11 25 530 Removing and installing/replacing all pistons (N55)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 BMW X5, 2012 BMW X5, and 2011 BMW X5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

WARNING: Safety goggles must be worn when working on the gudgeon pin circlip.

IMPORTANT: If pistons, connecting rods and connecting rod bearing shells are reused, they must be reinstalled in the same places.
Piston and gudgeon pins are paired and must not be fitted individually.
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.

Necessary preliminary work:

Remove ENGINE .
Mount engine on ASSEMBLY STAND .
Remove INTAKE PLENUM .
Remove CYLINDER HEAD .
Remove OIL SUMP .
Remove oil pump . See 11 41 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING OIL PUMP (N55) UP TO MARCH 2012 or 11 41 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING OIL PUMP (N55) FROM MARCH 2012 .

NOTE: In event of heavy oil carbon residue:

Carefully remove oil carbon residue from cylinder wall.

NOTE: Graphic shows N46.

Fig 1: Locating Carbon Residue On Cylinder Wall

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IMPORTANT: Do not release screw (1).
OIL SPRAY NOZZLE (2) must not be maladjusted or bent.
If necessary, readjust (risk of damage) .

Fig 2: Identifying Oil Spray Nozzle And Screw

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Release connecting rod bolts (1).

Tightening torque: 11 24 1AZ .

Remove connecting rod bearing cap (2).

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: Identifying Connecting Rod Bearing Cap And Bolt

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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 End

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Preliminary work:

Secure special tool 11 4 491 in vice.

Secure piston (1) with connecting rod to special tool 11 4 491 .

NOTE: Graphic shows N52.

Fig 5: Securing Piston With Connecting Rod

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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 4 492 on piston (2).

Lever out piston circlip (1) with special tool 11 4 492 in direction of arrow.

Fig 6: Removing Piston Circlip Using Special Tool (11 4 492)

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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.

Fig 7: Pressing Connecting Rod Pin

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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

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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.

Permissible total wear clearance . See 1111-N55-01B1S1 ENGINE BLOCK, CYLINDER CRANKCASE, BMW, N55, B30 or 1125-N55-01B1S1 PISTONS WITH RINGS AND PINS, BMW, N55, B30 .

Installation note:

If necessary, replace piston.

Fig 9: Adjusting Micrometer To Cylinder Bore Of Engine Block

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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 Groove

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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 8 564 up to piston pin circlip (1)

Special tools 11 8 562 and 11 8 564 are prepared.

Fig 11: Identifying Special Tool (11 8 564) And Piston Pin Circlip

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WARNING: Safety goggles must be worn.

The aperture on special tool 11 8 562 must point to piston crown; only then can special tool 11 8 564 be fitted correctly.

If the special tools 11 8 562 and 11 8 564 are not positioned correctly, the piston pin circlip must be driven in using a plastic hammer in direction of arrow.

NOTE: See Fig 12.

Fig 12: Installing Piston Pin Circlip Using Plastic Hammer

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

Fig 13: Identifying Piston Pin Circlip

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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: Installing Piston

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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 Using Special Tool (11 8 141)

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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 And Bearing Cap Marked Pairing Letters