400-2
BODY-GENERAL
4-door
Sedan
Coupe
-
saas3
.7""
351
/
37
.3
O
I
x
`-193
267
o
oa
'3281
model
"M3
model
Convertible
BODYASSEMBLY
55
ass
.e
iss
""
-
66
.9
-
Fig
.
2
.
E36
body
dimensíons
.
BODY
ASSEMBLY
29
.4
29
4
The
BMW
3
Series
chassis
is
a
unibodydesign
constructed
ofhigh
strength
steel
.
Attaching
parts,
suchas
the
front
fend-
ers,
rear
quarter
panels,
doors,
trunk
lid
and
hood
are
also
constructed
of
steel
.
706
.31108
.7"
I
38
.5
174
.5
174
.5
O
oo
196
.3/106
.7'
"
35_5
1.
.
55
.9,566
".
106
.3/196
.7""
i.
358
-1745-
55
9/56
3'/56
6"
-
J
0013099
Windows
bonded
flush
to
the
body
and
the
guided
flow
of
cooling
air
into
the
engine
compartment
provide
a
good
coeffi-
cient
of
drag(CD)
.
TheE36
cars
have
a
CD
of
approximately
0
.30for
the
sedan
and
coupe
models,
and
0
.35
for
the
con-
vertible
models
:
The
exterior
panels
are
corrosion-resistant
zinc
coated
steel
.
The
front
fenders
are
bolted
on
and
easily
replaceabie
.
The
body
styles
of
E36
cars
coveredby
this
manual
arethe
See410
Fenders,
Engine
Hood
.
4-door
sedan,
2-door
coupe
and
convertible
.
Body
dimen-
sions
vary
slightly
betweenmodels
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
The
front
and
rear
bumpers
use
an
aluminum
framework
with
an
overlaid
high-impact,
deformable
plastic
cover
.
This
Exterior
and
Aerodynamics
bumper
system
keeps
damage
to
a
minimum
in
head-on
colli-
sions
of
up
to
10
m
.p
.h
.
(15
km/h)
.
See
510
Exterior
Trim,
TheE36
can
be
immediatelyrecognized
asa
typical
BMW
.
Bumpers
.
With
its
traditionalstyling
features,
suchas
the
BMW
kidney
grille,
circular
headlights
behind
a
glass
cover
(for
reasons
of
streamliníng),
and
the
"kick"
in
the
rearmost
roof
pillar
(C-pil-
lar)
.
Table
a
.
E36
Component
Locations
Component
Model
Year
Location
Refer
to
Anti-theft
Control
Module
1992-1998
Behind
glove
compartment
Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.
Anti-theft
Horn
1
1992-1998
1
Right
rear
engine
compartment
Anti-slip
(Traction)
Control
Module
1994-1998
Power
distribution
box
Fig
.
8
.
(AST/ASC+T)
Fig
.
9
.
Anti-slip
(Traction)
Control
Switch
1994-1998
In
center
console
Automatic
Climate
(A/C)
Control
1992-1998
Behind
center
console
Module
AutomaticTransmission
Range
1992-1998
~
Next
to
gear
shift
lever
in
center
console
Fig
.
29
.
Switch
(Gear
Position/Neutral
Safety
Switch)
Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Dual
Switch
1992-1998
Right
side
radiator
1
Fig
.
18
.
Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Motor
1992-1998
Behind
front
grill
Auxiliary
Fuse
Box
(Left
Splice
1992-1998
I
Behind
left
front
footwell
kick-panel
Panel)
Auxiliary
RelayPanel
1
1992-1998
1
Left
side
of
dash
under
steering
column
Auxiliary
Fuse
Box
In
Trunk
1
1997-1998
1
Right
sideof
trunk
behind
trim
panel
AuADSry
ThrottlePosition
Motor
11994-1998
Front
of
engine
compartment
B+
Jump
Start
Junction
Point
1992-1998
Right
rear
of
engine
compartment
Fig
.
7
.
Back-Up
Light
Switch
(Manual)
1992-1998
Right
or
left
side
top
of
transmission
Fig
.
30
.
Body
Electronics
Control
Module
1994-1998
Behindglove
compartment
Fig
.
8
.
(ZKE
IV)
Fig
.
9
.
Brake
Fluid
Level
Sensor
1992-1998
Top
of
brake
fluid
reservoir
at
master
cylinder
Fig
.
15
.
Brake
Light
Switch
1
1992-1998
1
On
brake
pedal
supportbracket
Brake
Pad
Sensor,
Left
Front
1
1992-1998
1
Left
front
brake
caliper
Brake
Pad
Sensor,
Right
Rear
1992-1998
Right
rear
brake
caliper
Camshaft
Actuator
(VANOS)
1993-1998
Front
of
cylinder
head
Camshaft
Position
Sensor
(Cylinder
1992-1998
Front
of
engine
Identification)
Carbon
Canister
Valve
(TLEV)
1
1997-1998
1
In
sparewheel
well
in
trunk
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
610-11
Fig
.
5
.
Fig
.
4
.
Fig
.
24
.
Fig
.
7
.
Central
Locking
Module
(ZVM)
11992-1993
1
Behindglove
compartment
I
Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.
Check
Control
Module
(if
applicable)
1
1992
-
1998
1
Below
left
side
of
dash
Child
Protection
Window
Control
1992-1998
Center
console
(console)
Chime
Module
1992-1998
Below
left
side
of
dash
inleft
dash
trim
panel
Clock
(Multi-Function)
1993-1998
Center
console
Clutch
Pedal
Switch
1992-1998
On
clutch
pedal
support
bracket
Continued
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
610-14
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
Component
Model
Year
Location
Refer
to
G
102
1992-1998
Left
front
strut
tower
G
103
1992-1998
Right
front
strut
tower
G
110
1992-1998
Left
front
of
engine
G
111
1992-1998
Near
battery
G
117
1992-1998
Right
rearof
engine
G
119
1992-
1998
Right
front
of
engine
G
123
1992-1998
Right
side
of
safety
wall
G
200
1992-1998
Left
kick
panel
G
201
1992-1998
Right
side
ofI/P
G
202
1992-1998
Left
side
ofI/P
G
203
1992-1998
Right
kick
panel
G
230
1992-1998
Right
kick
panel
G
301
1992-1998
Below
rightfront
seat
G
302
1992-1998
Below
center
console
G
303
1992-1998
Below
right
rear
seat
G
310
1992-1998
Behind
right
rear
seat
G
312
1992-1998
Behind
left
rear
seat
G
313
1992-1998
Right
side
of
rear
shelf
G
314
1992-1998
Left
side
of
rear
shelf
G
400
1992-1998
Left
front
side
of
trunk
G
404
1992-1998
Left
rearside
of
trunk
Camshaft
Position
Sensor
1992-1998
Front
of
engine
Fig
.
7
.
Hard
Top,
Connector
1
1994-1998
In
convertible
top
compartment
left
side
Hard
Top,
Connector
II
1994-1998
In
convertible
top
compartment
left
side
Hazard
Flasher
Relay
1992-1998
Power
distribution
box
Fig
.
2
.
Headlight
High
Beam
Relay
1998
Left
hand
side
of
dash
behind
instrument
cluster
Headlight
High
Beam
Relay
1992-1997
Power
distribution
box
Headlight
Low
Beam
Relay
1992-1998
Power
distribution
box
Heat
ExchangerTemperature
1993-1998
Center
console
Sensors
(left
and
right)
HeaterBlower
Motor
1992-1998
Behind
fresh
air
cowl
HeaterBlower
Motor
Relay
1992-1998
Power
distribution
box
Fig
.
2
.
Heat
Rear
Recirculation
Flap
1997-1998
Right
sideof
heater
box
Actuator
COMPONENTLOCATIONS
Tablea
.
E36
Component
Locations
Continued
Component
Model
Year
Location
Refer
to
Heater
Recirculation
Flap
Actuator
1992-1998
Below
left
dash
right
side
of
steering
column
HeaterBlowerMotor
Resistor
Pack
1992-1998
Behind
center
of
dashboard
Heater
Regulator
FlapActuator
1997-1998
Right
side
of
heater
box
HeaterValve
Assembly
1992-1998
Left
rear
engine
compartment
HeatingNentilation
Relay
Box
1992-1993
Below
left
side
of
dash
HeatingNentilation
Relay
1994-1998
Left
front
footwell
High
Speed
Cooling
Fan
Relay
1992-1998
Power
distribution
box
Fig
.
2
.
Homs,
Right/Left
1993-1998
Front
of
engine
compartment
Horn
Relay
1992-1998
Power
distribution
box
Fig
.
2
.
Horn
Relay
(Alpine)
1994-1998
Behind
glove
compartment
Fig
.
8
.
Board
Computer/Anti-Theft
Fig
.
9
.
Idle
Speed
Control
Valve
1992-1995
Top
rearof
enginebehind
intake
manifold
(M42
engine)
Fig
.
11
.
Idle
Speed
Control
Valve
1992-1995
Top
left
side
of
engine
(M50
engine)
Idle
Speed
Control
Valve
1993-1996
Below
intake
manifold
(M50/S50US
engine)
Idle
Speed
Control
Valve
1996-1998
On
throttle
housing
(M44
engine)
Fig
.
15
.
Idle
Speed
Control
Valve
1997-1998
Left
front
of
engine
below
intake
manifold
(M52/S52US
engine)
Ignition
Coils
1992-1998
Right
of
engineunder
plastic
cover
(four-cylinder)
Fig
.
7
.
Ignition
Cofs
1992-1998
Top
of
engine
undercover
(six-cylinder)
Fig
.
17
.
Ignition
Switch
1992-1998
Right
sídeofsteering
column
Intake
Air
Resonance
Changeover
1992-1998
Leftrear
of
engine
compartment
Valve(DISA)
Intake
Air
Temperature
Sensor
1992-1995
In
mass
air
flow
sensor
(M42
engine)
Intake
Air
TemperatureSensor
1996-1998
In
top
ofair
filter
housing
(M44
engine)
Fig
.
12
.
Intake
Air
Temperature
Sensor
1992-1998
I
Left
sídeof
engine
in
intake
manifold
(six-cylinder)
-
-
I
Fig
.
13
.
Fig
.
14
.
Kick-Down
Switch
(A/T)
1
1992-1998
1
Left
footwell
Mixing
Actuators
1
1992-1998
1
Heater
box
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
610-15
Table
a
.
E36
Component
Locations
Knock
Sensors
1
1992-1998
1
Left
side
of
engine
block
Left
Front
Power
Window
Motor
11992-1998
/
Left
front
door
Left
Front
Window
Monitoring
Switch
1
1997-1998
1
Left
front
door
trim
panel
Left
Front
Window
Retraction
Switch
1
1992
-
1993
1
Left
front
door
handle
lock
assembly
Left
Splice
Panel
1
1992-1998
1
Under
left
side
of
dash
at
kick-panel
1
Fig
.
5
.
Main
Fuse
and
Relay
Box
(Power
1992-1998
I
Left
sideof
engine
compartment
Fig
.
2
.
Distribution
Box)
1
I
Mass
Air
Flow
Sensor
1992-1998
I
Left
side
of
engine,
intake
air
duct
Fig
.
7
.1
I
Fig
.
15
.
Continued
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS