1993 BMW M3 Workshop Manual

Front
seat
belt
reel,

removing
and
installing

1
.
On
4-door
models
:
Remove
seat
belt
anchor
bolt
from
front
seat
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
1
.

2
.
On
2-door
models
:
Remove
seat
belt
anchorbar
from
rear
of
door
sill
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Fig
.
4
.



Two-door
seat
belt
anchor
bar
(arrow)
.

3
.
On
4-door
and
coupe
models
:
Remove
plastic
trim
cov-

er
from
B-pillar
(rear
door
jamb
pillar)
sliding
seat
belt

guide
.
Remove
nut
and
guide
loop
.
See
Fig
.
5
.

4
.
On
4-door
models
:
Starting
at
upper
corners,peel
rub-

ber
door
seals
away
from
B-pillar
trim
.
Remove
trim

from
B-pillar
.

5
.
On
2-door
models
:
Remove
reasside
panel
.
See
411

Doors
.

Fig
.
5
.



B-pillar
seat
belt
guide
nut
trim
(arrow)
.

SEAT
BELTS



720-
3

move
reel
and
seat
belt
.

9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

0012672
ou12a74

Fig
.
6
.



B-pillar
trim
removed
to
show
seat
belt
cross-bracket
bolts
(arrows)
.

8
.
Disconnect
harness
connector
from
reel
assembly
.
Re-
Tightening
Torque

6
.
Remove
two
bolts
holding
cross
bracket
to
B-pillar
.
See



"
Front
seat
belt
to
seat
Fig
.
6
.



(use
thread
locking
compound)
.
....
47
Nm
(35
ft-Ib)

"
Front
seat
belt
guide
loop
7
.
Remove
seat
belt
reel
mounting
boltat
base
ofB-pillar
.



to
B-pillar
sliding
anchor



.
..
.
.
.
....
31
Nm
(23
ft-Ib)

"
Front
seat
beltreeltoB-pillar
..
.
....
48
Nm
(36
ft-Ib)

FRONT
SEAT
BELT
ASSEMBLY

720-
4



SEAT
BELTS

REAR
SEAT
BELT
ASSEMBLY

On
4-door
E36
models,
there
are
two
3-point
shoulder
belts

and
a
center
lap
beltin
back
.
On
2-doormodels,
there
is
no

center
rear
lap-belt
.

In
models
with
the
stationary
rear
seat
back,
the
shoulder

belt
reels
are
bolted
to
themiddle
of
the
parcel
shelf
.
In
modeis

with
fold-down
rearseat
back,
the
shoulder
belt
reels
are
at-

tached
to
the
folding
seat
back
.

The
rearseat
belt
assemblies
are
shown
in
Fig
.
7
.

Fig
.
7
.



Detafs
of
rearseat
belt
assembly
.

Seats
.

REAR
SEA
T
BELT
ASSEMBLY

1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
and
backrest
.
See
520

2
.
Remove
plastictrim
cover
over
shoulder
belt
reels
from
rear
window
shelf
.
See
Fig
.
8
.

3
.
Remove
rear
window
shelf
.
See
Fig
.
9
.

4
.
Unbolt
andremove
shoulder
belt
reels
.

NOTE-

The
shoulder
belt
anchor
belts
also
hold
thecenter
lap-
belt
in
place(where
applicable)
.
Be
sure
to
note
relative
positions
of
metal
belt-end
anchors
in
order
to
reas-
semble
correctly
.

body
next
to
rear
door
frame
.

8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

5
.
Remove
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolt
frombeneath
rear
seat
.



WARNING
-

Alignment
tabs
on
seat
belt
reels
must
be
rein-
stalled
in
their
original
positions

Fig
.
8
.



Remove
rear
shoulder
belt
reel
trim
cover
from
rear
window
shelf
.
Unclip
plastic,
then
slide
off
shoulder
belts
as
shown
by
arrows
.

Rear
seat
belt,
removing
and
installing



Fig
.
9
.
Remove
rear
window
shelf
.
Speaker
grilles
and
third
brake

(fixed
seat
back
modeis)



light
socket
will
have
to
be
removed
.
The
front
of
the
shelf
lifts
offits
clips
(black
arrows)
before
the
shelf
slides
forward
.

