1996 BMW M3 air bleeding

When
bleeding
the
brakes,
startat
the
wheel
farthest
from



4
.
Close
bleeder
screw
and
release
brake
pedal
.
Refill
the
master
cylinder
and
progress
in
the
following
order
:



brake
fluid
reservoir
and
proceed
to
rear
left
wheel
.

"
right
rear
brake



5
.
Proceed
with
the
remaining
wheels
using
the
order
list-

"
left
rear
brake



ed
earlier
.

"
rightfront
brake

"
left
front
brake

Pressure
bleeding
brakes

(except
carswith
AST)

1
.
Top
off
brake
fluid
in
reservoir
and
connect
pressure

bleeder
to
reservoir
.
Connect
bleeder
hose
and
bottle
to
right
rearcaliper
bleeder
screw
.
Pressurize
system

to
approximately
1
bar
(14
.5
psi)
.

BRAKES
340-
3

Tightening
Torques

"
Bleeder
screws
:

7
mm
screw
..........
..
.
.
.
.
......
5
Nm
(4
ft-Ib)

9
mm
screw
..........
..
.
..
.......
6
Nm
(5
ft-Ib)

BRAKE
PADS,
CALIPERS,
AND
ROTORS

CAUTION-



TheE36
front
brake
caliper
is
shown
in
Fig
.
2
.
The
rear

Do
not
exceed
a
pressure
of
2
bar
(29
psi)
when



brake
caliper
is
shown
in
Fig
.
7
.

pressure
bleeding
the
brake
system
.
Excessive
pressure
will
damage
the
brake
fluid
reservoir
.



Brake
pads
canbe
replaced
without
disconnecting
the
brake
fluid
hose
from
the
caliper
or
having
to
bleed
the
brakes
.

2
.
Have
a
helperhold
brake
pedal
down
.



The
rotors
can
be
replaced
without
disassembling
the
wheel
huband
bearing
.
Always
machine
or
replace
rotors
in
parts
.

3
.
Open
bleeder
screw
.
See
Fig
1
.
Have
helper
slowly
,



Replace
pads
in
sets
.

pump
brakes
about10
times
with
bleeder
screw
open,

holding
pedal
down
on
the
last
pump
.
When
escaping



WARNING-

fluid
is
free
of
air
bubbles,
close
bleeder
screw
.



"
Althoughsemi-metallicandmetallicbrake
friction
materials
in
brake
pads
or
shoes
no
longer
con

CAUTION-



tain
asbestos,
they
produce
dangerous
dust
.

Bleeder
hose
must
alwaysremain
submersed
in



"
Treat
all
brake
dust
asa
hazardous
material
.
the
clean
brake
fluid
whenever
the
bleeder
valve
is
open
.



"
Do
not
create
dust
by
grinding,
sanding,
orclean-
ing
brake
friction
surfaces
with
compressed
air
.

"
Breathing
any
brake
dust
can
cause
serious
dis-
eases
such
as
cancer,
and
may
result
in
death
.

Brake
pads,
replacing

This
procedure
is
applicable
lo
both
front
and
rear
brakes
.

Front
and
rear
brake
assemblies
are
basically
the
same,
ex-

cept
that
the
rear
brake
rotors
house
the
parking
brake
mech-

anism

1
.
Raise
car
andremove
wheels
.

WARNING
-

Make
sure
thecar
is
firmly
supported
onjack
stands
designed
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack
stands
be-
neath
a
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not
place
jack
stands
undersuspension
parts
.

2
.
Remove
plastic
caps
from
guide
bolts
and
then
remove

guide
bolts
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

0012113



3
.
If
applicable,
disconnect
brake
pad
wear
sensor
con-
Fig
.
1
.



Brake
caliper
bleeder
screw
(arrow)
.



nector
and
remove
wiring
from
its
holder
.

4
.
Remove
anti-rattle
clip
from
caliper
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

BRAKE
PADS,
CALIPERS,
AND
ROTORS

Brake
rotor,
removing
and
installing

Brake
rotors
shouldalways
be
replaced
in
pairs
.

Fig
.
9
.



Brake
rotor
mounting
screw
(arrow)
.

3
.
Inspect
rotor
for
excessive
grooving,
cracks,
and
warp-

ing
.
Check
rotor
thickness
.
See
Table
b
.

4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Clean
rotor
with
brakecleaner
before
installing
.

"
If
brake
fluid
hose
veas
removed
or
loosened,
brake

systemmustbe
bled
as
described
aboveunder

Bleeding
Brakes
.

BRAKES
340-
7

5
.
Once
brake
assembly
is
instalind,
depress
brakepedal

several
times
to
adjust
caliper
and
pads
.

"
Pedal
should
feel
firm
and
be
at
proper
height
.

"
Check
fluid
leve¡
.
Top
up
if
necessary
.

NOTE-

M3
models
use
directional
brake
rotors
and
mustbe
in-



NOTE-

stalled
on
the
proper
side
.
Part
numbes
are
cast
finto



When
installing
new
rear
brake
rotors,
the
parking

therotors
.
A
part
that
ends
in
an
odd
number
is
a
left



brakeshouldbe
adjusted
.
See
Parking
Brake
.

rotor
.
One
that
ends
in
an
even
number
is
a
right
rotor
.

1.
Remove
caliper
as
described-above
and
hang
from



Tightening
Torques
chassis
using
stiff
wire
.



"
Brake
rotor
to
wheel
hub
..........
16
Nm
(12
ft-Ib)

"
Front
brake
caliper
to
steering
arm
...
110
Nm
(81
ft-Ib)

NOTE-



"
Rear
brake
caliper
to
traíling
arm
....
67
Nm
(50
ft-Ib)

Do
notloosen
caliper
brake
hose
.



"
Road
wheel
to
hub



...
..
.
100
±
10
Nm
(74
t
7
ft-Ib)

2
.
Remove
mountingscrew
holding
rotor
to
wheel
hub
.



,

See
Fig
.
9
.



Table
b
.
Brake
Rotor
Reconditioning
Specificati*M`

Front
Rear

Vented
rotor
wear
limit
(min
.
thickness)



20
.4
mm
(0
.803
in.)

Solid
rotor
wear
limit
(min
.
thickness)



8
.4
mm
(0.331
in
.)

M3
models
wear
limit
(min
.
thickness)



26
.4mm
(0
.977
in
.)



18
.4
mm
(0
.723
in
.)

Axial
runout
(max
.)
rotor
removed



0
.05
mm
(0
.002
in
.)



0
.05
mm
(0
.002
in
.)
rotor
installed



0
.20
mm
(0
.008
in
.)



0
.20
mm
(0
.008
in
.)

CAUTION-

M3
brake
rotors
must
not
be
machined
.

MASTER
CYLINDER

The
brake
master
cylinder
is
mounted
to
the
front
of
the
vac-

uum
booster
on
the
driver
side
bulkhead
.

Master
cylinder,
removing
and
installing

1
.
Using
a
clean
syringe,
empty
brake
fluid
reservoir
.

WARNING
-

Brake
fluid
is
highly
corrosive
and
dangerous
to
the

environment
.
Dispose
of
it
properly
.

NOTE-

On
original
equipment
rotors,
the
mínimum
allowable



2
.
Disconnect
brake
fluid
leve¡
sender
connector
from
fluid

thickness
is
stamped
on
the
rotor
hub
.
Measure
the
rotor



reservoi
r
cap
.

brakingsurface
with
a
micrometer
at
eight
to
ten
different

points
and
use
the
smallest
measurement
recorded
.



3
.
Disconnect
brake
fluid
lines
frommaster
cylinder
.
See

Fig
.
10
.
Disconnect
hydraulic
clutch
system
supply
line
.

4
.
Unscrew
mounting
nuts
and
remove
master
cylinder

from
brake
booster
.

5
.
Make
sure
all
nuts,
fluid
couplings,
thread
bores,
and

mating
surfaces
are
clean
.

MASTER
CYLINDER

WARNING

Your
common
sense,
good
judge-

ment,
and
general
alertness
are
cru-

cial
to
safe
and
successful
service

work
.
Before
attempting
any
work
on

your
BMW,
read
the
warnings
and

cautions
on
page
vi¡
and
the
copyright
page
at
the
front
of
the
manual
.
Review
these
warnings
and
cautions
each
time
youprepare
to
work
on
your
BMW
.
Please
also
read
any
warnings
and
cautions
that
accom-

pany
the
procedures
in
the
manual
.

A

ABS
(anti-lock
brakes)

See
Brakes
Accelerator
and
throttle
linkage
See
Maintenance
program
Air
conditioning
general
information
640-1
air
distribution
motor,
replacing
(rotary

knob)
640-10
air
distribution
motors
640-9

blower
motor,
removing/installing

640-1blower
motor
resistor
pack,
replacing
640-3
compressor,
replacing
640-12
compressor
clutch
640-13
condenser,
replacing
640-14
control
head
640-7
removing/installing
(digital
-display)

640-8
removing/installing
(rotary
knob)

640-7
control
module
removing/installing
(digital-display)
640-8
removing/installing
(rotary
knob)
640-8
evaporator,
removinglinstalling

640-17
evaporator
temperature
sensor,

replacing
640-17

expansion
valve,
removing/installing

640-16
microfilter,
replacing
640-18
receiverldrier,
replacing
640-15
sensor
fan
forinterior
temperature,

replacing
640-9
warnings
and
cautions
640-11

Air
distribution
(flap)
motor

See
Air
conditioning
See
also
Heating
Air
filter
See
Maintenanceprogram

Airbag
system
(SRS)
general
information
721-1

contact
ring,
replacing
721-3

driver
side
airbag,removing/installing

721-5
front
crash
sensor,
replacing
721-4

front
side-impact
airbag,
removing/
installing
721-7

front
side-impact
airbag
crash
sensor,

removing/installing
721-5

passenger
side
airbag,
removing/

installing
721-6
sensors
and
electronics
721-1

SRS
warning
light
and
fault
display

721-2
systems
721-1
ZAE
control
module,
replacing
721-5

Alarm
system
See
Central
locking
and
anti-theft

Alternator
See
Battery,
starter,
alternator

Anti-freeze
(Engine
coolant)

See
Maintenance
program

Anti-theft
See
Central
lockíng
and
anti-theft

AST
(Al¡
season
traction)
300-4

ATF
(Automatic
transmission
fluid)

See
Automatic
transmission

Automatic
transmission

See
alsoTransmission-general
general
information
240-1

ATF,draining
and
filling
240-2

ATF
leve¡,
checking
240-1
transmission
removaland
ínstallation

240-4
transmission,
removinglinstalling
240-4
transmission
service
240-1

Auxiliary
fan
See
Cooling
system
Axle
joint
See
Maintenance
program

B

Back-up
light
switch
See
Manual
transmission
Balljoint
See
Front
suspension
Battery
See
Battery,
starter,
alternator

Battery,
starter,
alternator
See
also
Maintenance
program
general
information
121-1

alternator,
removing/installing
(4-
cylinder
engine)
121-5
alternator,
removinglinstalling
(6-
cylinder
engine)
121-6
alternator
brushes,
inspecting/
replacing
121-7
alternator
service
121-4
batterycharging
121-4
battery
load
voltage
test
121-4

batteryopen-circuit
voltage
test
121-4

battery
service
121-3

INDEX
1

Battery,
starter,
alternator
(cont
.)
battery
testing
121-3
charging
system
quick
check121-2
charging
system
troubleshooting
121-
2
hydrometer
testing
121-3
solenoid
switch,
removinglinstalling
121-10
starter
service
121-7
starter
troubleshooting
121-7
starter,
removing/installing(4-cylinder
engine)
121-8
starter,
removing/installing(6-cylinder

engine
with
automatic
transmission)

121-9
starter,
removing/installing
(6-cylinder
engine
with
manual
transmission)
121-8
static
current
draw,
checking
121-2
voltage
regulator,
removing/installing
121-6
Bearing,
wheel
See
Front
suspension
or
Rear

suspension
Blowermotor
See
Air
conditioning
See
also
Heatíng
BMW
emblem
See
Exterior
trim,
bumpers
Body-general
general
information
400-1

body
assembly
400-1
central
body
electronics
400-4
convertible
models
400-2
coupe
models
400-2
electronic
immobilizatíon
system
400-
4
exterior
and
aerodynamics
400-2

heating
afhdair
conditioning
400-5

instruments
and
controls
400-4
interior
equipment
400-3
seats
and
seatbelts
400-3
Body
side
molding
See
Exterior
trim,
bumpers

Brake
fluid
See
Maintenance
program

Brakes
general
information
340-1
antilock
brake
system
(ABS)
340-11
inspection
340-12
wheelspeed
sensors,
replacing

340-12
bleeding
brakes
340-3
brake
booster,
removinglinstalling
340-8
brake
caliper,
removing/installing

340-6
brake
pads,
calipers,
and
rotors
340-3

brake
pads,
replacing
340-4
brake
rotor,
removing/installing
340-7
master
cylinder,
removing/installing

340-7
parking
brake
340-10
adjusting
340-10
.
cable,
replacing
340-11
shoes,
removinglinstalling
340-11

2
INDEX

Brakes
(cont
.)
pressure
bleeding
brakes
(except
cars
wíth
AST)
340-3
troubleshooting
340-1
Brushes,
alternator
See
Battery,
starter,
alternator
Bulbs
See
Exterior
lighting
See
also
Instruments
Bumpers
See
Exterior
trim,
bumpers

C

CamberSee
Steering
and
wheel
alignment
Camshaft
See
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
Camshaft
position
sensor
See
Ignition
system
Camshaft
timing
chain
general
information
117-1
camshaft
timingchain,
4-cylinder
117-
2
camshaft
timing
chains,6-cylinder
117-6
camshaft
timing
chain,
removing
(4-cylinder
engines)
117-2
camshaft
timing
chains,
removing
(6-cylinder
engines)
117-7vanos
(variable
valve
timing)
117-14
control
unit,
removing
117-16system
operation,
testing
117-14
Caster
See
Steering
andwheel
alignment
Catalytic
convertor
See
Exhaustsystem
Cautions
viü
Center
bearing
See
Driveshaft
Center
console
See
interior
trim
Central
body
electronics
(ZKE
IV)
515-8
Central
locking
system
(ZVM)
515-7
Centrallocking
and
anti-theft
general
information
515-1
door
handles
and
Iocks
515-1
door
striker,
replacing
515-6
front
door
handle,
removing/
installing
515-3
front
door
lock,
removing/installing
515-1
rear
door
handle,
removing/installing
515-5
rear
door
lock,
removing/installing
515-4
EWS
II
control
module,
replacing
515-10
EWS
II
ring
antenna,
replacing
515-10
EWS
II
transmitter/receiver
module,
replacing
515-11
locking
system
and
electronic
immobilization
515-7
luggage
compartment
locking
actuator,
removing/installing
515-6

Clutch
general
information210-1
clutch
hydraulic
system,
bleeding
and
flushing
210-2
clutch,
inspecting
and
installing
210-5
clutch
master
cylinder,
replacing
210-2
clutch,
removing
210-4
clutch
slave
cylinder,
replacing
210-3
transmission
pilot
bearing,
replacing
210-6
Clutch
fluid
See
Maintenance
program
Coil
See
Ignition
system
Coilspring
See
Rear
suspension
Component
locations

See
Electrical
component
locations
Compressor
See
Air
conditioning
Compressor
clutch
See
Air
conditioning
Condenser
See
Air
conditioningControl
arms
See
Front
suspension
See
also
Rear
suspension
Convertible
top
general
information
541-1
manual
convertible
top
541-1
lid
release
mechanism
541-2
replacing
541-2
visor
latch
541-1
visor
latch
píate
541-1
power
convertible
top
541-2
drive
motor,
replacing
541-7
emergency
operation
541-7
front
latching
mechanism
541-4
lid
541-9
replacing
541-5
visor
latch
541-4
visor
latch
motor541-5
visor
latch
plate
541-4
rollover
protection
system
541-9
Coolant
(Anti-freeze)
See
Maintenance
program
Coolant
pump
See
Cooling
system
Cooling
system
general
information
170-1
cooling
fan,
replacing
170-8
coolant
pump,
replacing
170-10
coolant
pump
and
thermostat170-1
coolant,
draining/filling
170-5
cooling
fans
170-2
cooling
fan,
testing
170-4
cooling
system
service
170-5
cooling
system,
bleeding
(radiator
with
integral
expansion
tank)
170-6
cooling
system
pressure
test
170-3
electric
cooling
fan,
replacing
170-8
radiator,
removing/installing
170-11

Cooling
system
(cont
.)
radiator
and
expansion
tank
170-1
radiator
service
170-11

temperature
gauge
quick
check170-3
thermostat
quick
check
170-3
thermostat,
replacing
170-9
troubleshooting
170-2
warnings
and
cautions
170-2Crankshaft
position/rpm
sensor
See
Ignition
system
Crash
sensor
See
Airbag
system
(SRS)
CV
joint
See
Maintenance
program
See
also
Rear
suspension
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
general
information
116-1
camshaft116-7
camshafts,
removing/installing
(M42
engine)
116-1camshafts,
removing/installing
(M44
engine)
116-3
camshafts,
removing/installing
(6-cylinder
engine)
116-4
cylinder
head,
disassembly/assembly
116-1
cylinder
head
and
valvetrain,
reconditioning
116-7
cylinder
head
116-7
hydraulic
cam
followers,
checking
and
replacing
(M42
and
al]
6-cylinder
engines)
116-9
hydraulic
valve
adjusters,
checking
and
replacing
(M44
Engine)
116-8
valve
guides
116-10
valveseats
116-12
valve
springs
116-12
valve
stem
oil
seals
116-11
valves
116-11

valves,
leak
test
116-11
valves,removing/installing
116-6
Cylinder
head
removal
and
installation
general
information
113-1
cylinder
head,
removing/installing
(4-
cylinder
engine)
113-1
cylinder
head
(6-cylinder
engine),
removing/installing
113-10

Dashboard
See
Interior
trim

Deck
lid
See
Trunk
lid
Defogger

See
Heating
Differential
See
Final
drive
DISA
(dual
resonance
intake
system)
See
Fuel
injection
See
also
Engine-general
DME
(digital
motor
electronics)
See
Ignition
system
See
alsoFuel
injection

8
INDEX

Speakers
See
Radio
SRS
(Supplemental
restraint
system)
See
Airbag
system
(SRS)
Starter
See
Battery,
starter,
alternator
Steering
and
wheel
alignment
general
information
320-1
caster
and
camber
320-5
front
toe-in
and
toe
difference
angle
320-6
outer
tie
rod
end,
replacing
320-4
power
steering
pump,
removing/
installing
320-2
power
steering
system
320-2
power
steering
system,
bleeding/filling
320-3
rear
toe-in
320-6
steering
gear320-3
steering
gear
rack,
removing/installing
320-3
steering
wheel
320-1
steering
wheel,
removing/installing
320-1
tie
rod,
replacing
320-5
wheel
alignment
320-5
wheel
alignment
specifications
320-6
Steering
gear
See
steering
and
wheel
alignment
Strut
See
Front
suspension
Subframe
See
Front
suspension
Sunroof
general
information
540-1
motor,
removing/installing
540-3
panel,
adjusting
540-2
panel,
emergency
closing
540-2
Suspension,
front
See
Front
suspension
Suspension,
rear
See
Rear
suspension
Suspension,
steering
and
brakes
general
information
300-1
al¡
season
traction
(AST)
300-4
antilock
brake
system
(ABS)
300-2
brakes
300-2
front
suspension
300-1
integrated
systems
300-2
M3
suspension
and
brakes
300-7
steering
300-2
rear
suspension
300-2suspension
and
steering
troubleshooting
300-7
tires
and
wheels300-2

T

Switches
and
electrical
accessories
general
information
612-1
dome
light,
rear
map
lights,
trunk
light,
replacing
bulbs
612-7
hazard
warning
switch,
replacing
612-5
headlight
switch,
replacing
612-5
foglight
switch,
replacing
612-5
ignition
electrical
switch,
replacing
612-3
ignition
lock
cylinder,
replacing
612-4
ignition
switch
assembly
612-3
outside
mirror
switch,
replacing
612-6
power
window
switch,
replacing
612-5
turn
signal
switch
and
wiper
switch,
removing/installing
612-1
wiper
switch
See
turn
signal
and
wiper
switch

Taillight
See
Exterior
lighting
Thermostat
See
Cooling
system
Throttleposition
sensor
(TPS)
See
Fuel
injection
Throw-out
bearing
See
ClutchTierod
See
Steering
and
wheel
alignment
Tires
See
Suspension,
steering
and
brakes-general
See
also
Maintenance
program
Timing
chain
See
Camshaft
timing
chain
Toe-in

See
Steering
and
wheel
alignment
Tools
See
Fundamentals
for
the
do-it-
yourself
owner
Torque
convector
See
Automatic
transmission
Towing
See
Fundamentals
for
the
do-it-
yourself
owner
Traction
control
See
also
Suspension,
steering
and
brakes-general
Trailing
arm
See
Rear
suspension
Transmission-general
See
also
Automatic
transmission
See
also
Manual
transmission
general
information
200-1
automatic
transmission
200-1
manual
transmission
200-1
transmission
ID
codes
200-2
Transmission
fluid
See
Maintenance
program
See
also
Automatic
transmission
Transmission
input
shaft
See
Manual
transmission
Transmission
output
shaft
See
Manual
transmission

Trim,
interior
See
Interior
trim
Trunk
lid
general
information
412-1
trunk
lid,
412-1
trunk
lid,
aligning
412-1
trunk
lid,
removing/installing
412-1
trunk
lid
support
strut,
removing/
installing
412-2

U

Upholstery
See
Maintenance
program
U-joints
See
Driveshaft

V

V-belt
See
Maintenance
program
Vacuum
booster
See
Brakes
Vacuum
leaks
See
Engine-general
Valveguides
See
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
Valve
seals
See
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
Valveseats
See
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
Valves
See
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
Valvetrain
See
Cylinder
head
and
valvetrain
VANOS
(variable
valve
timing)
See
Camshaft
timing
chaín
See
also
Engine-general
Vehicle
identification
number
(VIN)
See
Fundamentals
for
the
do-it-
yourself
owner
Vehicle
speed
sensor
See
Instruments
Ventilation
See
Air
conditioning
See
also
Heating

Voltage
regulator
See
Battery,
starter,
alternator
Voltage
tests
See
Electrical
system-general

W

Warnings
vi¡
Washer
fluid
pump
See
Wipers
and
washers
Washers
See
Wipers
and
washers
Water
pump
See
Cooling
system
Waxing
See
Maintenance
program