Specifications

Body Gap Dimensions

The body of the BMW 5 Series is of unitized (load-bearing) construction. The underbody group, side panels, roof and rear fenders are welded together into a single structure. The front and rear windows are bonded in place. Repair of significant damage, as well as replacement of the glass, must be performed at an authorized service center.

The hood, trunk lid, doors and front fenders are attached with bolted connections and can be easily replaced.

Along with removal of body components, this section also describes removal of interior components, such as seats and trim panels. Many of the above-mentioned body components are secured with so-called Torx screws, which require a special screwdriver to loosen.

Safety precautions when performing body work

• When welding or performing other work that generates sparks near the battery, the battery must be disconnected.

• Do not weld or solder with soft or hard solder on refrigerant-filled components of the air conditioning system if there is a risk of heating.

* Do not open the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system.

• Body parts subjected to heavy corrosion are galvanized. Do not grind off the zinc coating before welding (the coating may be removed only when brazing with hard solder). In this case, increase the welding current by 10%.

* Welding galvanized sheet metal produces zinc oxides. Safety requirements call for good ventilation of the welding area.

• The PVC underbody protective coating at the weld location must be cleaned with a wire brush and, after heating with hot air to a temperature of +180°C, removed with a scraper. When PVC coating is heated above 180°C, hydrochloric acid is formed, which is highly corrosive. In addition, vapors harmful to health are produced.

• Do not heat the vehicle in a special oven to a temperature above +80°C. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to electronic components.

Body Care

The condition of the body is an extremely important factor in determining the vehicle's resale value. Restoring damaged or neglected body components is significantly more difficult than repairing mechanical components. Hidden body areas, such as wheel arches, frame and engine compartment, also require care, although they do not require attention as frequently as other body components.

Once a year or every 20,000 km (12,000 miles) of mileage, it is advisable to steam clean the internal surfaces of the body. After removing all traces of dirt, oil and grease, the surfaces can be inspected for corrosion, damage to brake lines, wear of wiring insulation, damage to control cables and other faults. Upon completion of this work, lubricate the front suspension components.

At the same time, steam clean or wash the external surfaces of the engine and engine compartment with a degreasing agent.

Particular attention must be paid to the wheel arches, since the protective coating may separate from the inner surfaces, and small stones and sand particles thrown up by the tires will damage the paint and, as a result, cause corrosion of the panels. If traces of corrosion (rust) are found, they must be removed down to bare metal, and the surface coated with anti-corrosion paint.

The body should be washed approximately once a week. Thoroughly soak the body surfaces to soften dirt, then wash it off with a soft sponge or a stream of water. Careless removal of stuck-on dirt may damage the outer layer of paint.

Tar or asphalt spots that get onto the body from heated road surfaces can and must be removed with a rag moistened with solvent.

Wax the body and chrome trim every six months. Keep in mind that when cleaners are used on chrome surfaces to remove corrosion, part of the chrome plating will also be removed. Try not to use such solutions too liberally.

Care of Vinyl Trim Panels

Do not use laundry detergents, caustic soda or gasoline-based cleaners to clean vinyl panels. Ordinary soap mixed with warm water is ideal for this purpose. Ingrained dirt is removed easily with a soft brush (with water and soap). Vinyl panels should be cleaned with the same frequency as the other body surfaces of the vehicle.

After cleaning, applying high-quality protective compounds for rubber and plastics helps prevent oxidation and cracking of the panels. The same compounds can be used to treat the door seal strips, vacuum lines and rubber hoses, which are often damaged by environmental chemical exposure. These solutions are also suitable for treating tires.

Care of Upholstery and Floor Mats

Every three months, remove the floor mats and carpets and clean the interior trim panels of the vehicle (if necessary, this procedure may be performed more often). To remove dust and debris, as well as to clean floor mats and carpets, a stiff brush or broom can be used. Afterwards, thoroughly vacuum the mats and interior upholstery, especially along seams and folds.

Ingrained dirt can be removed from mats using household or automotive shampoos sold in aerosol form. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, then vacuum the mats and brush them with a stiff brush to fluff the pile.

Most interior trim panels are covered with vinyl upholstery, for which a wide range of special cleaners and shampoos is available—ask at automotive accessory stores. Follow the manufacturers' instructions, and before performing a full cleaning, test the new product on a hidden area of the upholstery (for example, the underside of the cushions or the lower edge of the seatbacks) to determine whether it causes discoloration or other undesirable effects.

After cleaning, the vinyl upholstery must be treated with a protective compound.

* Before using a product on the seats, read the product label—not all of them are suitable for this purpose, as some make the seats too slippery.

* Do not apply protective compounds to the vinyl steering wheel cover.

Leather upholstery requires special care. It should be cleaned regularly using saddle soap or special cleaning products. Never attempt to remove stains from leather upholstery using alcohol, gasoline, nail polish remover or leather treatment solvent.

After cleaning, regularly treat leather upholstery with special conditioners, which should be rubbed in with a soft cotton cloth. Never attempt to treat leather upholstery with wax intended for body panels.

When leaving the vehicle parked in the sun for extended periods, try to cover the illuminated areas of the leather seat upholstery with something.