2000 BMW 540i Release

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240-1 0
Automatic Transmission
TRANSMISSION REMOVAL AND
INSTALLATION
Removal and installation of the transmission is best accorn-
plished on an automotive lift using a transmission jack. Use
caution and safe workshop practices when working beneath
car and lowering transmission.
Torx-head bolts are used to mount the transmission to the
bellhousing.
Besure to have appropriate tools on hand before
starting the job.
WARNING-
Be sure the vehicle is properly supported. The removal of the
transmission may upset the balance of the vehicle on a lift
CAUJION-
Tilting the engine to remove the transmission can lead to
damaae to various components due to
laclc of clearance. 1
Transmission, removing and installing
WARNING -
Allow engine and transmission to cool down before starting
work on the transmission.
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warninas.
4 V-8 engine: Remove plastic engine cover.
Early models: pry out protective caps
(arrows), then re-
move nuts securing cover.
Lift off cover.
Later models: depress four studs to release, then lift off
cover.

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250-4
I Gearshift Linkage
Release gearshift lever mounting ring from below using BMW
special spanner 25 1 110. Turn tool 90' ('I, turn)
counterclockwise.
Push shift lever up to remove from shift console,
Raise transmission and temporarily install transmission
crossmember.
Lower vehicle. Working from inside passenger compart-
ment, pull up on shift lever to remove it together with inner
rubber boot and shift lever mounting ring.
Gearshift lever, installing
(manual transmission)
- Clean old grease from shift lever ball and mounting ring.
Also clean shift console bowl. Lubricate with molybdenum
disulfide grease.
- Insert shift lever together with inner boot and mounting ring
into center console.
4 Align shift lever mounting ring locking tabs with slots
(arrows) in shift console bowl. Press down until ring
snaps into place.
NOTE-
lnstall mounting ring witli arrow pointing toward front of car.
4 Pull inner rubber boot over shift console bowl (arrows) to
seal base of shift lever.
NOTE-
lnstall rubber boot witli arrow pointing toward front of car.
- Raise car and support transmission. Remove transmission
crossmember and lower transmission to access base of shift
lever.
CAUTIOI\C
Tilting the engine to lower the transmission can lead to
damage to various components due to lack of clearance.

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pearshift Linkage
~UTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEARSHIFT
Automatic transmission gearshift mechanism
automatic
5-speed Steptronic (5251,530i)
1. Shift lock solenoid
2. Shifter assembly
3. Shift cable
4. Support bracket
5. Selector lever
Gearshift mechanism, adjusting
(automatic transmission)
- Position gearshift lever in Park.
- Raise vehicle to gain access to shift linkage.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is stable and well supported at all times.
Use a professional automotive
lift orjack stands designed for
the purpose.
4 Counterhold bushino A and loosen cable clam~ino nut 6.
Push cable end backward away from engine (arrow 2).
Release pressure on cable.
Tighten clamping nut.
/ CAUTION--
Tightening torque
Shift cable clamping nut
10 Nm (7.5 it-lb)

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-.- .
/ Driveshaft Driveshaft, removing
CAUTION-
. Be sure the wheels are off the ground before removing the
driveshak Set the parl(ing brake before removing the
driveshaft.
Once the driveshaft has been removed, the vehicle can
roll regardless of whether the transmission is in gear or
not.
The driveshaft is mounted to the transmission and final
drive
with self-locliing nuts. These nuts are designed to
be used only once and should be replaced during reas-
sembly.
Remove complete exhaust system. See
180 Exhaust
System.
- Remove exhaust heat shields.
- Support transmission with transmission jack.
< Loosen transmission mount nuts (arrows) on real
transmission support crossmember.
- Release wiring harness retainers from rear transmission
support crossmember.
< Remove mounting bolts (arrows) for rear transmission sup-
port crossmember. Slide crossmember rearward to remove.
- Matchmark front and rear driveshaft halves to corresponding
transmission output and final drive input flanges.
4 Remove nuts securing driveshaft mounting bolts at transmis-
sion output flange. Counterhold bolts (arrows) at transmis-
sion flex-disc. Discard old nuts.
- Hang driveshaft front section from body using stiff wire.

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Front Suspension
/ Front strut top mount assembly
< Replace springs in matched pairs only. BMW ID number is
stamped near end
(A).
4 Assembly is reverse of disassembly, noting the following:
Use a new upper strut self-loclting nut
(A). Tighten nut
fully before releasing spring compressor.
CAUTION-
Do not tighten strut nut with impact tool.
NOTE-
illustration shows components for 6-cylinder models (5257,
528i, 5300. V-8 models (5400 are similar but not identical.
4 Be sure upper and lower spring pads (arrows) are correctly
installed to spring seats before releasing spring compressor.
Release spring compressor carefully and evenly, allowing
spring to expand slowly.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening torques Upper strut mount to strut shaft
64 Nm (47 ft-lb)
Strut mount to strut tower (ME) 24 Nrn (18 fi-lb)

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31 0-1 4
Front Suspension
4 Mark installation position of strut tube (arrow) at steering
knuckle pinch collar.
NOJE-
The strut tube installation position is marked on factory
strut tubes:
L for leff and R for right.
Marking the strut tube is not necessary if factory marks
(L
or R) are still visible.
CAUTION-
Use paint, not a scribe tool, to mark location of strut tube.
Counterhold strut tube nut. bolt
(arrow) while
loosening
4 Spread steering ltnucltle pinch collar with BMW special tool
31 2 200 to release strut tube.
- Pull steering knuckle down so that strut tube slides up far
enough to gain better access to control arm nut.

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31 0-1 7
Front ~uspensionl
< Spread steering knuckle pinch collar with BMW special tool
31 2 200 to release strut tube.
- Pull steering knuckle down so strut tube slides up farenough
to gain better access to tension strut or tension strut nut.
4 Unscrew ball joint nut (arrow) from steering knuckle. Use
BMW special tool
31 2 240 to remove ball joint from steering
Iknucltle.
CAUTION--
Tale care not to damage the balljoint threads if the tension
strut
is to be reused.
- Remove through-bolt attaching tension strut to subframe.
- When installing tension strut, make sure all thread bores,
bolts, nuts and mating
suriaces are clean.
- Install bushing end of tension strut to subframe using wash-
ers on both sides of bolt and a new self-locking nut. Do not
tighten nut at this time.
- Install tension strut 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 tension strut bushing
through-bolt.
Tightening torques Road
wheel to hub 120-i-10 Nm (89+7ft-lb)
Stabilizer bar to subframe 24 Nm (1 8 ft-lb)
Tension strut to steering
knucltle
80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Tension strut
to subframe 110 Nm (81 ft-lb)
81 Nm (60 it-lb)
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31 0-20
Front Suspension
Counterhold strut tube
nut. pinch
bolt (arrow) while loosening
4 Spread steering ltnuckle pinch collar with BMW special tool
31 2 200 to release strut tube.
- Pull steering knuckle down so that strut tube slides up far
enough to gain access to wheel bearing hub mounting bolts.
Carefully pry out dust cover on back side of bearing while
noting location
(arrow) of cover.