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/~ront Susaension
Front suspension arms FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS
Scyllnder models (5251,5281,530i)
Control arms and tension struts are attached to the front sub-
Front suspension arms V-8 models (5401)
frame through rubber bushings and to the steering ltnuckles
by ball joints.
NOTE-
Tension struts are sometimes called thrust arms or thrust
rods.
Control arms or tension struts are sometimes called lower
front arms or lower rear arms.
Inspect ball joints for wear and looseness. lnspect bushings
for wear or fluid
lealts. The ball joint can only be replaced as
part of an entire suspension arm assembly. Some suspen-
sion arm
bushinas are available as re~lacement Darts. Al-
ways replace in pairs
NOTE-
Steering wheel vibration during braking (usually at road
speeds of
50 to 60 m.p.h.) are often causedby faulty suspen-
sion arm bushings, not out-of-true brake rotors.
Some special tools may be required to remove suspension
arms and to replace bushings. Read procedures through be-
fore beginning the job.
Control arm, removing and installing
(6-cylinder models)
- Raise car and remove wheel
Male sure
that 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
parfs.
Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.
Remove control arm fasteners (arrows). Lightly tap inner
control arm mounting bolt out of subframe.

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Front Suspension
< Use BMW special tool 31 2 240 or equivalent to separate
control arm ball joint from steering ltnuckle.
- When installing control arm, make sure all thread bores.
bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.
- Install bushing end of control arm to subframe, using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-locking nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
- Install control arm ball joint to steering lknucltle using a new
self-locking nut. Tighten fully.
- Install wheel and lower car.
- Load car to normal loaded position as described under Ride
height. See
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-Gen-
eral. Bounce suspension a few times.
- With car on ground and loaded, tighten control arm bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques
Control arm to steering ltnuckle
80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Control arm to subframe 110 Nm (81 It-lb)
Road wheel to hub 120ilO Nm (8957 it-lb)
Control arm, removing and installing
(V-8 models)
- Raise car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural
cliassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
Loosen and remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(A) while
counterholding ball joint
(B). Disconnect stabilizer link from
stabilizer bar.
- Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.

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310-1 5
Front ~us~ension/
4 Remove control arm fasteners (arrows). Lightly tap inner
control arm mounting bolt out of subframe.
Use
BMW special tool 31 2 240 or equivalent to separate ball
joint from steering knuckle.
When installing control arm, make sure all thread bores,
bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.
lnstall bushing end of control arm to subframe, using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-loclting nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
lnstall control arm ball joint to steering knuckle, using new
self-locking nut. Tighten fully.
- Slide strut back into position and tighten strut pinch bolt fully.
- Install wheel and lower car.
- Load car to normal loaded position as described under Ride
height. See
300 Suspension, Steering and Brakes-Gen-
eral. Bounce suspension a few times.
- With car on ground and loaded, tighten control arm bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques
Control arm to steering knuckle 80 Nm
(59 ft-lb)
Control arm to
subframe 78 Nm (58 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120
f 10 Nm (89 +7 ft-lb)
Stabilizer bar
link to stabilizer bar
59 Nm (44 fl-lb)
Strut pinch bolt
81 Nm (60 it-lb)

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(Rear Suspension
< Remove upper front control arm (traction strut) ball joint
mounting nut
(arrow). Press control arm ball joint out of
wheel bearing carrier.
- Repeat above process on upper rear control arm.
- Remove wheel bearing carrier assembly.
4 When reinstalling, pull axle shaft through wheel bearing car-
rier using
BMW special tools 33 2 115, 33 2 116 and 33 2
118.
- Lightly oil bearing surface of axle collar nut and install. T~ght-
en collar nut firmly, but do not fully tighten it at this time.
WARNING-
For safety reasons, the ale collar nut should only be tight-
ened to its final torque with the wheel installed and the car
lowered to
the ground. However, loading the bearing without
the nut tightened sufficiently may damage tlie bearing.

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I Rear Suspension
4 Press out axle shaft using BMW special tools 33 2 117. 33 2
116and332111.
4 Remove upper front control arm (traction strut) ball joint
mounting nut (arrow). Press control arm ball joint out of
wheel bearing carrier.
- Repeat above process on upper rear control arm.
- Remove wheel bearing carrier assembly.
4 When reinstalling, pull axle shafl through wheel bearing car-
rier using BMW special tools 33
2 115, 33 2 116 and 33 2
118.
- Lightly oil bearing surface of axle collar nut and install. Tight-
en collar nut firmly, but do not fully tighten it at this time.
WARNING-
For safety reasons, the axle collar nut should only be tight-
ened to its final torque with the wheel installed and the car
lowered to the ground. However, loading the bearing without
the nut tiqhtened
suificiently may darnaqe the bearina.

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340-6
1 Brakes
Brake system troubleshooting
/symptom I Probable cause 1 Repairs
Brake squeal
Pedal goes to floor when
bralting
Low pedal after system bleeding
Pedal spongy or brakes work
only when pedal is pumped
Excessive braking effort
Brakes pulsate, chatter or grab
Uneven
bralting, car pulls to one
side, rear braltes
loclt
Brakes drag, bind or overheat Brake
pad carriers dirty or corroded or
pads loose (poor fit) in pad carrier
Braite pads heat-glazed or oil-soaked
Wheel bearings worn (noise most
pronounced when turning)
Incorrectly Installed brake pads,
parking bralte shoes, or bralte parts
Brake fluid loss due to system leaks
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty
Master cylinder faulty
Air in braite fluid
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty
Brake pads wet
Brake pads
heat-glazedorfluid-soalted
Vacuum booster or vacuum hose
connections to booster faulty
--- Warped brake rotors
Brake pads worn
Brake pads heat-glazed or oil-soaked Remove
brake pads and clean calipers. Use original
equipment pads for proper fit and use BMW anti-squeal
compound during installation,
Replace brake pads. Ciean rotors. Replace leaking caliper:
as required.
Replace worn bearings. See 310 Front Suspension
or33C
Rear Suspension.
Check component installation. Checldreplace anti-rattle
springs.
Checlt fluid level and inspect for signs of leakage.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Replace master cylinder.
Bleed system using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using factory or compatible diagnostic tool.
Use light pedal pressure to dry pads while driving.
Replace
bralte pads and rotors. Replace leaking calipers.
lnspect vacuum lines. Test vacuum booster and replace as
required. Test vacuum non-return valve for one-way flow.
Resurface or replace rotors.
Replace brake pads.
Clean rotors. Replace leaiting calipers.
Incorrect tire pressures or worn tires
Brake pads on one side of car heat-
glazed or fluid-soaked
Caliper or brake pads binding
Worn suspension components
Brake caliper or brake pads binding
Master cylinder or traction control
system faulty lnspect
tire condition. Checlt and correct tire pressures.
Replace brake pads. Clean rotors. Replace leaking
calipers.
Clean and recondition brakes.
Inspect for worn or damaged suspension components. See
310 Front Suspension or 330 Rear Suspension.
Ciean or replace caliper.
Replace master cylinder. Diagnose traction control system
using faclory or compatible diagnostic tool.

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400-8
Body-General
Airbags
Front airbags, s~de a~rbags, pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
and the Battery Safety Terminal (BST) are integrated into the
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and its variants.
NOTE-
The BMW SRS system is called Multiple Restra~nt System
(MRS). Over the years,
E39 cars were equipped with MRS,
MRS
11, MRS 111. Each version offers varied features and im-
provements over the previous system.
< As many as 8 airbags may be installed in E39 cars, depend-
ing on model and MRS version.
The front
airbags operate without sodium azide propellant,
widely considered an irritant when an
airbag is deployed.
Starting with
1999 models. "smart"front passenger and driver
airbags were installed. These are of the dual-threshold, dual
stage design, including a
sensorto help prevent the unneces-
sary deployment of the passenger side
airbag if the seat is un-
occupied.
MRS control Depend~ng on options chosen, one airbag may be installed in module each door of the sedan and Sport Wagon models, protecting
passengers against
s~de impacts.
Head Protection System (ITS)
airbags strelch diagonally
across the tops of the front doors.
Airbag deployment automatically triggers fuel shutoff, turns
on the hazard and interior lights, and unlocks the doors.
- -
WARNING -
Airbags are inflated by an explosive device. Handled im-
properly or without adequate safeguards,
airbag units can
be very dangerous. Special precautions must be observed
prior to any worlc at or near any of the airbags. See
721 Air-
bag System (SRS).
Always disconnect the battery and cover the negative
(-) battery terminal with an insulator before starting di-
agnostic, troubleshooting or service work on cars fitted
with SRS, and before doing any welding on the
car.

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400-9
Body-General
Battery safety terminal
(BST)
4 Starting with 1999 models (9198 production and later), a py-
rotechnic (explosive charge) device automatically discon-
nects the battery positive terminal during impacts. Key
features,
like power windows and door locks, remain opera-
tional.
Security
Electronic immobilization (EWS)
Ignition key transponder signal All
E39 vehicles incorporate an electronic immobilization sys-
tem known as EWS. This svstem uses a wireless comrnuni-
cation link between a transponder chip in the ignition key and
the ring antenna surrounding the ignition switch. The EWS
control module blocks the starting of the vehicle unless the
correct coded ignition key is used.
NOTE-
Electronic immobilization is sometimes referred to as the
driveaway protection system.
Antitheft alarm (DWA)
This is adealer-installed option for which the E39 vehicles are
factory-wired. When armed, the system monitors door
loci(
contacts and trunk and engine hood locks and sounds a siren
if it detects tampering.
E39 interiors have a unique character, with a combination
of
sporty features and innovativedesign. All body versions were
made in a wide choice of interior and exterior colors. New col-
ors with matching leather or leatherette upholstery were intro-
duced for each model year.
Driving
comfort is enhanced by power steering, tilt steering
wheel, height-adjustable front seats, and electrically adjust-
able and heated rear-view mirrors. Inside the car there are
reading lights at four seating positions.