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
CHARGING
SYSTEM
TROUBLESHOOTING
.............
.
.
.
.
.121-2
Charging
System
Quick-Check
...
.
..
.
...
.
121-2
Static
current
draw,
checking
........
.
...
.
121-2
BATTERY
SERVICE
....................
121-3
Battery
Testing
.
.
.
.
.
.........
.
........
.
121-3
Hydrometer
Testing
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.........
121-3
Battery
Open-Circuit
Voltage
Test
....
.
....
121-4
Battery
Load
Voltage
Test
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
121-4
Battery
Charging
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
121-4
ALTERNATOR
SERVICE
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
...
121-4
Chargingsystem,checking
.
.
.
.
.
.........
121-4
Alternator,
removingand
installing
(4-cylinder
engine)
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
121-5
Alternator,
removingand
installing
(6-cylinder
engine)
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
121-6
GENERAL
The
charging
system
consists
of
a
belt-driven
alternator
with
integral
voltage
regulator
and
a
battery
mounted
in
the
luggage
compartment
.
Various
versions
of
alternators,
voltage
regulators,
starters,
and
batteries
are
used
in
the
E36
cars
.
It
is
important
to
re-
place
components
according
tothe
original
equipment
speci-
fication
.
Check
with
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
for
specific
application
and
parts
information
.
WARNING
-
"
Weargoggles,
rubbergloves,
and
a
rubberapron
when
working
around
batteries
and
battery
acid
(electrolyte)
.
"
Battery
acid
contains
sulfuric
acid
and
can
cause
skin
irritation
and
burning
.
ff
acid
is
spilled
onyour
skin
or
clothing,
flush
the
area
at
once
with
large
quantities
of
water
.
lf
electrolyte
gets
into
your
eyes,flush
them
with
largequantities
of
clean
wa-
terfor
several
minutes
and
call
a
physician
.
"
Batteries
that
are
being
charged
or
are
fully
charged
give
off
explosive
hydrogen
gas
.
Keep
sparks
and
open
flames
away
.
Do
not
smoke
.
BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR
121-1
121
Battery,
Starter,
Alternator
GENERAL
..
.
...
.
........
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
121-1
Voltage
regulator,
removing
and
ínstalling
.
.
.
121-6
Alternator
brushes,
inspecting
and
replacing
.121-7
STARTER
SERVICE
....
.
.
.
.
.
..........
.121-7
Starter
Troubleshootíng
121-7
15
..
.
.
.
.
.
........
.
.
.
Starter,
removing
and
installing
(4-cylinder
engine)
....
.
.
.
............
.
121-8
Starter,
removing
and
installing
(6-cylinder
engine
with
manual
transmission)
..
.
...........
.
...
121-8
Starter,
removing
and
installing
(6-cylinder
engine
with
automatic
transmission)
................
121-9
Solenoid
switch,
removingand
installing
....
121-10
TABLES
a
.
Battery,
Starter
and
Charging
System
Troubleshooting
............
.
.
.
.
:...
........
121-2
b
.
Specific
Gravity
of
Battery
Electrolyte
at
80°F
(27°C)
...............
.
.
..
..........
121-3
c
.
Open-Circuit
Voltage
and
Battery
Charge
........
121-4
d
.
Battery
Load
Test-Minimum
Voltage
.
..........
121-4
CAUTION
-
"
Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
bat-tery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.
"
Disconnecting
the
battery
cables
may
erase
fault
codes
stored
in
control
unit
memory
.
"
Always
disconnect
the
negative
()
battery
cable
first
and
reconnect
it
last
.
Cover
the
battery
post
with
an
insulating
material
whenever
the
cable
is
removed
.
"
After
reconnecting
the
battery,
the
power
window
motors
must
be
reinitialized
.
See
511
Door
Win-
dows
.
"
Never
reverse
the
battery
cables
.
Even
a
momen-
tary
wrong
connection
can
damage
the
alternatoror
other
electrical
components
.
"
Battery
cables
may
be
the
same
color
.
Label
ca-blebefore
removing
.
GENERAL
Fig
.1.
Electrical
system
static
current
draw
being
measured
.
To
determine
the
circuit
or
component
causing
the
problem,
remove
one
Puse
at
a
time
until
the
current
drops
to
a
normal
range
.
BATTERY
SERVICE
The
E36
uses
a
six-cell,
12-volt
leadacid
battery
mounted
in
the
luggage
compartment
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
NOTE-
E36
convertible
models
require
a
specialbattery
which
is
designed
for
constant
vibratfon
.
A
battery
not
de-signed
for
this
will
fail
much
earlier
.
Battery
capacity
is
determined
by
the
amount
of
current
needed
tostart
the
vehicle,
and
by
the
amount
of
current
con-
sumed
by
the
electrical
system
.
BMW
batteries
are
rated
by
ampere/hours
(Ah)
and
cold
cranking
amps
(CCA)
rating
.
The
Ah
rating
is
determined
by
the
average
amount
of
current
the
battery
can
deliver
over
time
without
dropping
below
a
specified
voltage
.
The
CCA
is
determined
by
the
battery's
ability
to
deliver
starting
current
at
0°
F
(-18°
C)
without
dropping
below
a
specified
voltage
.
Battery
Testing
noN~A
B9517
Battery
testing
determines
the
state
of
battery
charge
.
On
conventional
or
low-maintenance
batteries
the
most
common
method
of
testing
the
battery
is
that
of
checking
the
specific
gravity
of
the
electrolyte
using
a
hydrometer
.
Before
testing
the
battery,
check
that
the
cables
are
tight
and
free
of
corro-
sion
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
Hydrometer
Testing
The
hydrometer
consists
of
a
glass
cylinder
with
a
freely
moving
float
inside
.
When
electrolyte
is
drawn
into
the
cylin-
der,
the
levelto
which
the
float
sinks
indicates
the
specific
BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR
121-
3
Fig
.
2
.
Battery
in
right
sideof
luggage
compartment
.
gravity
of
the
electrolyte
.
The
more
dense
the
concentration
of
sulfuric
acid
in
the
electrolyte,
the
less
the
float
will
sink,
result-
ing
in
a
higher
reading
and
indicating
a
higher
state
of
charge)
.
NOTE-
Electrolyte
temperature
affects
hydrometer
reading
.
Check
the
electrolyte
temperaturewith
a
thermometer
.
Add
0
.004
to
the
hydrometer
reading
for
every
10°F
(6°C)
that
the
electrolyte
is
above
80°F
(27°C)
.
Sub-
tract
0
.004
from
the
reading
for
every
10°F
(6°C)
that
the
electrolyte
is
below
80°F
(27°C)
.
Before
checking
the
specificgravity
of
a
battery,
load
the
battery
with
15
amperes
for
one
minute
.
lf
the
battery
is
in-
stalled
in
the
vehicle,
this
can
be
done
by
turning
on
the
head-
lights
without
the
engine
running
.
Table
b
lists
the
percentage
of
charge
based
on
specific
gravity
values
.
Table
b
.
Specific
Gravity
of
Battery
Electrolyteat
80
°
F
(27°C)
Specific
gravity
1
Stateof
charge
1
.265
Fully
charged
1
.225
75%
charged
1
.190
50%
charged
1
.155
25%
charged
1
.120
Fully
discharged
The
battery
isin
satisfactory
condition
if
theaverage
specif-
ic
gravity
of
the
six
cells
is
at
least
1
.225
.
If
the
specific
gravity
is
above
this
leve¡,
butthe
battery
lacks
power
for
starting,
de-
termine
the
battery's
senrice
condition
with
a
load
voltage
test,
as
described
below
.
If
the
average
specific
gravity
of
the
six
cells
is
below
1
.225,
remove
the
battery
from
the
luggage
compartment
and
recharge
.
If,
after
recharging,
the
specific
gravity
varies
by
more
than
0
.005
between
any
two
celis,
re-
place
the
battery
.
CHARGING
SYSTEM
TROUBLESHOOTING
121-
4
BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR
BatteryOpen-Circuit
Voltage
Test
Battery
Charging
Before
making
the
test,
load
the
battery
with
15
amperes
for
Discharged
batteries
can
be
recharged
using
a
battery
one
minute
with
a
batteryload-tester
or
turn
on
the
headlights
charger
.
The
battery
should
be
removed
from
the
luggage
for
about
one
minute
without
the
engine
running
.Then
discon-
compartment
during
charging
.
nect
the
battery
negative
(-)
cable
and
connect
a
digital
volt-
meter
acrossthe
battery
terminals
.
Open-circuit
voltage
Prolonged
charging
causes
electrolyte
evaporation
to
a
lev
levels
are
given
in
Table
c
.
el
that
can
damage
the
battery
.
Itis
bestto
use
a
low-current
charger
(6
amperes
or
less)
to
prevent
battery
damage
If
the
open-circuit
voltage
ís
OK
butthe
battery
still
lacks
caused
by
overheating
.
power
for
starting,
make
a
load
voltage
test
.
If
the
open-circuit
voltage
is
below
12
.4
volts,
recharge
the
battery
and
retest
.
WARNING
-
Hydrogen
gas
given
off
by
the
battery
duringcharg-
Table
c
.
Open-Circuit
Voltage
and
Battery
Charge
ing
is
explosive
.
Do
not
smoke
.
Keep
open
llames
away
from
the
top
of
the
battery,
and
prevent
elec
Open-circuit
voltage
State
of
charge
trical
sparks
by
turning
offthe
battery
charger
be-
12
.6
V
or
more
Fully
charged
fore
connecting
or
disconnecting
it
.
12
.4
V
1
75%
charged
12
.2
V
50%
charged
CAUTION-
12
.0
V
25%
charged
"
Battery
electrolyte
(sulfuric
acid)
can
damage
the
car
.
If
electrolyte
isspilled,
clean
the
area
11
.7
V
or
less
Fully
discharged
with
a
solution
of
baking
soda
and
water
.
Battery
Load
Voltage
Test
A
battery
load
tester
is
required
for
a
load
voltage
test
.
The
-
Always
disconnect
both
battery
cables
and
re-
test
is
made
by
applying
a
high
resistive
load
to
the
battery
ter-
move
battery
from
vehicle
during
battery
charg-
ing
.
Do
not
exceed
16
.5volts
at
the
battery
.
minals
and
then
measuring
battery
voltage
.
The
battery
should
be
fully
charged
for
the
most
accurate
results
.
The
battery
ca-
bles
mustbe
disconnected
before
making
the
test
.
If
the
volt-
ALTERNATOR
$ERVICE
age
is
below
that
listed
in
Table
d,
the
battery
should
be
replaced
.
WARNING
-
Always
wear
protective
goggles
and
clothing
when
performing
aload
test
.
Table
d
.
Battery
Load
Test-Minimum
Voltage
(apply
200
amp
load
for
15
seconds)
Ambient
temperature
Voltage
80°F
(27°C)
9
.6
V
60°F
(16°C)
9
.5
V
40°F
(4°C)
9
.3
V
20°F
(-7°C)
8
.9
V
0°F
(-18°C)
8
.5
V
ALTERNATOR
SERVICE
"
Always
allow
a
frozen
battery
to
thaw
before
at-
tempting
to
recharge
it
.
Before
checking
the
alternator
and
regulator,
make
sure
the
battery
is
fully
charged
and
capable
of
holding
acharge
.
Check
that
the
battery
terminals
are
clean
and
tight
and
the
al-
ternator
drive
belt
is
properly
tensioned
and
not
severely
worn
.
Charging
system,
checking
CAUTION-
Do
not
disconnect
the
battery
while
the
engine
is
running,
.
Damage
to
the
alternator
andlorengine
electronic
systems
may
result
.
1.
Turn
ignition
key
on
.
Check
that
the
chargewarning
lamp
comes
on
.
NOTE-
If
the
warning
light
does
not
come
on,
repair
any
wiring
or
bulb
faults
before
continuing
to
check
the
charging
system
.