flow
(MAF) sensor.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
. --
Radiator and Cooling system/
4 Pry out expansion rivets (A) on left and right side of fan
shroud. Loosen hose clamp
(6) and remove hose from ex-
pansion tank.
Remove expansion tank: Remove expansion tanlc cap, vent plug
(A) and tank retain-
ing clips (arrows).
Lift expansion
tanlc upward and off lower retaining lugs.
Push shroud back to expose expansion tank vent line. Re-
move line.
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 mrn wrench) has left-hand
threads.
Disconnect electrical harnesses from
AUC (air quality) sen-
sor and coolant level sensor.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
--
Radiator and Cooling System 1
4 Lift fan and shroud together out of engine compartment.
- Detach upper and lower radiator hoses.
NOTE -
Later models use retaining clips to fasten coolant hoses to
expansion tank and radiator.
- Disconnect temperature sensor harness connector.
4 Remove radiator support bolts and supports (arrows). 6-cyl-
inder shown.
- Slide right side of radiator back toward engine and pull radi-
ator up to remove.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Fill radiator and cooling system. See Coolant, draining
and filling (6-cylinder models) or Coolant, draining
and filling (V-8 models).
Tightening torques
Engine block drain
plug to block 25 Nm (18 it-lb)
Radiator drain plug
to radiator 2 - 3 Nm (18 - 27 in-ib)
Expansion tank, removing and installing
- Raise front of car and support safely.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive
/iff orjacltstands designed for
the purpose. A
floorjacl~ is not adequate support.
- Remove splash shield from under engine.
- Drain radiator as described earlier. See Coolant, draining
and filling (6-cylinder models) or Coolant, draining and
filling
(V-8 models).
I WARNING-
Allow cooling system to cool before opening or draining sys-
I tem.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
170-25
Radiator and Cooling system]
< Disconnect expansion tank:
Remove expansion tank bleed screw and support clip
(A)
Loosen hose clamp (6) and disconnect coolant hose from
expansion tank.
Disconnect harness connector from coolant level sensor
(C).
Push top of expansion tank toward engine and disconnect
bleed hose.
Lift expansion
tank to free it from lower mounts, then lift
straight up to remove.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Fill radiator and cooling system as described earlier. See
Coolant, draining and filling (6-cylinder models) or
Coolant, draining and filling
(V-8 models).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
I Steerina and Wheel Alianment
Steering
system
Two types of steering gear are used in the E39 series models.
6-cylinder
(5251, 528i and 530i) models are equipped with
rack and pinion steering. The steering rack is mounted to
an aluminum subframe.
V-8
(540i) models are equipped with a recirculating ball
and nut steering gearbox mounted to a steel subframe.
At low speeds, maximum power assist is provided to ease
parking and city driving. At high speeds, assist is reduced to
ensure stability. The power steering system varies assist
based on engine speed.
Power boost for the steering is provided by an engine-driven
hydraulic pump. A hydraulic control valve is used to control
boost pressure.
The steering wheel connects to the steering gear via an ad-
justable steering column which incorporates a rubber cou-
pling ("guibo") to dampen vibration and noise.
Power steering fluid is supplied from the fluid
reservoir to the
pump and to the steering gear via rubberlmetal hoses.
The return line from the steering gear to the
reservoir loops
into the airstream in front of the radiator and connects to the
steering fluid cooler. The fluid cooler is attached to a cassette
which also includes cooling coils for engine oil, transmission
fluid and AIC condenser.
The steering gear requires no maintenance other than align-
ment and periodic inspection for worn components. Inspect
rubber rack boots
(rack and pinion system) and tie-rod end
boots periodically for tears or damage. Replace
if necessary.
-
NOTE-
The airbag system is traditionally referred to as Supplemen-
tal Restraint System (SRS). The
BMW versfon of SRS used
m the E39 models is known as the Multiple Restraint System - (MRS). - -