6
.
On
4-door
models
:
Unbolt
shoulder
belt
lock
bolt
from

7
.
On
2-door
models
:
Remove
rearside
panel
asde-
scribed
in
411
Doors
.
Unbolt
shoulder
belt
lock
bolt
from
body
nextto
quarter
panel
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Rear
seat
belt
reelbolt,
anchor
bolt,
or
lock
boltto
body
.
.
.....
.
...
...
.
48
Nm
(36
ft-Ib)

Rear
seat
belt,
removing
and
installing

(foid-down
seat
back
modeis)

1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
.
See
520
Seats
.

2
.
Remove
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolt
from
beneath
rear

seat
.

NOTE
-

The
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolts
alsohold
the
center
lap-belt
in
place
(where
applicable)
.
Be
sure
to
note
relative
positions
of
metal
belt-end
anchors
in
order
to
reas-
semble
correctly
.

3
.
On
4-door
models
:
Unbolt
shoulder
belt
lock
bolt
from

body
nextto
rear
door
frame
.

4
.
On
2-door
models
:
Remove
rearside
panel
as
de-

scribed
in
411
Doors
.
Unbolt
shoulder
belt
lock
bolt

from
body
next
to
quarter
panel
.

5
.
Unlock
and
flip
down
folding
rear
seat
backrest
.
Re-

move
trim
plug
from
back
of
cushion
(luggage
compart-

ment
side)
.

6
.
Remove
seat
beltreelbolt
andwasher
.
See
Fig
.
10
.

Fig
.
10
.
Rear
seat
beltreelbolt
(arrow)
.

0012676

7
.
Gently
pry
off
plastic
trim
at
top
of
backrest
and
pull
out

seat
beltreel
from
seat
.

NOTE-

The
seat
beltreel
is
held
snugly
by
the
backrest
cush-
ion
.
Moderate
force
will
be
needed
to
pulí
ít
out
.

8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Rear
seat
beltreel
bolt,
anchor
bolt,

or
lock
boltto
body
...............
48
Nm
(36
ft-Ib)

Center
rear
lap-belt,

removing
and
installing

1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
.
See520
Seats
.

2
.
Remove
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolts
from
beneath
rear

seat
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

SEAT
BELTS



720-
5

NOTE-

The
shoulderbeltanchorbolts
also
hold
the
centerlap-
belt
in
place
.
Be
sure
to
note
relative
positions
of
metal
belt-end
anchors
in
order
to
reassemble
correctly
.

WARNING
-

Alignment
tabs
on
seat
belt
reels
must
be
rein-
stalled
in
their
original
positions
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Lap-belt
reelbolt
or
lock
boltto
body
.
48
Nm
(36
ft-Ib)

REAR
SEATBELT
ASSEMBLY

721
Airbag
System
(SRS)

Airbag
Systems
.......
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
721-1

AIRBAG
SENSORS
AND
ELECTRONICS
721-2

SRS
Warning
Light
and
Fault
Display
.
.
.
.
.
..
721-2

Airbagcontact
ring,
replacing
........
.
.
.
.
.
721-3

Airbag
crash
sensor,replacing
..
.
....
.
...
.
721-4

ZAE
control
module,
replacing
.
.
.
.........
721-5

GENERAL

This
repair
group
covers
only
removal
and
installation
of
air-
bag
components
.
Airbag
system
repair
and
fault
diagnosis
is
not
covered
here
.
Diagnostics,
component
testing,
and
airbag
system
repair
should
be
carried
out
by
trained
BMW
service
technicians
.

NOTE-

Special
test
equipment
is
required
to
retrieve
SRS
fault
codes,
diagnose
system
faults,
and
resetltum
off
the
SRS
indicator
light
.
The
SRS
indicator
light
will
remain
on
until
any
problem
has
been
corrected
and
the
fault
memory
has
been
cleared
.

When
servicing
cars
equipped
with
SRS,
the
precautions

on
this
page
mustbeobserved
to
prevent
personal
injury
.

