36 10 300 Removing or installing front or rear wheel

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 2003 BMW 540i, 2002 BMW 540i, 2001 BMW 540i, 2000 BMW 540i, and 1999 BMW 540i. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

36 1 250

IMPORTANT: Wheel was balanced electronically.

Observe the following in order to avoid positioning errors and imbalance:

Loosen wheel bolts.
Wheel positioned with valve facing down.
If several wheels are removed at the same time, mark the installation location of the wheels on the tires (e.g. with chalk).
Mark out wheel to wheel hub.
Mark out lockable wheel bolt in relation to wheel.
Release wheel bolts and remove wheel.

Fig 1: Releasing Wheel Bolts And Remove Wheel

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Contact faces between brake disk and disk wheel and between brake disk and wheel hub must be free of grease.

Remove dirt, grease residues and corrosion from contact face (1) with a drill and special tool 36 1 250.

IMPORTANT: Do not operate special tool 36 1 250 with an impact screwdriver!

NOTE: Degrease contact face with universal cleaner.

NOTE: If there are grease residues in the area of the wheel stud bore, the brake disk must be removed and cleaned.

Fig 2: Removing Dirt, Grease Residues And Corrosion From Contact Face

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove dirt, grease residues and corrosion from contact face (1) with a drill and special tool 36 1 250.

IMPORTANT: Do not operate special tool 36 1 250 with an impact screwdriver!

NOTE: Degrease contact face with universal cleaner.

Fig 3: Removing Dirt, Grease Residues And Corrosion From Contact Face

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Check brake disk retaining bolt (1) for secure seating.

IMPORTANT: Brake disk retaining bolt must under no circumstances protrude over contact face (2) between brake disk and disk wheel.

Tightening torque, brake disk retaining screw,

Front axle, refer to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

Rear axle, refer to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

Fig 4: Checking Brake Disk Retaining Bolt For Secure Seating

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Apply a thin coat of grease to wheel centering (1) in disk wheel.

Fig 5: Applying Thin Coat Of Grease To Wheel Centering In Disk Wheel

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Wheel studs with taper:

Wheel bolt - galvanized
Wheel bolt - black chrome plated
Wheel bolt - black chrome plated and lockable
Lockable wheel stud with adapter, black chrome-plated

Fig 6: Identifying Wheel Studs With Taper
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: To release and tighten down lockable wheel stud, use a matching adapter from special tool 36 1 300 (wheel stud adapter set).

Clean wheel bolts and check threads for damage, replace, if necessary.

Replace rusty wheel bolts.

IMPORTANT: Do not apply oil to new wheel bolts.

In the case of used wheel bolts, apply an extremely thin coating of engine oil to the threads and tapers before reinstalling them.

IMPORTANT: Under no circumstances use pneumatic or power screwdrivers to install and tighten the wheel bolts.

IMPORTANT: Disk wheel must rest uniformly against brake disk.

Screw in wheel studs and, to center disk wheel, tighten down by hand diagonally and evenly.

Using torque wrench, firmly tighten wheel studs in diagonal and even sequence.

Tightening torque, refer to 36 10 1AZ in WHEEL AND TIRES - TIGHTENING TORQUES - 540i .

Fig 7: Tightening Wheel Studs In Diagonal And Even Sequence

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.