1992 BMW 325i air flow

010-
6



FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-ITYOURSELF
OWNER

In
places
where
a
shaft
mustpass
through
a
housing,
flexible
lip
seals
areused
to
keep
the
lubricating
oil
or
grease
from
leak-

ingout
past
the
rotating
shaft
.
Seals
should
never
be
reused

once
they
have
been
removed
.
When
removing
a
seal,
be
care-
ful
not
lo
scratch
or
otherwise
damage
the
metal
surfaces
.
Even
minor
damage
to
sealing
surfaces
can
cause
sea¡
damage
and
leakage
.

The
key
to
sea¡
installation
is
to
get
the
sea¡
in
straight
without

damaging
¡t
.
Use
a
sea¡
driver
that
is
the
same
diameter
as
the
seal
housing
to
gently
and
evenly
insta¡I
into
place
.
If
a
proper
size
seal
driver
is
not
available,
a
socket
of
the
right
size
will
do
.

When
installing
a
seal,
¡t
a
good
idea
to
coat
the
sea¡
with
o¡I

to
aid
installation
.
Some
seals
are
directional
and
special
instal-
lation
instructions
apply
.
Make
sure
¡t
is
installed
with
the
lip
fac-
ing
the
correct
way
.
Normally
the
lip
faces
the
inside
.
Note
the
installation
direction
of
the
old
sea¡before
removing
¡t
.

Electrical
Testing

Many
electrical
problems
canbe
understood
and
solved
with
only
a
little
fundamental
knowledge
of
how
electrical
circuits



Insulate
the
finished
connection
.
Electronics
stores
can
sup-
function
.



ply
heat-shrinkable
insulating
tubing
that
can
be
placed
onto
the
wire
before
connectiog,
slid
over
the
finished
joint,
and
Electric
current
only
flows
in
a
complete
circuit
.
To
operate,



shrunk
to
a
tight
fit
with
a
heat
gun
orhair
dryer
.
The
nextbest
every
electrical
device
in
thecar
requires
a
complete
circuit
in-



alternative
is
electrical
tape
.
Make
sure
the
wire
is
clean
and
cluding
a
voltage
source
and
a
pathto
ground
.
The
positive
(+)



free
ofsolder
flux
or
other
contamination
.
Wrap
the
joint
tightly
side
of
the
battery
is
the
original
voltagesource,
and
ground
is
to
sea¡
out
moisture
.
See
600
Electrical-General
for
more
in-
any
retum
path
to
the
negative
()
-
side
ofth
e
battery°
whether
li



formation
.
through
the
wiring
harness
or
thecar
body
.
Except
for
portions
of
the
charging
system,
al¡
electrical
current
in
the
car
is
direct
current
(DC)
and
flows
from
positive
(+)
to
negative
(-)
.



BVYING
PART$

Switches
are
used
to
turn
components
on
or
off
by
complet-
ing
or
interrupting
#he
circuit
.
A
switch
is
"open"
when
the
circuit



Many
of
the
maíntenance
and
repair
tasks
in
this
manual
cal¡
is
ínterrupted,
and
"closed"
when
the
circuit
is
completed
.
Fig
.
5



for
the
installation
of
new
parte,
or
the
use
of
new
gaskets
and

shows
a
basic
circuit
schematic
.
See600
Electrical
System-



other
materials
when
reinstalling
parts
.
Most
often,
the
parts

General
for
electrical
troubleshooting
.



that
will
be
needed
should
be
on
hand
beforebeginningthe
job
.
Read
the
introductory
text
and
the
complete
procedure
to
de-
termine
which
parts
will
be
needed
.

B029ELG

Fig
.
5
.



Schematic
representation
of
simple
circuit
for
light
bulb
.
Igni-
tion
switch
is
shown
closed,
making
circuit
complete
.

BVYING
PARTS

Wire
Repairs

Repairs
to
a
wiring
harness
requirespecial
care
to
make
the

repair
permanent
.
The
wire
endsmust
be
clean
.
lf
frayedor
oth-

erwise
damaged,
cut
off
the
end
.
If
the
wire
is
too
short,
splice
in

a
new
piece
of
wire
of
the
same
size
and
make
two
connec-
tions
.

Use
connectors
that
are
designed
for
the
purpose
.
Crimped-

on
or
soldered-onconnectors
are
best
.
Crimp
connectors
and

special
crimping
pliers
are
widely
available
.
If
soldering,
use

needlenose
pliers
tohold
the
wire
near
the
solder
joint
and
cre-
ate
a
"heat
dam"
.
This
keeps
the
heat
and
the
solder
from
trav-
eling
up
the
wire
.
Always
use
a
solder
made
specifically
for
electrical
work
(rosin
core)
.

