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Battery, Starter, ~lternatorl
Charging system quick-check
Use a digital multimeter to measure voltage across the bat-
tery terminals with key off and then again with engine running.
Battery voltage should be about 12.6 volts with key off and be-
tween 13.5 and 14.5 volts with engine running.
NOTE-
The regulated voltage (engine running) should be between
13.2 and 14.5, depending on temperature andoperating con-
ditions.
If the voltage is higher than 14.8, the voltage regula-
tor or
mulitfunction controller is most likely faulty
Check for clean and tight battery cables. Check ground cable
running from negative
(-) battery terminal to chassis and
ground cable running from engine to chassis. Check alterna-
tor drive belt condition and tension.
Charging system, checking
CAUTIOI\C
* Do not disconnect the battery while the engine is running.
Damage to the alternator and/or engine electronic systems
may result.
Only use a digital multimeter when testing charging
system components.
--7
4 Turn ignition key on. Check that battery warning light comes
on.
NOTE-
If the warning light does not come on, repair bulb or wiring
faults before continuing to checlc the charging system.
/ Charge indicator
502820805
4 6-cylinder engines only, remove complete air filter housing:
Loosen
intake duct hose clamp (A) at throttle assembly.
Loosen clamp and remove idle control hose from intake
duct
(B) and disconnect idle speed control valve electrical
harness connector.
Disconnect electrical harness connector
(C) from mass air
flow sensor.
Remove air filter housing mounting screw
(D).
Disconnect vent tube (E).
Loosen air intake duct clamp (F).
Carefully lift air filter housing out of engine bay.

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130-1 3
Fuel Injection I
< Unplug harness connector (arrow) from sensor.
CAUTION-
Be sure ignition is OFF before disconnecting or reconnecting
DME system components.
NOTE-
Do not confuse the throttle position sensor on the main Nirot-
tle body with the throttle position switch on the secondary
throttle body, where applicable.
- Remove two mounting screws holding sensor to throttle
housing.
- Installation is reverse of removal. Clear adaptation settings
from ECM using BMW-compatible scan tool.
NOTE-
Poor idle quality may be noticeable for a period if the adapta-
tion settings are not cleared after installing new TPS.
ldle speed control valve,
checking and replacing
The idle speed control valve regulates idle speed by redirect-
inq airaround the throttlevalve.The idlespeed control valve is
mounted on the underside of the intake manifold adjacent to
the dipstick tube bracket. Accessing the valve is best accom-
plished by first removing the air filter housing and the throttle
body assembly.
The valve issupplied with
batteryvoltagefrom the ECM relay.
The idle speed control valve incorporates a two-coil rotary ac-
tuator. The ground sides of each coil are pulsed
sirnulta-
neously by the ECM. The duty cycle of each circuit is varied to
achieve the required idle speed.
Afaulty ldle speed control valve sets afault code and the MIL
is illuminated when
OED II fault criteria are exceeded.
Before checking the idle speed control valve, confirm that the
throttle position sensor is working correctly.
- With engine running, check that idle speed control valve is
buzzing.
- Turn on AIC system or shift transmission into drive. ldle
should remain steady or increase slightly.

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130-38
Fuel Injection
Throttle cable, adjusting
(MS 42.0)
The throttle assembly on MS 42.0 cars uses a throttle cable.
The cable should be adjusted any time it is disconnected or
replaced. This procedure requires the factory scan tool or an
equivalent to read and adjust throttle angle. It is recommend-
ed the procedure be done by an authorized
BMW dealer ser-
vice department
Basic adjustment:
Ensure that at idle (accelerator pedal in rest position) throt-
tle cable has detectable play at throttle lever attaching
point. Play must not exceed maximum allowable.
Adjust by turning knurled adjuster
(arrow) on end of throt-
tle cable sheath at throttle housing.
NOTE-
Faulty throttle adjustment values must be reset using the
BMW service tester
DISplus, MoDiC, GTI or equivalent.
Max.
play at throttle plate lever
ldle speed control valve,
checking and replacing
3 mm (0.125 in)
The Idle speed control valve regulates Idle speed by red~rect-
ing air around the throttle valve. The ldle speed control valve
is mounted
d~rectly above the throttle housing. Accessing the
valve is best accomplished by
flrst removing the air fllter
housing and associated ducting.
Thevalve is supplied with batteryvoltage from the ECM relay.
The idle speed control valve incorporates a two-coil rotary ac-
tuator. The ground sides of each coil are pulsed simulta-
neously by the ECM. The duty cycle of each circuit is varied to
achieve the required idle speed.
A faulty idle speed control valve sets a fault code and the MIL
is illuminated when
OED II fault criteria are exceeded.
Before checking the idle speed control valve, confirm that the
throttle position sensor is working correctly.
- With engine running, check that idle speed control valve is
buzzing.
- Turn on AIC system or shift transmission into drive. ldle
should remain steady or increase slightly.
- If idle speed valve is not buzzing, or if idle decreases when
AIC is turned on, stop engine and disconnect harness con-
nector from idle speed valve.

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... .
Exhaust System
- With exhaust system fully cold, raise and support car for ac-
cess to exhaust system.
WARNING -
Do not worlc under a lifted car unless it is solidly supported on
jack stands designed for that purpose. Never work under a
car that is supported solely by a
jack.
- Disconnect oxygen sensor connector(s).
4 Loosen and remove bolts holding front exhaust pipes to ex-
haust manifolds (arrows). Right side of
V8 model shown.
- Support exhaust system
- Where applicable, disconnect exhaust support bracket as-
sembly from transmission.
< Remove hangers by prying off bracket (arrows).
- Lower exhaust system as a single unit to ground.
NOTE-
If the catalytic converterlfront exhaust pipe assembly is to be
replaced, transfer the oxygen sensors to the new
pipe(s).
Tightening torque
Oxygen sensor
55 Nm (41 ft-lb)
- installation is reverse of removal.
* Make sure there is at least 20 mm (314 in.) clearance be-
tween exhaust system and car body at every point.
Loosely install
ail exhaust system mounting hardware and
hangers before tightening fasteners to their final torque.
Coat manifold studs with copper paste before installing
nuts.
NOTE-
Where applicable, tighten front pipe with semi-flexible com-
pensator last when installing front pipe to
manifolds.
Tightening torques
Exhaust manifolds
to cylinder head 22 Nm (1 7 It-lb)
Front exhaust pipe to manifolds 30 Nm (22 ft-lb)
To prevent exhaust system rattles and vibration, the system
should be slightly preloaded by pushing the rear clamping
brackets forward about 7 mm (114 in).

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--.
- - Manual Transmission
- V-8 engine: Remove heat shield from left front axle support.
< V-8 engine: Remove engine speed reference sensor from
transmission.
- Where applicable, remove brackets for transmission under-
body protection (adjacent to transmission).
4 Support transmission with transmission jack.
- Where applicable, remove reinforcing cross brace from
below driveshaft at transmission.
- Disconnect harness connector from back-up light switch
on transmission.
- Free harnesses for oxygen sensors and back-up lights
from crossmember and transmission.
Remove transmission crossmember: Remove transmission mount bolts
(A).
Remove transmission crossmember bolts (B)
Where applicable, remove bolts (C).
NOTE-
5-speed transmission shown in illustration. Crossmember
assembly for 6-speed transmission is similar.
Disconnect driveshaft from transmission and hang to one
side. See
260 Driveshaft.
I CAUTION- I
Do not damage constant velocity joint orprotective boot at
rear differential.
- 6-cylinder engine: Remove stabilizer bar links and swivel sta-
bilizer bar
u~wards.

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31 0-5
Front ~uspensionl
Front strut assembly, removing and
installing
- Raise car and remove front wheel.
WARNING-
Make 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
parts.
- Unbolt bralte caliper assembly, lkeeping bralte hose connect-
ed. Secure brake caliper to body with wire. Do not let it hang
from brake hose. See
340 Brakes.
Remove ABS pulse sensor mounting bolts (arrows) and re-
move sensor from housing.
Detach ABS sensor wire harness and bralte pad wear sensor
wire harness (if equipped) from strut housing.
Loosen and remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut while
counterholding
link ball joint. Disconnect stabilizer link from
strut.
NOTE-
Use a thin wrench to counterhold shaft of stabilizer bar link
ball joint.
- Cars equipped with vertical headlight adjustment system:
Disconnect control arm from level sensor.
4 Remove outer tie rod end nut. Use BMW special tool 31 2
240 or equivalent to press tie rod end out of steering arm.

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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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(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.