LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone
Home >> BMW >> 2012 >> 740i >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Engine Mechanical >> Blowers, Superchargers & Turbochargers >> Engine - Repair (N54, 2011-2012) >> Piston, Rings, And Pin >> 11 25 530 Removing and installing/replacing all pistons (N54)

11 25 530 Removing and installing/replacing all pistons (N54)

Special tools required: 

WARNING: Protective goggles must be worn when working on the piston pin circlip.
IMPORTANT: If pistons, connecting rods and bearing shells are reused, they must be reinstalled in the same places.

Individual connecting rod replacement is not permitted; they are classified by weight class.

Connecting rods and connecting rod bearing caps are marked with the same pairing letters; mixing them up will result in engine damage.

Piston and gudgeon pins are paired and must not be fitted individually.

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

NOTE: In event of heavy oil carbon residue:

Carefully remove oil carbon residue from cylinder wall.

NOTE: Illustration shows N46 engine.
Fig 1: Locating Oil Carbon Residue On Cylinder Wall
G04751123Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Fig 2: Identifying Oil Spray Nozzle And Screw
G04751124Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Do not  release screw (1).

OIL SPRAY NOZZLE  (2) must not be maladjusted or bent.

If necessary, readjust (risk of damage). 

Release connecting rod bolts (1).

Tightening torque 11 24 1AZ .

Remove connecting rod bearing cap (2) in direction of arrow.

IMPORTANT: Connecting rods and connecting rod bearing caps are marked with the same pairing letters; mixing them up will result in engine damage.
Fig 3: Removing Connecting Rod Bearing Cap
G04751125Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Screw special tool 11 8 590 into big end of connecting rod.

Press out connecting rod and piston to cylinder head side.

IMPORTANT: Risk of damage  to oil spray nozzle.
Fig 4: Installing Special Tool (11 8 590) Into Connecting Rod Big End
G04754892Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Preliminary work: 

Secure special tool 11 8 561 in vice.

Secure piston (1) with connecting rod to special tool 11 8 561 .

Fig 5: Securing Piston With Connecting Rod To Special Tool (11 8 561)
G04754893Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
WARNING: Safety goggles  must be worn for the next operation.
WARNING: Safety goggles  must be worn.

To lever out piston circlip (1), support with special tool 11 5 464 on piston (2).

Lever out piston circlip (1) with special tool 11 5 464 in direction of arrow.

Fig 6: Removing Piston Circlip Using Special Tool (11 5 464)
G04754894Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note: 

If necessary, replace connecting rods. 

Fig 7: Installing Gudgeon Pin
G04751129Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
IMPORTANT: Connecting rods are divided into weight classes and are only available as a set.

Old and new connecting rods must not be installed in mixed combinations.

Installation note: 

The gudgeon pin must be able to be pressed through the bush by hand with little force and must not display any significant play.

Measuring PISTON INSTALLATION CLEARANCE :

Measure piston diameter with micrometer at measuring point A from lower edge of piston and offset at 90° to the axis of the gudgeon pin.

Piston diameter at measuring point A.

Fig 8: Measuring Piston Diameter Using Micrometer
G04739771Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Adjust micrometer to cylinder bore of engine block. Set internal measuring device on micrometer to zero. Measure bottom, center and top of cylinder bore in direction of travel and direction of rotation.

Diameter of cylinder bore.

Piston installation clearance.

TOTAL PERMISSIBLE WEAR TOLERANCE .

Installation note: 

If necessary, replace piston. 

Fig 9: Checking Cylinder Bore Diameter
G04739772Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
WARNING: Safety goggles  must be worn.
IMPORTANT: The opening of the piston pin circlip must be installed on the piston in the 6 o'clock position. 

Risk of damage! 

Fig 10: Inserting Piston Circlip Into Special Tool (11 8 562) Groove
G04754898Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert piston circlip (2) into groove of special tool 11 8 562 .

Bring piston circlip (2) into working position (1).

WARNING: Safety goggles  must be worn.

Slide on special tool 11 8 563 up to piston pin circlip (2)

Special tools 11 8 562 and 11 8 563 are prepared.

Fig 11: Identifying Special Tools (11 8 562) And (11 8 563)
G04754899Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
WARNING: Safety goggles  must be worn.

Opening on special tool 11 8 562 must point to piston crown; only then can special tool 11 8 563 be fitted correctly.

If the special tools 11 8 562 and 11 8 563 are not positioned correctly, the piston pin circlip must be driven in using a plastic hammer in direction of arrow.

Fig 12: Installing Piston Pin Circlip
G04754900Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NOTE: See illustration.

Piston pin circlip is correctly installed when opening (1) points downwards.

Fig 13: Identifying Piston Pin Circlip Installation Position
G05501675Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NOTE: B 30.

Install all PISTON RINGS .

Install all BEARING SHELLS .

Coat piston and piston rings with oil.

Pre-install piston (2) in special tool 11 8 141.

Screw on special tool 11 8 590 in connecting rod (2).

Installation note: 

Make sure protective lugs (1) on special tool 11 8 590 are positioned correctly and check for damage.

Fig 14: Identifying Special Tools (11 8 590 And 11 8 141)
G04754902Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert piston with connecting rod in cylinder.

IMPORTANT: Risk of damage to oil spray nozzle.

Risk of breakage of piston rings.

Press in piston in direction of arrow with finger pressure only, do not drive in.

Insert piston so that arrow on piston crown points to camshaft drive.

Press in piston (1) with special tool 11 8 141.

Fig 15: Pressing Piston With Special Tool (11 8 141)
G04754903Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
IMPORTANT: Connecting rod and connecting rod bearing cap are marked with pairing letters (1) and must not be mixed up.
Swapping or incorrectly fitting the connecting rod bearing cap on the big end will result in engine damage. 
Fig 16: Identifying Connecting Rod Bearing Cap Pairing Letters
G04751137Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Apply a light coat of oil to crankshaft journal.

Assemble connecting rod and crankshaft journal.

Screw off special tool 11 8 560 in counter-clockwise direction.

Fig 17: Installing Special Tool (11 8 590) Into Connecting Rod Big End
G04754892Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fit bearing caps (2) so that pairing letters match up.

Install new connecting rod bolts (1).

Tightening torque 11 24 1AZ .

Fig 18: Identifying Bearing Caps And Connecting Rod Bolts
G04751118Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Adjust torsion angle of connecting rod with special tool 00 9 120 (see illustration).

Tightening torque 11 24 1AZ .

Fig 19: Tightening Connecting Rod Bolts Using Special Tool (00 9 120)
G04751121Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Assemble engine.