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
612
Switches
and
Electrical
Accessories
GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
......
.612-1
Headlight
switch,
replacing
..
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
612-5
Foglight
switch,
replacing
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
612-5
INTERIOR
SWITCHES
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
612-1
Hazard
warning
switch,
replacing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.612-5
Turn
signal
switch
and
wiper
switch,
Powerwindow
switch,
replacing
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
612-5
replacing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.....
.
....
.
.
.
.
612-1
Outside
mirrorswitch,
replacing
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.612-6
Ignition
Switch
Assembly
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
...
612-3
Ignition
electrical
switch,
replacing
.
...
.
....
612-3
INTERIOR
LIGHTS
.
.
................
.
..
612-6
Ignition
lock
cylinder,
replacing
.
.
.
.
.....
.
..
612-4
Dome
light,
rear
map
lights,
trunk
light,
Headlight
and
Foglight
Switch
Assembly
.
.
.
.
612-5
replacing
bulbs
.
......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.612-7
GENERAL
Turn
signal
switch
and
wiper
switch,
replacing
Thissection
covers
replacement
of
interior
switches
and
accessories
.
The
procedures
for
removing
the
turn
signal
stalk
switch
and
the
wiper
system
stalk
switchare
similar
.
When
working
on
electrical
switches,
always
disconnect
the
negative
(-)
cable
from
the
battery
and
insulate
the
cable
end
to
prevent
accidental
re-connection
.
CAUTION-
Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.
WARNING
-
The
cars
covered
by
this
manual
are
equipped
with
a
Supplemental
Restraint
System
(SRS)
that
auto-'
matically
deploys
one
or
more
airbags
.
Each
airbag
unit
houses
an
explosive
powerful
charge
.
Any
work
involving
the
SRS
system
should
only
be
per-
formed
byan
authorized
BMW
dealer
.
Making
re-
pairs
without
the
proper
knowledge
and
special
test
equipment
may
cause
serious
personal
injury
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
3
.
With
front
wheels
pointed
straight
ahead,
remove
steer-
"
Testing
and
replacement
information
for
the
oil
ores-
¡ng
wheel
.
See
320
Steering
and
Wheel
Alignment
.
sure
switch
is
covered
in
119
Lubrication
System
.
NOTE-
"
Wirfng
diagramscan
be
found
in
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams
.
"
Fuse,
relay
and
electrical
component
locations
can
be
found
in
610
Electrical
Component
Locations
.
"
Replacement
information
for
thetransmission
gear
position/neutral
safety
switch
is
covered
in
250
Gear-
shift
Unkage
.
INTERIOR
SWITCHES
NOTE
-
To
preventmarring
interior
trim,
wrap
the
tips
of
screw-
drivers
and
pliers
with
tape
beforeprying
out
switches
or
electrical
accessories
.
SWITCHES
AND
ELECTRICAL
ACCESSORIES
612-1
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
and
cover
terminal
with
insulating
material
.
2
.
Remove
airbag
unit
from
steering
wheel
.
See
721
Air-
bag
System
(SRS)
.
Store
airbag
unit
in
a
safe
placew¡th
pad
facing
up
.
NOTE
-
To
helo
with
reassembly,
mark
steering
wheel
and
col-
umn
before
disassembly
.
4
.
Remove
trim
panel
from
lower
left
side
of
instrument
panel
.
See513
Interior
Trim
.
INTERIOR
SWITCHES
Ignition
Switch
ASsembly
3
.
Remove
screw
retaining
lower
steering
column
cover
and
remove
cover
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
1
.
,
The
components
of
the
ignition
switch
assembly
are
shown
in
Fig
.
5
.
The
ignitionelectrical
switch
and
the
ignition
lock
cyl-
inder
can
be
removed
with
the
ignition
switch
assembly
at-
tached
to
the
steering
column
.
ignition
electrical
switch,
replacing
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
and
cover
terminal
with
insulating
material
.
CAUTION
-
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
vi¡¡
.
2
.
Remove
trim
panel
from
lower
left
side
of
instrument
panel
.
See
513
Interior
Trim
.
F~
"
Fig
.
5
.
Ignition
switch
assembly
.
SWITCHES
AND
ELECTRICAL
ACCESSORIES
612-3
4
.
Clean
away
colored
sealer
from
ignition
switch
set
screws
and
remove
slotted
set
screwson
both
sides
of
switch
.
See
Fig
.
6
.
5
.
Release
tabs
andremove
switch
after
separating
elec-
trical
harness
connector
.
6
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
noting
the
following
:
3
EWS
II
ring
antenna
(Jan
.
1995
and
later
models)
"
Before
mating
ignition
electrical
switch
toignitionlock,
check
that
switch
isin
correct
position
relativetoigni-
tion
lock
.
"
Seal
set
screws
using
paint
or
lacquer
.
0012241
INTERIOR
SWITCHES
INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER
....
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
..
620-1
Instrument
cluster,
seif-testing
.
.
.......
.
..
620-1
Instrument
cluster,
removing
and
installing
...
620-1
Instrument
cluster
bulbs,
replacing
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
620-2
GENERAL
This
repair
group
covers
removal
and
installation
of
the
in-
strument
cluster
and
the
Multi-information
Display
(MID)
mod-
ule
.
Bulb
replacement
information
for
these
units
is
also
included
here
.
NOTE
-
A
quick
check
of
the
temperature
gauge
and
its
electri-
cal
circuitis
given
in
170
Radiator
and
Cooling
Sys-
tem
.
Use
this
procedure
to
diagnosea
faulty
temperature
gauge
INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER
When
servicing
the
instrument
cluster,
always
disconnect
the
negative
(-)
cable
from
the
battery
and
insulate
the
cable
end
to
prevent
accidental
re-connection
.
Instrument
cluster,
seif-testing
Severa¡
different
versions
of
the
basic
instrument
cluster
havebeen
fitted
in
E36
cars
.
It
is
possibleto
perform
an
instru-
ment
cluster
test
and
display
system
test
information
.
Some
of
the
information
displayed
by
the
instrument
cluster
during
seif-testing
is
used
for
interna¡
BMW
organizationpur-
poses,
suchasmatching
the
correct
instrument
cluster
com-
ponents
during
parts
replacement
.
Other
functions
test
the
various
instrument
modules
.
Self-test
is
also
used
to
recode
the
instrument
cluster
after
removal
.
In
later
production
vehicles
(1996
and
later)
the
test
results
canbe
downioaded,
via
the
diagnostic
plug,
byan
authorized
BMW
dealertechnician
.
1
.
Turn
ignition
to
"radio"position
.
2
.
Press
and
hold
reset
button
on
trip-odometer
untiltrip-
odometer
display
shows
numerical
codes
.
620
Instruments
4
.
Turn
off
ignition
.
Instrument
cluster,
removing
and
installing
INSTRUMENTS
620-1
GENERAL
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
.
....
620-1
Odometer
coding
plug,
replacing
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
620-2
Vehicle
speed
sender,
replacing
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
620-3
MULTI-INFORMATION
DISPLAY
(MID)
.
.
.
620-4
Multi-Information
Display,
removing
and
installing
..
.
....
.
.........
620-4
3
.
With
each
subsequent
press
of
the
button,
a
different
function
is
tested
.
Some
functions
will
activate
need1e
gauges
.
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
and
cover
terminal
with
insulating
material
.
CAUTION-
Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautionsgiven
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
vi¡¡
.
2
.
Remove
airbag
unit
from
steering
wheel
.
See
721
Air-
bag
System
(SRS)
.
Store
unit
in
a
safe
place
.
WARNING
-
The
airbag
is
an
explosive
devfce
and
should
be
treated
with
extreme
caution
.
Improper
handling
of
the
airbag
could
cause
serious
injury
or
death
.
Store
the
airbag
with
the
horn
pad
facing
up
.
If
stored
facing
down,
accidental
deployment
couldpropel
it
vfolently
into
the
air,
causing
injury
.
3
.
With
front
wheels
pointed
straight
ahead,
remove
steer-
ing
wheel
.
See
320
Steering
and
Wheel
Alignment
.
4
.
Remove
instrument
cluster
retaining
screws
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
5
.
Place
a
towel
over
steering
column
.
Carefully
tilt
top
of
cluster
out
of
dash
panel
.
Unlock
and
disconnect
har-
ness
connectors
from
back
of
cluster
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER
640-6
HEATING
AND
AIRCONDITIONING
Heater
core,replacing
1.
Drain
engíne
coolant
.
See170
Radiator
and
Cooling
System
.
WARNING
-
Allow
the
cooling
system
to
cool
before
opening
or
drainíng
the
cooling
system
.
2
.
Remove
center
console
.
See
513
Interior
Trim
.
3
.
Remove
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
module
.
See
620
Instruments
.
4
.
Remove
lower
dash
panel
and
knee
bolster
on
driver
side
.
See
513
Interior
Trim
.
Fig
.
17
.
Wire
harness
retaining
clips
and
wire
ties
at
heater
box
cover
5
.
Working
under
driver
side
of
dash,
remove
coolant
(arrows)
.
flange
from
heater
core
.
See
Fig
.
16
.
0012651
Fig
.
16
.
Bolts
at
3-way
coolant
flange
under
driver's
side
of
dash
(ar-
rows)
.
NOTE-
Residual
coolant
in
heater
core
will
spill
.
Protect
thecarpet
.
6
.
Working
at
front
of
driveshaft
tunnel,
unclip
wire
har-
nesses
and
move
to
one
side
in
front
of
heater
box
.
See
Fig
.
17
.
7
.
Remove
heatercore
temperature
sensorsas
described
later
in
this
repair
group
.
8
.
Remove
front
heater
box
cover
.
See
Fig
.
18
.
9
.
On
right
side
of
heater
box,
unclip
heater
air
duct
actu-
ating
lever
.
Remove
cross-rod
(with
flaps)
from
frontof
heater
core
.
See
Fig
.
19
.
HEATER
AND
CONTROLS
0012662
Fig
.
18
.
Screws
retaining
front
heater
box
cover
(shown
removed)
to
heater
box
(arrows)
.
0012661
Fig
.
19
.
Pry
heater
flap
actuating
lever
in
direction
A
.
Pull
offair
flap
cross-rod
in
direction
B
.
640-8
HEATING
AND
AIR
CONDITIONING
0012649
Fig
.
22
.
A/
C
control
head
faceplate
screwson
rotary
knob
version
(ar-
rows)
.
Once
screws
are
removed,
faceplate
must
be
un-
clipped
from
control
head
.
Fig
.
23
.
Push
control
panel
out
ofcenter
console
.
4
.
Remove
harness
connectors
.
Unfasten
heater
duct
control
flex-shaft
on
right
side
of
control
head
by
squeezing
retaining
tab
.
PA
shaftout
of
coupling
in
control
head
and
remove
head
.
5
.
Installation
is
reverseof
removal
.
HEATER
AND
CONTROLS
0012650
Heater
and
A/C
control
head,
removing
and
installing(digital-display)
1
.
Remove
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
module
from
center
of
dash
.
See
620
Instruments
.
2
.
Reach
into
dash
through
MID
opening
and
push
A/C
control
head
outwards
.
3
.
Disconnect
harness
connector
and
remove
control
head
.
4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
Heater
andA/C
control
module,
removing
and
installing
(rotary-knob)
1
.
Remove
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
module
from
center
of
dash
.
See
620
Instruments
.
2
.
Remove
center
console
.
See
513
Interior
Trim
.
3
.
Disconnect
wiring
harness
connectors
to
A/C
control
module
in
center
console
and
removemodule
.
See
Fig
.
24
.
0013007
Fig
.
24
.
A/
C
control
module
(A)
in
center
console
.
Arrows
point
to
electrical
harness
connectors
at
A/Cmodule
.
Heater
and
A/C
control
module,
removing
and
installing(digital-display)
TheA/C
control
module
for
cars
with
the
digital
display
is
mounted
on
the
back
of
the
control
head
.
See
Fig
.
25
.
1
.
Remove
control
head
as
described
earlier
and
place
onan
anti-static
mat
.
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
721-2
AIRBAG
SYSTEM
(SRS)
Fig
.
1
.
Airbag
system
components
.
AIRBAG
SENSORSAND
ELECTRONICS
CA
UTION-
"
If
an
airbag
is
activated,
the
following
compo-
nents
must
be
replaced
:
Airbag
with
contact
ring
;
-Pyrotechnic
seat
belt
tensioners
(if
fitted)
;
-SRS
Control
module
;
-Impact
sensors
;
All
airbags
which
did
not
deploy
.
"
Consult
your
BMW
dealer
for
parts
and
service
information
.
TheE36
airbag
system
consists
of
the
following
compo-
nents
:
crash
sensors
(in
earlycars,
through
1993),
an
elec-
tronic
control/monitoring
module
(with
integrated
crash
sensor
in
ZAE
systems),
an
indicator
light
in
the
instrument
panel,
and
inflatable
airbags
equipped
with
gas
generators
in
the
steering
wheel
and
in
the
passenger
side
of
the
instrument
panel
(ZAE
systems)
.
Some
1997
and
al¡
1998
carsalso
have
side-impact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
.
AIRBAG
SENSORS
AND
ELECTRONICS
1.
Crash
sensors
(through
1993)
wheel
2
.
SRS
control
module
in
front
of
5
.
Side-impact
airbags
(1997/98)
glove
compartment
(through
6
.
ZAE
control
module
under
rear
1993)
seat
(from
1994)
3
.
Passenger
side
airbag
unit
in
7
.
Side-impact
airbag
crash
sensors
dashboard
(ZAE
system)
in
door
silis
(1997/98)
4
.
Driver
side
airbag
unitin
steering
8
.
Knee
bolsters
In
addition
to
the
airbags,
the
vehicles
are
equipped
wíth
knee
bolsters
for
extra
protection
.
SRS
Warning
Light
and
Fault
Display
The
airbag
system
utilizes
a
self-diagnostic
control
module
to
detect
and
store
system
faults
.
If
a
fault
is
detected,
the
SRS
indicator
in
the
instrument
cluster
comes
on
and
stays
on
.
When
the
ignition
key
is
tumed
on,
the
indicator
light
will
illu-
minate
for
approximately
4-6
seconds
.
The
illuminated
light
indicates
the
self-testof
the
electronic
control/monitoring
module,
the
ignítors
and
crash-sensorcircuits,
and
the
system
wiring
.
The
airbag
system
should
be
inspected
byan
autho-
rized
BMW
dealer
if
the
indicator
light
does
not
come
on,
ifit
does
not
go
out
in
approximately
4-6
seconds
after
switching
onthe
ignition,
or
if
the
light
comes
on
during
driving
.
If
the
system
has
detected
a
fault,
the
light
will
come
on
and
stay
on
.