Rear
shock
absorber,
removing
and
installing
1.
Raisecar
and
remove
rear
wheels
.
WARNING
-
Make
sure
that
thecar
is
firmly
supportedon
jack
stands
designed
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack
stands
beneatha
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not
place
jack
stands
undersuspension
parts
.
2
.
Remove
rear
speakers
.
See
650
Radio
.
3
.
Pryoutluggage
compartment
liner
retaining
clips
and
peel
back
liner
to
gain
access
to
upper
shock
absorber
mounting
nuts
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
Fig
.
3
.
Rear
shock
upper
mounting
nuts
(arrows)
in
luggage
com-
partment
.
Liner
hasbeen
peeled
back
.
NOTE-
On
convertible
models,
the
uppershock
absorber
mount
is
in
the
convertible
top
compartment
behind
the
rear
seat
.
4
.
Support
trailing
arm
from
below
using
a
transmission
jack
orequivalent
.
See
Fig
.
4
.
Remove
shock
absorber
uppermounting
nuts
.
CAUTION-
The
shock
absorber
prevenís
the
drive
axle
and
trailing
arm
from
drooping
too
far,
so
always
sup-port
the
trailing
arm
before
removing
the
shock
.
Damage
to
drive
axle
CV
joints
can
result
.
0013224
5
.
While
supporting
shock
absorber,
carefully
remove
lower
mounting
bolt
.
Lower
shock
absorber
out
of
wheel
well
.
Fig
.
4
.
Support
rear
trailing
arm
from
below
before
removing
upper
or
lower
(arrow)
shock
mounting
.
6
.
Transfer
shocktopmounting
plate,
dust
coverand
relat-
ed
components
to
new
shock
absorber
.
See
Fig
.
5
.
'
Protective
cap
Upper
mounting
nut
14
Nm
(10
ft-Ib)
1120
Shock
upper
mount
,~,--~to
body
nuts
(renew)
I
-
'
~
24
Nm
(17
ft-Ib)
I
1
-Gasket
(renew)
I
1
pper
mount
I
Rear
I
shock
I
absorber
I
I
---spacer
REAR
SUSPENSION
330-
3
Rubber
bumper
Dust
shield
Fig
.
5
.
Rear
shock
absorber
assembly
.
Lower
mounting
bolt
77
Nm
I
(57
ft-Ib)
i
I
I
1
I
0013220
0013236
SHOCKABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
411-
4
DOORS
6
.
Disconnect
radio
speaker
harness
connector
.
Fig
.
7
.
Door
panel
being
unclipped
from
door
.
Pull
panel
retaining
clips
off
one
at
a
time
.
7
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
noting
the
following
:
"
Replace
any
damaged
plastic
parts
orclips
.
"
Renew
vapor
barrier
ifit
is
damaged
.
"
Use
new
mounting
bolts
when
reinstalling
the
side-im-
pactairbag
to
the
door
(where
applicable)
.
"
When
installing
door
panel,
align
metal
retainers
on
window
sill
with
openingsontop
of
door
panel
.
See
Fig
.
8
.
"
Check
door-lock
mechanism
and
window
for
ease
of
movement
.
"
If
battery
was
disconnected,
re-initialize
window
regu-
lator
motors
as
described
in
512
Door
Windows
.
373
Fig
.
8
.
Metal
retainers
at
base
of
window
should
be
in
position
to
mate
with
openings
in
door
trim
panel
.
DOOR
PANELS
Reardoor
trimpanel,
removing
and
installing
1
.
Open
door
and
pry
out
power
window
switch
.
Discon-
nect
harness
connector
.
2
.
Remove
ash
tray
.
3
.
Pry
off
trim
cover
from
inside
door
handle
.
4
.
Pry
off
concealing
plugs
from
armrest
.
Remove
door
panel
retaining
screws
.
See
Fig
.
9
.
Fig
.
9
.
Pry
off
plugs
(arrows)
andremove
screws
.
5
.
Unscrew
door
locking
knob
.
6
.
Unclip
panel
from
door
perimeter,
starting
at
thetop
of
the
door
.
7
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
"
Replace
any
damaged
plastic
parts
or
clips
.
"
Renew
vapor
barrier
ifit
is
damaged
.
"
Align
metal
retainers
on
window
sill
with
openings
in
trim
panel
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
8
.
"
Check
door-lock
mechanism
and
window
for
ease
of
movement
.
Rear
side
trim
panel,
removing
and
install-
ing
(coupe
models)
1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
.
Remove
rear
backrest
side
section
.
See
520
Seats
.
2
.
Pull
off
edge
trimat
bottom
of
rear
side
window
.
See
Fig
.
10
.
3
.
Gently
unclip
trim
panel
andremove
.
4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
"
Replace
any
damaged
plastic
parts
or
clips
.
002262
In
this
system,
three
microswitches
are
operated
via
the
door
lock
cylinder
at
each
front
door
.
Turning
the
key
approximately
Fig
.
17
.
Pufl
off
luggage
compartment
lock
actuating
rod
in
the
direc-
45°
(position
1)
operates
the
door
locking
microswitch
.
Tuming
tionof
arrow
.
the
key
approximately
90°
(position2)
actuates
the
double
locking
microswitch
.
Tuming
the
key
approximately
45°
in
the
opposite
di-
rection
through
position
0
actuates
the
unlocking
microswitch
and
deactivates
the
alarm
system
(position3)
.
See
Fig
.
19
.
Fig
.
18
.
Luggage
compartment
actuatorwire
connectors
and
attach-
ing
screws
(arrows)
.
LOCKING
SYSTEM
AND
ELECTRONIC
IMMOBILIZATION
The
central
locking
system
uses
electrical
lock
actuators
at
each
door
and
at
the
trunk
lid
.
The
locking
system
can
be
ac-
tuated
by
either
front
door
lock
or
by
the
luggage
compartment
lock
.
Onsome
1994
and
later
cars,
an
additional
remote
con-
trol
keypadcan
also
be
used
to
activate
the
lock
and
anti-theft
systems
.
When
the
key
is
tuned
to
the
lock
position,
a
micro-switch
signals
a
central
control
module
to
lock
all
doors,
luggage
compartment,
gas
tank
flap
and,
in
later
convertibles,
the
glove
box
lid
.
Where
applicable,
this
also
arms
the
anti-theft
system
.
CENTRAL
LOCKING
AND
ANTI-THEFT
515-7
NOTE-
The
central
locking
system
responds
to
accidents
vía
animpact
(inertia)
switch
.
When
this
function
ís
activat-
ed,
the
doors
are
automatically
unlocked
and
the
haz-
ard
warning
lights
and
interiorlights
are
turned
on
.
The
impact
switches
are
mounted
in
the
left
and
right
foot-
wells
behind
the
speaker
grilles
.
Central
Locking
System
(ZVM)
Different
versions
of
the
central
locking
control
havebeen
used
in
the
E36
cars
.
In
early
production
cars
(model
years
1992
and
1993),
the
locking
system
is
controlled
through
the
central
locking
module
.
This
system
is
referred
to
as
ZVM
.
Fig
.
19
.
ZVM
door
lock
cylinderpositíons
.
CAUTION-
Do
not
engage
double
locking
position
with
pas-
sengers
in
the
car
unless
the
master
key
isavail-
able
.
The
door
cannotbe
opened
from
outside
orinside
without
the
master
key
.
NOTE-
In
case
of
a
discharged
battery,
the
car
can
still
be
locked
orunlocked
using
the
key
.
0011762
LOCKING
SYSTEM
AND
ELECTRONIC
IMMOBILIZATION
Tablea
.
E36
Component
Locations
Component
Model
Year
Location
Refer
to
Rollover
Sensor
1994-1998
In
lower
left
C-pillar
behind
trim
panel
(Convertible)
Seat
Belt
Switch
1992-1998
In
front
seat
belt
buckle
SeatCushion
Tilt
Motor
1992-1998
Under
front
seat
Seat
Heater
1993-1998
Under
front
seat
Seat
Height
Motor
Front
1992-1998
Under
front
seat
Seat
Movement
Motor
1992-1998
Under
front
seat
Seatback
Heater
1993-1998
In
upper
front
seatback
Seatback
Recliner
Motor
1993-1998
Under
front
seat
Seat
Occupancy
Detector
1994-1998
Under
rightfront
seat
Secondary
Air
Pump
(4-cyl
.)
1997
1
/2
-
1998
Left
engine
compartment,
belowpower
distribution
box
(M44
engine)
Secondary
Air
Pump
(6-cyl
.)
1996-1998
Front
of
engine
compartment
(M52/S52US
engine)
Secondary
Air
Pump
Relay
1996-1998
Power
distribution
box
Fig
.
2
.
Secondary
Air
Pump
Valve
1996-1998
Right
sideof
engine
Side
Impact
Air
Bag
Right/Left
1997-1998
Behind
right/left
door
trim
panel
Síde
Impact
Airbag
Crash
Sensor,
1997-1998
Right/left
door
si¡¡
behind
front
seat
Right/Left
Shift
Interlock
1992-1998
Center
console
beside
shift
selector
Slip
Control
Module
(ABS/AST)
1992-1998
Behind
glove
compartment
Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.
Splice
Panel,
Left
Side
1992-1998
Behind
footwell
speaker
grill
Fig
.
5
.
SplicePanel,
Right
Side
1992-1998
Behind
glove
compartment
Fig
.
6
.
Starter
1992-1998
Leftrear
of
engine
Starter
Immobilization
Relay
1994-1998
In
left
splice
panelbehind
footwell
speaker
grill
Starter
Relay
1992-1993
Below
left
side
of
dash
Starter
Relay
1994-1998
Behind
left
footwell
speaker
grill
Sunroof
Control
Assembly
1992-1998
In
roof
center
panel
Supplemental
Restraint
System
11992-1993
I
Behind
glove
compartment
I
Fig
.
8
.
(Airbag)
Control
Module
Fig
.
9
.
Supplemental
Restraint
System
1994-1998
1
Under
center
of
rear
seat
(Airbag
ZAE)
Control
Module
Switch,
Power
Window
1
1992-1998
1
Center
console
Telephone
Eject
Box
1
1994-1996
1
Center
console
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
610-17
Telephone
Transceiver
1992-1992
In
luggage
compartment
Throttle
Flap
Heater
1994-1996
Left
sideof
engine
Throttle
Position
Sensor
1992-1998
I
Left
sideof
engine
inthrottle
housing
I
Fig
.
7
.
Fig
.
15
.
Fig
.
21
.
Continued
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
610-18
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
Tablea
.
E36
Component
Locations
Component
Model
Year
Location
Refer
to
Transmission
Control
Module
1992-1998
Right
rear
engine
compartment
behíndpanel
Fig
.
7
.
Transmission
Range
Switch
(Gear
1992-1998
Next
to
gear
shift
lever
in
center
console
Fig
.
29
.
Position/Neutra
l
Safety
Switch)
Transmission
Valve
Unít
1992-1993
In
transmission
oil
pan
Transmission
Valve
Unit
1994-1998
On
left
side
of
transmission
Trunk
Lid
Microswitch
1994-1998
In
trunk
lid
Trunk
Lid
Relay
1994-1998
Behind
glove
compartment
(convertible)
Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.
Trunk
Light
Switch
1992-1998
Left
underside
of
trunk
lid
TrunkLockMotor
1992-1998
Rear
of
luggage
compartment
UnloaderRelay
1992-1998
Inleft
splice
panel
behind
footwell
speaker
grille
Fig
.
5
.
Variable
Camshaft
Control
Module
1994-1996
I
Rear
right
side
of
engine
compartment
(VANOS)
Variable
Camshaft
Control
(VANOS)
1993-1998
Front
ofcylinder
head
Veh¡cle
Speed
Sensor
1992-1998
On
final
drive
Volume
Air
Flow
Sensor
(M42
1992-1995
Left
side
of
engine
compartment
Fig
.
7
.
Engine)
Washer
Fluid
Leve¡
Sensor
1992-1998
Right
frontof
engine
compartment
Washer
Pump
1992-1998
Right
side
of
engine
compartment
on
windshield
washer
reservoir
Fig
.
7
.
Wiper
Motor
1992-1998
Rear
engine
compartment
Wiper
Motor
Relay
1992-1998
Inleft
splice
panel
behind
footwell
speaker
grill
Fig
.
5
.
Wiper
Relay
1992-1998
(
Behind
glove
compartment
I
Fig
.
8
./
Fig
.
9
.
Wiper/Washer
Module
1992-1993
Left
side
of
footwell
under
foot
rest
(early)
Wiper/Washer
Module
1993
(late)-
Behind
glove
compartment
Fig
.
8
.
1998
1
Fig
.
9
.
ZAE
Airbag
Control
Module
1
1994-1998
1
On
center
tunnel
under
rear
seat
cushion
ZKE
IV
Control
Module
1994-1998
I
Behind
glove
compartment
Fig
.
8
.I
Fig
.
9
.
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
GENERAL
.........
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
650-1
Rear
speaker,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.650-5
Door
panel
speaker,
AUDIO
SYSTEM
............
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
650-1
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.650-5
Radio
connector
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
650-6
RADIO
AND
SPEAKER
SERVICE
.
.
.
.
.
..
650-2
Radio,
removingand
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
..
650-2
Left
footwell
speaker,
removing
and
installing
.
....
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
650-3
Right
footwell
speaker,
removing
and
installing
.
....
.
.
.
.....
.
..
650-4
GENERAL
AUDIO
SYSTEM
Thissection
coversthe
BMW
factory-installed
sound
sys-
The
BMW
E36
is
equipped
with
a
three
band
radio/cassette
tem,
including
radio
and
speaker
removal,
radio
connectors
player
unit
mounted
in
the
middle
of
thecenter
console
.
In
ad
and
terminal
designations
.
dítion
to
AM
and
FM
bands,
the
radio
will
receive
broadcasts
from
theNational
Weather
Service
.
The
antenna
is
incorporated
into
the
rear
window
defogger
.
650
Radio
Fig
.
1
.
Radio
amplifier
(premiumpackage)
in
luggage
compartment
behind
left
panel
.
RADIO
650-1
TABLE
a
.
Radio
Connector
Terminal
Designation
...
.
......
650-6
The
cassette
deck
is
equipped
with
the
Do1byTM
C
noise
re-
ductionsystem,
for
improved
tape
performance
with
reduced
background
tape
noise
.
A
6-speaker
audio
system
was
standard
in
the
early
years
ofthe
model
line
.
Many
additional
features
have
been
in-
stalled
as
optional
or
standard
equipment
duringthevehicle
production
run
.
"
A
200-watt
power
amplifier
with
custom-contoured
equalization
and
ten
speaker
output
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
"
A
multi-disc
compact
disc
changer,
for
which
the
vehicle
and
the
radio
are
prewired
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
Fig
.
2
.
Optional
multi-disc
compact
disc
changerand
disc
cartridge
.
AUDIO
SYSTEM
650-2
RADIO
"
A
320-watt
Harmon-Kardon
ten
speaker
system,
including
RADIO
AND
SPEAKER
SERVICE
a
separate
high
power
multi-channel
audio
amplifier
and
two
sub-woofers
.
In
this
system,
thebass
and
volume
out-
puts
from
the
selected
audiosource
automatically
com-
Radio,
removing
and
installing
pensate
for
vehicle
speed,
making
constant
volume
adjustments
unnecessary
.
An
additional
feature
ofthis
CAUTION-
sound
system
is
the
ability
to
switch
from
normal
left-right
"
Before
beginning
work
on
the
radio
or
sound
stereo
into
Spatial
Enhancement
Mode,
which
produces
a
system,
verify
that
the
radio
is
an
original
equip-
fuller,
rounder
sound
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
ment
BMW
radio
and
that
thewiring
harness
has
not
been
modified
.
TheE36
radio
is
also
equipped
with
a
built-in
anti-theft
sys-
tem
.
lf
power
is
removed
from
the
radio
circuitry
by
removing
the
radio
electrical
connectors,
or
by
disconnecting
the
bat-
tery,
the
radio
is
rendered
inoperative
.
The
radio
is
not
perma-
nently
damaged,
and
proper
operation
can
be
restored
by
entering
the
radio
anti-theft
code
.
Fig
.
3
.
Ten
speaker
sound
system
.
RADIO
AND
SPEAKER
SERVICE
"
Servicing
of
aftermarket
sound
equipment
should
be
referredto
an
authorized
agent
of
the
equip-
ment's
manufacturer
.
"
Do
not
remove
radio
or
disconnect
the
batterywithout
first
obtaining
the
anti-theft
code
.
1.
Carefully
pry
open
small
square
covers
at
left
and
right
sides
of
radio
.
2
.
Using
special
hex
key,
turn
radio
mountingscrews
counterclockwise
to
loosen
.
See
Fig
.
4
.
0011845
Fig
.
4
.
Use
special
hexkey
or
Torx
driver
to
loosen/tighten
radio
mountingscrews
.
3
.
Pul¡
radio
out
of
instrument
panel
opening
.
4
.
Remove
connector(s)
from
rearof
radio
.
See
Fig
.
5
.
Fig
.
5
.
Radio
connector
being
removed
.
5
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
0011846
Left
footweil
speaker,
removing
and
installing
Fig
.
6
.
Hood
release
lever
retaining
screw
(arrow)
.
RADIO
650-
3
1
.
Remove
screw
from
center
of
hood
latch
release
lever
.
Remove
lever
.
See
Fig
.
6
.
0012578
2
.
Rotate
plastic
trim
panel
retainer
1
/4
turn
.
Pul¡
off
door
sea¡
from
edge
of
speaker
cover
and
pull
speaker
trim
panel
back
toward
rear
of
car
.
See
Fig
.
7
.
0012579
Fig
.
7
.
Rotate
plastic
retainer
(black
arrow)
andremove
panel
in
di-
rection
shown
(white
arrows)
.
RADIO
AND
SPEAKER
SERVICE