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020 Maintenance
General ........................... .02 0.2
Special tools ........................ .02 0.2
Service Interval Indicator (Sll) ........... .02 0.3
Service Interval Indicator (Sll), resetting ... .02 0.3
Inspection I, Inspection 11 ............... .02 0.5
Maintenance Tables ................ .02 0.6
Fluid and Lubricant Specifications .. .02 0.9
Fluids and lubricants ................. .02 0.10
Engine Oil Service ................ .02 0.1 I
Engine oil. checking level ............. .02 0.12
Engine oil and filter. changing .......... .02 0-13
Engine Compartment Maintenance . .02 0.14
Accelerator and linkage ............... .02 0.14
Air filter. replacing ................... .02 0.1 4
Cooling system service ............... .02 0.15
Engine drive belt service .............. .02 0.16
Idlespeed .......................... 020-19
Catalytic converter and oxygen sensors .. .02 0.19
Power steering fluid, checking level ..... .02 0.20
Spark plugs ........................ .02 0.20
Spark plugs, replacing ................ .02 0.21
Interior ventilation microfilter, replacing ... .02 0.22
Other Mechanical Maintenance ..... .02 0.22
Battery, checking. cleaning. and replacing .02 0-22
Brake fluid. replacing ................. .02 0-24
Brake pad 1 rotor wear. checking ........ .02 0.24
Brake system, inspecting ............. .02 0.25
Parking brake. checking ............... 020-25
Clutch fluid. checking ................. 020-26
Differential oil level. checking ........... 020-26
Drive axle joint (CV joint) boots. inspecting 020-27
Exhaust system. inspecting ............ 020-27
Fuel filter. replacing .................. 020-27
Fuel tank and fuel lines. inspecting ...... 020-28
Suspension. front. inspecting ........... 020-29
Suspension. rear. inspecting ........... 020-29
Tires. checking inflation pressure ........ 020-29
Tires. rotating ....................... 020-29
Transmission service. automatic ........ 020-29
Transmission service. manual .......... 020-30
Transmission fluid. checking and filling
(manual transmission)
................ 020-30
Wheels. aligning ..................... 020-30
Body and Interior Maintenance ..... 020-31
Body and hinges. lubricating ........... 020-31
Exterior washing ..................... 020-31
Interior care ........................ 020-31
Leather upholstery and trim ............ 020-31
Polishing ........................... 020-32
Seat belts .......................... 020-32
Special cleaning ..................... 020-32
Washing chassis ..................... 020-32
Waxing ............................ 020-32
Windshield wiper blade maintenance ..... 020-33

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Table b. Inspection I Service (continued)
Checlt transmission and differential for
external lealts.
Check CV joint boots for damage or leaks.
Visually
check fuel tank, fuel lines, and
connections for
leaks.
New parts
Tools Required required
Check condition, position, and mounting
ol
exhaust system. Visually check and adjusl
if necessary.
Check power steering system for lealts.
Check power steering
fluid level and adjust
if necessary.
Check steering racidbox and tie rods for
tightness. Checit condition of front axle
joints, steering
linkage, and steering shaft
joints.
Check overall thickness of front and rear
bralte pads using
BMW special tool. If
replacement is necessary:
Examine brake disc surface.
Clean brake pad contact points in calipers
Grease wheel centering hubs.
Checlt thickness of parking brake linings
only when replacing rear brake shoes.
Checit operation of pariting brake and
adjust as necessary.
Checlt front control arm bushings for
damage or wear.
Check brake system connections and
lines
for leaks, damage, and incorrect
positioning Warm
engine
(~ealer service Irepair , required recommended lnformat~on
Check parking braite actuator. Adjust if
necessary
Check ail tire pressure (including spare)
and correct if necessary.
Checlt condition of tires (outer tread
surface), tread wear pattern: in case of
uneven wear, perform wheel alignment.
inspect entire body according to terms of
rust oerforation limited warrantv. (Must be
*:
4:
2 ~ perfdrmed at least every two years). I
Read out on-board diagnostic (OBD 11) fault
codes.
Checkengine coolant
system1 heater hose
connections for
leaks.
Checit coolant level and antifreeze
protection level. Add coolant as necessary.
* 100113010BD
I
170

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020-24
Maintenance
tions. In general, replacement batteries should always be
rated equal or higher than the original battery.
The battery is held in place by a single hand screw and plate.
A secure battery hold-down is important in order to prevent
vibrations and road shoclt from damaging the battery.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the baitem read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warnings.
NOTE-
Always disconnect the negative (-) cable first, and connect
it last. While changing the battery, clean away any corro-
sion in or around the battery tray
More battery and charging system information is in 121
Battery, Alternator, Starter.
Brake fluid, replacing
Brake fluid absorbs moisture easily, and moisture in the fluid
affects bralte performance and reliability. This is why
BMW
strictly recommends replacing the bralte fluid every two
years. When replacing or adding bralte fluid, use only new
fluid from previously unopened containers. Do not use brake
fluid that has been bled from the system, even
if it is brand
new. Use only DOT
4 brake fluid.
NOTE-
See 340 Brakes for brake fluid flushing procedures.
Brake pad 1 rotor wear, checking
Disc brakes are fitted at all four wheels. Although the brakes
are equipped with a brake pad warning system, the system
only monitors one wheel per axle. Pad thickness should be
checked whenever wheels are off or brake
worlt is being
done.
4 Disc brake pad wear can be checked through opening in
caliper:
Measure distance
(A) of brake pad "eai' to bralte rotor.
See
340 Brakes. Compare to specification below.

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.-. -
Maintenance
Drive axle joint
(CV joint) boots, inspecting
CVjoint protective boots must be closely inspected forcracks
and any other damage that will allow contaminants to get into
the joint.
If the rubber boots fail, the water and dirt that enter
the joint will quickly damage it.
NOTE-
Replacement of the CVjoint boots and inspection of the
joints are described
in 331 Final Drive.
Exhaust system, inspecting
Exhaust system life varies widely according to driving habits
and environmental conditions. If short-distance driving pre-
dominates, the moisture and condensation in the system will
not fully dry out. This will lead to early corrosion damage and
more frequent replacement.
Scheduled maintenance of the exhaust system is limited to
inspection:
* Check to see that all the hangers (arrow) are in place and
properly supporting the system and that the system does
not strike the body.
Check for restrictions due to dents or
kinlts,
Check for weakness or perforation due to rust.
NOTE-
Alignment of the system and the location of the hangers are
described in
180 Exhaust System.
Fuel filter, replacing
The fuel filter is located beneath the center of the car, approx-
imately under the driver's seat.
A protective cover must be
removed to access the filter.
4 Fuel filter for M62 engine (arrow)
- Disconnect battery negative (-) cable
CAUTIOI\C
Disconnecting the battery cables may erase fault codes
stored
in engine control module memory.
WARNING -
Fuel will be expelled forcibly when the filter is removed. Do
notsmoke or work near heaters orother fire hazards. Keep a
fire extinguisher handy

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Maintenance
Suspension, front, inspecting
Inspection of the front suspension and steering includes a
check of all moving parts
forwear and excessive play. Inspect
ball joint and tie-rod rubber seals and boots for cracks
ortears
that could allow the entry of dirt, water, and other
contaminants. See
310 Front Suspension.
Suspension, rear, inspecting
Differential and rear drive axle service consists of checking
and changing the gear oil, inspecting for leaks, and checking
the drive axle
CV joint boots for damage.
The areas where
lealts are most likely to occurare around the
drive shaft and drive axle mounting flanges. For more infor-
mation on identifying oil leaks and theircauses, see
330 Rear
Suspension and
331 Final Drive.
Tires, checking inflation pressure
Correct tire pressures are important to handling and stability,
fuel economy, and tire wear. Tire pressures change with tem-
perature. Pressures should be
checked oRen during season-
al temperature changes. Correct inflation pressures can be
found on the driver's door pillar and in the owner's manual.
Note that tire pressures should be higher when the car is
more heavily loaded.
WARNING-
Do not inflate any tire to a pressure higher than the tire's max-
imum inflation pressure listedon the sidewall. Use care when
adding air to warm tires. Warm tire pressures can increase as
much as
4 psi (0.3 bar) over their coldpressures.
Tires, rotating
BMW does not recommend tire rotation. Due to the car's sus-
pension design, the front tires begin to wear first at the outer
shoulder and the reartires begin to wearfirst at the middle of
the tread or inner shoulder. Rotating the tires may adversely
affect road handling and tire grip.
Transmission service, automatic
The automatic transmissions installed in E39 models are
filled with special automatic transmission fluid. The transmis-
sion lubricant type can be found on the "type-plate" on the
side of the transmission. The recommended lubricants are
listed earlier in this repair group. See Fluids and lubricants.
If in doubt, consult an authorized BMW dealer for alternate

