020-
1
2
MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
6-cylinder
engines
use
a
coil-on-plug
configuration,
and
re-
Battery
cablesshould
be
tight
.
The
terminals,
the
cable
moval
of
thetop
engine
cover
(between
the
camshafts)
and
ig-
clamps,
and
the
battery
case
should
be
freeof
the
white
deposits
nition
cofs
are
necessary
.
See
Fig
.
12
.
Blow
away
any
dust
or
that
indicate
corrosion
and
acid
salts
.
Even
a
thin
¡ayer
of
dust
dirt
around
the
ignition
coils,
and
then
remove
the
coils
.
Blow
containing
conductive
acid
salts
can
cause
battery
discharge
.
away
any
dustor
dirt
around
the
sparkplugs
.
Remove
the
spark
plugs
.
To
remove
battery
corrosion,
begin
by
disconnecting
theca-
bles
.
Disconnect
the
negative
(-)
cable
first
.
Clean
the
terminal
posts
and
the
cable
clamps
with
a
wire
brush
.
Clean
the
main
chassis
ground
terminal
next
to
the
battery
.
Corrosion
can
be
washedaway
with
a
baking
soda
and
water
solution
that
will
neutralize
the
acid
.
Apply
the
solution
carefully,
though,since
ít
will
also
neutralize
the
acid
inside
the
battery
.
Reconnect
the
ca-
ble
clamps,
positive
(+)
cable
first
.
Lightly
coat
the
outside
of
the
terminals,
hold
down
screws,
and
clamps
with
petroleum
jelly,
grease,
or
a
commercial
battery
terminal
corrosion
inhibitor
.
Fig
.
12
.
Ignition
coil
being
removed
from
spark
plug
on
M52
engine
.
NOTE-
If
necessary,
see
120
Ignition
System
for
more
details
on
coil
removal
.
B11004
Lightlylubricate
the
new
spark
plug
threads
with
a
small
amount
of
anti-seize
compound
.
Thread
the
plugs
into
the
cyl-
inder
head
byhand
to
prevent
cross-threading
.
Tightening
Torque
"
Spark
plug
to
cylinder
head
.......
25
Nm
(18
ft-ib)
Idie
Speed
Engine
¡dle
speed
canchange
due
to
a
number
of
factors,
in-
cluding
normal
wear
.
The
idle
speed
is
electronically
adaptive
and
non-adjustable
.
See
130
Fuel
Injection
for
more
information
.
Battery,
checking
and
cleaning
The
battery
is
located
in
the
right
side
of
the
luggage
com-
partment
.
Simple
maintenance
of
the
battery
and
its
terminal
connections
will
ensure
maximum
starting
performance,
espe-
cially
in
winter
when
colder
temperaturesreduce
battery
power
.
ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE
WARNING
-
"
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
bat-
tery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manualonpage
viii
.
"
Battery
acid
is
extremely
dangerous
.
Take
care
to
keep
it
from
contacting
eyes,
skin,
or
clothing
.
Wear
eye
protection
.
Extinguish
all
smoking
ma-
terials
and
do
not
worknear
any
oyen
flames
.
Battery
electrolyte
should
be
maintained
at
the
correct
level
just
above
the
battery
plates
and
their
separators
.
The
correct
leve¡
is
approximately
5
mm
(
1
/4
in
.)
above
thetop
of
battery
plates
orto
thetop
of
the
indicator
marks
(if
applicable)
.
The
battery
plates
and
the
indicator
marks
can
beseen
once
the
fill-
er
caps
are
removed
.
If
the
electrolyte
level
is
low,
replenish
it
by
adding
distilled
water
only
.
Battery,
repiacing
Batteries
are
rated
by
ampere
hours
(Ah),
the
number
of
hoursa
specific
current
draín
can
be
sustained
before
complete
discharge,
or
by
cold
cranking
amps
(CCA),
the
number
of
amps
available
to
crank
the
engine
in
cold
weather
conditions
.
In
general,
replacement
batteries
should
alwaysbe
rated
equal
or
higherthan
the
original
battery
.
CAUTION-
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
thls
manual
on
page
viii
.
The
battery
is
held
in
place
bya
single
hand
screw
and
píate
.
A
secure
battery
hold-down
is
important
in
order
to
prevent
vi-
brations
and
road
shock
from
damaging
the
battery
.
NOTE-
NOTE-
"
Always
disconnect
the
negative
()
cable
first,
and
Design
characteristics
of
the
convertible
body
cause
vi-
connect
ft
last
While
changing
batteries,
clean
away
brations
in
the
trunk
area
.
Therefore,
E36
convertibles
any
corrosion
in
or
around
the
battery
tray
.
require
a
specialbattery
designed
for
constant
vibra-
tion
.
When
repiacing
the
battery,
be
sure
the
replace-
"
Design
characteristics
of
the
convertible
body
cause
ment
is
designed
specffically
for
the
convertible
.
vibrations
to
oscillate
in
the
trunk
area
.
Therefore,
the
convertible
model
uses
a
specialbattery
designed
for
this
constant
vibration
.
Tires,
checking
inflation
pressure
Brake
pad/rotor
wear,
checking
Correct
tire
pressuresare
important
to
handling
and
stability,
Al¡
E36
cars
are
fitted
withdisc
brakes
at
al¡
four
wheels
.
See
fuel
economy,
and
tire
wear
.
Tire
pressures
change
with
temper-
Fig
.
24
.
Although
thebrakesare
equipped
with
a
brake
pad
ature
.
Pressures
should
be
checked
often
during
seasonal
tem-
warning
system,
the
system
only
monitors
one
wheel
per
axle
.
perature
changes
.
Correct
inflation
pressures
canbe
found
on
It
is
recommended
that
pad
thickness
should
be
checked
the
driver's
door
pillar
and
in
the
owner's
manual
.
Note
that
tire
whenever
the
wheels
are
off
or
brakework
is
beggg
done
.
pressuresshould
be
higher
when
thecar
is
more
heavily
loaded
.
WARNING
-
Do
not
inflate
any
tire
to
a
higher
pressure
than
the
tiress
maximum
ínflation
pressure
listed
on
the
side-
wall
.
Use
cara
when
addlng
air
to
warm
tires
.
Warm
tire
pressures
can
increase
as
much
as4
psi
(0.3
bar)
over
their
cold
pressures
.
Tires,
rotating
BMW
does
not
recommend
tire
rotation
.
Due
to
the
cars
sus-
pension
design,
the
fronttires
begin
to
wear
first
at
the
outer
shoulder
and
the
rear
tires
begin
to
wear
first
at
themiddle
of
the
tread
or
inner
shoulder
.
Rotating
the
tires
may
adversely
af-
fect
roadhandling
and
tire
grip
.
NOTE-
The
main
purpose
of
tire
rotation
isto
promote
even
wear
and
maximum
tire
life
.
Tire
life
may
be
decreased
slightly
if
the
tires
are
not
rotated
.
Wheels,
aligning
Routine
maintenance
of
the
brake
system
includes
maintain-
ing
the
brake
fluid
in
the
reservoir,
checking
brakepads
for
wear,
checking
hand
brake
functíon,
and
inspecting
the
system
for
fluid
leaks
or
other
damage
.
Check
that
brake
hoses
are
correctly
routed
to
avoidchafing
or
kinkíng
.
Inspect
unions
and
brake
calipers
for
signs
of
fluid
leaks
.
Inspect
rigid
fines
for
corrosion,
dents,
or
other
damage
.
Inspect
flexible
hoses
for
cracking
.
Replace
faulty
hoses
or
lines
as
described
in
340Brakes
.
WARNING
-
Incorrect
installation
or
overtightening
hoses,
fines,
and
unions
may
cause
chafing
or
leakage
.
This
can
lead
to
partíal
or
completebrake
system
failure
.
MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-
1
7
B323
Fig
.
24
.
Disc
brake
pad
wear
can
checked
through
opening
in
caliper
.
The
brake
caliper
should
be
unbolted
from
the
suspension
strut
to
properly
inspect
the
brake
pads
and
the
rotors
.
See
Fig
.
25
.
Brake
caliper
removal
and
installation
procedures
are
given
in
340
Brakes
.
BMW
recommends
checking
the
front
and
rear
alignment
once
a
year
and
whenever
new
tires
are
installed
.
See320
Steering
and
Wheel
Alignment
for
a
more
detailed
discus-
sion
of
alignment
requirements
and
specifications
.
Brake
Pad
Lining
Minimum
Thickness
(Dimension
A)
Brake
system,
inspecting
"
Front
and
reardisc
brake
pads
....
3
.0
mm
(0
.12
in)
Brake
fluid,
replacing
BMW
strictly
recommends
replacing
the
brake
fluid
every
two
years
.
This
will
help
protect
against
corrosion
and
the
ef-
fects
of
moisture
in
the
(luid
.
See340
Brakes
for
brake
fluid
flushing
procedures
.
Parking
brake,
checking
The
parking
brakesystem
is
independent
of
the
main
braking
system
and
may
requireperiodic
adjustment
dependingon
use
.
Adjust
the
parking
brake
if
the
brake
lever
can
be
pulled
up
more
than
8
clicks
.
Check
that
the
cable
moves
freely
.
A
de-
scription
of
the
parking
brake
and
parking
brake
adjustment
can
be
found
in
340Brakes
.
UNDER-CARMAINTENANCE
NOTE-
Use
a14
mm
or17
mm
alíen
bit
socket
to
remove
the
drain
plug
.
"
If
thecar
is
raised
in
the
air,
it
shouldbe
leve¡
.
Fuel
tank
and
fuel
fines,
inspecting
0012474
Inspect
the
fuel
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
fuel
system
for
damage
or
leaks
.
Check
for
fuel
leaks
in
the
engine
compartment
or
fuel
odors
in
the
passenger
compartment
.
Check
for
faultyfuel
lines
bybending
them
.
If
any
leaks
are
present,
fuel
should
be
expelled
.
Check
for
any
evaporative
emissions
hoses
that
may
have
become
disconnected,
checking
carefully
at
the
charcoal
canister
and
evaporative
emissionspurge
system
.
See130
Fuel
Injection
and
160
Fuel
Tank
and
Fuel
Pump
for
component
locations
and
additional
information
.
WARNING
-
When
checking
for
fuel
leaks,
the
engine
must
be
cold
.
A
hot
exhaust
manifold
or
exhaust
system
could
cause
the
fuel
to
ignite
or
explode
causing
se-
rious
personal
injury
.
Uentilate
the
workarea
and
clean
up
spilled
fuel
immediately
.
Clutch
fluid,
checking
The
hydraulic
clutch
and
the
brake
system
share
the
same
reservoir
and
the
same
brake
fluid
.
Clutch
fluid
leve¡
and
brake
fluid
level
are
checked
at
the
same
time
.
See340
Brakes
for
more
information
.
See210
Clutch
for
information
on
the
clutch
and
the
hydraulic
clutch
operating
system
.
MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-19
Drive
axie
joint
boots,
inspecting
100
Engine-General
The
protective
boots
must
be
closely
inspected
for
cracks
andany
other
damage
that
will
allow
contaminants
to
get
ínto
the
joint
.
If
the
rubber
boots
faf
,
the
water
and
dirt
that
enter
the
joint
will
quickly
damage
¡t
.
Replacement
of
the
drive
axle
joint
boots
and
inspection
of
the
joints
are
described
in
330
Rear
Suspension
.
BODY
AND
INTERIOR
MAINTENANCE
Windshield
Wiper
Biade
Maintenance
Common
problems
with
the
windshield
wipers
include
streaking
or
sheeting,
water
drops
after
wiping,
and
blade
chat-
ter
.
Streaking
is
usually
caused
when
wiper
blades
are
coated
with
road
film
or
car
wash
wax
.
Clean
the
blades
using
soapy
water
.
If
cleaning
theblades
does
not
cure
the
problem
then
they
should
be
replaced
.
BMW
recommends
replacing
the
wip-
er
blades
twice
a
year,
before
and
after
the
cold
season
.
Onold-
er
cars,
check
the
tension
spring
that
holds
the
wiper
to
the
glass
.
Replace
the
wiper
arm
if
the
springs
are
weak
.
Drops
that
remainbehind
after
wipingare
caused
by
oil,
road
film,
or
diesel
exhaust
coating
the
windshield
.
Use
an
alcohol
or
ammonia
solution,
or
a
non-abrasive
cleanser
to
clean
the
windshield
.
Wiper
blade
chatter
may
be
caused
by
dirty
or
worn
blades,
bya
dirty
windshield,
or
by
bentor
twisted
wiper
arms
.
Clean
the
blades
and
windshield
as
described
above
.
Adjust
the
wiper
arm
so
that
there
is
even
pressure
along
the
blade,
and
so
that
the
blade
is
perpendicular
to
the
windshield
atrest
.
Lubricate
the
wiper
linkage
with
a
light
oil
.
The
linkage
is
located
under
the
hood
on
the
drivers
side
.
If
the
problem
persists,
theblades
are
excessively
aged
or
worn
and
should
be
replaced
.
See
611
Wipers
and
Washers
.
Body
and
hinges,
lubricating
The
door
locks
and
lock
cylinders
canbe
lubricated
with
an
oil
that
contains
graphite
.
The
body
and
door
hinges,
the
hood
latch,
and
the
door
check
rods
should
be
lubricated
with
SAE
30
or
SAE
40
engine
oil
.
Lubricate
the
seat
runners
with
multipurpose
grease
.
Do
not
apply
any
oil
to
rubber
parts
.
If
door
weatherstrips
are
sticking,
lubricate
them
with
silicone
spray
or
talcum
powder
.
The
hood
release
cable
should
be
lubricated
as
well
.
The
use
of
winter
lock
de-icer
spraysshould
be
kept
to
an
ab-
solute
minimum,
as
the
alcohol
in
the
de-icer
will
wash
the
grease
out
of
the
lock
assemblies,
and
may
cause
the
locks
to
corrode
internally,
or
become
difficult
to
operate
.
ENGINE-GENERAL
100-1
020-20
MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
Seat
Belts
Washing
Chassis
Dirt
and
other
abrasive
particles
will
damage
seat
belt
web-
Periodic
washing
of
the
underside
of
the
car,
especially
in
bing
.
If¡t
is
necessary
to
clean
seat
belts,
use
a
mild
soap
solu-
winter,
will
help
prevent
accumulation
of
road
salt
and
rust
.
The
tion
.
Bleach
and
other
strong
cleaning
agents
may
weaken
the
besttime
to
wash
the
underside
is
just
after
the
car
has
been
belt
webbing
and
should
be
avoided
.
driven
in
wet
conditions
.
Spray
the
chassis
with
a
powerful
jet
of
water
.
Commercial
or
self-service
car
washes
may
not
be
best
WARNING-
for
this,
as
they
may
recycle
the
salt-contaminated
water
.
Do
not
clean
the
seat
belt
webbing
using
dry
clean-
ing
or
other
chemicals
.
Allow
wet
belts
to
dry
before
allowing
them
to
retract
.
Speeial
Cleaning
The
condition
of
the
belt
webbing
and
the
function
of
the
re-
tractor
mechanisms
should
be
inspected
.
See720
Seat
Belts
for
seat
belt
inspection
information
.
Exterior
Washing
The
longer
dirt
isleft
on
the
paint,
the
greater
the
risk
of
dam-
aging
the
glossy
finish,
either
by
scratching
or
by
the
chemical
effect
dirt
particles
may
have
on
the
paintedsurface
.
Do
not
wash
the
car
in
direct
sunlight
.
If
the
engine
hood
is
warm,
allow
it
to
cool
.
Beads
of
water
not
only
leavespots
when
dried
rapidly
by
the
sun
or
heat
from
the
engine,
but
also
can
act
as
small
magnifyingglasses
and
burn
spots
into
the
finish
.
Wash
thecar
with
a
mixture
of
lukewarmwater
and
a
car
wash
product
.
Rinse
using
plenty
of
clear
water
.
Wipe
the
body
dry
witha
soft
cloth
towel
or
chamois
to
prevent
water-spotting
.
Waxing
For
a
long-lasting,protective,
and
glossy
finish,
apply
a
hard
wax
after
thecar
has
been
washed
and
dried
.
Use
carnauba
or
synthetic
based
products
.
Waxing
is
not
needed
after
every
washing
.
You
can
tell
when
waxing
is
required
by
looking
at
the
finísh
when
it
is
wet
.
If
the
water
coats
the
paint
in
smooth
sheets
instead
of
forming
beads
that
rol¡
off,
a
new
coat
of
wax
is
needed
.
Wax
shouldnot
be
applied
to
black
trim
pieces,
rub-
ber,or
other
plastic
parts
.
Polishing
Use
paintpolish
only
if
the
finish
assumes
a
dull
lock
after
long
service
.
Polish
can
beused
to
remove
tar
spots
and
tar-
nish,
but
afterwards
a
coat
of
wax
should
be
applied
to
protect
the
clean
finish
.
Do
not
use
abrasive
polish
or
cleaners
on
alu-
minum
trimor
accessories
.
BODYAND
INTERIOR
MAINTENANCE
Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain
The
aluminum
cylinder
head
uses
chain-driven
double
overhead
camshafts
and
four
valves
per
cylinder
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
Tha
rvfinriar
hand
nmnlnve
n
ernceflnier
rineinn
fnr
nronter
Tar
spots
canbe
removed
with
a
bugand
tar
remover
.
Never
use
gasoline,
kerosene,
nail
polish
remover,
or
other
unsuitable
solvents
.
Insect
spots
also
respond
to
tar
remover
.
A
bit
of
bak-
ing
soda
dissolved
in
the
wash
water
will
facilitate
their
removal
.
This
method
can
also
beused
to
remove
spotting
from
tree
sap
.
Interior
Care
Dirt
spots
can
usually
be
removed
with
lukewarm
soapy
wa-
ter
or
a
dry
foam
cleaner
.
Use
spot
remover
for
grease
and
o¡I
spots
.
Do
not
pour
the
(quid
directly
on
the
carpetor
fabric,
but
dampen
a
clean
cloth
and
rub
carefully,starting
at
the
edge
of
the
spot
and
working
inward
.
Do
not
use
gasoline,
naptha,
or
other
flammable
substances
.
Leather
Upholstery
and
Trim
Leather
upholstery
and
trim
should
be
periodically
cleaned
using
a
slightly
damp
cotton
or
wool
cloth
.
The
idea
is
to
get
rid
of
the
dirtin
the
creases
and
pores
that
can
cause
brittleness
and
premature
aging
.
On
heavily
soiled
areas,
usea
mild
deter-
gent
(such
as
Woolite®)
or
other
specially
formulated
leather
r
cleaners
.
Use
two
tablespoons
to
one
quart
of
cold
water
.
Dry
the
trim
and
upholstery
completely
using
a
soft
cloth
.
Regular
use
of
agood
quality
leather
conditioner
will
reduce
drying
and
crackingof
the
leather
.
1
.
Camshafts
2
.
Rocker
arms
3
.
Hydraulic
valve
adjusters
(HVA)
4
.
Valve
and
conical
valve
spring
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
100-6
ENGINE-GENERAL
Cylinder
compression,
checking
A
compression
tester
is
needed
to
make
a
compression
test
.
To
obtain
accurate
test
results,
the
battery
and
starter
must
be
capable
of
cranking
the
engine
at
250-300
rpm,
and
theen-
gine
should
be
at
normal
operating
temperature
.
Use
com-
pressed
air
to
clean
aroundthe
spark
plugs
before
removal
.
1
.
Disable
the
ignítion
system
by
removing
the
engine
management
system
main
relay
and
the
fuel
pump
re-
¡ay
.
See
Fig
.
6
.
WARNING
-
The
ignítion
system
produces
high
voltages
that
canbe
fatal
.
Avoid
contact
with
exposed
termínals
and
useextreme
caution
when
working
on
acar
wíth
the
ignítion
switched
on
or
the
engine
running
.
Fuel
DM
E
pump
main
re
ay
rel
ay
o
oa
ooa
.,
o00
oao
Fig
.
6
.
Engine
management
relays
in
power
distribution
box
inleft
rear
of
engine
compartment
.
CAUTION-
"
On
OBD
11
cars,
making
a
compression
test
may
causea
faultto
set
in
the
ECM
and
may
also
il-
luminate
the
Check
Engine
light
.
The
light
can
only
be
tumed
out
using
special
scan
tool
equip-
ment,using
eíther
the
BMW
specialservíce
tool
or
using
a
"generic"
OBD
11
scan
tool
.
Discon-
necting
the
battery
will
not
erase
the
fault
mem-
orynor
turn
outthe
light
.
0013034,
0012630
Fig
.
7
.
Remove
spark
plug
wires
from
spark
plugs
on
4-cylinder
en-
gine
using
special
tool
.
Tool
is
stored
under
cover
at
rear
of
cylinder
head
(arrow)
.
Fig
.
8
.
Remove
engine
cover
on
6-cylinder
engine
byprying
off
nut
covers
and
removing
nuts
(A)
.
Be
careful
not
to
let
rubber
in-
sulators
fall
off
as
cover
is
removed
(arrows)
.
4
.
On
6-cylinder
engines,
disconnect
the
harness
connec-
tors
from
the
ignítion
coils
by
lifting
the
retaining
clip
.
Remove
the
coil
mounting
nuts
andremove
the
six
coils
.
See
Fig
.
9
.
Remove
the
sparkplugs
.
"
Failure
to
remove
the
main
relay
or
attempting
to
disable
the
ignítion
system
by
other
methods
may
resultin
damage
to
the
engine
control
module
.
NOTE-
Used
sparkplugs
should
be
reinstalled
in
the
same
cyl-
2
.
On
4-cylinder
engine
:
Remove
plastic
engine
cover
from
inder
fromwhich
they
were
removed
.
top
of
cylinder
head
.
Disconnect
spark
plug
wires
and
re-
move
spark
plugs
.
See
Fig
.
7
.
5
.
Insta¡¡
the
compression
gauge
in
the
first
cylinder's
3
.
On
6-cylinder
engine
:
Remove
top
engine
coverby
pry-
spark
plug
hole,
tight
enough
to
form
a
good
seal
.
ing
off
nut
covers
and
removing
mounting
nuts
.
See
Fig
.
8
.
MECHANICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING
100-8
ENGINE-GENERAL
Symptom
1
Probable
cause
and
correctiveaction
1
.
Engine
will
not
start
or
run
.
Starter
cranks
a
.
No
fuel
reaching
engine
.
Check
forfuelin
tank
.
engine
at
normal
speed
.
Fuel
pump
notoperating
.
Repair
Group
160
b
.
No
spark
.
Check
ignition
system
.
Repair
Group
120
c
.
Incorrect
valve
timing
.
Check
timing
chain
.
Repair
Group
117
2
.
Check
Engine
warning
light
illuminated
.
a
.
DME
engine
management
system
self-diagnostic
fault
detected
.
Sea
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
or
other
qualified
shop
for
OBD
II
fault
code
diagnosis
.
