
Alternator
brushes,
STARTER
SERVICE
inspecting
and
replacing
Regulator
brushesarenot
available
as
replacement
parts
from
BMW
.
Replacement
brushes
may
be
available
from
af-
termarket
sources,
however
.
1
.
Remove
voltage
regulator
as
described
above
.
2
.
Clean
brush
contact
sürfaces
and
measure
brush
pro-trusion
.
See
Fig
.
7
.
Check
for
battery
voltage
at
terminal
50
of
the
starter
motor
Fig
.
7
.
Regulator
brush
protrusion
(A)
.
with
the
key
in
the
start
position
.
See
Fig
.
8
.
If
voltage
is
not
present,
check
the
wiring
between
the
ignition
switch
and
the
starter
terminal
.
If
voltage
is
present
and
no
other
visible
wir
Voltage
Regulator
ing
faults
can
be
found,
the
problem
is
most
likely
interna¡in
"
Brush
protrusion
(minimum)
.......
.
..
5
mm
(
1
/4
in
.)
the
starter
motor
.
3
.
To
replace
brushes,
carefully
and
as
quickly
as
possi-
ble,
unsolder
brush
lead
from
brush
holder
termina¡,
withdrawing
brush
from
holder
at
same
time
.
4
.
Remove
any
traces
of
solder
frombrush
holder
termi-
nal
using
solder
wick
.
5
.
Fit
spring
into
brush
holder
and
inserí
new
brush
.
6
.
Guide
brush
lead
into
terminal
and
solder
into
place
.
Check
for
free
movement
of
brushes
when
solder
cools
.
7
.
Check
brush
slip
rings
in
alternator
for
wear
.
Lightly
clean
slip
rings
using
fine
abrasive
cloth
.
BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR
121-
7
Starter
Troubleshooting
If
the
starter
tucos
the
engine
slowlyor
fails
to
operate
when
the
ignition
isin
the
start
position,
check
the
battery
first
.
In-
spect
the
starter
wires,
terminals,
and
ground
connections
for
good
contact
.
In
particular,
make
sure
the
ground
connections
between
the
battery,
the
body
and
the
engine
are
completely
clean
and
tight
.
If
no
faults
can
be
found,
the
starter
may
be
faulty
and
should
be
replaced
.
NOTE
-
"
Starting
in1194,
a
factory-installed
drive-away
protec-
tion
system,
alsoreferred
to
as
EWS
or
EWS
11,
was
used
on
all
E36
cars
.
This
system
prevenís
operation
of
the
starter
when
the
system
is
engaged
.
See
515
Central
Locking
and
Anti-theft
.
"
On
cars
with
automatic
transmission,
a
starter
relay
and
a
neutral
safetyswitchare
used
to
present
theen-
ginefrom
starting
in
gear
positions
other
than
park
or
neutral
.
ff
voltage
is
not
present
atterminal
50
with
the
key
in
the
startposition,
check
these
components
To
make
the
most
accurate
check
of
the
battery
cables
and
starterwiring,
make
a
voltage
drop
test
on
the
cables
and
wir-
ing
as
described
in
600
Electrical
System-General
.
Terminal
30
'
\
/
Terminal
30h
0012518
8
.
Reinstall
regulator
and
alternator
.
Fig
.
8
.
Typical
starterwiring
terminal
identification
.
Large
wireat
ter-
minal
30
is
direct
battery
voltage
.
Smaller
wire
at
terminal
50
operates
starter
solenoid
via
ignition
switch
.
STARTER
SERVICE

121-
8
BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR
1f
the
solenoid
audibly
cliicks
but
the
motor
does
not
turn,
Starter,
removing
and
installing
switch
on
the
lights
andtum
the
key
to
the
start
position
.
lf
the
(6-cylinder
engine
with
lights
go
out
while
attempting
to
start,
the
battery
cable
may
be
manual
transmission)
loose
or
the
starter
may
have
a
short
circuit
.
If
the
lights
stay
on,the
solenoid
is
most
likely
atfault
.
The
starter
on
a
6-cylinder
car
with
manual
transmission
is
Starter,
removing
and
installing
(4-cylinder
engine)
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
battery
cable
.
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.
CAUTION-
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.
2
.
Remove
guide
tube
for
oil
dipstick
.
3
.
Raise
vehicle
.
WARNING
-
Make
sure
the
car
ís
stable
and
wefl
supported
at
all
times
.
Use
a
professional
automotive
lift
or
jack
stands
designed
forthe
purpose
.
A
floor
jack
is
not
adequate
support
.
4
.
Disconnect
wiring
from
starter
.
5
.
Remove
top
and
bottom
starter
bolts
.
Bottom
bolt
must
be
removed
from
below
car
.
Remove
starter
support
bracket,
if
applicable
.
removed
from
below
.
2
.
Raise
vehicle
.
3
.
Remove
reinforcing
cross
bracefromunder
transmís-
sion,
if
applicable
.
4
.
Remove
cover
from
fuel
filter
and
fuel
lines
on
left
side
underneath
car,
if
applicable
.
Detach
fuel
lines
and
har-
ness
connectors
from
retainingbrackets,
as
necessary
5
.
Disconnect
wiring
from
starter
.
6
.
Loosen
andremove
bolts
and
nuts
fastening
starter
to
transmission
bell
housing
and/or
engine
block
.
Remove
starter
supportbracket
.
7
.
Remove
starter
from
below
.
8
.
Check
starter
pinion
gear
and
flywheel
teeth
for
dam-
age
.
9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
6
.
Pull
starter
downward
and
turn
until
solenoid
is
at
top,
Tightening
Torques
then
remove
from
car
.
"
Re¡
nforcing
cross
brace
to
chassis
(M10)
..
...............
42
Nm
(31
ft-Ib)
7
.
>Check
starter
pinion
gear
and
flywheel
teeth
for
dam-
"
Starter
to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
...
50
Nm
(37
ft-Ib)
age
.
"
Support
bracket
to
starter
(M5
nut)
...
5
Nm
(44
in-lb)
"
Support
bracket
8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
.........
47
Nm
(35
ft-Ib)
"
Wire
to
terminal
50
(M6
nut)
.........
6
Nm
(53
ín-Ib)
"
Wire
to
terminal
30
(M8
nut)
.........
12
Nm
(9
ft-lb)
Tightening
Torques
"
Starter
to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
...
50
Nm
(37
ft-lb)
Wire
to
terminal
50
(M6
nut)
........
6
Nm
(53
in-lb)
"
Wire
toterminal
30
(M8
nut)
...
,
..:.
12
Nm
(9
ft-Ib)
STARTER
SERVICE

Starter,
removing
and
installing
(6-cylinder
engine
with
automatic
transmission)
The
starter
on
a
6-cylinder
car
with
automatic
transmission
ís
removed
from
above
.
It
is
necessary
to
remove
the
íntake
manifold
and
disconnect
a
number
of
electrical
harness
con-
nectors
.
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
battery
cable
.
2
.
Remove
air
plenum
from
rear
of
engine
compartment
.
See640
Heating
and
Air
Conditioning
.
3
.
Remove
top
enginecovers
.
See
Fig
.
9
.
Fig
.
9
.
Remove
top
engine
cover
by
prying
out
plugs
and
removing
nuts
(A)
.
Make
sure
rubber
insulators
(B)
on
either
sideof
large
cover
do
not
fall
off
during
cover
removal
.
4
.
Remove
ignition
coil
harness
connectors
.
Remove
ground
connection
at
front
of
cylinder
head
.
5
.
Remove
two
retaining
bolts
and
lift
off
fuel
injector
har-
ness
connector
strip
.
Carefully
fold
away
all
harnesses
toward
right
side
of
engine
compartment
and
place
at
base
of
windshield
.
See
Fig
.
10
.
6
.
Remove
intake
manifold
.
See
113
Cylinder
Head
Re-
moval
and
Installation
.
7
.
Disconnect
wiring
from
starter
.
BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR
121-
9
Fig
.
10
.
Fuel
injection
harness
(A)
and
ignition
coíl
harness
connectors
(B)
being
lifted
off
engine
to
be
placed
at
base
ofwindshield
.
M50
engine
shown
.
Other
6-cylinder
engines
are
similar
.
8
.
Loosen
and
remove
bolts
and
nuts
fastening
starter
to
transmission
bell
housing
and/or
engine
block
.
Remove
starter
support
bracket
.
Fig
.
11
.
Starter
wiring
terminals
and
support
bracket(arrow)
.
Intake
manifold
has
been
removed
.
STARTER
SERVICE

NOTE
-
Sometimes
the
color
of
en
installed
wire
may
be
differ-
ent
than
the
one
on
the
wiring
diagram
.
Don't
be
con-
cerned
.
Just
be
sure
lo
confirm
that
the
wire
connects
lo
the
proper
terminals
.
Wire
color
codes
"
BLU
.........
.
..
..
...
.
.................
Blue
"
BRN
....:....
.
..
..
...
..
...............
Brown
"
YEL
.........
.
..
..
...................
.Yellow
"
GRN
.........
.
..
..
...
.
................
creen
"
G
RY
.......
.
.
.
..
..
.....................
G
ray
"
ORG
.........
.
..
..
...