Airbag
Systems

The
airbag
system
installed
on
E36
cars
through
the
1993
model
year
consisted
of
a
single
airbag
in
the
steering
wheel
.
This
systemcan
be
identified
by
the
orange
crash
sensors
lo-
cated
on
the
front
wheel
wells
and
the
absence
of
a
passenger
side
airbag
.

The
ZAE
airbag
system,
starting
in
model
year
1994
(pro-
duction
date9/93
and
later),
provides
both
a
driver
side
and
a
passenger
sideairbag
.
On
ZAE
vehicles,
the
crash
sensorsare
integrated
into
the
airbag
control
module,
located
under
thecenter
of
the
rear
seat
.
The
ZAE
control
module
triggers

deployment
of
the
airbags
When
it
sensos
the
vehicle
deceler-
ating
at
a
rate
equivalent
to
a
head-on
collisionof
at
least
13
mph
(18
km/h)
.

In
some
1997
4-door
models
and
all
1998
models,
side-impact
airbags
were
installed
in
the
front
doors
.
The
airbag
units
are

mounted
behindthe
door
trim
panels
.
Caution
mustbeused

when
working
on
vehicle
systems
in
the
proximity
of
air
bags,
such
as
the
steering
column,
the
dashboard,
or
the
doors
.

AIRBAG
SYSTEM
(SRS)



721-1

GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
......
.
.
.
.
721-1



Front
side-impact
airbag
crash
sensor,
removing
and
installing
....
.
.....
.
.....
.
721-5

AIRBAGS



..............
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
721-5

Driver
side
airbag,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
721-5

Passenger
side
airbag,

removing
and
installing
..............
.
.
.721-6

Front
side-impact
airbag,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
.721-7

WARNING
-

"
Airbag(s)
are
inflated
byan
explosive
device
.
Handled
improperly
or
without
adequate
safe-
guards,
the
System
can
be
very
dangerous
.
Spe-
cial
precautions
must
be
observed
prior
to
any
work
ator
near
the
driverside
airbag,
the
passen-
ger
side
airbag
(where
applicable)
or
the
side-im-
pact
airbags
(where
applicable)
.

"
The
airbag
is
a
vehicle
safety
system
.
Serious
in-
jury
may
result
if
System
service
is
attempted
by
persons
unfamiliar
with
the
BMW
SRS
and
its
ap-
proved
service
procedures
.
BMW
advises
that
all
inspection
and
service
be
performed
by
an
autho-
rized
BMW
dealer
.

"
Always
disconnect
the
battery
and
cover
the
neg-
ative
()
battery
terminal
with
an
insulator
before
startingdiagnostic,
troubleshooting
or
service
worknot
associated
with
SRS,
and
before
doing
any
welding
on
the
car
.

"
If
an
airbag
has
been
activated
due
to
an
acci-dent,
BMW
specifies
that
SRS
components
be
replaced
.
For
more
information
on
post-collision
SRS
service,
see
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

"
Do
not
allow
the
airbag
unit
to
come
in
contact
with
cleaning
solutions
orgrease
.
Never
subject
an
airbag
unit
to
temperatures
aboye
212°F
(100°C)
.
When
reconnecting
the
battery,
no
per-
son
should
be
inside
the
vehicle
.

"
Always
place
an
airbag
unitthat
has
been
re-
moved
from
its
packaging
with
the
padded
sidefacing
upward
.
Do
not
leave
an
airbag
unlt
unat-
tended
.

"
!f
the
airbag
unit
or
airbag
control
modulehas
been
dropped
froma
height
of
!
1
2
meter
(1
Y2
ft.)
ormore,
theairbag
unit
should
not
be
installed
.

Aírbag
system
components
are
shown
in
Fig
.
1.

GENERAL

721-2



AIRBAG
SYSTEM
(SRS)

Fig
.
1
.



Airbag
system
components
.

AIRBAG
SENSORSAND
ELECTRONICS

CA
UTION-

"
If
an
airbag
is
activated,
the
following
compo-
nents
must
be
replaced
:
Airbag
with
contact
ring
;
-Pyrotechnic
seat
belt
tensioners
(if
fitted)
;
-SRS
Control
module
;
-Impact
sensors
;
All
airbags
which
did
not
deploy
.

"
Consult
your
BMW
dealer
for
parts
and
service
information
.

