1994 BMW M3 tow

IGNITION
SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTICS



IGNITION
SYSTEM
SERVICE

Poor
driveability
may
have
a
variety
of
causes
.
The
fault



On
4-cylinder
engines,
an
ignition
coil
pack
is
mounted
to

may
lie
with
the
ignition
system,
the
fuel
system,
parts
of
the



the
passenger
side
strut
tower
in
the
engine
compartment
.

emission
control
system,
or
a
combination
of
the
three
.
Be-



The
coil
pack
integrates
4
individual
coils
.

cause
of
these
interrelated
functions
and
their
effects
oneach

other,
it
is
often
difficult
to
know
where
to
begin
looking
for



On
6-cylinder
engines,
an
ignition
coil
is
located
directly

problems
.



above
each
spark
plug
.

For
this
reason,
effective
troubleshooting
should
alwaysbe-

gin
with
an
interrogation
of
the
On-Board
Diagnostic
(OBD)

system
.
The
OBD
system
detects
certain
emissions-related

engine
management
malfunctions
.
When
faults
are
detected,

the
OBD
system
stores
a
Diagnostic
Trouble
Code
(DTC)
in

the
system
ECM
.
In
addition,
the
Check
Enginewarning
light

will
come
on
if
an
emissions-related
fault
is
detected
.

Two
generations
of
OBD
areusedon
the
cars
coveredby

this
manual
.
See
100
Engine-General
for
OBD
information
.

On-Board
Diagnostics

"
1992-1995
models
............
...
.
..
...



OBD
I

"
1996
and
later
models
.........
.......
..
OBD
II

NOTE-

"
On
carswith
OBD
ti,
specialized
OBD
11
scan
tool

equipment
mustbeused
to
access
DTCs,
either
using

the
BMW
special
tool
or
a
`generic"
OBD
11
scan
tool
.

"
The
OBD
11
fault
memory
(including
an
illuminated

Check
Engine
light)
can
only
be
reset
using
the
spe-

cial
scan
tool
.
Removing
the
connector
from
the
ECM

or
dísconnecting
the
battery
will
not
erase
the
fault

memory
.

Basic
Troubleshooting
Principies

An
engine
that
starts
and
runs
indicates
the
ignition
system

is
fundamentally
working-delivering
voltage
toat
least
some

of
the
sparkplugs
.
A
hard-starting
or
poor-running
engine,

however,
may
indicate
ignition
coil
problems,
cracked
or
dete-

riorated
spark
plug
wires
(4-cylinder
engines
only),
and
worn

or
fouled
spark
plugs
.

WARNING
-

Inefficient
combustion
(richair/fuel
mixture)
can

cause
the
catalytic
converter
to
overheat
and
plug
.

An
overheated
catalytic
converter
can
also
bea
tire

hazard
.

Checking
for
Spark

IGNITION
SYSTEM



120-
3

WARNING
-

If
a
spark
test
is
done
incorrectly,
damage
to
theen-
gine
control
module
(ECM)
or
the
ignitioncoil(s)
may
result
.

Checking
for
spark
is
difficult
onengines
with
distributorless

ignition
systems
.

Try
Rmovng
the
plugs
and
inspecting
for
differences
be-

tween
them
.
A
poor-firing
plug
may
be
wet
with
fuel
and/or

black
and
sooty,
butnot
always
.
If
a
coil
is
not
operating,
the

engine
management
system
will
electrically
disable
the
fuel
injectorto
that
cylinder
.
The
key
is
to
look
for
differences
be-

tween
cylinders
.

Ignition
coil,
testing
and
replacing

(4-cylinder
engine)

1.
Disconnect
mainharness
connector
from
coils
:

"
On
M42
engine,
remove
plastic
covering
from
coils
and

disconnect
individual
harness
connectors
.

"
On
M44
engine,
disconnect
main
harness
connectorat

end
of
coil
pack
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

Fig
.
3
.



Ignition
coil
pack
for
M44
engine
(arrow)
.
Coil
harness
con-

nector
shown
at1
.

IGNITION
SYSTEM
SERVICE

120-8



IGNITION
SYSTEM

1



1
.0
GN



1
.0
Gl
.0
GN
I



Ign
coil



1
.0
GN
.

Tti



%ti



r,



_%ti
_



_
ice_
I



25



52
5524



51



54



56
I



Power
input



power
input

t



U



Engine
Control
Module
(Bosch
DME
Ml
.7)



II



Powerinput
Mainrelaycontrol
I
15
42



43



16442868
67



34
6
26



27
1
-----



__
V



_



--



_

~
8K



.35
BK
.35
13,1
1



.35
YE



1



.35
BK35
VE
.35

3



cyl
.1

1

11

E

S
2

1
.0
BR

2
.5
BR

Ign
.
coil
cyl
.
3



II

Ign
.
coil



Ign
.
coil
3



cyI
.
2



1
Y
_
Y
2



k
3



cyl
.
4

IGNITION
SYSTEM
SCHEMATICS

Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start
(
vía
ignition
switchterminal
15)



WIRING
COLOR
CODE
4
.0
GN

1
.0
BR'V
.

Camshaft
Knock
Sensor
Knock
Sensor



Position
(cyl
.1-2)
(cyl
.3-4)



Sensor

Fig
.
13
.
Bosch
DME
M1
.7
ignition
system
circuit
for
M42
engine
.

Ground
(RH
rearof
engine
compartment,
rear
of
shock
tower)

N[INS

Crankshaftlrpm
Position
Sensor

Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start
(vía
main
relay
terminal
87)

Ground
(RH
rearof
engine
compartment,
rearof
shock
tower)

5GN

BK
-
BLACK
BR
"
BROWN
RD
-
RED
YL-
YELLOW
GN
-
GREEN
BL
-
BLUE
VI
-
VIOLET
GY
-
GREY
WT
-
WHITE
PK
-
PINK

Warning
:
Lethal
voltagepresent

Battery
voltage
at
all
times
to
Main
relay
(terminal
85)

'Y
Y

---------------------

0013087

^1
.5WT
^1
.5RD
^1
.5YL
^1
.5BL
r



--__



____-



__-_



___-_



-___-_____--__--



-____-___



____-
i
26
g
5022
23



54



5

I



Power
input



power
input
I



Engine
Control
Module
(Bosch
DME
M5
.2)



I
I



grounds



I
P
owerinput



Main
relay
control



I
70
40



71



21



2078



34
55
626



27
----------------------
-
---------
-
--
-
------------
-
-----------
.,



v
1
1
.1



v
`
1
35BK



35BK

2
(



1Y



¡3



194

Knock
Sensor
Knock
Sensor
(cyl
.1-2)
(cyl
.3-4)

Frommain
relay
terminal
87
(battery
voltage
in
run
or
start

Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start
(
via
ignition
switch



Warnin
terminal
15)



Lethal
óltage



WIRING
present



COLOR
CODE
2
.5
GN



'

1
.0
YL



/
1
.0
BL



/
1
.0
RDNJT

.35
BK
/



/
.35
BK

Camshaft
Position
Sensor
-_

Fig
.
14
.
Bosch
DME
M5
.2
ignition
system
circuit
for
M44
engine
.

Ground
(RH
rear
of
engine
compartment,
rearof
shock
tower)

Crankshaftirpm
Position
Sensor

IGNITION
SYSTEM



120-9

Batteryvoltage



Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start



in
run
or
start
(via
main
relay



(
via
ignition
switch
terminal
87)



terminal
15)

BK
-
BLACX
BR
-
BROWN
RD
-
RED
YL
-
YELLOW
GN
-
GREEN
BL
-
BLUE
VI
-
VIOLET
GY
-
GREY
WT
-
WHITE
PK
-
PINK

Battery
voltage
at
all
times
to
Main
relay
(terminal
85)

Ground
(RH
rear
of
engine
compartment,
rearof
shock
tower)



0012721

lGNITION
SYSTEM
SCHEMATlCS

120-10



IGNITION
SYSTEM

Ground
(rear
of
engine
compartment,
rear
of
passenger
side
shock
tower)

.!
BK

Camshaft
Position
Sensor

IGNITION
SYSTEM
SCHEMATICS

Batteryvoltage
in
run
or
start
(
via
ignition
switch
terminal
15)

---------------------------------------------------------
55



S5154
i

power
input



Power
input



1
DME
Control
Module(Bosch
DME
M3
.1)

Ground
-
(RHrear
of
enginecompartment,
rearof
passenger
side
shock
tower)

Fig
.
15
.
Bosch
DME
M3
.1
usedon1992
M50
engines(without
VANOS)
.

.EBK

Crankshaftlrpm
Position
Sensor

5GN

1.0
RD

Ground
(RH
rearof
enginecompartment,
rear
of
passenger
side
shock
tower)

WIRING
COLOR
CODE

BK
-
BLACK
BR
-
BROWN
RD
-
RED
YL
-
YELLOWGN
-
GREEN
BL
-
BLUE
VI-
VIOLET
GY
"
GREY
WT
"
WHITE
PK
-
PINK

Batteryvoltage
in
run
or
start
(
via
main
relay
Battery
voltage



terminal
87)
in
run
or
start
(via
ignition
switch
terminal
15)

11508

1
grounds



Main
rela
control
P
ower
Input



Y



I
-
34
---"--
6
26
27
1

Battery
voltage
at
all
times
to
Main
relay
(terminal
85)

RER

Knock
Sensor
Knock
Sensor
(cyl
.1-3)
(cyl
.4-6)

Batteryvoltage



IMIRING
in
run
or
start



COLORCODE
(
via
ignition
switch
termina¡
15)



BK



BLAOK
BR
BROWN
RD
-
RED
YL
-
YELLOW
GN
"
GREEN
EL
-
BLUF
VI
-
VIOLET
GY
-
GREY
WT
-
WHITE
PK
-
PINK
4
.0
GN

l1/1j\
I'1
/~/1r1



l\r1

1
55



so



si



52



23



25



24



56



54
1
Power
input



Power
input



III



O
Engine
Control
Module
(Bosch
DMEM13
.1)



II



grounds



P
ower
input



Main
relaY
control
I
70
__
_
71



69



17



28



43



16



-34---"-6



26



27
____________________________________________

From
main
relaterminal
87
(battery
voltage
in
run
or
start

.5
YL

Camshaft
Position
Sensor

Ground
(RH
rearof
enginecompartment,
rear
of
shock
tower)

.5
BK

Crankshaft/rpm
Position
Sensor

Fig
.
16
.
Bosch
DME
M33
.1
ignition
system
círcuit
for
1993-1995
M50
engines
with
VANOS
.

IGNITION
SYSTEM



120-11

Ground
=
(RH
rear
of
engine
compartment,
back
sideof
shock
tower)

Batteryvoltage



Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start



in
run
or
start
(
via
ignition
switch



(
via
main
relay
terminal
15)



terminal
87)

1
.0
RD

11506a

.5
BR

Batteryvoltage
at
all
times
to
Main
relay
(terminal
85)

IGNITION
SYSTEM
SCHEMATICS

120-12



IGNITION
SYSTEM

Warning
.
Lethal
voltagepresent

Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start
(via
ignitíon
switch
terminal
15)

I
t

IGNITION
SYSTEM
SCHEMATICS

Battery
voltage
in
run
or
start
(
via
ignition
switchterminal
15)



WIRING
COLOR
CODE

Knock
Sensor
Knock
Sensor



Crankshaftlrpm



Camshaft
(cyl
.
1-3)



(cyl
.
4-6)



Position
Sensor



Position
-
-
Sensor
-

Fig
.
17
.
Siemens
MS
41
.1
ignition
systemusedon1996
and
later
6-cylinder
engines
.

1.0
BR

PQ

1
.08~1
.0BKIRD



/1
.0BK/YL



'10BK/BL



'1
.03KIGN



10BKNI
4
1D

BK
-
BLACK
BR
-
BROWN
RD
-
RED
YL
-
YELLOW
GN
-
GREEN
BL
-
BLUE
VI-
VIOLET
GY
-
GREY
WT
-
WHITE
PK
-
PINK

Batteryvoltage
in
run
or
start
(via
main
relay
terminal
87)

!1



rl
1.0
B~



^
1.0
BK/RD



^
1.0
BKIYL



^
1
.0
BK/BL



n
1.0
BK/GN



n
1
.0
BKIVI



%~
r
-------
--------------_____________----_______-_-____
49



29



1



30



2



31



3



8754
1
power
input



Power
input



I
1



Engine
Control
Module
(Siemens
MS
41
.1)



1
1



grounds



1
n
1



Powerinput
Mainrelaycontrol
1
1-
57

___
58



_
59
_
__
63
_



38



83



48



40



64



43



65



41



28



32



34



4



26



73



1
-



-----------
-
_-----
-
------
_
------
-
------
-
---



-

.5Y1-



.5BKY.5GNY.5BRY
Y



.35BKY
1
Y



Y



.35BKY/Y35YY
75
.18R/
.5YL-1
1'
.

Batteryvoltage
at
all
times
to
Main
relay
(terminal
85)

Ground



v
(RH
rear
of
engine



Z
compartment,
rear



=
of
shock
tower)



Ground
(RH
rear
of
enginecompartment,
rearof
shock
tower)



0012731

Starter,
removing
and
installing

(6-cylinder
engine
with

automatic
transmission)

The
starter
on
a
6-cylinder
car
with
automatic
transmission

ís
removed
from
above
.
It
is
necessary
to
remove
the
íntake

manifold
and
disconnect
a
number
of
electrical
harness
con-

nectors
.

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
battery
cable
.

2
.
Remove
air
plenum
from
rear
of
engine
compartment
.

See640
Heating
and
Air
Conditioning
.

3
.
Remove
top
enginecovers
.
See
Fig
.
9
.

Fig
.
9
.



Remove
top
engine
cover
by
prying
out
plugs
and
removing
nuts
(A)
.
Make
sure
rubber
insulators
(B)
on
either
sideof
large
cover
do
not
fall
off
during
cover
removal
.

4
.
Remove
ignition
coil
harness
connectors
.
Remove
ground
connection
at
front
of
cylinder
head
.

5
.
Remove
two
retaining
bolts
and
lift
off
fuel
injector
har-
ness
connector
strip
.
Carefully
fold
away
all
harnesses
toward
right
side
of
engine
compartment
and
place
at
base
of
windshield
.
See
Fig
.
10
.

6
.
Remove
intake
manifold
.
See
113
Cylinder
Head
Re-
moval
and
Installation
.

7
.
Disconnect
wiring
from
starter
.

BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR



121-
9

Fig
.
10
.
Fuel
injection
harness
(A)
and
ignition
coíl
harness
connectors
(B)
being
lifted
off
engine
to
be
placed
at
base
ofwindshield
.
M50
engine
shown
.
Other
6-cylinder
engines
are
similar
.

8
.
Loosen
and
remove
bolts
and
nuts
fastening
starter
to
transmission
bell
housing
and/or
engine
block
.
Remove

starter
support
bracket
.

Fig
.
11
.
Starter
wiring
terminals
and
support
bracket(arrow)
.
Intake
manifold
has
been
removed
.

STARTER
SERVICE

130-
1
0



FUEL
INJECTION

Relleving
fuel
pressure
and
connecting

fuel
pressure
gauge

WARNING
-

"
Gasoline
is
highly
flammable
and
its
vaporsare
explosive
.
Do
not
smoke
orwork
on
acarnear
heaters
or
other
fire
hazards
when
diagnosing
and
repairing
fuel
system
problems
.
Have
a
fire
extinguisher
available
in
case
of
an
emergency
.

"
When
working
onanopen
fuel
system,
wear
suit-
able
hand
protection
.
Prolonged
contact
with
fuel
can
cause
illnesses
and
skin
disorders
.

To
prevent
fuel
from
spraying
on
a
hot
engine,
system
fuel

pressure
should
be
relieved
before
disconnecting
fuel
lines
.

One
method
is
to
tightly
wrap
a
shop
towel
around
a
fuelline
fit-

ting
and
loosenor
disconnect
the
fitting
.

Cleanliness
is
essential
when
working
with
fuelcircuit
com-
ponents
.
Thoroughly
clean
theunionsbefore
disconnecting
fuellines
.

NOTE-

"
OnM44
engines,
a
Schrmder
valve
is
integrated
in
the
fuel
rail
.
Compressed
air
pressure
canbe
applied
at
the
valve
to
force
the
fuel
in
the
system
back
into
the
tank
.
See
Fig
.
11
.

0012503

Fig
.
11
.
Fuel
rail
showing
location
of
Schraeder
valve
fitting
on
M44
engine
(arrow)
.

NOTE-

B~
specifies
a
special
gauge
and
special
connecting
adapters
to
measure
fuel
pressure
.
If
the
special
tools
arenot
available,
a
length
of
fuel
fine
and
a
T-fitting
canbe
installed
to
the
inlet
fuel
fine
and
connected
to
a
fuel
gauge
.
On
some
vehicles,
thisis
not
possible
without
cutting
finto
a
fuel
lino
.
In
these
lnstances,
it
Is
recom-
mended
that
fuel
pressure
be
checked
at
theoutput
sidoof
the
fuel
pump
.
See
160
Fuel
Tankand
Fuel
Pump
.

FUELDELIVERY
TESTS

On
OBD
II
6-cylinder
engines,
the
fuel
lines
use
a
special

locking
fitting
.
Use
BMW
special
tool
16
1
050
to
release
the

fittings
and
connect
the
fuel
gauge
.
See
Fig
.
12
.

0012699

Fig
.
12
.
Fuel
linos
at
rear
of
intake
manifold
on
M52
engine
.
Use
BMW
special
tool
16
1
050
torelease
fittings
.

WARNING
-

"
Gasoline
is
highly
flammable
and
its
vapors
are
explosive
.

"
The
fuel
pressure
gauge
must
be
securely
con-nected
to
prevent
it
from
coming
loose
under
pressure
.

NOTE-

"
The
fuel
pressure
gauge
should
have
arangoof
0
to
5
bar
(0
to
75
psi)
.

"
On
6-cylinder
engine,
thetop
left-sido
engine
cover
will
have
to
be
removed
to
access
the
fuel
rail
.

Residual
fuel
pressure,
testing

For
quick
restarts
and
to
avoid
vapor
lock
when
the
engine
is
hot,
the
fuel
injection
system
is
designed
to
retain
fuel
pres-
sure
after
the
engine
has
been
turned
off
.
Thís
residualpres-
sure
is
primarily
maíntained
by
a
check
valve
at
the
fuel
pump
outiet
and
the
fuel
pressure
regulator
.
The
fuel
pump
check
valve
is
not
serviceable
asan
individual
part
.

1.
Relieve
fuel
pressure
and
connect
a
pressure
gauge
as
described
earlier
.

WARNING
-

Fuel
will
be
discharged
.
Wrap
a
shop
towel
around
the
fuellino
fitting
when
disconnecting
the
fuel
fine
.
Do
not
smoke
or
worknear
heaters
or
other
fire
hazards
.
Keep
an
approved
fire
extinguisher
handy
.

2
.
Operate
fuel
pump
for
approximately
one
minuto
by
by-
passing
fuel
pump
relay
as
described
earlier
.
Observe
fuel
pressure
.