.
..............
.Orange
"
RED
......
...
.
.
..
.....................
.Red
"
BLK
.........
.
..
..
...
.
................
Black
"
VIO
..........
.
..
...
..
..
.......
.
.......
Violet
"
WHT
.........
.
.
....
.
...
:..............
White
Table
a
.
Terminal
and
Circuit
Numbers
Number
1
Circuít
description
1
j
Low
voltage
switched
terminal
of
coi¡
4
1
High
voltage
center
termina¡
of
coi¡
+x
Originates
atignition
switch
.
Supplies
powerwhen
the
ignition
switch
is
in
the
PARK,
RUN,
or
START
position
15
Originates
atignition
switch
.
Supplies
powerwhen
ignition
switch
is
in
RUN
or
START
position
30
Battery
positive
(+)
voltage
.
Supplies
power
whenever
battery
is
connected
.
(Not
dependent
on
ignition
switch
position,
unfused)
31
1
Ground,
battery
negative
(-)
terminal
50
Supplies
power
from
battery
to
starter
solenoid
when
ignition
switch
isin
START
position
only
+54
Originates
atignition
switch
.
Supplies
power
when
ignition
switch
isin
the
RUN
position
only
85
1
Ground
side
(-)
ofrelay
coil
86
1
Power-in
side
(+)
ofrelay
coil
87
1
Relay
actuatedcontact
D
Alternator
warning
light
and
field
energizing
circuit
ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM-GENERAL
600-
3
Additional
abbreviations
shown
in
the
wiring
diagrams
are
given
below
.
Abbreviations
"
ABS
........
.
...
.
...
.
..........
antilock
brakes
"
A/C
........
.
...
..
..
.
.........
.airconditioning
"
AST/ASC+T
.......
...
.
.
.......
al¡
season
traction
"
CONV
.......
.
.
...
.................
convertible
"
DME
........
.
.
...
.......
digital
motor
electronics
"
ECM
.......
.
...
..
..
.
..
electronic
control
module
"
EWS/EWS
II
......
...
.
.
coded
driveaway
protection
"
SRS
........
.
supplemental
restraint
system-airbag
"
TCM
........
.
..
....
.
transmission
control
module
"
ZKE
(94-98
models)
..
..
.
...
central
body
electronics
"
ZVM
(92-93
models)
...
.
.
..
.
.......
central
locking
ELECTRICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING
Most
terminals
are
identified
by
numbers
on
the
compo-
nents
and
harness
connectors
.
The
terminal
numbers
for
ma-
Four
things
are
required
for
current
toflow
in
any
electrical
jor
electrical
connections
are
shown
in
the
diagrams
.
Though
circuit
:
a
voltagesource,
wires
or
connections
to
transport
the
many
terminal
numbers
appear
only
once,
severa¡other
num-
voltage,
a
load
or
device
that
uses
the
electricity,
and
a
con-
bers
appear
in
numerous
places
throughout
the
electrical
sys-
nection
to
ground
.
Most
problemscanbefound
using
a
digital
tem
and
identify
certain
types
ofcircuits
.
Some
of
the
most
multimeter
(volt/ohm/amp
meter)to
check
for
voltage
supply,
common
circuit
numbers
are
listed
below
in
Table
a
.
for
breaks
in
the
wiring
(infinite
resistance/no
continuity),
orfor
a
path
to
ground
that
completesthe
circuit
.
Electric
current
is
logical
in
its
flow,
always
moving
from
the
voltage
sourcetoward
ground
.
Electricalfaults
can
usually
be
located
through
a
process
of
elimination
.
When
troubleshoot-
ing
a
complex
circuit,
separate
the
circuit
into
smaller
parts
.
The
general
testsoutlined
below
may
be
helpful
in
finding
electrical
problems
.
The
information
is
most
helpful
when
used
with
the
wiring
diagrams
.
Be
sure
to
analyze
the
problem
.
Use
the
wiring
diagrams
to
determine
the
most
likely
cause
.
Getan
understanding
of
how
the
circuit
works
by
following
the
circuit
from
groundback
to
the
power
source
.
When
making
test
connections
at
connectors
andcompo-
nents,
use
care
to
avoidspreading
or
damaging
the
connec-
tors
or
terminals
.
Some
tests
may
require
jumper
wires
to
bypass
components
or
connections
in
the
wiring
harness
.
When
connecting
jumper
wires,
use
bladeconnectors
at
the
wire
ends
that
match
the
size
of
the
terminal
being
tested
.
The
small
interna¡
contacts
are
easily
spread
apart,
and
this
can
cause
intermittent
or
faultyconnections
that
can
leadto
more
problems
.
ELECTRICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING