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11 25 530 Removing And Installing/Replacing All Pistons (S54 With M11X1.25 Conrod Bolt)

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Special Tools Required: 

(Engine removed)

Removal: 

Removal of pistons is described separately from installation. Assembly sequence for removal and installation is different.

Fit engine to special tool 00 1 450.

CAUTION: Re-install piston, conrod and bearing shells back in the same position and in the same installation location. Conrod and conrod bearing cover are designated with same pair number: do not interchange/confuse.

In event of heavy oil carbon residue:

Carefully remove oil carbon residue from cylinder wall.

Fig 1: Identifying Oil Carbon Residue On Cylinder Wall
G03190713Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NOTE: Piston cooling spray nozzles are installed between the bearing seats.

Check spray nozzles for damage.

If necessary, remove piston-cooling spray nozzles.

Fig 2: Identifying Piston Cooling Spray Nozzles
G03190714Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: The S54 engine has two types of conrod with different conrod bolts.

Differentiating Features: 

  1. Conrod bolt with M11x1.25 thread. Bolt head: bihexagonal 12 mm A/F.
  2. Conrod bolt with M10x1.25 thread. Bolt head: Torx E12.

The procedure for replacing the conrod bolts and the tightening specifications are different.

Mixing up the procedure for replacing the conrods and conrod bolts and the tightening specifications will result in serious engine damage.

Fig 3: Identifying Types Of Conrod Bolts
G03190715Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: Contrary to the instructions for all other BMW engines, the conrod bolts must not  be replaced in the S54 engine with the M11x1.25 conrod bolt. The M11x1.25 may only be reused in the same conrod thread. Conrods with M11x1.25 conrod bolts are no longer supplied as replacements. If a conrod or a conrod bolt with M11x1.25 thread is damaged: replace the conrods with a complete set of conrods with M10X1.25 Conrod Bolts.  .
Fig 4: Identifying M11x1.25 Conrod Bolt
G00397775Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fig 5: Locating Conrod Bolt
G00397774Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert special tool 11 3 480 in conrod.

Remove connecting rod with piston from cylinder-head side.

Fig 6: View Of Special Tool 11 3 480 In Connecting Rod
G00397778Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: Piston and piston bolts are paired and must not be fitted individually.

Lift out retaining ring and press out piston pin.

Fig 7: Removing Retaining Ring & Piston Pin
G00397779Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation: 

Installation of pistons is described separately from removal. The assembly sequence for removal and installation is different.

The piston pin must be able to be pressed through the liner by hand with little force and must not display any significant play. If necessary, replace connecting rods.

Fig 8: Locating Piston Pin
G00397780Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NOTE: Only conrods of the same weight group are allowed to be installed inside an engine. Connecting rods are only suppllied in complete sets.

Prior to installation, measure piston installation clearance: Measure piston diameter with micrometer at measuring point A from bottom edge of piston and offset at 90° to the axis of the piston pin. For measuring point A, refer to 11 25 Pistons With Rings And Pins S54, in ENGINE - TECHNICAL DATA .

Fig 9: Locating Measuring Point
G00397781Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 10: Measuring Cylinder Bore
G00397793Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: Piston and piston pins are paired and must not be fitted individually.

Fit conrod with piston pin to piston in such a way that both of the visible pair numbers on the installation direction arrow on the piston point to the right.

Fig 11: Identifying Pair Numbers
G00397782Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Install retaining ring.

Fig 12: View Of Retaining Ring
G00397783Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: Note grinding stages on crankshaft. Refer to 11 21 Crankshaft And Bearings S54 in ENGINE - TECHNICAL DATA .
NOTE: Classified conrod bearing shells color-coded "Yellow and Green" are installed in the model series. The classification is removed when the conrod bearing shells are replaced.
Fig 13: Identifying Conrod Bearing Shells
G00397784Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert special tool 11 3 480 in conrod.

Fig 14: Inserting Special Tool 11 3 480
G00397786Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Lightly coat pistons and piston rings with oil.

Offset the contact points of the piston rings by approx. 120° to each other but do not position above the piston pin boss.

Compress piston rings with special tool 11 9 120.

Fig 15: Compressing Piston Rings
G00397787Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Keep piston rings pressed with special tool 11 9 120. Install piston so that arrow points to camshaft drive.

Fig 16: Installing Piston
G00397788Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: Danger of piston ring failure. Only press pistons into place with finger force - do not knock in!

Attach crankpin to connecting rod.

Remove special tool 11 3 480.

Fig 17: View Of Special Tool 11 3 480
G00397778Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Check connecting rod bearing clearance: Piston in BDC position. Fit special tool 00 2 590 (Plastigage Type PG 1) to the oil-free crankshaft.

Fig 18: Checking Connection Rod Bearing Clearance
G00397789Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Fit bearing caps so that pair numbers match up.

Fig 19: View Of Bearing Cap Pair Numbers
G00397790Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Conrod With M11X1.25 Conrod Bolt: 

CAUTION: Contrary to the instructions for all other BMW engines, the conrod bolts must not  be replaced in the S54 engine with the M11x1.25 conrod bolt. The M11x1.25 may only be reused in the same conrod thread.

Conrod With M11X1.25 Conrod Bolt: 

CAUTION: Do not distort conrods or crankshaft

Tighten down conrod bolts with special tool 00 9 120.

Tightening torque:

Fig 20: Tightening Conrod Bolts
G00397791Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove bearing cap and read off bearing play at width of flattened plastic thread with assistance of measurement scale.

Conrod Bearing Clearance: 0.030 To 0.070 mm. 

CAUTION: If a bearing clearance of below 0.030 mm is measured: Replace Conrod Bearing Shells. 

If a bearing clearance of below 0.030 mm is measured with the new conrod bearing shells:

Replace the conrods with a complete set of conrods with M10X1.25 Conrod Bolts. 

Fig 21: Measuring Bearing Clearance
G00397792Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
CAUTION: The M11x1.25 may only be reused in the same conrod thread.

Conrod With M11X1.25 Conrod Bolt: 

Tighten down conrod bolts with special tool 00 9 120.

CAUTION: The tightening torque only applies to conrod bolts with M11x1.25 threads.

Tightening torque:

Fig 22: Tightening Conrod Bolts
G00397791Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Install spray nozzles for piston cooling, tighten down screw.

Fig 23: Identifying Piston Cooling Spray Nozzles
G03190714Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Tightening torque, 11 11 7AZ. Refer to ENGINE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .