Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSBMW1996850CI (E31) V12-5379CC 5.4L SOHC (M73)REPAIR AND DIAGNOSISENGINE, COOLING AND EXHAUSTENGINESERVICE AND REPAIRPROCEDURES
1996 BMW 850Ci (E31) V12-5379cc 5.4L SOHC (M73)
Procedures
1996 BMW 850Ci (E31) V12-5379cc 5.4L SOHC (M73)SECTION Procedures
Observe instructions on disconnecting and connecting battery. Service Precautions
- Switch off ignition.
- Remove battery ground wires.
- Remove fan wheel.
- Rotate through screws 90°. Remove top of cylinder head cover.
- Press clown interlock (2) and remove plug connection (1).
- Unfasten clips (1).
- Unfasten hose clip (2) on inlet hose for air pump.
- Unfasten hose clip (1).
- Disconnect plug connection (2).
- Remove right upper section of intake filter housing with mass air flow sensor.
- Unfasten hose clip (1).
- Disconnect plug connection (2).
- Remove upper section of intake filter housing with mass air flow sensor.
- Unfasten retaining brackets (1 and 2) for top of cylinder head cover, unfasten screws and remove retaining bracket.
- Remove connections (1) lift off cover (2) arid disconnect plug connection (3).
- Designate plug connection of tank vent valves and disconnect plug connection.
- Unfasten clips (1) and remove cover.
- Unfasten screw connection On positive battery lead.
- Disconnect plug connection (1) from camshaft sensor and plug connection (2) in vacuum control unit.
- Disconnect connection (1 and 2) from right ignition coil.
Installation Note: Note wiring harness routing on cover of distributor cap. Fit cable tie.
- Disconnect connections on alternator disconnecting cable ties (1 and 2).
- Connections here illustrated on removed alternator.
- Unfasten plug connection (1).
- Unfasten nut (2).
Installation Note:
Tightening torque:
KI.D+ (M6) = 7 Nm.
KI.B+ (M8) = 13 Nm.
- Unclip and Remove diagnosis receptacle from bracket.
- Unfasten plug connections on actuator motors for throttle valve actuation.
- Unfasten plug connection on cable duct.
1. Knock sensor for cylinders 1 to 3
2. Knock sensor for cylinders 4 to 6
- Unfasten plug connection on cable duct.
1. Knock sensor for cylinders 7 to 9
2. Knock sensors for cylinders 10 to 12
- Unfasten nut at back of cable duct (1).
On rear cable duct:
- Unfasten screw (1) and remove ground strap.
- Unclip and remove cable clip (2) for impulse sensor line.
- Disconnect plug connection on the injection valves.
- Unclip and remove oil drip tray.
- Unfasten pressure hose on pressure pipe on non-return valve for air induction to cylinder bank 7-12.
- Unfasten hose clip Unfasten hose on neck of non-return valve.
- Pressure hose on pressure pipe of non-return valve for air induction of cylinder bank 1-6. Unfasten hose clip. Unfasten hose on neck of non-return valve.
- Pressure hose from air pump on pressure pipe. Unfasten hose clip and remove hose.
- Unscrew pressure pipe (1) from brackets.
- Unfasten nuts (1 and 2) from non-return valve on cylinder bank 1-6 and remove pressure pipe (2) from flange or non-return valve (1). After removal of non-return valve, plug connection can be disconnected from temperature sensor.
Installation location on water pump.
- Unfasten plug connection of temperature Sensor for coolant temperature.
- Unfasten plug Connection from oil level sensor.
Installation Note: Note wiring harness retainers (1 and 2) on cover of distributor cap and on body bracket. Fit cable tie.
- First slide cable duct backwards to remove from front interlock (1) then lift (2).
- The wiring harness is now removed to a point where, for example the Intake air manifold can be removed.
- Disconnect plug connection of impulse sensor on crankshaft(flywheel) for DME control unit on cylinder bank 1-6 (DME 1).
- Disconnect plug connection from impulse sensor on crankshaft (flywheel) for DME control unit on cylinder bank 7-12 (DME 2).
- Unclip and remove lines from brackets on transmission.
- Disconnect plug connection for position switch on automatic transmission.
- Disconnect plug connection for shift unit on automatic transmission.
- Disconnect plug connection on oxygen sensors.
- Disconnect plug connection from Lambda monitor sensors.
- Unfasten nuts (1) on ground wires and disconnect plug connection (2).
- Unfasten screws.
- Remove cover.
- Remove relays (1 to 3) with brackets.
1. Relay for electrical fuel pump (EKP)
2. Relay tar Digital Motor Electronics (DME 1)
3. Relay for Digital Motor Electronics (DME 2)
- Unfasten clips (1) and remove distributor housing for CAN connections.
- Unfasten clips (1) and disconnect plug connection (2).
- Disconnect plug connections (1 to 3).
1. Control unit DME 1
2. Control unit DME 2
3. Control unit EML (Electronic Power Control)
- Unfasten screws and remove bracket (1).
- Disconnect plug connections (1 to 4).
- Remove complete wi1ring harness.
- Switch off ignition.
- Remove battery ground wires.
- Remove fan wheel.
- Rotate through screws 90°. Remove top of cylinder head cover.
- Press clown interlock (2) and remove plug connection (1).
- Unfasten clips (1).
- Unfasten hose clip (2) on inlet hose for air pump.
- Unfasten hose clip (1).
- Disconnect plug connection (2).
- Remove right upper section of intake filter housing with mass air flow sensor.
- Unfasten hose clip (1).
- Disconnect plug connection (2).
- Remove upper section of intake filter housing with mass air flow sensor.
- Unfasten retaining brackets (1 and 2) for top of cylinder head cover, unfasten screws and remove retaining bracket.
- Remove connections (1) lift off cover (2) arid disconnect plug connection (3).
- Designate plug connection of tank vent valves and disconnect plug connection.
- Unfasten clips (1) and remove cover.
- Unfasten screw connection On positive battery lead.
- Disconnect plug connection (1) from camshaft sensor and plug connection (2) in vacuum control unit.
- Disconnect connection (1 and 2) from right ignition coil.
Installation Note: Note wiring harness routing on cover of distributor cap. Fit cable tie.
- Disconnect connections on alternator disconnecting cable ties (1 and 2).
- Connections here illustrated on removed alternator.
- Unfasten plug connection (1).
- Unfasten nut (2).
Installation Note:
Tightening torque:
KI.D+ (M6) = 7 Nm.
KI.B+ (M8) = 13 Nm.
- Unclip and Remove diagnosis receptacle from bracket.
- Unfasten plug connections on actuator motors for throttle valve actuation.
- Unfasten plug connection on cable duct.
1. Knock sensor for cylinders 1 to 3
2. Knock sensor for cylinders 4 to 6
- Unfasten plug connection on cable duct.
1. Knock sensor for cylinders 7 to 9
2. Knock sensors for cylinders 10 to 12
- Unfasten nut at back of cable duct (1).
On rear cable duct:
- Unfasten screw (1) and remove ground strap.
- Unclip and remove cable clip (2) for impulse sensor line.
- Disconnect plug connection on the injection valves.
- Unclip and remove oil drip tray.
- Unfasten pressure hose on pressure pipe on non-return valve for air induction to cylinder bank 7-12.
- Unfasten hose clip Unfasten hose on neck of non-return valve.
- Pressure hose on pressure pipe of non-return valve for air induction of cylinder bank 1-6. Unfasten hose clip. Unfasten hose on neck of non-return valve.
- Pressure hose from air pump on pressure pipe. Unfasten hose clip and remove hose.
- Unscrew pressure pipe (1) from brackets.
- Unfasten nuts (1 and 2) from non-return valve on cylinder bank 1-6 and remove pressure pipe (2) from flange or non-return valve (1). After removal of non-return valve, plug connection can be disconnected from temperature sensor.
Installation location on water pump.
- Unfasten plug connection of temperature Sensor for coolant temperature.
- Unfasten plug Connection from oil level sensor.
Installation Note: Note wiring harness retainers (1 and 2) on cover of distributor cap and on body bracket. Fit cable tie.
- First slide cable duct backwards to remove from front interlock (1) then lift (2).
- The wiring harness is now removed to a point where, for example the Intake air manifold can be removed.
- Disconnect plug connection of impulse sensor on crankshaft(flywheel) for DME control unit on cylinder bank 1-6 (DME 1).
- Disconnect plug connection from impulse sensor on crankshaft (flywheel) for DME control unit on cylinder bank 7-12 (DME 2).
- Unclip and remove lines from brackets on transmission.
- Disconnect plug connection for position switch on automatic transmission.
- Disconnect plug connection for shift unit on automatic transmission.
- Disconnect plug connection on oxygen sensors.
- Disconnect plug connection from Lambda monitor sensors.
- Unfasten nuts (1) on ground wires and disconnect plug connection (2).
- Unfasten screws.
- Remove cover.
- Remove relays (1 to 3) with brackets.
1. Relay for electrical fuel pump (EKP)
2. Relay tar Digital Motor Electronics (DME 1)
3. Relay for Digital Motor Electronics (DME 2)
- Unfasten clips (1) and remove distributor housing for CAN connections.
- Unfasten clips (1) and disconnect plug connection (2).
- Disconnect plug connections (1 to 3).
1. Control unit DME 1
2. Control unit DME 2
3. Control unit EML (Electronic Power Control)
- Unfasten screws and remove bracket (1).
- Disconnect plug connections (1 to 4).
- Remove complete wi1ring harness.
RENDER: 1.0x
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.