NOTE-

Twisting
wirestogether
to
make
a
repair
is
not
recom-
mended
.
Corrosion
and
vibration
will
eventually
spoil
the
connection
and
may
lead
to
irreparable
damage
to
sensitive
electronic
componente
.

NOTE-

For
some
bigger
jobs,
partial
disassembly
and
inspec-
tion
are
required
to
determine
acomplete
parts
list
.
Read
the
procedure
carefully
and,
if
necessary,
make
other
arrangements
to
get
the
necessary
parts
while
your
car
is
disassembled
.

Genuine
BMW
Parts

Genuine
BMW
replacement
parts
from
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
are
designed
and
manufactured
lo
the
same
high
stan-
dards
as
the
original
parts
.
They
will
be
the
correct
material,
manufactured
to
the
same
specifications,
and
guaranteed
lo
fit
and
work
as
intended
by
the
engineers
who
designed
thecar
.
Some
genuine
BMW
parts
have
a
limited
warranty
.

If
steam
is
coming
from
the
engine
compartment
thenthere
is



With
the
engine
and
ignition
off,
check
for
loose
or
corroded
most
likely
a
burst
coolant
hose
or
a
large
leak
in
the
cooling



battery
cables
or
wires
at
the
battery
or
thealtemator
.
Discon-
system
.
To
find
the
leak,
look
for
signs
of
coolant
leakage
on



necting,
cleaning,
and
reinstalling
corroded
wires
and
connec-
hoses,
at
hose
connections,
or
on
the
radiator
.
Let
theengine



tors
may
solve
the
problem
.
Also
check
drive
belt
tension
as
cool
thoroughly,
then
add
coolant
or
water
to
fill
the
system
and



described
in
020
Maintenance
Program
.
start
the
engine
.
If
a
great
deal
of
water
or
coolant
flows
out
of
the
hole,
then
thecarshouldnot
be
driven
until
repairs
are
made
.
lf
there
is
slight
seepage,
then
it
may
be
possible
to
drive



TOWi
ng

a
short
distance,
adding
coolant
as
needed
.
The
cars
covered
by
this
manual
should
be
towed
witha
tow
truck
using
wheel
lift
or
flat
bed
equipment
.
Do
not
tow
thecar
on
all
four
wheels
except
for
very
short
distances
to
move
it
to
a
safe
place
.
If
thered
engine
oil
pressure
warning
light
illuminates,
imme-
diately
stop
thecar
and
turn
off
the
engine
.
Have
the
vehicle



A
towing
eye
is
provided
in
the
luggage
compartment
tool
kit
.
flat-bedded
or
towed
to
an
authorized
service
center
and
have



The
towing
eye
can
be
screwed
into
the
front
or
rear
bumper
.
the
engine
oil
pressure
checked
.



See
Fig
.
18
and
Fig
.
19
.

Low
Oil
Pressure

NOTE-

Detafed
information
on
checking
the
oil
pressure
is
covered
ín
119
Lubrication
System
.

Brake
Fluid
Leve¡

The
brake
fluid
leve¡
warning
light
may
bean
indicator
of
brake
fluid
loss
.
Problems
with
the
brakesystem
should
be
checked
and
repaired
immediately
.
See
340Brakes
for
more

information
.

Check
Engine
Warning
Light

Dim
Lights

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER



010-13

If
the
"CHECK
ENGI
NE"
warning
light
comes
on
or
flashes,
it
indicates
that
an
emissions-related
fault
has
occurred
.
Faults
suchas
a
failed
oxygen
sensor
or
a
faultyfuelinjector
can
tum

the
light
on,
causing
the
exhaust
or
evaporative
emissions
to

exceed
a
specified
limit
.
The
engine
can
be
safely
driven
with

the
light
on,
although
the
emission
systems
should
be
checked

assoonas
possible
.
See
100
Engine-General
for
more
infor-

mation
on
the
Check
Engine
Light
and
the
On-board
diagnostic

system
.

Headlights
and
instrument
panel
illuminationthat
are
dim
or

gradually
getting
dimmer
generally
indicate
a
problem
with
the

battery
or
charging
system
.
The
battery
charge
indicator
light

may
come
on
as
the
lights
are
dimming
.
In
either
case,
theen-

gine
and
accessories
are
running
off
of
the
battery
alone,
and

will
soon
discharge
it
altogether
.

