1999 BMW 540i electrical

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330-1 9
Rear suspension1
Swing arm ball joint, replacing
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
Make 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.
- Sport Wagon model: Support wheel bearing carrier from be-
low.
CA
UTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the
shoclc absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the brake hose, park-
ing
brake cable and drive axle CVjoints.
- Model with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shoclc absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Sport Wagon model: Remove shock absorber lower mount-
ing bolt.
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
Model with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under
the spare tire in the floor of the
carao
comoartment.
4 Model with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres.
sure.
WARNING-
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened.
- Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.

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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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Rear Suspension
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System.
- Detach driveshaft from differential. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect brake fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Remove left and right ABS sensors from wheel bearing car-
riers.
Disconnect parking brake cable from brake shoe expander.
See 340 Brakes.
Remove heat shield from above driveshaft
If equipped, remove ride height sensor connectors
CAUTION-
Models with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
locatedbeneath a coverunder
thespare tire in the floorof the
carqo compartment.
Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
WARNING -
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened. 1
- Working underneath rear suspension, lift wheel bearing car-
rier to relieve rear spring tension. Then unbolt air spring
mounting bolt from seat on wheel bearing carrier.
4 Support final drive unit from below using transmission jack
(BMW special tools 00 2 030 and 33 4 390 or equivalent).
NOTE-
Special tool 33 4 390 will need modifications to cradle the fi-
nal drive properly
4 Remove right and left suspension trim panels (arrow),

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330-35
Rear Suspension
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Always use new self-loclting nuts.
Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating suriaces are
clean.
Make sure long lower strut bushing fits in hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Stake axle collar nut after tightening.
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier
8 Nm (6 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub 16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad carrier (caliper) to wheel 65
Nm (48
ft-lb)
bearing carrier
Rear axle shaft to hub
(M27) 300 Nm (221 ft-lb)
Rear strut to wheel bearing carrier 127
Nrn (94 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120+10 Nm
(89
i7 ft-lb)
Swing arm to wheel bearing carrier 256
Nrn (189 ft-lb)
Upper front control arm (traction strut) to 65 Nrn
(48
ft-lb)
wheel carrier
Upper rear control arm to wheel carrier 142
Nrn (105
ft-lb)
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING-
Make 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.
Models
with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electricalplug
beforepedormingany repairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under the spare tire in the floor of the
cargo compartment.
-- 4 Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-

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-- I
I: ... . -. Rear Suspension! -- .- -
Air compressor pump relay, removing and
installing
- Working in cargo compartment, remove spare wheel.
4 Remove air supply pump fasteners (arrows). Turn pump
over.
- Turn relay plug 45" and remove relay.
EHC control module, removing and
installing
The EHC control module is mounted on the right side of the
spare tire
well in the cargo compartment.
- Remove spare tire.
4 Remove electrical components cover (A).
- Release control module wiring harness plug loclting clip (B)
and remove module.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
- After assembly, reset ride height using BMW diagnostic scan
tool DIS.
Air supply unit, removing and installing
CAUTION-
Maintain high levels of cleanliness around air line connec-
tions when disassembling and assembling air suspension
components. Even small dirt particles can cause
leakage in
the pressurized system.
When the airsupply unit is removed for any reason, reset ride
height using BMW scan tools DIS or
MoDiC.
- Remove spare tire.
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Rear Suspension
4 Remove air line fittings (A) from bottom of air distribution con-
nectors.
Cut off wire ties.
WARNING-
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened.
4 Rotate air line distribution connector (A) 45" in direction of
arrow to remove.
Rotate electrical connector
(B) 45" in direction of arrow to
remove.
Compress wiring connector locking clips
(arrows) and dis-
connect wiring harness.
< Remove air supply unit mounting fasteners (arrows) and re-
move unit.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
When installing air lines always match line colors.
a After assembly, reset ride height using BMW diagnostic
scan tool DIS.

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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)