Repair manuals and video tutorials on BMW 5 Series

Engine

• Soot buildup on piston grooves and rings occurs early. This causes excessive motor oil consumption, breakdown of an EGR valve and engine overheating. In this case, entrust the repairs to professionals. Our tip: use only high-quality fuel and replace the fuel filter in due time. You can easily do this in your garage with our step-by-step video tutorial on BMW 5 series repair.
• After 80,000–100,000 kilometres, the crankcase ventilation valve on E39 and E60 cars may get clogged. Increased motor oil consumption, black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe and bad acceleration dynamics are typical symptoms of this malfunction. The new part should be installed at a service station.
• E61 cars have a known issue with swirl flaps in the intake manifold wearing out prematurely. Do not ignore scheduled vehicle inspections to detect this malfunction in time.  Do-it-yourself replacement of these parts is quite difficult to perform, so it’s better to seek qualified assistance.
• A turbocharger on the M47 diesel engine does not have a sufficiently long service life. When it fails, it causes significant engine power loss. You can prevent the problem yourself by replacing engine oil within the scheduled intervals. Look through our step-by-step manual on BMW 5 series repair and maintenance for the exact procedure. Always replace the oil filter together with the engine oil.

Transmission

• Premature breakdown of the clutch is specific for cars with electrohydraulic manual transmission SMG. Only service station mechanics should replace the clutch.
• The mechatronic unit on certain automatic transmissions breaks down fast. Increased consumption of transmission fluid indicates this malfunction. Monitor the transmission fluid level and replace it in due time to extend the working lifespan of your gearbox. Our video tutorial, available for free download will help you with this task.
• In the 6-speed ZF automatic transmission, the oil pan may deform due to temperature variations. To avoid more serious damage, you need to replace this part. Study our illustrated PDF manual on BMW 5 series repair to learn how.

Suspension

• Rear pneumatic suspension on estate car versions requires servicing after 150,000 kilometres. Specialists recommend replacing air springs and a compressor at a service station when you reach this mileage.
• Shock absorbers, front arm bushes and ball joints on E60 cars may fail after 120,000–150,000 kilometres. If you notice body roll in cornering and hear knocking from the suspension, the time has come for DIY repair and maintenance of your BMW 5 series.