TheE36
airbag
system
consists
of
the
following
compo-

nents
:
crash
sensors
(in
earlycars,
through
1993),
an
elec-

tronic
control/monitoring
module
(with
integrated
crash

sensor
in
ZAE
systems),
an
indicator
light
in
the
instrument
panel,
and
inflatable
airbags
equipped
with
gas
generators
in

the
steering
wheel
and
in
the
passenger
side
of
the
instrument

panel
(ZAE
systems)
.

Some
1997
and
al¡
1998
carsalso
have
side-impact
airbags

in
the
front
doors
.

AIRBAG
SENSORS
AND
ELECTRONICS

1.
Crash
sensors
(through
1993)



wheel
2
.



SRS
control
module
in
front
of



5
.



Side-impact
airbags
(1997/98)
glove
compartment
(through



6
.
ZAE
control
module
under
rear
1993)



seat
(from
1994)
3
.



Passenger
side
airbag
unit
in



7
.
Side-impact
airbag
crash
sensors
dashboard
(ZAE
system)



in
door
silis
(1997/98)
4
.



Driver
side
airbag
unitin
steering



8
.



Knee
bolsters

In
addition
to
the
airbags,
the
vehicles
are
equipped
wíth

knee
bolsters
for
extra
protection
.

SRS
Warning
Light
and
Fault
Display

The
airbag
system
utilizes
a
self-diagnostic
control
module

to
detect
and
store
system
faults
.
If
a
fault
is
detected,
the

SRS
indicator
in
the
instrument
cluster
comes
on
and
stays

on
.

When
the
ignition
key
is
tumed
on,
the
indicator
light
will
illu-

minate
for
approximately
4-6
seconds
.
The
illuminated
light

indicates
the
self-testof
the
electronic
control/monitoring

module,
the
ignítors
and
crash-sensorcircuits,
and
the
system

wiring
.
The
airbag
system
should
be
inspected
byan
autho-

rized
BMW
dealer
if
the
indicator
light
does
not
come
on,
ifit

does
not
go
out
in
approximately
4-6
seconds
after
switching

onthe
ignition,
or
if
the
light
comes
on
during
driving
.
If
the

system
has
detected
a
fault,
the
light
will
come
on
and
stay
on
.

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
and
cover

negative
terminal
with
insulating
material
.

CA
UTION-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.

2
.
Remove
driver
sideairbag
from
steering
wheel
.
See

Driver
side
airbag,
removing
and
installing
in
this

repair
group
.

3
.
With
wheels
facing
straight
ahead
and
steering
wheel

centered,
remove
steering
wheel
.
See320
Steering
and
Wheel
Alignment
.

4
.
Remove
contact
ring
cover
(flat
plastic
ring
containing

warning
text)
from
steering
wheel,
íf
applicable
.

5
.
Disconnect
ground
wire,
if
applicable

6
.
Lift
out
plastic
lock
from
steering
wheel,
if
applicable
.

See
Fig
.
2
.

0011903

Fig
.
2
.



Airbag
contact
ring
lock(arrow)
.
Pry
out
lock
and
remove
spríng
from
behind
lock
.
Some
airbag
steering
wheels
are
not
equipped
with
contact
ring
lock
.

WARNING
-

"
The
contact
ring
lock
holds
the
contact
ring
in
the
centered
position
.
Once
the
lock
is
removed,
the
contact
ring
is
free
to
rotate
.
Do
not
allow
the
con-

tact
ring
to
rotate
once
the
lock
is
removed
.

"
If
the
contact
ring
is
accidentally
rotated
outof
center,
turn
the
ring
either
fully
clockwise
orcoun-
terclockwise,
then
turn
in
the
opposite
direction
3
complete
revolutions
until
the
alignment
arrow
canbe
seen
through
the
lock
opening
.

AIRBAG
SYSTEM
(SRS)



721-
3

Airbagcontact
ring,
replacing



7
.
Remove
mounting
nutsor
screws
from
contact
ring
.

