GENERAL
..
.
......
.
.
.
.....
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-1
Manual
Transmission
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.'
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-1
Automatic
Transmission
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-1
Transmission
ID
Codes
..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-2
GENERAL
E36
models
areequipped
with
a
longitudinal
drivetrain
.
The
transmission
is
bolted
directly
to
the
rear
of
the
engine
.
A
driveshaft
connects
the
output
shaft
of
thetransmission
to
the
final
drive
.
The
final
drive
is
mounted
lo
the
rear
suspension
and
the
body
.
Individual
drive
axles
with
integrated
constant
velocity
joints
transfer
rotational
power
to
the
rear
wheels
.
Manual
Transmission
Due
to
different
power
characteristics
and
performance
re-
quirements,
four
different
manual
transmissions
are
used
in
the
models
coveredby
this
manual
.
Manual
transmission
ap-
plications
are
given
in
Table
a
.
TRANSMISSION-GENERAL
200-1
200
Transmission-General
TABLES
a
.
Manual
Transmission
Applications
..
...........
200-1
b
.
Automatic
Transmission
Applications
...........
200-1
Fig
.
1
.
ZF-manufacturedmanual
transmission
.
For
transmission
gear
ratio
information
and
repair
informa-
tion,
see
230
Manual
Transmission
.
Automatic
Transmission
E36
carswith
standard
transmission
use
a
single-disc
clutch
with
dual-mass
flywheel
.
For
further
information,
see
210
Clutch
.
Table
a
.
Manual
Transmission
Applications
Model
Year
Engine
Transmission
318ifisfC
1992-1995
M42
Getrag
S5D
200
G'
1996-1998
M44
Getrag
S5D
250
G
323is/iC
1998
M52
Getrag
S5D
250
G
325ifsriC
1992-1995
M50
Getrag
S5D
250
G
3281/isfC
1996-1998
M52
ZF
S5D320
Z
M3
1995
S50US
ZF
S5D310
Z
1996-1998
S52US
ZF
S5D320
Z
'The
1992
M42
engine
may
be
fitted
witheither
the
Getrag
SSD
200
G
trans-
mission
or
S5D
250
Getrag
.
The
S5D
200G
was
discontinued
in
production
in
as
of
9/92
.
Thistransmission
is
interchangeable
with
Getrag
S5D
250
G
.
Four
different
automatic
transmissions
are
used,
depend-
ing
on
model
and
model
year
and/or
production
date
.
All
of
the
automatic
transmissions
are
electrohydraulically
controlled
with
either
four
or
five
forward
speeds
.
Automatic
transmis-
sion
applications
are
given
in
Table
b
.
For
automatic
transmission
repair
information,
see
240Au-
tomatic
Transmission
.
Table
b
.
Automatic
Transmission
Applications
Model
1
Year
1
Engine
1
Transmission
318i1is/1C
1992-1995
~
M42
323isfiC
1998
M52
A4S
310
R
3251/is/1C
1992-1995
M50
3181/isfC
11996-1998
M44
A4S
270
R
328i/is/1C
1996-1998
M52
M3
1996-1998
S50US
I
A5S
310
Z
S52US
GENERAL
230-
6
MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
Transmission,
removing
and
installing
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.
CAUTION-
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
onpage
viii
.
2
.
Insta¡¡
enginesupportacrossengine
bay
.
Raise
engine
so
that
weight
of
engine
ís
supported
.
See
Fig
.
10
.
Fig
.
10
.
Engine
support
equipment
used
to
support
engine
from
above
before
removing
transmission
.
3
.
Raise
vehicle
to
gain
access
to
underside
of
car
.
4
.
Support
transmission
with
transmission
jack
.
lf
applica-
ble,
remove
reinforcing
cross
brace
from
belowen-
gine/transmission
.
5
.
Disconnect
harnesscon
nector
from
reverse
light
switch
on
transmission
.
6
.
Remove
completeexhaustsystem
and
heat
shield
.
See
180
Exhaust
System
.
NOTE-
Disconnect
oxygensensor
hamess
connector(s)be-
fore
lowering
exhaust
system
.
7
.
Remove
driveshaft
.
See260
Driveshaft
.
8
.
Disconnect
shift
rod
from
transmission
selectorshaft
.
See
Fig
.
11
.
9
.
Disconnect
shift
console
fromtop
of
transmission
.
