1998 BMW 540i Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1998 BMW 540i covers the four-door sedan in Base trim with the 4.4L V8, a naturally aspirated double-overhead-cam gasoline engine. With one drivetrain to describe, the book can be specific where it counts: the V8's assembly and timing, its cooling and lubrication, the final drive behind it, and the chassis and body systems that carry the weight of a large sedan, each with its own procedures and specifications.

Engines covered

• 4.4L V8 — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sedan

Trims covered

• Base

Known issues on the 1998 540i. One recall is on the federal record: the pinion shaft inside the differential was produced without proper surface hardening, so it wears early, announces itself as noise from the rear of the car and can eventually break and leave the vehicle without drive. Owners have logged 26 complaints, 16 of them on the engine and cooling system, with two each on latches and linkages and on the structure. Differential overhaul, cooling system service and body hardware adjustment are all specified in this manual.