Removing the piston with connecting rod

Precondition 

Remove and install front axle complete with engine and transmission.

Remove and install the engine on the front axle

Preliminary work 

• Refer to MOUNTING THE ENGINE TO THE ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET .
• Refer to RELEASING THE OIL DRAIN PLUG .
• Refer to REMOVING DRIVE BELT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE BELT TENSIONER .
• Refer to REMOVING THE BELT PULLEY ON THE TORSIONAL VIBRATION DAMPER .
• Refer to REMOVING THE COOLANT PUMP .
• Refer to RELEASING LEFT CHARGE AIR LINE PARTIALLY .
• Refer to PARTIALLY RELEASING THE RIGHT CHARGE AIR LINE .
• Refer to REMOVING THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK FOR THE LOW-TEMPERATURE COOLANT CIRCUIT (CHARGE AIR COOLER) .
• Refer to REMOVING BOTH CHARGE AIR COOLERS .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CLEAN AIR PIPE OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CLEAN AIR PIPE OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to REMOVING THE IGNITION COILS OF CYLINDERS 1 AND 5 .
• Refer to REMOVING FUEL DELIVERY LINE .
• Refer to REMOVING IGNITION COIL OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to REMOVING LEFT HIGH PRESSURE PUMP .
• Refer to REMOVING THE HIGH-PRESSURE RAIL ON THE LEFT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE INJECTORS FOR CYLINDERS 5 TO 8 .
• Refer to REMOVING VANOS SOLENOID ACTUATOR, EXHAUST OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to REMOVING VANOS SOLENOID ACTUATOR, INTAKE OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to REMOVING THE LEFT AND RIGHT EXHAUST TURBOCHARGER .
• Refer to REMOVING FRONT HEAT SHIELD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE OIL FEED LINE AT THE EXHAUST TURBOCHARGER FOR CYLINDERS 5 TO 8 .
• Refer to REMOVING LEFT CYLINDER HEAD COVER .
• Refer to REMOVING THE TIMING CASE COVER FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to MOVING THE CRANKSHAFT TO THE INSTALLATION POSITION TO ADJUST THE TIMINGS .
• Refer to CHECKING THE VANOS ADJUSTER OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to RELAXING CHAIN TENSIONER ON BANK 2 FOR CHECKING OR SETTING TIMING .
• Refer to REMOVING HYDRAULIC CHAIN TENSIONER OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to PRELOADING THE TIMING CHAIN OF CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to FIXING THE ENGINE IN THE INSTALLATION POSITION ON CYLINDER 1 (SET VALVE TIMINGS) .
• Refer to REMOVING BOTH LEFT VANOS ADJUSTERS .
• Refer to REMOVING SPECIAL TOOL FOR FIXING CAMSHAFTS IN POSITION ON BANK 2 .
• Refer to REMOVING SPECIAL TOOL TO PRETENSION TIMING CHAIN ON CYLINDER BANK 2 .
• Refer to REMOVING LEFT CYLINDER HEAD .
• Refer to REMOVING IGNITION COIL OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to REMOVING RIGHT HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP .
• Refer to REMOVING RIGHT RAIL .
• Refer to REMOVING THE INJECTORS FOR CYLINDERS 1 TO 4 .
• Refer to PARTIALLY RELEASING THE GUIDE TUBE FOR THE OIL DIPSTICK .
• Refer to REMOVING VANOS SOLENOID ACTUATOR, EXHAUST OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to REMOVING THE VANOS SOLENOID ACTUATOR INTAKE OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to REMOVING RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD COVER .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SEALING CAP ON THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to CHECKING THE VANOS ADJUSTER OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to RELIEVING THE CHAIN TENSIONER AT CYLINDER BANK 1 FOR CHECKING OR SETTING THE VALVE TIMINGS .
• Refer to REMOVING HYDRAULIC CHAIN TENSIONER OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to PRELOADING THE TIMING CHAIN OF CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to FIXING THE ENGINE IN THE INSTALLATION POSITION ON CYLINDER 1 (SET VALVE TIMINGS) .
• Refer to REMOVING BOTH RIGHT VANOS ADJUSTERS .
• Refer to REMOVING SPECIAL TOOL FOR FIXING CAMSHAFTS ON BANK 1 .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SPECIAL TOOL TO PRETENSION THE TIMING CHAIN AT CYLINDER BANK 1 .
• Refer to REMOVING RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE VIBRATION DAMPER .
• Refer to REMOVING LOWER OIL PAN SECTION .
• Refer to REMOVING OIL PUMP .
• Refer to REMOVING FRONT AXLE DIFFERENTIAL .
• Refer to REMOVING THE OIL FILTER ELEMENT .
• Refer to REMOVING UPPER OIL SUMP SECTION, ENGINE REMOVED .

• Twist the crankshaft (2)  into the position for disassembly.
• Unscrew both connecting rod bolts (1)  .
• Remove the connecting rod bearing cap (3)  with guide bearing shell.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Screw in the special tools 2 249 164  hand-tight into the threaded connection of the connecting rod bolts (1)  .
• Press out the piston with the connecting rod using special tool 2 249 164  .

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Remove the piston and connecting rod in an upward direction.
• Lever the connecting rod bearing shell (1)  out of the connecting rod bearing cap (see arrows).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Lever out connecting rod bearing (1)  with Irox coating from the connecting rod (see arrows).

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Measure the cylinder path.

Engine in general, bore
		89.014 +0M-0.01 mm

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Piston installation clearance (piston new)
Piston installation clearance (piston new)		0.003... 0.023 mm

Permissible total wear tolerance between piston and cylinder (engine operated)
Piston installation clearance (piston worn)		0.25 mm

• Check the arrangement of the piston rings.

Piston ring (1)  .

Piston ring (2)  .

Oil scraper ring (U-Flex design) (3)  .

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Check 

• Position micrometer in area (A)  and measure piston installation clearance transversely to piston pin.

Piston diameter
Measure the piston diameter at distance (A) from the lower end of the piston skirt.	Distance (A) to the lower end of the piston skirt	18 mm
	Nominal dimension of piston diameter	88.987 +0.02-0.02 mm

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Result 

» Piston does not correspond to the specifications.

Measure

• Replace piston.

• Remove upper and middle piston ring (1)  with a piston ring pliers (2)  .

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Remove oil scraper ring (2)  (U-Flex) by hand over the piston skirt (1)  .

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Compare and evaluate the side clearance values with the setpoint values.
• Clean the ring zone on the piston.
• Insert the piston ring into the annular groove on the piston.

Determine the side clearance values with feeler gauge (1)  .

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Piston ring 1st groove A
Side clearance.		0.02... 0.07 mm

Piston ring 1st groove H
Annular groove height.		1.21... 1.24 mm

Piston ring 2nd groove A
Side clearance.		0.015... 0.06 mm

Piston ring 2nd groove H
Annular groove height.		1.51... 1.53 mm

Piston ring 3rd groove H
Annular groove height.		2.01... 2.03 mm

Piston ring 3. Groove-A DSF ring
Side clearance without spiral expander.		0.02... 0.06 mm

Piston ring 3. Groove-A U-flex ring
Side clearance without spiral expander.		0.02... 0.08 mm

• Use the piston (1)  to push the upper and center piston ring in parallel to the last annular groove (see illustration).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Determine the end clearance, compare to the setpoint value and assess.

• Determine the gap on the piston ring (end clearance) with a suitable feeler gauge (1)  .

If applicable, replace the piston rings.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Piston ring 1st groove S
End clearance.		0.15... 0.30 mm

Piston ring 2nd groove S
End clearance.		0.30... 0.50 mm