See
250
Gearshift
Linkage
.
TRANSMISSION
REMOVAL
AND
INSTALLATION
Washers
Shift
Shift
rod
rod
retaining
clip
0
0
,
Fig
.
11
.
Shift
lever
to
transmission
connection
.
Shift
console
0012024
10
.
Unbolt
clutch
slave
cylinder
from
sideof
transmission
.
Do
not
disconnect
fluid
hose
.
Suspend
slavecylinder
from
chassis
using
stiff
wire
.
CAUTION-
Do
not
operate
clutch
pedal
with
slave
cylinder
re-
moved
from
transmission
.
11
.
Support
transmission
from
below
with
jack
.
Remove
rear
support
crossmember
from
transmission
.
See
Fig
.
12
.
Fig
.
12
.
Rear
transmission
crossmember
(arrow)
.
12
.
Lower
transmission/engine
assembly
until
it
rests
on
front
suspension
crossmember
.
CAUTION-
Tilting
the
engine
to
lower
thetransmission
can
lead
to
damage
to
various
componente
due
to
lackof
clearance
at
rear
of
engine
-On
cars
with
AST
remove
throttle
body
before
tilt-
ing
engine
.
-Remove
brace
fluid
reservoir
if
necessary
.
0013135
DRIVESHAFT
SERVICE
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
..
.
.
.260-3
Driveshaft,
aligning
...............
.
...
.
.
260-3
Driveshaft,
removing
..............
.
.
.
.
.
.
260-4
260
Driveshaft
DRIVESHAFT
260-1
GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
........
.
...
.
260-1
Driveshaft,
installing
.
....
.
..
.
............
260-4
Flex-disc,
replacing
.....
.
.
.
.............
260-5
TROUBLESHOOTING
..
.
.
.
...
.
.........
260-1
Center
bearing
assembly,
replacing
.
......
.260-6
Frontcentering
guide,
replacing
..
.
.......
.
260-7
TABLE
a
.
Driveshaft
Troubleshooting
.
.
...
......
.
....
..
.
.
260-2
GENERAL
NOTE-
For
rear
drive
axlerepair
information,
see330
Rear
The
two-piece
driveshaft
is
joined
in
thecenter
by
a
sliding
Suspension
.
splined
coupling
.
This
coupling
compensates
for
fore
and
aft
movement
of
the
drive
line
.
The
driveshaft
ís
connected
to
the
Driveshaft
noise
or
vibration
may
be
caused
by
worn
or
transmission
bya
rubber
flex-disc
and
to
the
final
drive
by
a
damaged
components
.
Check
the
universal
joints
for
play
.
universal
joint
.
It
is
supported
in
the
micidle
by
a
center
support
With
the
driveshaft
installed,
pull
and
twist
the
driveshaft
while
bearing
.
The
bearing
is
mounted
in
rubber
to
isolate
vibration
.
watching
the
joint
.
The
BMW
specificationfor
play
is
very
See
Fig
.
1
.
small,
so
almost
any
noticeableplay
could
indicate
a
problem
.
TROU
BLESHOOTING
Check
thetorque
of
thefasteners
at
the
flange
connections
.
Check
therubber
of
the
flex-disc
and
center
bearing
for
dete
The
source
of
driveline
vibrations
and
noise
can
be
difficult
rioration
or
tearíng
and
check
for
preload
at
the
center
bearing
to
pinpoint
.
Engine,
transmission,
rear
axle,
or
wheel
vibra-
with
a
visual
inspection
.
Check
the
driveshaft
for
broken
or
tions
can
be
transmitted
through
the
driveshaft
to
the
car
missing
balance
weights
.
The
weights
are
welded
tabs
on
the
body
.
Noises
from
the
rear
of
thecar
may
be
caused
by
final
driveshaft
tubes
.
In
addition
to
inspecting
for
faulty
driveshaft
drive
problems,
orby
faulty
wheel
bearings,
drive
axies,
or
parts,
the
installed
angles
of
the
driveshaft
should
also
be
evenworn
or
improperly
inflatedtires
.
considered
.
Flex-disc
Center
universal
joint
Fig
.1
.
Driveshaft
and
final
drive
assembly
.
Rear
section
Splined
shaft
of
driveshaft
Center
support
`
Clamping
sleeve
bearíng
assembly
Differential
inputflange
0013110
TROUBLESHOOTING
SUSPENSION,
STEERING
ANDBRAKES-GENERAL
300-1
300
Suspension,
Steering
and
Brakes-General
GENERAL
.....
