Page 710 of 1002
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[Rear Suspension Swing arm, removing and installing
(sedan models)
CAUTION-
If working on a vehicle with compressed airshock absorbers,
disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore performing any repairs.
- 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
sus~ension Darts.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
Remove
ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE-
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
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--. -
Rear Suspension
Remove fasteners A. B and C while supporting swing arm
from below.
Carefully pry swing arm away from mounting points, while
continuing to support from below.
Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing:
Use new self-locking nuts.
Install bolt
(C) through bracket and arm. Install and tighten
nut finger tight.
lnstall bolts (A) and
(6). Install and tighten nuts finger tight.
Line up eccentric camber adjusting bolt with rnarlts made
previously.
Make sure long lower shock absorber bushing fits in hole
in swing arm.
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
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing 8 Nm (6 It-lb)
carrier
Quiclc coupling screw to air shock 2 Nm (18 in-lb)
absorber
Road wheel to hub 120
210 Nm (89i-7 It-ib)
Shocic absorber
to lower control arm 127 Nm (94
ft-lb)
Stabilizer link to swing arm
65 Nm (48 ft-ib)
Swing arm to rear
subframe (camber 11 5 Nm (85 It-lb)
bolt M12) (A)
Swing arm to rear subframe (6) 58 Nm (43 It-lb)
Swing arm to wheel bearing carrier 256
Nm (189 It-lb)
(C)
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330-28
Rear Suspension
4 To install, jack subframe into position. Install and tighten sub-
frame mounting bolts. Note that on each bolt, rubber-coat-
ed detent plate
(arrow) must be installed at rear in driving
direction.
Tightening torques
Rear
subframe to body (M12) 163 Nm (120 ft-lb)
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Make sure long lower strut bushing fits in hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
111 0 Tighten suspension arm and shoclc absorber fasteners to
502330036 final torque only afler vehicle has been lowered and sus-
pension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier 8 Nrn (6 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub
16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
- MI0 (Tow bolts) 70 Nm (51 ft-lb)
MB (compression nut) 32
Nm (24 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad
carrler (caliper) to wheel 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
bear~ng carrler
Rear strut to
wheel bearlng carrler 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120210Nrn
(89 57 ft-lb)
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
Incaseof damage to thesubframe, or if apressed-in bushing is
worn, remove
subframe by removing complete axle assembly.
In Sport Wagon models with conventional coil spring, lower
subframe slowly, making sure rear springs stay on spring
seats.
In models with air suspension
(EHC), disable the air supply
pump, deflate the air springs and disconnect them from the
wheel carriers before lowering the subframe.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING-
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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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Rear Suspension
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Tighten suspension arm and shock absorber fasteners to
final torque only afler vehicle has been lowered and sus-
pension has settled.
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier 8
Nrn (6 ft-lb)
Air line connection 2 Nrn (18 in-lb)
Brake rotor to hub 16
Nrn (12 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
- MI0 (Torx bolts) 70
Nrn (51 ft-lb)
- MB (compression nut) 32 Nrn (24 ft-lb)
Rear
brake pad carrier (caliper) to wheel 65
Nrn (48 ft-lb)
bearing carrier
Road wheel to hub
120ilO Nrn
(89 i-7 ft-lb)
Rear subframe mounting bushings,
removing and installing
- Remove rear subframe mounting bolts as described earlier.
Lower
subframe approximately 40 - 45 mm (1 -2 in).
4 Install BMW special tools 33 4 140,33 4 151,33 4 154,33 4
155,33 4 156 as shown.
Use hot air gun with a maximum output temperature of
600°C (1100" F) to heat bushing area of subframe for no
more than
2 minutes. Remove rubber mount from sub-
frame.
CAUTION-
Aluminum suspension parts may be severely damaged
witli intense heat
* Heating for 2 minutes with the recommended heat
source is intended to
keep the temperature of the alu-
minum
parts below the safety threshold of 80°C
(1 76°F). .
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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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330-39
I Rear suspension1
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Models with coil springs: Fit spring correctly in lower spring
seat.
* Models with air suspension: Fit eccentric lug at bottom of
air spring in recess of wheel carrier spring seat.
Always use new self-locking nuts.
- Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
a Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Stake axle collar nut afler tightening.
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing 8 Nm (6
ft-lb)
carrier
Air spring to wheel bearing carrier 20 Nm (15 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub 16 Nm (12
it-lb)
Rear axle shaft to hub (M27) 300 Nm (221 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad carrier (caliper) to wheel 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
bearing carrier
Road wheel to hub
120ilONm
(89 k7 ft-lb)
Swing arm to wheel bearing carrier 256 Nm (189 it-lb)
Upperfrontcontrol arm (traction strut) to 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
wheel carrier
Upper rear control arm to wheel carrier 142 Nm (105 ft-lb)
Rear wheel bearing, replacing
< The rear wheel bearing is integrated with its mounting flange.
1. Torx bolt
2. Wheel bearing and mounting flange
3. Wheel hub
4. Collar nut
- 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 jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
Page 740 of 1002

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---
Rear Suspension
ELECTRONIC HEIGHT CONTROL
(EHC) COMPONENT REPLACEMENT
Sport Premium rear suspension is an option on Sport Wagon
models and standard on
1999 and later V-8 Sport Wagons.
This suspension incorporates electronic height control
(EHC)
using air springs.
With vehicle lifted off the ground,
if the rear air springs can be
compressed by hand, either the spring is defective or the sys-
tem is depressurized.
Locate
EHC faults using BMW scan tools DIS or MoDiC. EHC
description and some troubleshooting is covered in 300 Sus-
pension, Steering and Brakes-General.
Air spring replacement is covered earlier in this chapter. See
Air spring, 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.
Electronic height control
(EHC) components
1. Air spring
2. 1 liter air reservoir
3. EHC control module
4. Air supply distributor
5. Airsupply pump
(under spare tire)
6. Air spring mounting bolt
(at wheel bearing carrier)
7. Rear ride height sensors
(Hall effect)
8. Air supply pump relay