1996 BMW 323i 130

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)
.

Ambient
temperaturelclock

MÍM
Aa
.Mi}rm
-Mil"
IMua~naa~u~itacar
"
za
.~

Central
Body
Electronics

0013028

Fig
.
4
.



Different
versionsof
Multi-information
Display(MID)
installed
in
E36
cars
.

The
E36
cars
are
equipped
with
a
sophisticated
centralized

body
electric/electronics
plan
.
The
system
is
self-diagnostic

and
incorporates
many
functions
into
a
single
control
module
.

The
consolidation
of
several
systems
into
a
single
control

module
minimizes
power
requirements
and
the
incorporation

of
the
diagnostic
link
results
in
more
efficient
and
accurate

troubleshooting
.

Self-diagnostic
codes
are
accessible
electronically
through

the
data-link
connector
in
the
engine
compartment
.
See610

Electrical
Component
Locations
.

BODY-GENERAL
400-
5

Two
versions
of
central
body
electronics
are
used
depend-

ing
on
model
year
.

1992
and
1993
models
are
equipped
with
a
central
locking

module
(ZVM)
which
incorporates
control
of
the
following
sys-

tems
:

"Interiorlighting
"
Central
locking
with
double
lock
feature

"
Output
relays
for
powerwindows
and
sunroof

"
Electronic
power
protection

E36
cars
since
the
1994
model
year
are
equipped
with
ZKE

IV
.
This
is
an
electronic
comfort
and
convenience
system
that

includes
the
following
additional
features
:

"
One
touch
up/down
power
window
operation

"
Power
window
and
sunroof
closure
from
driver
or
pas-

sengerdoor
lock

"
Vehicle
locking
or
unlocking
from
the
trunk
lock
.

Other
features
of
the
system
are
discussed
in
515
Central

Locking
and
Anti-Theft
.

Electronic
Immobilization
System

Beginning
in
model
year
1994,
all
E36
vehicles
incorporate

adriveaway
protection
system
regardless
of
whether
the
vehi-

cle
is
equipped
with
a
BMW
Alarm
System
or
an
On-Board

computer
.
Two
types
of
factory
systems
were
installed,
de-
pending
on
vehicle
production
date
.

On
the
early
system
(model
year
1994
up
to
January
1995),

the
ignition
and
fuel
injection
functions
are
disabled
whenever

the
vehicle
is
locked
in
the
double
lock
mode
.
This
is
referred

lo
as
EWS
or
EWS
I
.

Beginning
in
January
1995,
the
driveaway
protection
sys-

tem
was
upgraded
to
a
more
sophisticated
system,
called

EWS
II
.
This
system
uses
a
wireless
communication
link
be-

tween
a
transponder
chip
in
the
ignition
keyand
the
ring
an-

tenna
surrounding
the
ignition
switch
.
The
EWS
II
control

module
blocksthe
starting
of
the
vehicle
unlessthe
correct

coded
ignition
key
is
used
.

For
further
information
about
drive
away
protection
sys-

tems,
see
515
Central
Locking
and
Anti-Theft
.

INTERIOR
EQUIPMENT

GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
..
.
...
.
.........
510-1



Front
bumper
impact
absorber,
replacing
....
510-4

Rear
bumper,
removing
and
installing



.....
.510-4

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS
.
...
.
.....
510-1



Rear
bumper
impact
absorber,
replacing
...
.
510-6
Outside
mirrorglass,
replacing



.
.
.........
510-1



Bumper
height,
adjusting



...
.
...
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
510-6
Outside
mirror
housing,
removing
and
installing
....
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-1



EXTERIOR
TRIM



...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
510-6
Outside
mirror,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
510-2



BMW
embiem,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-7

Body
side
molding,
replacing



.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-7
BUMPERS



.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.....
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-3



Radiator
grille,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.510-7
Front
bumper,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-3



Front
panel,
removing
and
installing
...
.
.
.
.
.
510-7

GENERAL

510
Exterior
Trim,
Bumpers

This
repair
group
includes
repair
information
for
the
outside

rear
view
mirror,
front
and
rear
bumpers,
and
the
easily
re-

movable
exterior
trim
parts
.

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS

The
remove
controlled
mirrors
come
in
two
styles
:
heated
and
unheated
.
Many
of
the
mirror
components
are
separately

available
from
an
authorized
BMW
dealer,
including
the
glass

and
outside
plastic
housing
.

Outside
mirror
glass,
replacing

CAUTION-

Mirror
shouldbe
ator
above
room
temperature
before
removal
.
Otherwise,
small
plastic
parts
or
glass
will
break
.

1
.
Insert
thin
pry
tool
(wooden
or
tape-wrapped
screwdriv-

er)
between
bottom
mirror
edge
and
mirror
housing
and

carefully
pry
out
mirror
glass
from
housing
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

2
.
Heated
mirror
:
remove
heating
element
harness
con-

nectors
from
back
of
mirror
glass
.

3
.
Install
new
glass
into
position
by
pressing
firmly
until
it

snaps
into
place
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS



510-1

00130
..

Fig
.1
.
Prying
mirror
glass
out
of
mirror
housing
.
Note
screwdriver
shaft
wrapped
with
tape
.

Outside
mirror
housing,

removing
and
installing

1
.
Remove
mirror
glass
as
described
above
.

2
.
Remove
housing
retaining
screws
and
lift
off
rear
hous-
ing
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

3
.
Tilt
mirror
housing
forward
and
compress
plastic
retain-

ers
and
lift
off
front
housing
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Check
mirror
function

before
installing
covering
parts
.

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS

510-2



EXTERIOR
TRIIVI,
BUMPERS

Fig
.
2
.



Mirror
housing
retaining
screws
(arrows)
.

Fig
.
3
.



Use
need1e-nose
pliers
to
release
retainers
(arrows)
.

Outside
mirror,
removing
and
installing

0013039
0013040

1
.
Remove
triangular
trim
plate
by
prying
and
lifting
gently
fromdoor
frame
.
See
Fig
.
4
.
Unhook
harness
splice

connector
from
base
of
trim
píate
.

2
.
Separate
harness
connector
.
Support
mirror
and
re-
move
mirror
mounting
bolts
.
Lift
mirror
off
door
.
See

Fig
.
5
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Check
mirror
function
before
installing
covering
parts
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Outside
mirror
to
door(M6)
..
.
..
.
..
.
6
Nm
(4
.5
ft-Ib)

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS

0013041
Fig
.
4
.



Pry
plastictrim
in
direction
of
arrow
1,
then
lift
off
in
direction

of
arrow
2
.

0013042
Fig
.
5
.



Mirror
mounting
bolts
(arrows)
.
Two-door
body
style
shown
.

510-4



EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS

Fig
.
8
.



Bumper
cover
retaining
screws
(arrows)
in
left
wheel
weil
.

7
.
Disconnect
harnessconnectors
at
outside
temperature



0013052

sensor
at
rear
of
left
side
of
bumperand
temperatura



Fig
.
9
.



Front
bumper
impact
absorber
mounting
nuts
(A)
and

switch
at
rear
of
right
side
of
bumper
(if
applicable)
.



bumper
bracket
hardware
(B)
.

8
.
Slide
bumper
straight
off
sida
brackets
.

9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
notingthe
following
:



When
removing
and
installing
therear
bumper
or
its
compo-

"
Slide
side
brackets
on
bumper
and
body
carefully
to-



nents,
referto
Fig
.
10
.

gether
.

"
Make
sure
tabs
on
trim
strip
engage
slots
in
bumper



1
.
Raise
and
properly
support
vehicle
.

correctly
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Bumper
to
bumper

bracket
(M8
nut)
............
...
.
.
22
Nm
(16
ft-Ib)

2
.
Working
under
bumper,
remove
screws
or
expansion

Front
bumper
impact
absorber,replacing



rivetsat
corners
and
middle
of
lower
bumper
panel
.
Pull

panel
backward,
uncoupling
it
from
bumper
cover
.
See

Thebumper
mounting
bracket
and
impact
absorber
mount-



Fig
.
11
.

ing
hardware
are
accessible
with
the
Font
bumper
removed,
as
described
above
.
See
Fig
.
9
.



3
.
Remove
bumper
cover
expansion
rivets
and
screws
in-

side
left
and
right
rear
wheel
wells
.

NOTE
-

Install
the
bumper
bracket
boltwith
thread
locking
com-
pound
suchas
Loctite
8
270
or
equivalent
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Bumper
bracket
to
impact
absorber

(M10
nut)
.
..
.
...
.............:.
55
Nm
(41
ft-Ib)
"
Impact
absorber
to
chassis
(M6
nut)
...
9
Nm
(7
ft-Ib)

BUMPERS

Rear
bumper,
removing
and
installing

WARNING
-

Make
sure
that
the
car
is
firmly
supported
on
jack

stands
designad
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack

stands
beneath
a
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not

place
jack
stands
under
suspension
parts
.

4
.
Remove
left
and
right
bumper
bracket
mounting
bolts

and
remove
bumper
.
See
Fig
.
12
.

5
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

NOTE-

Install
the
bumper
bracket
bolt
with
thread
locking
com-
pound
suchas
Loctite®270
or
equivalent
.

Fig
.
10
.
Rear
bumper
assembly
.

0013045

Fig
.
11
.
Expansion
rivet
at
corner
of
rear
bumper
lower
panel
(arrow)
.
Some
models
usescrews
.
Pull
panel
backward
to
disengage
from
bumper
cover
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Bumper
bracket
to
impact
absorber

(M10
bolt)
.
..
...........
...
.
..
..
42
Nm
(31
ft-Ib)

EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS



510-5

0013047
Fig
.
12
.
Inserttool
through
rear
bumper
mount
bores
to
remove
mounting
bolts
(right
side
shown)
.

BUMPERS

BMW
emblem,
removing
and
installing

The
procedure
given
below
applies
to
both
front
and
rear

emblems
.

1
.
Wrap
and
of
a
screwdriver
with
tape
.

CAUTION-

Protect
hood
paint
by
coveringarea
aroundem-

blem
with
tape
.

2
.
Carefully
pryout
emblem
.
See
Fig
.
15
.

UVI1'¿.

Fig
.
15
.
BMW
emblem
being
removed
.
Pry
up
emblem
carefully
on
ei-

ther
side
(arrows)
.
Note
tape
on
screwdriver
tips
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Replace
plastic
inserts
in
body
if
damaged
.

"
If
emblem
fits
loosely
intoinserts,
use
a
small
amount

of
bodymoldingtape
or
adhesiva
on
rear
of
emblem

before
installing
.

Body
side
molding,
replacing

To
remove
body
side
moldings,
carefully
pry
the
moldings

straight
off
.
See
Fig
.
16
.

Installation
is
the
reverse
of
removal
.
Replace
any
clips
or

clip
covering
boots
damaged
during
removal
.

Radiator
grille,
removing
and
installing

1
.
Remove
plastic
front
radiator
shroud
or
air
duct,
as

needed

2
.
Lightly
tap
center
of
grilla
toward
radiator
andremove

from
panel
opening
.
Chrome
ring
pulís
out
from
front
.

See
Fig
.
17
.

3
.
To
replace,
snap
grille
andchrome
piece
together
.

Push
assembly
into
front
panel,
pressing
at
top
and

bottom
until
it
snaps
into
place
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS



510-7

Fig
.
16
.
Body
sida
molding
retainingclips
(arrows)
.

-



0013048

Fig
.
17
.
Radiator
grille
being
tapped
inward
.
Right
side
front
panel
top

retaining
screw
is
shown
at
A
.

Front
panel,
removing
and
installing

The
front
panel
is
shown
in
Fig
.
18
.

1
.
Remove
front
bumper
as
described
earlier
.

2
.
Remove
headlights
.
See
630
Exterior
Lighting
.

3
.
Remove
radiator
grille
as
described
earlier
.

4
.
With
engine
hood
open,
remove
front
panel
retaining

screws
at
left
and
right
sides
of
radiator
.
See
Fig
.
19
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM

510-
8



EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS

Fig
.
18
.
Front
panel
assembly
.
Note
top
retaining
screws
(A),
retaining
screws
at
radiator
support
(B),
and
side
retaining
screws
(C)
.

00130~,
u
Fig
.
19
.
Front
panel
retaining
screws
at
radiator
(arrows)
.
Right
side
shown
.
To
remove
left
side
screws
it
may
be
necessary
tore-
move
airfilter
housing
or
duct
.

5
.
Remove
front
paneltop
retaining
screws
near
hood
latches
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
17
.

6
.
Working
under
car,
remove
left
and
right
side
panel
re-
taining
screws
.
See
Fig
.
20
.

7
.
Remove
panel
and
repair
orreplace
with
painted
part
.

8
.
Installation
is
reverseof
removal
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM

0013145
Fig
.
20
.
Front
bumper
mustbe
off
to
access
far
right
and
left
front
panel
retaining
screws
from
below
(arrows)
.
(Right
side
shown
.)