If
possible,
do
not
stop
the
engine
unless
you
have
the
capa-

bility
to
jump
start
¡t
.
There
may
not
be
enough
power
in
the

starting
system
torestart
the
engine
.
Instead,turn
off
as
many

electrical
consumers
as
possible
.
This
will
reduce
the
current

drain
and
will
allow
thecar
to
be
driven
farther
before
you
lose

all
battery
power
.

Fig
.
18
.
Pry
open
rear
tow
lúg
access
panel
.

When
towingthecar
from
the
front
with
the
rear
wheelson

the
ground,
a
maximum
distance
of
20
miles
is
acceptable
.
If

thecar
needs
to
be
towed
further,
have
the
rear
wheels
placed
on
dollies
.

CA
UTION-

"
Do
not
tow
with
sling-type
equipment
The
front
spoilers
andbumper
covers
may
sustain
dam-
age
.

"
Towínga
BMW
with
an
automatic
transmission
with
the
rear
wheelson
the
ground
can
resuft
in
transmission
damage
due
to
lackof
lubrication
and
should
be
avoided
.

0013128

EMERGENCIES

GENERAL
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
100-1

Cylinder
Block
and
Crankshaft
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
100-1

Connecting
Rods
and
Pistons
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-1

Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-2

VANOS
(Variable
Valve
Timing)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
100-2

DISA
(Dual
Resonance
Intake
System)
.
.
.
.
.
100-3

Engine
Management
System
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-3

Ignition
......
.
.
.
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

Fuel
Delivery
..
.
.
.
.....
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

Cooling
System
.
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
100-5

Lubrication
System
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

MECHANICALTROUBLESHOOTING
.
.
.
.
100-5

Warnings
and
Cautions
..
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

Cylinder
compression,
checking
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-6

EngineMechanical
Troubleshooting
Table
.
.
.
100-7

DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING
...
100-8

GENERAL

There
are
various
engíne
configurations
used
in
the
1992-

1998
E36
cars
.
See
Table
a
.

On
both
four-
and
6-cylinder
engines,
the
cylinder
block
is

cast
¡ron
with
integral
cyiinders
.
The
cyiinders
are
exposed
on

all
sides
to
circulating
coolant
.

The
fully
counterweighted
crankshaft
rotates
in
replaceable

split-shell
main
bearings
.
Oiiways
drilled
into
the
crankshaft
pro-

vide
bearing
lubrication
.
O¡I
seals
pressed
into
alloy
sea¡
hous-

ings
are
installedat
both
ends
of
the
crankshaft
.

100
Engine-General

Tablea
.
Engine
Specifications

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-1

On-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-8

Basic
Requirements
....
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.100-11

Preventive
Maintenance
......
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-11

Basic
Engine
Settings
..
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-11

Oxygen
Sensors
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.100-11

Air
Flow
Measurement
and
Vacuum
Leaks
.
.100-12

Battery
Voltage
.
.
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-12

Wiring
and
Harness
Connections
.
.
.
.
.....
100-13

Ground
Connections
...
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-13

Fue¡
Supply
....
.
...........
.
.
..
.....
.100-14

TABLES

a
.
Engine
Specifications
...
...
...........
.
..
..
.100-1

b
.
Engine
Management
Systems
..
..
...........
..
100-5

c
.
Engine
Mechanical
Troubleshooting
..........
.
.
100-8

d
.
OBD
1
Fault
(Blink)
Codes
(1992-1995
models
only)
.
...
..
..
..........
..
.100-9
e
.
Engine
Driveability
Troubleshooting
...........
.100-15
Model



Engine
code



No
.
of



Dispiacement



Compression



Horsepower
cyiinders



liters
(cu
.
in
.)



ratio



SAE
net
@
rpm

318i/is/¡C
1992-1995



M42



4



1
.8
(109
.6)



10
.0
:1



100
@
6000
1996-1998



M44



4



1
.9
(115
.6)



~
10
.0
:1



103
@
6000

323ís/iC
1998



M52



6



2
.5
(152
.2)



10
.5
:1



168
@
5,500

325i/is/iC
1992-1995



M50



6



2
.5
(152
.2)



10
.0
:1



110
@
5,900

328i/is/iC
1996-1998



M52



6



2
.8
(170
.4)



10
.2
:1



190
@
5,300

M3
1995



S50US



6



3
.0
(182
.5)



10
.5:1



240
@
6,000
1996-1998



S52US



6



3
.2
(192
.3)



10
.5:1



240
@
6,000
Cylinder
Block
and
Crankshaft



Connecting
Rods
and
Pistons

The
forged
connecting
rods
use
replaceable
split-shell

bearings
at
the
crankshaft
endand
solid
bushings
at
the
pis-

ton
pin
end
.
The
pistonsare
of
the
three-ring
typewith
two
up-
per
compression
rings
and
a
lowerone-piece
o¡i
scraper
ring
.