.
....
.
.....
.
.
.
........
.300-1
M3
SUSPENSION
AND
BRAKES
.......
.
...
300-7
Front
Suspension
..........
.
.
.
...
.
.....
300-1
Steering
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
...
.
.
300-2
SUSPENSION
AND
STEERING
Rear
Suspension
....
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.....
300-2
TROUBLESHOOTING
..
.
.
.
.............
300-7
Brakes
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.
300-2
Tires
and
wheeis
.
................
.
.
.
.
.
.
300-2
TABLE
a
.
AST
Indicator
Lamp
Function
..
..
.
..
.
.........
300-5
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
300-2
b
.
Suspension
and
Steering
Troubleshooting
......
.300-8
Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
300-2
Al¡
Season
Traction
(AST)
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
300-4
GENERAL
Front
Suspension
This
section
covers
general
information
for
front
and
rear
The
lower
control
arms
connect
the
front
suspension
struts
suspension,
the
steering
system,
and
the
brakíng
and
traction
to
mounting
points
on
the
subframe
crossmember
and
the
control
systems
.
body
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
The
BMW
E36
suspension
and
steering
systems
are
engi-
neered
to
provide
a
compromise
between
taut,
responsive
handling
and
ride
comfort
.
Although
the
front
and
rear
suspen-
sion
assemblies
are
independent
subsystems,
they
work
to-
gether
to
achieve
BMW's
overall
combination
of
precise
handling
and
comfort
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
Fig
.
1
.
BMW
E36
front
and
rear
suspension
systems
.
Each
front
strut
assembly
includes
a
shock
absorber
car-
tridgeinside
the
tubular
strut
housing
and
a
large
coil
spring
.
The
upper
strut
mount
bearing
allows
the
strutto
turnwith
the
wheels
.
The
lower
end
of
the
strut,
which
includes
the
stub
axle
for
the
front
wheel,
connects
to
a
ball-joint
on
the
control
arm
.
0013098
GENERAL
300-2
SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL
Steering
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS
The
steering
linkage
connects
the
rack-and-pinion
unit
through
tie
rodsto
the
steering
arms
.
The
tie
rod
ends
allow
the
wheels
to
pivot
and
react
to
suspension
travel
.
Rear
Suspension
The
rear
axle
carrier
is
the
main
mounting
point
for
the
final
drive
housing
and
the
rear
suspension
components
.
Trailing
arms
locatethe
rear
wheels
and
anchorthe
springs,
shocks
and
stabilizer
bar
.
Driveaxies
with
constant-velocity
(CV)
joints
at
both
ends
transfer
power
from
the
differential
to
the
road
wheels
.
The
differential
is
mounted
to
the
rearaxle
carrier
through
rubber
mountsand
bushings
to
hele
isolate
drivetrain
noise
and
vibration
.
Brakes
E36
cars
areequipped
with
power
disc
brakes
with
an
inte-
gral
antilock
brakes
(ABS)
.
The
parking
brake
is
a
dual-drum
system
integrated
with
the
rear
brake
rotors
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
Power
assist
is
provided
by
a
vacuum
booster
when
the
en-
gine
is
running
.
The
brakepedal
pushrod
is
connected
directly
to
the
master
cylinder,
so
failure
of
the
vacuum
booster
does
not
normally
result
in
total
brake
failure
.
0012124
Each
disc
brakeuses
a
caliper
with
a
single
hydraulic
cylin-
Fig
.
2
.
Front
suspension
control
arm
(arrow)
.
der
.
Brake
pads
in
the
left
front
and
right
rear
contain
wear
sensors
.
When
the
padsneed
replacement,the
sensors
illu-
The
front
suspension
is
designed
with
minimum
positive
minate
a
light
on
the
dashboard
.
steering
offset
.
This
geometry
contributes
to
stability
when
traction
is
unequalfrom
side
to
side
.
Suspension
travel
is
lim-
Tires
and
Wheels
ited
by
rubber
bump
stops
.
The
three
point
mounting
of
each
L-shaped
control
arm
ere-
Tiresize
is
critica¡
to
the
proper
operatíon
of
the
E36
ABS
or
cisely
controls
the
front-to-rear
and
side-to-side
position
of
the
ABS/AST
system
.