See
Fig
.
3
.
Disconnect
wire
lead(s)
andremove
contact

The
airbag
contact
ring
is
mounted
to
the
rear
of
the
steer-



ring
from
rear
of
steering
wheel
.

ing
wheel
and
is
made
up
of
a
wireribbon
that
cofs
and
un-

coils
as
the
steering
wheel
is
tumed
.
The
contact
ring
assures
continuous
electrical
contact
to
the
driver
side
airbag
unit
.

Fig
.
3
.



Airbag
contact
ring
mounting
fasteners(arrows)
.

8
.
Installation
is
reverse
ofremoval,noting
the
following
:

"
Coat
horn
slip
ring
(electrical
contact
ring)
with
CRC
®
copper
paste
before
installing
steering
wheel
.

"
Press
on
lower
lock
until
it
ís
fully
engaged
.

"
When
installing
contact
ringlock,
make
sure
lock

spring
engages
pins
on
lock
and
lock
cover
.

"
Special
instructions
apply
when
installing
airbag

equipped
steering
wheel
.
See320
Steering
and

Wheel
Alignment
.

Early
cars
(through
1993)
:

"
Route
wiring
lead
for
horn
through
squareopening
in

steering
wheel
.

"
When
installing
a
new
contact
ring
from
BMW,
remove

locking
screw
after
installing
the
contact
ringto
steer-

ing
wheel
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

"
Lock
contact
ring
mounting
fasteners
in
place
using

lacquer
paint
or
varnish
.

0011904

Fig
.
4
.



Airbag
contact
ring
locking
screw
(arrow),
as
installed
on
new

replacement
part
from
BMW
(early
production
cars)
.

AIRBAG
SENSORS
AND
ELECTRONICS

721-
4



AIRBAG
SYSTEM
(SRS)

CAUTION-

A
new
contact
ring
is
held
in
center
position
with
a
screw
.
This
locking
device
must
be
removed
after
contact
ring
is
installed
on
steering
wheel
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Latercars
(1994
on)
:

"
Connect
ground
lead
at
contact
ring
.
"
When
installing
a
new
contact
ring
from
BMW,
remove

locking
pin
after
installing
contact
ring
to
steering
wheel
.

See
Fig
.
5
.

Airbag
crash
sensor,
replacing

Fig
.
5
.



Airbag
contact
ring
locking
pin
(arrows),
as
installed
on
new
replacement
part
from
BMW
(later
production
cars)
.
Contact
ring
mountíng
screws
shown
at
A
.

CAUTION-

Anew
contact
ring
is
held
in
center
position
with
a
screw
or
pin
.
This
locking
device
mustbe
removed
after
contact
ring
is
installed
on
steering
wheel
.
See
Fig
.
5
.

The
airbag
system
in
cars
produced
through
1993
uses
two
crash
sensors
mounted
in
the
engine
compartment
on
the
left
and
right
wheel
arches
.
The
sensors
are
identified
by
their
or-
ange
color
.

WARNING
-

If
en
airbag
is
deployed,
both
sensors
must
be
re-
placed
.

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
and
cover
negative
terminal
with
insulating
material
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautíons
given
at
the
front
of
thls
manual
on
page
viii
.

AIRBAG
SENSORS
AND
ELECTRONICS

2
.
Remove
lower
steering
column
trim
mounting
screw
and
remove
lower
trim
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

Fig
.
6
.



Lower
steering
column
retaining
screw
(arrow)
.

3
.
Remove
orange
SRS
connector
from
its
holder
and
carefully
separate
connector
.
See
Fig
.
7
.

Fig
.
7
.



Orange
SRS
connector
below
steering
column
(arrow)
.

4
.
Working
in
engine
compartment,
remove
anti-tamper
Torx
screwsfrom
crash
sensor
.
Remove
sensor
and
disconnect
harness
connector
.
See
Fig
.
8
.

5
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Make
sure
arrow
on
sensor
faces
forward
when
installing
sensor
.

WARNING
-

Once
the
airbag
unit
is
installed
and
all
other
ser-vice
procedures
have
been
completed,
start
the
en-
gine
and
check
that
the
SRS
warning
light
goes
out
.
If
the
warning
light
stays
on,the
SRS
system
will
not
function
as
designed
.
Have
the
system
diagnosed
and
repaired
byen
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

0012543

0011891