Fui¡-floating
piston
pins
are
retained
with
circlips
.

GENERAL

100-2
ENGINE-GENERAL

Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain

The
aluminum
cylinder
head
uses
chain-driven
double
overhead
camshafts
and
four
valves
per
cylinder
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

The
cylinder
head
employs
a
crossflow
design
for
greater

power
and
efficiency
.
Intake
air
enters
the
combustion
cham-

ber
from
one
side
while
exhaust
gasses
exit
from
the
other
.

Oílways
in
the
head
provide
lubrication
for
the
camshafts)
and
valvetrain
.

Fig
.
1
.



M52
twin-cam,
4-valve-per-cylinder
engine
with
hydraulíc
lift-
ers
.

On
all
engines
exceptthe
M44
engine,
valveclearance
is
by
seif-adjusting
hydraulic
lifters
.
On
M44
engines,
instead
of
hy-

draulic
lifters,
hydraulic
pedestaisare
used
in
combination
with
roller
rocker
arms
to
actuate
the
valves
.
Hydraulic
pedes-
tals
have
the
same
function
as
hydraulic
lifters,
which
ís
to
maintain
zero
valve
clearance,
reduce
valve
noise,
and
elimí-
nate
routíne
adjustment
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

VANOS
(Variable
Valve
Timing)

GENERAL

1
.
Camshafts
2
.
Rocker
arms
3
.
Hydraulic
valve
adjusters
(HVA)
4
.
Valve
and
conical
valve
spring

4

Fig
.
2
.



Cross
sectionof
M44
twin-cam,
4-valve-per-cylinder
head
.
Note
function
of
hydraulíc
pedestal
in
combination
with
rock-er
arm
(with
roller
bearing
for
reduced
friction)
.

The
main
components
of
the
VANOS
system
arethe
piston

housing
with
integral
spool
valve
and
solenoid,
and
the
modi-

fied
intake
camshaft
and
sprocket
assembly
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

1993
and
later
6-cylinder
engines
are
equipped
with
a
vari-



B11001

able
intake
valve
timing
system,
known
as
VANOS
(from
the
German
words
Variable
Nockenwellen
Steuerung)
.
The



Fig
.
3
.
VANOS
(variable
intake
valve
timing)
systemusedon
M52
en-
VANOS
system
electro-hydraulically
adjusts
intake
valve
tim-



gine
.
When
solenoid
is
actuated,
oíl
pressure
is
directed
to
ingfor
enhanced
mid-range
performance
.
The
VANOS
sys-



front
side
of
gear
cup
piston
.
This
forces
gear
cup
finto
camtem
is
controlled
by
the
engine
control
module
(ECM),
using



shaft
to
advance
intake
valve
timing
.
enginespeed,engine
load
and
engine
temperature
asthe
pri-
mary
inputs
.



When
the
engine
is
running,
the
piston
housing
is
supplied
with
pressurized
engine
oil
víathe
solenoid-actuatedspool
At
low
speeds,
the
intake
valves
open
late
to
ensure
smooth



valve
.
Depending
on
the
position
of
the
spool
valve,
oil
isdi
engine
operation
.
At
mid-rangespeeds,
thevalves
open
early



rected
to
either
the
front
or
back
side
of
the
gear
cup
piston
.
(valvetiming
advanced,
VANOS
actuated)
for
increased
torque,
improved
driveability,
and
reduced
emissions
.
And
at



When
the
solenoid
isin
the
off
position,
engine
oíl
is
direct-
high
speeds,
the
valves
again
open
late
for
optimum
power



ed
to
the
back
side
of
the
piston
.
This
holds
the
gear
cup
for-
and
performance
.



ward
and
valve
timing
is
maintained
at
the
normal
"late"
position
.
When
the
solenoid
is
energized,
the
spoolvalve
is
moved
forward
and
oil
pressure
is
directed
to
the
front
side
of
the
piston
.
This
in
turn
moves
thegear
cup
further
into
the

camshaft
secondary
drive,
causing
thecamshaft
to
"advance"

12
.5°
.
The
helical
gears
are
cut
so
that
forward
motion
of
the

gear
cup
is
transiated
into
rotational
motion
of
the
camshaft
.

See
117
Camshaft
Timing
Chain
for
testing
and
repair
infor-
mation
on
the
VANOS
system
.