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119-12
Lubrication System 1
4 Support subframe from below using BMW special tool 31 2
220 and appropriate shop lift. Remove
subframe mounting
bolts and lower
subframe as far as possible.
Remove oil pan screws (arrows) at cylinder block and trans-
mission bellhousing. Lower and remove oil pan.
NOTE-
If oil pan will not slide backwards, disconnect stabilizer bar
links and lower front axle support further.
If the oil pan does not separate easily from the engine cylin-
der
block, a few taps with a rubber malletshould breakit free.
Do not
pry the oil pan loose.
When installing oil pan: Thoroughly clean all old gasket material from mating sur-
faces and use a new gasket.
Apply a small amount of non-hardening sealer
(3 Bond
12098 or equivalent) to oil pan gasket directly below joints
(arrows) for end cover and front timing case cover. Apply
a bead
3 mm wide by 2 mm high.
Install all oil pan bolts finger tight. Tighten oil pan bolts to-
ward front of engine first, then pan bolts at transmission
end.
Tightening
torques
Oil drain plug to oil pan (M12) 25 Nm (18 ft-lb)
Oil pan to engine block
MG (8.8 grade)
MG (10.9 grade)
M8 (8.8 grade)
10 Nm (89 In-lb)
12 Nm (9 ft-lb)
22 Nrn (16 R-lb)

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Lubr~cat~on System r- -
Working at lower rear of engine, remove oil pan retaining
bolts
(arrows).
- If necessary, remove oil cooler bracket from oil pan.
- Remove remaining oil pan bolts. Slide upper section of oil
pan forward to remove.
- Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Clean sealing surfaces of debris.
- Coat joints with Three Bond 1209 O sealant.
Use new gaskets.
Install all oil pan bolts first, installing bolts at transmission
end without preload.
Tighten oil pan bolts at front end, then tighten bolts at rear
of engine.
Be sure to reinstall all oil
pump fasteners, including the
sprocl
speed to
2,500 rpm until oil pressure warning light goes out
(about
5 seconds).
Tightening torques
AIC drive belt tensloner
M6 10 Nm (7.5 it-lb)
M8 24 Nm (18 ft-lb)
Front axle
subframe to chassis
(Use new fasteners) 77 Nm (57 ft-lb)
Oil drain
line to upper oil pan 30 Nm (22 ft-lb)
Oil pump to crankcase 34 Nm (25 ft-lb)
Oil pan fasteners
(upperllower)
M6 8.8 10 Nm (7.5 ft-lb)
M6 10.9 (replace)
I2 Nm (9 ft-lb)
M8 8.8 22 Nm (16 ft-lb)
Steering column universal joint to
steering box (replace) 19 Nm (14 ft-lb)
Oil pressure warning switch, replacing
(&cylinder and V-8)
- In all models, the oil pressure warning switch is located at the
base of the oil filter housing.

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This repair group covers general application information for
the clutch, manual and automatic transmissions, shift linkag-
es and driveshaft.
Drivetrain
I ZF manual transmission I
BMW E39 models are equipped with a longitudinal drivetrain.
The transmission is bolted directly to the rear of the engine.
A
driveshaft connects the output shaft of the transmission to the
rear final drive. Individual drive axles with integrated constant
velocity joints transfer rotational power from the final drive
unit to the rear wheels.
4 Due to different power characteristics and performance re-
quirements, various manual transmissions are used in mod-
els covered by this manual. Manual transmission
applications are given in the table below.
For manual transmission specifications or repair procedures,
refer to
230 Manual Transmission.
Manual transmission models use a single disc clutch with
dual-mass flywheel. For further information, see
210 Clutch.
The manual transmission metal ID plate is mounted on side of
transmission. Do not rely on numbers cast on transmission
case for identification.
Manual transmission applications
Model Year Engine Transmission
5251 2001 - 2002 M52TU, M54 Getrag S5D 250G
528i 1997-2002 M52 ZF S5D 3202