See
also
On-
board
Diagnostics(OBD),
given
later
inthis
repair
group
.
3
.
White
exhaust
smoke
(steam)
.
a
.
Failed
cylinder
head
gasket
(probably
accompanied
bylowcompression
readings)
.
Replace
gasket
and
resurface
cylinder
head
if
necessary
.
Repair
Group
113
4
.
Blue-gray
exhaust
smoke
and
oily
spark
a
.
Contaminated
or
gasoline-diluted
engine
oil
.
Change
engine
oil
and
replace
oil
filter
.
plugs
.
Indicates
oii
burning
in
combustion
.
Repair
Group
020
b
.
Faulty
valve
guide
seals
or
valve
guides
.
Replace
valve
guide
oil
seals
or
overhaul
cylinder
head
.
Repair
Group
116
5
.
Pinging
or
rattling
when
under
load,
a
.
Ignition
timing
too
advanced
.
Ignition
knocksensors
faulty
(CheckEngine
light
traveling
uphill,
or
accelerating,
especially
illuminated)
.
Repair
Group
120fromlow
speeds
.
Indicates
pre-ignition
or
b
.
Fuel
octane
leve¡
toolow
.
detonation
.
c
.
Engine
running
too
hot
or
overheating
.
Check
cooling
system
.
Repair
Group
170
6
.
Light
metallic
tapping
that
varies
directly
with
engine
speed
.
Oil
pressure
warning
light
not
illuminated
.
7
.
Light
metallic
knock
that
varies
directly
with
enginespeed
.
Oil
pressure
warning
light
blinking
or
fully
illuminated
;
may
be
most
noticeable
during
hard
stops
or
cornering
.
8
.
Screeching
or
squealing
under
load
that
a
.
Loose,worn,
or
damaged
drive
belt
.
Inspect
belt(s)
.
Repair
Group
020
goesaway
when
coasting
.
9
.
Growling
or
rumbling
that
varieswith
engine
a
.
Remove
drive
belt(s)toidentifyfaulty
component
.
Check
for
play,
bearing
roughness,
rpm
.
Indicates
abad
bearing
or
bushing
in
and
loose
mountings
.
Refer
to
appropriate
repair
group
for
repair
procedures
.
an
engine-driven
accessory
.
DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING
On-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
On-Board
Diagnostics
is
incorporated
into
al¡
engine
man-
Two
generations
of
OBD
are
usedon
thecars
covered
by
agement
systems
used
on
the
cars
covered
by
this
manual
.
this
manual
:
Therefore,
checking
for
fault
codes
should
be
the
first
step
in
troubleshootinga
driveability
problem
.
For
additional
informa-
On-Board
Diagnostics
tion
on
engine
management
and
repair
see130
Fuel
Injec-
tion
.
"
1992-1995models
....
.
..
....
.
..
.......
OBD
I
"
1996-1998models
.
....
..
.
.
.
..
.
........
OBD
II
DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING
Tablec
.
Engine
Mechanical
Troubleshooting
b
.
Warped
or
cracked
cylinder
head
.
Resurface
or
replace
cylinder
head
.
Repair
Group
113
c
.
Cracked
cylinder
block
.
Replace
engine
or
short
block
.
c
.
Worn
piston
rings
.
Overhaul
or
replace
engine
.
d
.
Failed
cylinder
head
gasket
.
Replace
gasket
.
Repair
Group
113
d
.
Air/fuel
mixture
too
lean
(Check
Engine
light
illuminated)
.
Repair
Group
130
a
.
Valveclearances
excessive
.
Check
hydraulic
valve
adjusters
.
Repair
Group
116
b
.
Low
oil
pressure
orpossibly
defective
warning
light
circuit
.
Check
oil
pressure
andwarning
light
circuit
.
Repair
Group
119
c
.
Dirty
oil
.
Change
oil
.
Repair
Group
020
.
a
.
Low
oil
leve¡
.
Check
and
correct
oil
leve¡
.
b
.
Low
oil
pressure/worn
or
faulty
oil
pump
.
Oil
pump
pickup
restricted/clogged
.
Check
oil
pressure
.
Repair
Group
119
The
OBD
system
detects
emissions-related
engine
manage-
ment
malfunctions
and
tucos
on
the
Check
Engíne
lightin
the
in-
strument
cluster
.
TheCheck
Engine
light
will
stay
on
until
the
code(s)are
called
up
and
the
memory
is
erased
.
When
faulty
are
detected,
the
OBD
system
stores
a
Diagnostic
Trouble
Code
(DTC)
in
the
system
ECM
.
In
addition,
the
Check
Engine
warn-
ing
light
will
come
on
if
an
emissions-related
fault
is
detected
.
110
Engine
Removal
and
Installation
GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.
..........
.
...
110-1
Engine,
removing
and
installing
(4-cylinder
engines)
.
..
.....
..
...........
110-1
ENGINE
REMOVAL
AND
INSTALLATION
110-1
Engine,
removing
and
installing
(6-cylinder
engines)
..
...
...
..
.....
..
....
110-4
GENERAL
Some
special
tools
are
required
for
removal
and
installation
of
the
engine
.
Be
sure
to
have
the
necessary
equipment
on
hand
before
starting
thejob
.
CAUTION-
"
Engine
removal
requires
disconnecting
the
bat-
tery
.
This
may
erase
any
system
fault
code(s)
that
havebeen
stored
in
control
unit
memories
.
Check
forfault
codes
prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery
cables
.
"
If
the
Check
Engine
lightis
illuminated
with
the
engine
running,
see
100
Engine-General
for
On-Board
Diagnostics
(08D)
fault
code
infor-
mation
.
"
If
any
other
system
faults
have
been
detected,
as
indicated
by
an
illuminated
ANTI
LOCK,
SRS
or
AST
warning
light,
see
the
appropriate
repair
group
inthis
manual
or
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
for
more
information
on
fault
codes
.
ENGINE
REMOVALAND
INSTALLATION
Engine,
removing
and
installing
(4-cylinder
engines)
Cover
al¡
painted
surfaces
before
beginning
theremoval
procedure
.
Asan
aid
to
installation,
label
al¡
components,
wires,
and
hoses
before
removing
them
.
Do
not
reuse
gas-
kets,
O-rings
or
seals
during
reassembly
.
WARNING
-
Due
to
risk
of
personal
injury,
be
sure
the
engine
is
cold
before
beginning
the
removalprocedure
.
1.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
in
luggage
compartment
.
0011969
CAUTION-
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.
ENGINE
REMOVAL
AND
INSTALLATION
110-1
2
.
Remove
transmission
from
car
.
See230
Manual
Transmission
or
240
Automatic
Transmission
.
3
.
Remove
enginehood
or
place
hood
in
service
positíon
.
See
410
Fenders,
Engine
Hood
.
NOTE-
tt
is
notnecessary
to
remove
the
engine
hood,
but
it
is
helpful
and
will
make
engine
removal
and
installation
easier
.
4
.
Remove
splash
guard
under
engine,
if
applicable
.
5
.
Unbolt
ignition
coil
assembly
from
bracket
on
strut
tow-er
.
Disconnect
wiring
to
ignition
cofs,
then
place
coil
assembly
on
engine
.
6
.
Disconnect
al¡
cables
and
harness
connectors
at
throt-
tle
housing
.
7
.
Unbolt
andremove
complete
air
cleaner
housing
with
mass
air
flow
sensor,
disconnecting
and
labeling
con-
nectors,
ducting
and
hoses
asnecessary
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
Fig
.
1
.
Intake
air
duct
hose
clamp
(A),
mass
air
flow
sensor
connec-
tor
(B),
and
air
cleanerto
air
flow
sensor
clips
(C)
on
M44
en-
gine
.
ENGINE
REMOVAL
AND
INSTALLATION