DISA
(Dual
Resonance
Intake
System)

DISA,usedon
4-cylinder
engines,
is
a
dual
intake
runner

system
that
effectively
provides
the
advantages
of
both
short

and
long
intake
runners
within
the
same
engine
.
For
best
per-

formance,
long
intake
runners
aremost
beneficial
atlow-
and
mid-engine
speeds
(below
4,200
rpm),
and
short
intake
run-
ners
enhance
torque
at
high
engine
speeds
(above4,200
rpm)
.

NOTE-

The
term
DISA
comes
from
the
German
words
Differ-
enzierte
Sauganlage,
and
can
roughty
be
transiated
as
a
differing
intake
manifold
configuration
.

The
DISA
solenoid
valve
is
controlled
by
the
DME
control

module,
using
engine
speed
as
the
primary
input
.
The
main

components
of
the
system
are
the
modified
twin-section
in-

takemanifoldwith
change-over
valve,
the
twin-barrel
throttle

body,
and
the
electrical/pneumatic
actuating
components
.

See
Fig
.
4
.

r

I

I

I

?
,
in
UpPer,
take
-1
manifold

1
-1
Throttle
housing
(Heated)

q
:lZU

Fig
.
4
.



DISA
system
components
.
DISA
changes
the
intake
runner

length
based
on
engine
speed
.

The
DISA
system
electro-pneumatically
changes
the
intake
runner
length
through
the
twin-section
intake
manifold
and
a
change-over
butterfly
valve
.
The
change-over
valve
is
located
at
a
point
in
the
intake
manifold
where
four
pipes
come
into
two
.
When
the
change-over
valve
is
closed,
the
4-way
primary
intake
manifold
and
the
2-way
ram
air
manifold
areconnected
to
make
the
"long"
configuration
.
When
the
change-overvalve
opens,
intake
air
flow
is
redirected
through
only
the
short
4-

way
primary
intake
manifold
.

The
change-over
valve
is
held
in
the
normally
open
position
bya
spring
.
Thisallows
for
an
open
valve
in
the
event
of
sys-
tem
failure
.
During
low
andmid
enginespeeds,
the
DME
con-

trol
module
supplies
power
to
the
solenoid
valve,
which
in
turn

allows
vacuum
to
be
applied
lo
the
vacuum
diaphragm
.
This

causes
the
valve
to
close
(long-pipe
configuration)
.
When
en-
gine
speed
reaches
approximately
4,800
rpm,
the
DME
con-
trol
module
electrically
signals
the
solenoid
valve
and
the
valve
opens,
creating
the
short
pipe
configuration
:

Further
detafs
on
DISA
canbefound
in
130
Fuel
Injection
.

Engine
Management
System

Al¡
enginescoveredby
this
manual
usean
advanced
engine

management
system
called
Digital
Motor
Electronics
(DME)
.

In
the
DME
system,
advancedOn-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD),

fuel
injection,
ignition,
and
otherfunctions,
are
combined
under

the
control
of
theEngine
Control
Module
(ECM)
.
See
Fig
.
5
.

-



Lower
intake
manifold

DISAvacuum
'
~servo

EíY1z

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-
3

le

-
DISA
solenoid
valve

0012591

/
with
butterfly
va¡

GENERAL

ignition

Table
b
.
Engine
Management
Systems



engine
has
high
mileage
.

Engine



1
System

4-cylinder
engines
M42
(1992-1995)



Bosch
DME
Ml
.7
M44
(1996-1998)



Bosch
DME
M5
.2
(OBD
II)

6-cylinder
engines
M50
(1992)



Bosch
DME
M3
.1
M50
VANOS
(1993-1995)



Bosch
DME
M3
.3
.1
M52
(1996-1998)



Siemens
MS41
.1
(OBD
II)
S50US
(1995)



Bosch
DME
M3
.3
.1
S52US
(1996-1998)



Siemens
MS41
.1
(OBD
II)

Both
the
4-cylinder
and
6-cylinder
engines
use
a
distributor-

less
ignition
system
with
individual
ignition
coils
for
each
cylin-

der
.

FuelDelivery

Pressurized
fuel
from
the
in-tank
fuel
pump
is
injected
via

solenoid-type
fuel
injectors
.
The
ECM
controls
the
opening

and
closing
of
the
injectors
by
switchingthe
ground
side
of

each
injector
circuit
.
The
exact
amount
of
fuel
injected
is
de-

termined
by
the
amount
of
timethe
injectors
are
open
.

Cooling
System

Whenever
the
engine
is
running,
acoolant
pump
circulates

coolant
through
the
engine
and,
if
either
heater
control
valves

are
open,
through
the
heater
core
in
the
passenger
compart-

ment
.
The
coolant
absorbs
excess
heat
and
carries
it
to
the
ra-

diator
where
it
is
transferred
into
the
passing
airstream
.
A

thermostat
controls
the
flow
of
coolant
through
the
radiator

based
on
engine
temperature
.

Lubrication
System

The
lubrication
system
is
pressurized
whenever
theengine

is
running
.
The
oil
pump
draws
oil
through
a
pickup
in
the
bot-

tom
of
the
oil
pan,thenforces
it
through
a
replaceable
oil
filter

and
finto
the
engine
oíi
passages
.

On
4-cylinder
engines,
the
oil
pump
is
mounted
to
the
front

engine
cover
.
On
6-cylinder
engines,thechain-driven
oil

pump
is
bolted
to
the
bottom
of
the
cylinder
block
.

A
pressure
relief
valve
limits
the
maximum
system
pres-

sure
.
A
bypass
valve
prevents
the
oil
filter
from
bursting
and

insures
engine
lubrication
should
the
filter
become
plugged
.

See
119
Lubrication
System
for
additional
information
.

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-
5

Various
versions
of
DME
systems
are
usedon
thecars
cov-



MECHANICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING
ered
by
this
manual
.
See
Table
b
.
Each
system
is
highly
adaptive
to
compensate
for
things
suchasengine
wear
and



When
troubleshooting
an
engine
that
fails
to
start
or
runs
vacuum
leaks
.



poorly,
first
check
its
mechanical
condition-particularly
if
the

Warnings
and
Cautions

For
personal
safety,
as
well
asthe
protection
of
sensitive
electronic
components,
the
following
warnings
and
cautions
must
be
adhered
to
during
all
troubleshooting,
maintenance,
and
repairwork
.

WARNING
-

"
The
ignition
system
produces
high
voltages
that
can
be
fatal
.
Avoid
contact
with
exposed
termi-
nals
anduse
extreme
caution
when
working
on
a
car
with
the
ignition
switched
on
or
the
engine
running
.

"
Do
not
touch
or
disconnect
any
high
voltage
ca-
bles
from
the
coil,
distributor,
orspark
plugs
while
the
engine
is
running
or
being
cranked
by
the
starter

"
Connect
and
disconnect
the
engine
manage-
ment
system
wiring
and
test
equipment
leads
only
when
the
ignition
is
switched
off
.

"
Gasoline
is
highly
flammable
and
its
vapors
are
explosive
.
Do
not
smoke
or
work
on
a
car
near
heaters
or
other
fire
hazards
when
diagnosing
and
repairing
fuel
system
problems
.
Have
a
fire
extínguisher
available
in
case
of
an
emergency
.

"
Disconnecting
the
battery
may
erase
fault
code(s)
stored
in
control
module
memory
.
Using
special
BMW
diagnosnnc
equipment,
check
for
fault
codes
prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery
cables
.
If
the
Check
Engine
lightis
illuminated,
see
On-

Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
forfault
code
infor-
mation
.
If
any
other
system
faults
havebeen
de-tected
(indicated
byan
illuminated
warning
light),
see
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

CAUTION-

"
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
bat-
tery
disconnection
cautions
gíven
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.

"
Do
notconnect
any
test
equipment
that
delivers
a
12-volt
power
supply
to
terminal15
(+)
of
the
ignition
coil
.
The
current
flow
may
damage
the

ECM
.
In
general,
connect
test
equipment
only
as
specified
by
BMW,
this
manual,
or
the
equip-
ment
maker
.

"
Do
not
disconnect
the
battery
with
the
engine
running
.
Do
notrunthe
engine
with
any
of
the
sparkplug
wires
disconnected
.

MECHANICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING

NOTE-

"
On
carswith
OBD
ti,
specialized
OBD
11
scan
tool
equipment
must
be
used
to
access
the
DTCs,
either
using
the
BMW
special
tool
ora
`generic"
OBD
11
scan
tool
.
See
130
Fuel
Injection
.

"
The
08D
11
fault
memory
(including
an
iiluminated
Check
Engine
light)
can
only
be
reset
using
the
spe-
cial
scan
tool
.
Removing
the
connector
from
the
ECM
or
disconnecting
the
battery
will
not
erase
the
fault
memory
.

Table
d
.
OBD
1
Fault
(Blink)
Codes

(1992-1995
modeis
only)

Graphic
representation
of
flashing
Check
Engine
light
fault
code
:
1221
5
Seconds
.
:-



2
.5~-

--05--

Fault
code
and
meaning



1
Corrective
action

Code
1216
:
Throttle
potentiometer

Code
1218
:
Output
stage,
group#1
(DME
3
.3
.ionly)

Code
1219
:
Output
stage,
group
#2
(DME
3
.3.1
only)

Code
1221
:
Oxygen
sensor
#1

Code
1224
:
Air
temperature
sensor
(NTC)

Code
1226
:
Knock
sensor
#2
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)

130

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-
9

2
.5
seconds,
then
go
off
for
2
.5
seconds
.
At
thispoint,
the
fault
codes
will
begin
to
flash
.
See
Table
d
.

If
more
than
one
fault
has
been
detected,
eachcode
will
be
separated
by
a2
.5
second
pause
.
When
al¡
fault
codes
havebeen
displayed,
there
will
be0
.5
second
flash
and
thenthe
light
will
remain
off
.
To
read
the
codes
again,
turn
the
key
off
and
then
on
again
.
Depress
theaccelerator
pedal
to
the
floor
five
times
quickly
(within
5
seconds)
.
The
codes
will
begin
to
repeat
.

On
cars
with
OBD
I,
fault
codes
can
be
read
by
turning
the



To
erase
the
fault
code
memory,
first
make
sure
the
fault

ignition
key
on
and
fully
depressing
theaccelerator
pedal
to



code
1000
(short
blink
and
then
light
goes
out
for
long
period)

the
floor
five
times
within
five
seconds
.
TheCheck
Engine



is
present,
then
depress
the
throttle
fully
for
at
least
10
sec-

light
will
then
remain
on
for
five
seconds,
blink
off,
come
on
for



onds
.
Read
the
fault
codes
as
described
earlier
and
check
for
the
1444
code
(no
faults
stored)
.

-,--------------
Check
Engine
light
on

Check
Engine
light
off

Code
1211
:
DM
E
Control
Module



DME
control
module
may
be
faulty
.
This
code
appears
if
the
control
module
fails
the
self
test
.
Check
inputsto
control
module
.
Repair
Group
130

Code
1215
:
Mass
air
flow
sensor



Check
air
flow
or
mass
air
flow
sensor
and
wiring
to
sensor
.
Repair
Group
130

Test
throttle
potentiometer
resistance
and
wiring
.
Repair
Group
130

Test
DME
control
module
input/outputs
.
Repair
Group
130

Test
DME
control
module
input/outputs
.
Repair
Group
130

Check
sensor
output
signal
to
DME
control
module
.
Repair
Group

Code
1222
:
Oxygen
sensor
lean/rich
control
stop



Check
for
intake
air
leaks
or
reasons
forrich
míxture
.
See
Driveabil-
ity
Troubleshooting
given
earlier
in
this
repair
group

Code
1223
:
Coolant
temperaturesensor
(NTC)



1
Test
coolant
temperature
sensor
.
Repair
Group
130

Test
intake
air
temperature
sensor
.
Repair
Group
130

Code
1225
:
Knock
sensor#1
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



1
Check
knocksensorand
sensor
wiring
.
Repair
Group
120

Check
knocksensor
and
sensor
wiring
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1231
:
Batteryvoltage
monitor



Test
battery
voltage
and
battery
check
charging
system
and
starter
.
Repair
Group
121

Code
1234
:
Speedometer
"A"signal
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Check
wiring
between
instrument
cluster
and
DME
control
module
.
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams

Code
1237
:
A/C
compressor
cutoff
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Test
DME
control
module
inputs/outputs
from
A/C
system
.
Repair
Group
130

Code
1242
:
A/C
compressor
signal
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
DME
control
module
inputs/outputs
from
A/C
system
.
Repair
Group
130

DRIVEABILITY
TROLIBLESHOOTING

100-
1
2
ENGINE-GENERAL

NOTE-

The
oxygen
sensor
signal
is
ignored
until
the
engine
reachesa
specified
minimum
temperature
.
Therefore,



The
primary
input
usedby
the
fuel
injection
system
to
deter-

when
troubleshooting
cold
engine
driveability
prob-



mine
how
much
fuel
should
be
delivered
is
the
signal
from
the

lems,
the
oxygensensor
canbe
ruled
out
asa
possible



mass
air
flow
sensor
in
the
intake
air
ductwork
.

cause
.

As
the
oxygen
sensor
ages,
its
ability
to
react
quickly
to

changing
conditions
deteriorates,
and
it
may
eventually
cease

to
produce
any
signal
at
all
.
To
check
the
operation
of
the
oxy-

gen
sensor,
see
130
Fuel
Injection
:

NOTE-

On
1996
and
latercars,
OBD
11
enhanced
emission
standards
require
the
engine
control
module
(ECM)
to
monitor
the
oxygen
content
in
the
exhaust
both
before
and
after
the
catalytic
converter
.
Thisallows
for
tighter
control
of
the
tail
pipe
emissions
and
also
allowsthe
ECM
to
diagnose
converter
problems
.
If
the
DME
de-
tects
that
catalytic
converter
or
oxygensensor
efficien-
cyhas
degraded
pasta
certain
pre-programmed
limit,
it
will
turn
on
the
Check
Engine
light,
and
store
a
diag-
nostic
trouble
code
(DTC)
in
the
ECM
.

DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING

Catalytic

B9506

Air
Flow
Measurement
and
Vacuum
Leaks

Because
proper
fuel
metering
depends
on
accurate
mea-

surement
of
the
incoming
air,
any
unmeasured
air
that
enters

the
engine
downstream
of
the
mass
air
flow
sensor
will
cause

a
lean
air-fuel
mixture
and
possibly
affectdriveability
.

NOTE-

Fig
.
10
.
Regulating
oxygen
sensor
measures
oxygen
content
of
ex-



gattery
Voltage
hausY
gas
as
indicator
of
.¡_fi
.1
ratio
and
"-k,
.

E-
effi-
ciency
.
Monitoríng
oxygen
sensor
(not
shown)
monitors

If
a
large
air
leak
is
causing
driveability
problems,
the
Check
Engine
light
will
usually
be
illuminated
and
a
fault
will
be
stored
in
the
fault
code
memory
.
See
On
Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
.

There
are
many
places
for
unmeasured
air
to
enter
theen-

gine
.
First,
inspect
all
hoses,
fittings,
ducts,
seals,
and
gaskets

in
the
intake
air
tract
for
cracks
or
looseness
.
It
may
be
neces-

sary
to
remove
parts
that
cannot
be
fully
checked
in
their
in-

stalled
positions
.
Also
make
sure
all
of
the
intake
manifold
and

throttle
body
mounting
nuts
are
tight
.

In
addition
to
air
leaks,
air
restrictions
can
also
cause
drive-

ability
problems
.
Remove
the
air
filter
and
hold
it
up
to
a
strong

light
source
.
If
the
filter
does
not
pass
light,
it
is
restricted
and

should
be
replaced
.
Also,
remove
the
intake
air
ductwork
and

check
for
oily
deposits
at
the
throttle
plate
.
Buildup
in
this
area

can
cause
an
erratic
idle
.
Clean
away
any
deposits
using
a

cloth
wetted
withcarburetor
cleaner
and
reinstall
the
ductwork
.

CAUTION-

Do
not
spray
carburetor
cleaner
directly
in
the
throt-
tle
anea
.
Spraying
cleaner
may
force
it
into
the
throt-
tle
position
switch
or
sensor
and
cause
damage
.

catalytic
converter
operation
.



All
of
the
electrical
components
in
the
fuelinjection
and
igni-
tion
systems
require
a
minimum
voltage
to
operate
properly
.

When
troubleshooting
engine
driveability
problems,
one
of
Replacement
of
oxygensensors
at
the
specified
intenrals
en-



the
first
checks
should
be
to
make
sure
the
battery
is
fully
sures
that
the
engine
and
emission
control
system
wili
continue



charged
and
capable
of
delivering
allits
power
to
the
electricalto
operate
as
designed
.
As
the
oxygen
sensor
ages,
its
ability
to



system
.
react
quickly
to
changing
conditions
deteriorates,
and
it
may
eventually
cease
to
produceany
signal
at
all
.



To
make
a
quick
check
of
battery
charge,
measure
the
volt-
age
across
the
battery
terminals
with
all
cables
attached
and
As
the
oxygen
sensor
ages,
its
ability
to
react
quickly
to



the
ignition
off
.
A
fully
charged
battery
will
measure
12
.6
volts
changing
conditions
deteriorates,
and
it
may
eventually
cease



or
slightly
more,
compared
to
12
.15
volts
for
a
battery
with
a
to
produce
any
signal
at
all
.
To
check
theoperation
of
the
oxy-



25%
charge
.
gen
sensor,
see130
Fuel
Injection
.

Even
a
fully
charged
battery
cannot
deliver
power
unless
it

is
properly
connected
to
the
electrical
system
.
Check
the
bat-
tery
terminals
for
corrosion
and
loosecableconnections
.
If
the
battery
does
not
maintain
the
proper
voltage,
the
charging
system
may
be
atfault
.
See
121
Battery,
Starter,
Alternator
.