2001 BMW 540i high

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I General Warnings and Cautions
WARNINGS (continued)
. The air conditioning system is filled with chemical refrigerant,
which is hazardous. The AIC system should be serviced only by
trained technicians using approved refrigerant recoverylrecycling
equipment, trained in related safety precautions, and familiar with
regulations governing the discharging and disposal of automotive
chemical refrigerants.
. Do not expose any part of the AIC system to high temperatures
such as open flame. Excessive heat will increase system pres-
sure and may cause the system to burst.
Some aerosol tire inflators are highly flammable. Be extremely
cautious when repairing a tire that may have been inflated using
an aerosol tire inflator. Keep sparks, open flame or other sources
of ignition away
from the tire repair area. Inflate and deflate the
tire at least four
times before breaking the bead from the rim.
Completely remove the tire from the rim before attempting any re-
pair.
Cars covered by this manual are equipped with a supplemental
restraint system (SRS), that automatically deploys
airbags and
pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
In the event oi a frontal or side
impact. These are explosive devices. Handled improperly or with-
out adequate safeguards, they can be accidently activated and
cause serious injury.
- The ignition system produces high voltages that can be fatal.
Avoid contact with exposed terminals and use extreme care when
working on a car with the engine running or the ignition switched
on.
. Place jack stands only at locations specified by the manufacturer.
The vehicle
illtino iack su~olied with the vehicle is intended fortire -. , . changes only. A heavy duty floor jack should be used lo lift vehicle
before installing
jacl( stands. See 010 General.
- Battery acid (electrolyte) can cause severe burns. Flush contact
area
with water, seek medical attention.
Aerosol cleaners and solvents may contain hazardous or deadly
vapors and are highly flammable. Use only in a well ventilated ar-
ea. Do not use on hot surfaces (engines, brakes, etc.).
Do not remove
coolant reservoir or radiator cap with the engine
hot. Danger of burns and engine damage.
CAUTIONS-
See also WARNINGS
- if you lack the slqills, tools and equipment, or a suitable worl(shop
for any procedure described in this manual, leave such repairs to
an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified shop.
BMW is constantly improving its cars and sometimes these
changes, both in parts and specifications, are made applicable to
earlier models. Therefore, part numbers listed in this manual are
for reference only. Always check with your authorized BMW deal-
er parts department for the latest information.
Before starting a job, make certain that you have all the neces-
sary tools and parts on hand. Read ail the instructions thorough-
ly, and do not attempt shortcuts. Use tools appropriate to the
work and use only replacement parts meeting BMW specifica-
tions.
Use pneumatic and electric tools only to loosen threaded parts
and fasteners. Never use these tools to tighten fasteners, espe-
cially on light alloy parts. Always use a torque wrench to tighten
fasteners to the tightening torque specification listed.
Be mindful of the environment and ecology. Before you drain the
crankcase, find out the proper way to dispose of the
oil. Do not
pour
oil onto the ground, down a drain, or into a stream, pond or
lake. Dispose of waste in accordance with Federal, State and
Local laws.
The control module for the anti-lock brake system
(ABS) cannot
withstand temperatures from a paint-drying booth or a heat
lamp
in excess of 203" F (95°C) and should not be subjected to tem-
peratures in excess of 185°F
(8S°C) for more than two hours.
- Before doing any electrical welding on cars equipped with ABS,
disconnect the battery negative
(-) terminal (ground strap) and
the ABS control module connector.
- Always make sure ignition is off before disconnecting battery.
Label battery cables before disconnecting. On some models, bat-
tery cables are not color coded.
Disconnecting the battery may erase fault code@) stored in control
module memory. Using special BMW diagnoslic equipment, check
lor
iauit codes prior to disconnecting the battery cables. If the mal-
I.mct on ndicator Ignt (MIL) s I. ..minaled. see OBD On-Board
Diaanostics
Tl11s iant is iuenlfted as lne Check Ena~ne oht
(1997-2000 models jor~ervlce Engine Soon light (2061 andlater
models). If any other system iaults have been detected (indicated
by an illuminated warning light), see an authorized BMW dealer.
If a normal
or rapid charger is used to charge battery, the battery
must be disconnected and removed from the vehicle in order to
avoid damaging the vehicle.
- Do not quick-charge the battery (for boost starting) for longer
than one minute. Wait at least one minute before boosting the
battery a second time.
* Connect and disconnect a battery charger only with the battery
charger switched off.
- Sealed or "maintenance free" batteries should be slow-charged
only, at an amperage rate that is approximately 10% of the bat-
tery's ampere-hour (Ah)
rating.
. Do not allow battery charging voltage to exceed 16.5 volts. If the
battery begins producing gas or boiling violently, reduce the
charging rate.
Boosting a sulfated battery at a high charging rate
can cause an explosion.

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.
General
WARNING-
Never run the engine in tile work area unless it is well-ven-
tilated. The exhaust should be vented to the outside. Car-
bon monoxide (CO) in exhaust kills.
Remove all neckties,
scarfs, loose clothing, or jewelry
when working near a running engine or power tools.
Tuck in shirts. Tie long hair and secure it under a cap.
Severe injury can result from these things being
caugiit
in rotating parts.
Remove rings, watches, and bracelets. Aside from the
dangers of moving parts, metallic jewelry conducts
electricity and may cause shorts, sparks, burns, or
damage to the electricalsystem when accidentally con-
tacting the battery or other electrical terminals.
Disconnect the battery negative
(-) cable whenever
working on or near the fuel system or anything that is
electrically powered. Accidental electrical contact may
damage the electrical system or cause a fire.
Fuelis highly flammable. When working around fuel, do
not
smoke or work near heaters or other fire hazards.
Keep an approved fire extinguisher handy.
The fuel system is designed to retain pressure even
when the ignition is off When worlcing with the
fuelsys-
tem, loosen the fuel lines slowly to allow the residual
pressure to dissipate gradually. Take precautions to
avoid spraying fuel.
. Illuminate the worlc area adequately and safely Use a
portable safety light for worlcing inside or under the car.
A fluorescent type
light is best because it gives off less
heat. If using a light with a normal incandescent bulb,
use rough service bulbs to avoid
breakage. The hot fil-
ament of an accidentally broken bulb can ignite spilled
fuel or oil.
Keep sparks, lighted matches, and any open flame
away from the top of the battery. Hydrogen gas
emitted
by the battery is highly flammable. Any nearby source
of ignition may cause the battery to explode.
Never lay
tools or parts in the engine compartment or
on top of the battery. They may
fallinto confinedspaces
and be difficult to retrieve, become caught in belts or
other rotating parts when the engine is started, or
cause electrical shorts and damage to the electrical
system.

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General
ADVICE FOR THE BEGINNER
The tips that follow are general advice to help the do-it-your-
self BMW owner
periorm repairs and maintenance taslts
more easily and more professionally.
Planning ahead
Know what the whole job requires before starting. Read the
procedure thoroughly, from beginning to end, in
orderto know
just what to expect and what parts will have to be replaced.
Workshop practices
Keeping things organized, neat, and clean is essential to do-
ing a good job. When working under the hood, iender covers
will protectthe finish from scratches and otherdamage. Make
sure the car finish is clean so that dirt under the cover does
not scratch the iinish.
Any repair job will be less troublesome if the parts are clean
For cleaning old parts, there are many solvents and parts
cleaners commercially available.
For cleaning parts prior to assembly, commercially available
aerosol cans of parts cleaner or brake cleaner are handy to
use, and the cleaner will evaporate completely.
WARNING-
Most solvents used for cleaning parts are highly flammable
as well as toxic, especially in aerosol form. Use with extreme
care. Do not smoke. Do not use these products indoors or
near any source of heat, sparks or flame.
Non reusable fasteners
Many fasteners used on the cars covered by this manual
must be replaced with new ones once they are removed.
These include but are not limited to: bolts, nuts (self-locking,
nylock, etc.), roll pins, clips and washers. Genuine BMW
parts should be the only replacement parts used for this pur-
pose.
Some bolts are designed to stretch during assembly and are
permanently altered, rendering them unreliable once re-
moved. These are known as torque-to-yield fasteners. Al-
ways replace fasteners where instructed to do so. Failure to
replace these fasteners could cause personal injury
orvehi-
cle damage. See an authorized BMW dealer for applications
and ordering information.

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- - ..
General
Many of the maintenance and repair tasks in this manual call
forthe installation of new parts, orthe use of new gaskets and
other materials when reinstalling parts. Most often, the parts
that will be needed should be on hand before beginning the
job. Read the introductorytext and the complete procedure
to
determine which parts will be needed.
NOTE-
For some biggerjobs, partial disassembly and inspection is
required to determine a complete parts list. Read the proce-
dure carefully and, if necessary, male other arrangements to
get the necessary parts while your car is disassembled.
Genuine BMW parts
Genuine BMW replacement parts from an authorized BMW
dealer are designed and manufactured to the same high stan-
dards as the original parts. They will be the correct material.
manufactured to same specifications, and guaranteed to fit
and work as intended. Most genuine BMW parts carry a limit-
ed warranty.
Many independent repair shops make a point of using genu-
ine
BMW parts, even though they may at times be more ex-
pensive than parts from other sources. They know the value
of doing the job right with ihe right parts. Parts from other
sources can be as good as BMW parts, particularly if manu-
factured by one of
BMW's or~ginal equipment suppliers, but it
is often difficult to know.
BMW is constantly updating and improving their cars, often
malting improvements during a given model year. BMW may
recommend a newer, improved part as a replacement, and
your authorized dealer's parts department will know about it
and provide it. The BMW parts organization is best equipped
to deal with your BMW parts needs.
Non returnable parts
Some parts cannot be returned, even for credit. The best ex-
ample is electrical parts, which are almost universally consid-
ered non returnable. Buy electrical parts carefully, and be as
sure as possible that a replacement is needed, especially for
expensive parts such as electronic control units. It may be
wise to let an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified shop
confirm your diagnosis before replacing an expensive non re-
turnable
Dart.

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BMW dealers are uniquely qualified to provide service for
BMW cars. Their authorized relationship with the large BMW
service organization means that they have access to special
tools and equipment, together with the latest and most accu-
rate repair information.
The BMW dealer's service technicians are highly trained and
very capable. Authorized BMW dealers are committed to sup-
porting the BMW product. On the other hand, there are many
independent shops that provide quality repairwork.
Checking
with other BMW owners for recommendations on service fa-
cilities is good way to learn of reputable BMW shops in your
area.
Most maintenance can be accomplished with a small selec-
tion of tools. Tools range in quality from inexpensive junk,
which may break at first use, to very expensive and
well-
made tools for the professional. The best tools for most do-it-
yourself BMW owners lie somewhere in between.
Many reputable tool manufacturers offer good quality, moder-
ately priced tools with a lifetime guarantee. These are your
best buy. They cost a little more, but they are good quality
tools that will do what
Is expected of them. Sears' Craftsman@
line is one such source of good quality tools.
Some of the repairs covered in this manual require the use of
special tools, such as a custom puller or specialized electrical
test equipment. These special tools are called out in the text
and can be purchased through an authorized BMW dealer.
As an alternative, some special tools mentioned may be pur-
chased from the following tool manufacturers and/or distribu-
tors:
Specialty tool suppliers
Assenmacher Specialty Tools
6440 Odeli Place
Boulder. CO 80301
Baum Tools Unlimited, Inc.
P.O. Box 5867
Sarasota.
FL 34277-5867

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.
General
Torque wrench
A torque wrench is used to precisely tighten threaded fasten-
ers to a predetermined value. Many of the repair procedures
in this manual include BMW-specified torque values
in New-
ton-meters (Nm) and the equivalent values in foot-pounds
(ft-
Ib).
4 Several types of torque wrenches are available. An inexpen-
sive beam-type (top) is adequate but must be read visually. A
ratchet-type (bottom) can be preset to indicate (click) when
the torque value has been reached. They all do the same job,
but offer different convenience features at different prices.
The most convenient ones have a built-in ratchet, and can be
preset to indicate when a specific torque value has been
reached. Follow the wrench manufacturer's directions
for use
to achieve the greatest accuracy.
A torque wrench with a range up to about 150 Nm (1 10 ft-lb) BOIBFNG has adequate capacity for most of the repairs covered in this
manual. For recommended torque values of
10 Nm orbelow,
the English system equivalent is given in inch-pounds (in-lb).
These small values may be most easily reached using a
torque wrench calibrated in inch-pounds. To convert
inch-
pounds to foot-pounds, divide by 12.
Digital multimeter
4 Many of the electrical tests in this manual call for the mea-
surement of resistance (ohms) or voltage values. For safe
and accurate tests of sensitive electronic component and
systems, a multimeter or digital
volt/ohm meter (DVOM) with
high input impedance (at least
10,000Sr) should be used.
Some meters have automotive functions such as dwell and
pulse width that are useful for troubleshooting ignition and
fuel injection problems.
CAUTIOI\C
Vehicle electronic systems may be damaged by the high cur-
rent draw of a test light with a normal incandescent bulb. As
a general rule, use a high impedance digital multimeter or an
LED test light for all electrical testing.

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020-1 1
Maintenance
Table g. Differential oil
(Lifetime fluid; no fluid change required)
Differential
/Approximate. capaclty (in~t~al fill) I Spec~f~cat~on , , .
G 1.6 liter
(1.7 US
at) I
188 Compact I .O liter BMW SAF-XO
(1 .I US ql) synthetic oil
1.4
liler 220 1215 Compact US qt) I
Table h. Engine Coolant
Year, model
latent heater:
V-8 13.5 liter
1997:
6-cylinder
V-8
Table
i. Brake fluid
Bralte system fiuld BMW hlgh
performance, DOT 4
Approximate
capacity
9.9 liter (10.5 US qt)
11.4 liter (12.0 US qt)
With the introduction of synthetic oil and extended oil change
intervals, a new oil filterwith improved filter paper design was
introduced. The new filter paper resists deterioration caused
by high oil temperatures over an extended time.
Specification
Use BMW specified oil to top off the engine oil level between
oil changes.
BMW recommends the following engine oils:
Table
j. Engine Oil Specification
Years
IOii description I BMW part no.
1999 and later mineral
oil
BMW
HP 5W-30
svnthetic oil 07
51 0 017 866

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1 Maintenance
NOTE-
Castrol supplies the mineral and synthetic oil recommend-
ed by
BMW
BMW High Performance synthetic oil may be used in all
E39 models, regardless of year.
The use of engine oil additives is not recommended when
using BMW High
Performance synthetic engine oil.
* BMW is constantly upgrading recommendedmaintenance
procedures and requirements. The information contained
here is as accurate as possible at the time ofpublication. If
there is any doubt about what procedures apply to a spe-
cific
model or model year, or what intervals should be fol-
lowed, remember that an authorized BMW dealer has the
latest information on factory-recommended maintenance.
CAUTIOIG
In the case of cars that accumulate very low mileage per
yea/; BMW recommends that the engine oil should be
changed once
a year at a minimum, regardless of whether
mineral or synthetic based oil is used.
In the interest of engine longevity, use half
tlie recom-
mended engine oil change interval.
Engine oil, checking level
4 Engine oil level is checked with a dipstick (arrow) in the
engine block (6-cylinder oil dipstick shown,
V-8 dipstick is
similar).
- Check oil level with car on level surface, after engine has
been stopped for at least a few minutes.
- Check level by pulling out dipstick and wiping it clean
Reinsert it all the way and withdraw it again.