Severa¡
different
styles
of
wheels,
in
15,16
strut,
while
the
flexibility
of
the
joints
and
mounts
alsoallows
and
17
inch
diameters,
are
available
from
an
authorized
BMW
the
movement
necessary
for
suspension
travel
.
The
control
dealer
.
arm
mounting
points
are
designed
with
anti-dive
geometry
.
The
suspension
reduces
the
normaltendency
for
the
front
of
NOTE-
the
vehicle
to
dive
under
hard
braking
.
Aftermarket
wheelsshould
be
selected
wlth
care
.
Im-
properly
fitted
wheels
can
contact
anddamage
sus
Control
arm
position
is
fixed,
with
no
adjustment
provisions
pension,
brakeorbodycomponentsandmayadversely
on
the
control
arms
for
alter¡ng
front
wheel
al
ignment
.
A
stabi-
affect
vehicle
stability
.
lizer
bar
mounted
to
both
control
arms
heles
to
reduce
body
rol¡
whencomering
.
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS
Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)
is
standard
on
all
E36
cars
.
The
variable-assist
power
steering
system
consists
of
an
Standard
on
some
models
and
installed
as
optional
equipment
on
engine-driven
hydraulic
pump,
a
rack-and-pinion
type
steer-
others,
is
All
Season
Traction
(AST)
.
ing
gear,
and
connecting
linkage
to
the
road
wheels
.
TheE36
utilizes
an
engine-speed
dependent
variable
effort
steering
Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)
system
.
At
low
speeds,
maximum
power
assist
is
provided
to
ease
parking
and
city
driving
.
Athigh
speeds,
assist
is
re-
The
electronically-controlled
ABS
maintains
vehícle
stabili
duced
to
ensure
stability
.
ty
and
control
during
emergency
braking
by
preventing
wheel
lock-up
.
ABS
provides
optimum
deceleration
and
stability
dur-
Wheel
brake
caliper
Electronic
control
module
Fig
.
4
.
Schematic
representation
of
ABS
.
SUSPENSION,
STEERING
ANDBRAKES-GENERAL
300-3
Fig
.
3
.
Schematic
view
ofdual
circuit
brakes
with
4-channel
ABS
.
ing
adverse
conditions
.
It
automatically
adjusts
brake
system
hydraulic
pressure
at
each
wheel
to
prevent
wheel
lock-up
.
The
system's
main
components
arethe
wheel
speed
(pulse)
sensors,
the
ABS
control
module,
and
the
hydraulic
control
unit
.
See
Fig
.
4
.
Warning
lamp
u
Master
Whee
_
l
speed
I-lydraulic
cylinder
sensor
control
unit
0012135
UNI
The
wheel
speed
sensors
continuously
send
wheel
speed
signals
to
the
control
module
.
See
Fig
.
5
.
The
control
module
compares
these
signals
to
determine,
in
fractions
of
a
second,
whether
any
of
the
wheels
areabout
to
lock
.
If
any
wheel
is
nearing
a
lock-up
condition,
the
module
signals
the
hydraulic
unit
to
maintain
or
reduce
pressure
at
the
appropriatewheel(s)
.
Pressure
is
modulated
by
electrically-operated
sole-
noid
valves
in
the
hydraulic
unit
.
Fig
.
5
.
ABS
wheelspeed
sensor
.
0006563
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS
300-4
SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL
Three-channel
ABS
ís
used
on
al[
E36
cars
equipped
with
Al¡
Season
Traction
(AST)
standard
ABS
.
Each
front
wheelhas
a
separate
solenoid
valve
to
modulate
hydraulic
pressure
to
that
brake
caliper
.
The
traction
control
system
works
in
conjunction
with
ABS
The
rear
wheels
are
modulated
asa
pair,
controlled
by
a
sin-
and
the
engine
management
system
to
enhance
vehicle
con
gle
solenoid
valve
.
trol
.
The
main
function
of
the
AST
system
is
to
maintain
the
rolling
contact
between
the
tires
and
the
road
surface
under
al¡
driving
E36
cars
equipped
with
ABS/AST
utilize
a
four
channel
sys-
conditions
.
This
is
achieved
through
exact
application
and
tem,
which
functionsexactly
as
the
three
channelsystem
management
of
braking
and
drivetrain
forces
.
above,except
that
the
rear
wheels
are
modulated
individually
.
IDLE
SPEED
CONTROL
VALVE
HROTTLE
PLATE
6
.
Í
III
i
ADS
ACTU
AT
OR
THROTTLE
PLATE
POSITION
SENSOR
DME
Fig
.
6
.
All
Season
Traction
(AS)
works
withother
drivetrain
systems
to
enhance
vehicle
control
.
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS
The
throttle
control
system
used
in
AST
is
illustrated
in
Fig
.
MASS
AIR
FLOW
SENSOR
JADS
THROTTLE
PLATE
POSITION
SENSOR
0013006
NOTE-
The
traction
control
system
referred
to
as
AST
(all
sea-
son
traction)
may
also
be
referred
to
as
ASC
(Automat-
ic
Stability
Control)
and
ASC+T
(Automatic
Stability
Control+Traction)
.
The
AST
system
improves
traction
by
electronically
apply-
ing
the
rear
brakes
when
therear
drive
wheels
are
spinning
at
a
faster
rate
than
the
front
wheels
.
The
combined
ABS/AST
control
module,
operating
through
the
ABS
hydraulic
control
unit,
modulates
braking
force
at
therear
wheels
.
In
addition,
AST
uses
retarded
ignition
timing
and
an
auxil-iary
engine
throttle
plate
to
reduceengine
torque
and
maintain
vehicle
stability
.
The
auxiliary
throttle
plate
is
held
open
by
spring
pressure
.
The
AST
system
actívates
the
auxiliary
throttie
position
motor
(ADS)
to
cose
the
AST
throttle
as
needed
.
This
reduces
the
volume
of
engine
intake
air
.
Due
to
the
throttle
closing
very
rapidly
during
AST
operationthe
driver
cannot
increase
theengine
power
output
regardless
of
how
far
theaccelerator
pedal
is
pushed
to
the
floor
.
The
auxiliary
throttle
plate
is
placed
ahead
of
the
conven-
tional
throttle
plate
in
the
throttle
body
.
Traction
control
also
comes
into
operationduringdecelera-
tion
.
Decelerating
on
snowy
or
icy
road
surfaces
can
lead
to
rear
wheel
slip
.
If
a
rear
wheel
startsto
drag
or
lock
up
when
the
throttle
is
closed
rapidly
orduringdownshifting,the
AST
system
can
limit
the
problem
by
advancing
the
ignition
timing
.
A
switch
on
the
center
console
is
used
to
togglethe
AST
on
or
off
.
The
AST
system
is
designed
to
be
maintenance
free
.
There
are
no
adjustments
that
can
be
made
.
Repair
and
trouble-
shooting
of
the
AST
system
requires
special
test
equipment
andknowledgeand
should
be
performed
only
by
an
autho-
rized
BMW
dealer
.
Table
a
lists
theconditions
indicated
by
the
AST
indicator
light
in
the
instrument
cluster
SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL
300-5
Tablea
.
AST
Indicator
Lamp
Function
Indicator
lamp
1
Condition
1
Comment
Light
on
Normal
AST
start-
Automatic
AST
up
self-test
Light
off
AST
monitoring
Automatic
AST
op-
mode
eration
Press
AST
button,
AST
off
(disabled)
Rocking
the
car
tolight
comes
on
getout
of
snow
or
other
loose
surface
Driving
with
snow
chains
Press
AST
button
:
AST
monitoring
Automatic
AST
op-
light
goes
out
I
mode
eration
Light
flashes
AST
active
mode
I
Normal
AST
oper-
ation
as
it
controls
wheel
speed
Light
stays
on
af-
Defect
in
AST
Consult
BMW
ter
start
up
or
dealer
for
diagno-
comes
on
while
sis/repair
driving
(Vehicle
operation
remains
normal)
WARNING
-
Even
a
car
with
AST
is
subject
to
the
normal
physi-
cal
laws
.
Avoid
excessive
speeds
for
the
road
con-
ditions
encountered
.
CAUTION-
"
If
the
tires
on
the
carare
of
different
makes,
the
AST
system
may
over-react
.
Only
fit
tires
of
the
same
make
and
tread
pattem,
"In
adverse
conditions,
such
as
trying
to
rock
the
car
outof
deep
snow
or
another
soft
surface,
or
when
snow
chainsare
fitted,
it
is
advisable
to
switch
off
AST
and
allow
the
cars
driveline
to
op-
erate
conventionally
.
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS