2001 BMW 540i front alignment

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320-28
[steering and Wheel Alignment
Pitman arm, removing and installing
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
Male sure the car is
firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
4 Set steering wheel in straight ahead position with tab (arrow)
aligned with mark on steering gearbox.
Remove center tie rod fastener and press tie rod out of pit.
man arm with BMW special
too1 32 1 190.
- Loosen and remove pitman arm pinch bolt
4 Mark A on steering gearbox shalt must be located in center
of
pitman arm slot.
- Reinstall center tie rod and tighten nut.
- Adjust pitman arm height as described later.
- Have vehicle professionally aligned.
Tightening torques
50:s,n5m Center tie rod to pitman arm 65
Nm (48 ft-lb)
(use new self-locking nut)
Pitman arm pinch bolt (note direction of threads) 61 Nrn (45 ft-lb)

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
Pitman arm, adjusting
As the vehicle suspension settles down, the toe on the left
and right wheels must remain identical for proper handling.
By adjusting the height of the
pitman arm, the left and right tie
rods are moved to the same ride level setting. This will opti-
mize straight-ahead travel on uneven road surfaces.
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
WARNING-
Male sure the car is iirmly supported on jack stands de-
signed ior the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under suspension
parts.
- Remove bolts from left and right inner control arm mounts.
Place
BMW special tool 32 2 140 through right side control
arm mounting bolt hole.
Loosen fastener
A and push pin El up so that it is firmly
against tie rod
(arrow). Tighten fastener A.
- Remove tool without disturbing position of pin El.
- Loosen pitman arm clamping bolt and slide arm up.
4 Place special tool 32 2 140 through left side control arm
mounting bolt hole.
Slide
pitman arm up or down until tie rod makes contact
with pin
(El).
Tighten pitman arm clamping bolt.
Tie rod height differences
Deviation between
left and right tie rod height -?-I .5 rnrn (LO6 in)

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I Steering and Wheel Alignment
I I 4 Gap A = 0.5 - 8.5 mm (0.02 - 0.33 in)
- Reinstall inner control arm bolts
Tightening torques
Control arm to
subframe 78 Nm (58 it-lb)
(tighten with wheel on ground)
Pitman arm pinch bolt (note direction of threads) 61 Nm (45 ft-lb)
Steering idler arm, removing and installing
The idler arm is bolted to the subframe through a bushing.
The bushing is subject to wear and is available as a replace-
ment part.
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
WARNING -
Male sure the car is firmly supported on jaclc stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place jack stands under suspension
parts.
4 Remove center tie rod fastener and press tie rod out of idler
arm with
BMW special tool 32 1 190.
- Remove idler arm mounting bolt through opening in sub-
frame and remove idler arm from car.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Make sure all thread bores, bolts, nuts and mating surfac-
es are clean.
Use new self
loclting nuts to mount idler arm to subframe
and center tie rod to idler arm.
If idler arm or idler arm bushing is replaced, adjust
pitman
arm as described earlier.
Have car professionally aligned.
Tightening torques
Center tie rod to idler arm 65 Nm (48 ft-ib)
(replace self-locking nut)
Idler arm to front subirame
(replace self-locking nut) 62
Nm (46 it-lb)

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320-32
Steering and Wheel Alignment
Center tie
rod, replacing
- Raise front of car. Remove splash shield from under engine.
WARNING-
Make sure tlie car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
cliassis points. Do not place jack stands under suspension
parts.
- Measure length of left and right (outer) tie rods. Write down
measurements.
NOTE-
Accurate measurement of the tie rod end with reference to
the center tie rod will help approximate correct wheel align-
ment when new parts are installed.
4 Remove self-loclting nuts connecting center tie rod to pitman
and idler arms. Press tie rod off pitman and idler arms using
BMW special tool
32 1 190 or equivalent.
4 Loosen left tie rod clamping bolt (arrow). Unscrew left tie rod
from center tie rod. Repeat for right.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Malte sure all threaded parts are clean.
. Coat threads with antiseize compound.
Replace self-loclting nuts.
Check tie rod end ball joints and idler arm bushing for wear.
Use tie rod measurements previously made to temporarily
set toe.
- Have car professionally aligned.
Tightening torques
Center tie rod to
pitman and idler arms 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
(replace self-locking nuts)
Left or right outer
tie rod clamping bolt 27 Nm (20 it-lb)

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Steerina and Wheel ~lianmentl
Proper handling, stability and driving ease depend upon the
correct alignment of all four wheels. The front axle is aligned
in relation to the rear axle, then the front wheels are aligned in
relation to one another. This is known as a four-wheel or
thrust-axis alignment.
Front and rear alignment specification are given in tables at
the end of this repair group.
BMW E39 cars use a sophisticated multi-link suspension at
the front and rear of the car. Proper alignment requires com-
puterized alignment equipment.
Camber
Front wheel camber is set at the factory and cannot be adjust-
ed. Rear wheel camber is fully adjustable.
Always set rear camber before adjusting toe
Before making rear camber adjustment, install a new rear
control arm mounting nut
(arrow) and tighten.
- Loosen mounting nut one-half to one full turn.
Using eccentric bolt, adjust camber to factory settings.
Tighten nut only after car has been lowered to ground and
suspension has settled.
Tighten nut while counterholding adjustment bolt.
Tightening torque
Camber adjusting nut (rear)
MI2 (sedan)
- MI4 (Sport Wagon)
115 Nm (85 ft-lb)
174 Nm (128 ft-lb)
Caster
Front and rear caster are fixed by the design of the car and
deviations are usually the result of worn or damaged suspen-
sion or body parts.
- Check front suspension arms and bushings for wear, dam-
age and deformation if front caster problems are present.
- Check rear axle subfrarne and traction struts if rear caster
problems are present.

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320-34
I Steerins and Wheel Alignment
Front toe and toe difference angle
Toe is the difference in the distance between the front of the
front wheels and the rear of the front wheels. It is adjusted by
altering the length of the tie rods.
Toe difference angle determines the progressively different
paths taken by the front wheels as the car is turning. In
V-8
models, it is set by the pitman arm adjustment, but depends
on accurate setting of the toe.
Toe adjustments should only be made on specialized align-
ment equipment and only with the car in normal loaded posi-
tion, described below.
- Set front wheel toe at tie rod ends:
4 6-cylinder models: Loosen tie rod lock nut (A).
Adjust toe by turning inner tie rod (B) to change length
- V-8 models: Loosen left and right tie rod clamp bolts.
Adjust toe by turning inner tie rod to change length.
NOTE-
* Steering rack or steering gearbox can be centered by
aligning centering mark on steering shaft
with lug on steer-
ing rack.
To keep steering wheel centered, adjust both tie rods equal
amounts.
&cylinder models: Make sure the rubber boot on the rack
moves freely on the tie rod and does not become twisted.
Tightening torques
Tie rod clamp bolt
Tie rod collar
nut
27 Nm (20 ft-lb)
45 Nm (33 A-lb)
Rear toe
To adjust rear wheel toe, turn eccentric inner mounting bolt in
upper front control arm (traction strut).
NOTE-
Always adjust rear camber first.
- Before making toe adjustment, install new
mounting nut and tighten.
- Loosen nut one-half to one full turn.
4 Turn eccentric bolt (arrow) to adjust toe. rear
control arm

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
- Tighten nut while counterholding adjusting bolt,
- Tighten nut only after car has been lowered to ground and
suspension has settled.
Preparing for alignment
- The following conditions are necessary prior to wheel align-
ment:
Correct wheels and tires are installed, in good condition,
and are at the correct inflation pressures.
All steering and suspension parts and bushings are un-
damaged and show no signs of abnormal wear. Wheel
bearings are in good condition.
Ride height is in accordance with specifications. See
300
Suspension, Steering and Brakes-General.
Car is in normal loaded position. See below.
* Cars with air suspension: Remove air suspension power
fuse.
Normal loaded position
Each front seat
68 Kg (I50 lb)
Center of rear seat
Trunlc
Fuel tank
68 Kg (150 lb)
21 Kg (46 lb)
Full
Alignment specifications tables
In the alignment specification tables that follow, reference is
made to the various types of suspension used in
E39 cars.
The type of suspension can be identified by loolting at the la-
bel on the front strut tube.
Identifying symbol
None
Solid circle
Solid triangle
M5
Circle
Triangle Version
Standard suspension
Sports
suspension
Sports suspension
M sport package
Standard suspension
Sports suspension Model
Sedan
6-cylinder sedan
V-8 sedan
V-8 sedan
Touring (Sport Wagon)
Touring (Sport Wagon)

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Isteering and Wheel Alignment
6-cylinder sedan (5251,5281,530i)
Parameter
Front axle
. .. I I I
Outside wheel (approx. ") / 33.5 133 133
M Sport
suspension
Standard
suspension
With
i 20" wheel loclc
Front wheel displacement
Inside wheel
(approx. ")
Sport suspension
O0 5' i 10'
- 36' i 30'
-ID56'-t30'
N/A
6" 41' i 30'
Total toe
Camber (difference between lefffright maximum
40')
Track (differential angle with 20" lock on inside wheel)
Caster (difference between lefffright maximum
30')
With i 10" wheel locic
6" 42' i 30'
0°i15'
42
. .. I I I
Rear axle
6-cylinder Sport Wagon (5251,5281)
0"5'il0'
-13'+30'
-1" 56' -t 30'
N/A
6" 28' i 30'
OD5'i10'
- 36' i 30'
-1" 56' i 30'
N/A
6" 41' i 30'
6" 55'
i 30'
0'2 15'
41.5
0" 22'
-t 4'
0" i 12' Geometrical axis deviation
6' 55' i 30'
0"
i 15'
41.5
0°22'i4' Total toe 0" 22' i 4'
Camber (difference between leitlright maximum 15') 1-20 04' ?- 5' 1-2" 04' i 5'
O"i12'
Sport suspension
Parameter
- I I
. .. I I
Outside wheal (approx. ") 133.5 133
-2' 04' -t 5'
OO-t 12'
Standard suspension
Wlth i 10" wheel lock
I I
Front axle
With
i 20" wheel lock 16" 42' i 30' 16" 55'i30'
6" 28' i- 30'
0"
i 15' Front wheel displacement
. .. I I
Rear axle
D"5'iIO'
- 36' i 30'
-I056'i30'
NIA
Total toe
Camber (difference between
IeWright maximum 40')
Track (differential angle with 20" lock on inside wheel)
Caster (difference between
lefffrioht maximum 30') 6" 41'
+ 30'
Inside wheel (approx. ") 142 141.5
OOi 15'
0"5'i10'
- 13'i30'
-1" 56' i 30'
N/A
0" 16'i 10' Total toe
0" i 12' Geometrical axis deviation
Camber (difference
between iefffright maximum
15') /-lo 50' i 20' 1-1" 50'i20'
0" 16'f 10'
0" il2'