1997 BMW 328i 121

121-
8



BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR

1f
the
solenoid
audibly
cliicks
but
the
motor
does
not
turn,



Starter,
removing
and
installing
switch
on
the
lights
andtum
the
key
to
the
start
position
.
lf
the



(6-cylinder
engine
with
lights
go
out
while
attempting
to
start,
the
battery
cable
may
be



manual
transmission)
loose
or
the
starter
may
have
a
short
circuit
.
If
the
lights
stay

on,the
solenoid
is
most
likely
atfault
.
The
starter
on
a
6-cylinder
car
with
manual
transmission
is

Starter,
removing
and
installing

(4-cylinder
engine)



1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
battery
cable
.

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery

disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this

manual
on
page
viii
.

2
.
Remove
guide
tube
for
oil
dipstick
.

3
.
Raise
vehicle
.

WARNING
-

Make
sure
the
car
ís
stable
and
wefl
supported
at
all
times
.
Use
a
professional
automotive
lift
or
jack
stands
designed
forthe
purpose
.
A
floor
jack
is
not
adequate
support
.

4
.
Disconnect
wiring
from
starter
.

5
.
Remove
top
and
bottom
starter
bolts
.
Bottom
bolt
must

be
removed
from
below
car
.
Remove
starter
support

bracket,
if
applicable
.

removed
from
below
.

2
.
Raise
vehicle
.

3
.
Remove
reinforcing
cross
bracefromunder
transmís-

sion,
if
applicable
.

4
.
Remove
cover
from
fuel
filter
and
fuel
lines
on
left
side

underneath
car,
if
applicable
.
Detach
fuel
lines
and
har-

ness
connectors
from
retainingbrackets,
as
necessary

5
.
Disconnect
wiring
from
starter
.

6
.
Loosen
andremove
bolts
and
nuts
fastening
starter
to

transmission
bell
housing
and/or
engine
block
.
Remove

starter
supportbracket
.

7
.
Remove
starter
from
below
.

8
.
Check
starter
pinion
gear
and
flywheel
teeth
for
dam-

age
.

9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

6
.
Pull
starter
downward
and
turn
until
solenoid
is
at
top,



Tightening
Torques

then
remove
from
car
.



"
Re¡
nforcing
cross
brace

to
chassis
(M10)
..
...............
42
Nm
(31
ft-Ib)

7
.
>Check
starter
pinion
gear
and
flywheel
teeth
for
dam-



"
Starter
to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
...
50
Nm
(37
ft-Ib)

age
.



"
Support
bracket
to
starter
(M5
nut)
...
5
Nm
(44
in-lb)

"
Support
bracket

8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.



to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
.........
47
Nm
(35
ft-Ib)

"
Wire
to
terminal
50
(M6
nut)
.........
6
Nm
(53
ín-Ib)

"
Wire
to
terminal
30
(M8
nut)
.........
12
Nm
(9
ft-lb)

Tightening
Torques

"
Starter
to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
...
50
Nm
(37
ft-lb)

Wire
to
terminal
50
(M6
nut)
........
6
Nm
(53
in-lb)

"
Wire
toterminal
30
(M8
nut)
...
,
..:.
12
Nm
(9
ft-Ib)

STARTER
SERVICE

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

121-1
O



BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR

9
.
Remove
starter
from
above
.

10
.
Check
starter
pinion
gear
and
flywheel
teeth
for
dam-
age
.

11
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

Tightening
Torques

"
tntakemanifold
to
cylinder
head

M7
nut
...
.
................
...
.
15
Nm
(11
ft-Ib)

M8
nut/bolt
.............
.
.
..
...
22
Nm
(16
ft-Ib)

"
Starter
to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
...
50
Nm
(37
ft-Ib)

"
Support
bracket
to
starter
(M5
nut)
...
5
Nm
(44
in-lb)

"
Support
bracket

to
engine
block
(M10
bolt)
.
.
..
..
...
47
Nm
(35
ft-Ib)

"
Wire
toterminal
50
(M6
nut)
.
..
.....
6
Nm
(53
in-lb)

"
Wire
toterminal
30
(M8
nut)
...
.....
12
Nm
(9
ft-Ib)

Solenoid
switch,
removing
and
installing

1
.
Remove
starter
as
described
above
.
Tightening
Torque

2
.
Remove
cover
from
solenoid
switch
.



"
Field
winding
strap
to
starter
(M8)
...
.
12
Nm
(9
ft-Ib)

3
.
Disconnect
fieid
winding
strap
between
starter
motor

and
solenoid
switch
.

NOTE-

The
condition
of
the
field
winding
strap
is
critical
.
If
it
is
damaged,
bumed
or
partially
melted
through,
a
new
or

rebuilt
starter
motor
is
needed
.

4
.
Remove
solenoidswitch
mounting
screws,
and
sepa-

,
rate
solenoid
from
starter
.
See
Fig
.
12
.

CAUTION-

When
installing
fieid
winding
strap
to
starter,
posi-

tion
it
so
that
it
does
not
contact
the
starter
body
.

STARTER
SERVICE

131~184

Fig
.
12
.
Starter
solenoid
mounting
screws
(arrows)
are
tight
.
Use
en
impact
screwdriver
to
loosen
the
screws
.

5
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Lubricate
solenoid
pistos
with
light
grease
.

300-2



SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL

Steering

INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

The
steering
linkage
connects
the
rack-and-pinion
unit
through
tie
rodsto
the
steering
arms
.
The
tie
rod
ends
allow
the
wheels
to
pivot
and
react
to
suspension
travel
.

Rear
Suspension

The
rear
axle
carrier
is
the
main
mounting
point
for
the
final

drive
housing
and
the
rear
suspension
components
.

Trailing
arms
locatethe
rear
wheels
and
anchorthe
springs,

shocks
and
stabilizer
bar
.
Driveaxies
with
constant-velocity

(CV)
joints
at
both
ends
transfer
power
from
the
differential
to

the
road
wheels
.
The
differential
is
mounted
to
the
rearaxle

carrier
through
rubber
mountsand
bushings
to
hele
isolate

drivetrain
noise
and
vibration
.

Brakes

E36
cars
areequipped
with
power
disc
brakes
with
an
inte-
gral
antilock
brakes
(ABS)
.
The
parking
brake
is
a
dual-drum

system
integrated
with
the
rear
brake
rotors
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

Power
assist
is
provided
by
a
vacuum
booster
when
the
en-

gine
is
running
.
The
brakepedal
pushrod
is
connected
directly

to
the
master
cylinder,
so
failure
of
the
vacuum
booster
does

not
normally
result
in
total
brake
failure
.

0012124



Each
disc
brakeuses
a
caliper
with
a
single
hydraulic
cylin-
Fig
.
2
.



Front
suspension
control
arm
(arrow)
.



der
.
Brake
pads
in
the
left
front
and
right
rear
contain
wear

sensors
.
When
the
padsneed
replacement,the
sensors
illu-
The
front
suspension
is
designed
with
minimum
positive



minate
a
light
on
the
dashboard
.
steering
offset
.
This
geometry
contributes
to
stability
when

traction
is
unequalfrom
side
to
side
.
Suspension
travel
is
lim-



Tires
and
Wheels
ited
by
rubber
bump
stops
.

The
three
point
mounting
of
each
L-shaped
control
arm
ere-



Tiresize
is
critica¡
to
the
proper
operatíon
of
the
E36
ABS
or

cisely
controls
the
front-to-rear
and
side-to-side
position
of
the



ABS/AST
system
.
Severa¡
different
styles
of
wheels,
in
15,16

strut,
while
the
flexibility
of
the
joints
and
mounts
alsoallows



and
17
inch
diameters,
are
available
from
an
authorized
BMW

the
movement
necessary
for
suspension
travel
.
The
control



dealer
.

arm
mounting
points
are
designed
with
anti-dive
geometry
.

The
suspension
reduces
the
normaltendency
for
the
front
of



NOTE-
the
vehicle
to
dive
under
hard
braking
.



Aftermarket
wheelsshould
be
selected
wlth
care
.
Im-
properly
fitted
wheels
can
contact
anddamage
sus

Control
arm
position
is
fixed,
with
no
adjustment
provisions



pension,
brakeorbodycomponentsandmayadversely

on
the
control
arms
for
alter¡ng
front
wheel
al
ignment
.
A
stabi-



affect
vehicle
stability
.

lizer
bar
mounted
to
both
control
arms
heles
to
reduce
body
rol¡
whencomering
.



INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)
is
standard
on
all
E36
cars
.

The
variable-assist
power
steering
system
consists
of
an



Standard
on
some
models
and
installed
as
optional
equipment
on

engine-driven
hydraulic
pump,
a
rack-and-pinion
type
steer-



others,
is
All
Season
Traction
(AST)
.

ing
gear,
and
connecting
linkage
to
the
road
wheels
.
TheE36
utilizes
an
engine-speed
dependent
variable
effort
steering



Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)

system
.
At
low
speeds,
maximum
power
assist
is
provided
to
ease
parking
and
city
driving
.
Athigh
speeds,
assist
is
re-



The
electronically-controlled
ABS
maintains
vehícle
stabili
duced
to
ensure
stability
.



ty
and
control
during
emergency
braking
by
preventing
wheel
lock-up
.
ABS
provides
optimum
deceleration
and
stability
dur-

Wheel
brake
caliper

Electronic
control
module
Fig
.
4
.



Schematic
representation
of
ABS
.

SUSPENSION,
STEERING
ANDBRAKES-GENERAL



300-3

Fig
.
3
.



Schematic
view
ofdual
circuit
brakes
with
4-channel
ABS
.

ing
adverse
conditions
.
It
automatically
adjusts
brake
system
hydraulic
pressure
at
each
wheel
to
prevent
wheel
lock-up
.

The
system's
main
components
arethe
wheel
speed
(pulse)
sensors,
the
ABS
control
module,
and
the
hydraulic

control
unit
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Warning
lamp

u
Master

Whee

_

l
speed



I-lydraulic



cylinder

sensor



control
unit



0012135

UNI

The
wheel
speed
sensors
continuously
send
wheel
speed
signals
to
the
control
module
.
See
Fig
.
5
.
The
control
module
compares
these
signals
to
determine,
in
fractions
of
a
second,
whether
any
of
the
wheels
areabout
to
lock
.
If
any
wheel
is
nearing
a
lock-up
condition,
the
module
signals
the
hydraulic
unit
to
maintain
or
reduce
pressure
at
the
appropriatewheel(s)
.
Pressure
is
modulated
by
electrically-operated
sole-

noid
valves
in
the
hydraulic
unit
.

Fig
.
5
.



ABS
wheelspeed
sensor
.

0006563

INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

GENERAL

310
Front
Suspension

GENERAL
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
........
.
310-1



FRONT
WHEEL
BEARINGS
..
.
.
.
.......
310-8

SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
..
.
310-2



Front
wheel
bearing,
replacing
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
310-8

Strut
assembly,
removing
and
installing
.....
310-2



STABILIZER
BAR
..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
310-9

Strut
assembly,
disassembling



Stabilizerbar,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
...
310-9

and
assembling
.
.
.
...
.
.....
.
.........
310-4

Ride
Height
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
........
.
310-4



SUBFRAME
CROSSMEMBER
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
310-9

Subframe
crossmember,
CONTROL
ARMS
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.....
310-5



removing
and
installing
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
310-9

Control
arm,
removing
and
installing
....



..
310-5
Outer
control
arm
ball
joint,
replacing



Table

exce
t
M3
models



310-6



a
.
Front
Ride
Height
Specifications
..
.
.....
..
.
..
..
310-5
Control
arm
bushing,
replacing
.
.
.
...
.
.....
310-7

The
E36
front
suspension
is
shown
in
Fig
.
1
.
For
a
general



Specialservice
tools
arerequired
for
most
of
the
work
de-

description
of
the
front
suspension
and
components,
see
300



scribed
in
this
repair
group
.
Read
the
procedures
through
be-

Suspension,
Steering
and
Brakes-General
.



fore
beginning
any
job
.

Stabilizer
bar

Power
steering

fluid
cooler

Control



Strut
assembly
arm

Tierod

Fig
.
1
.



BMW
E36
front
suspension
.
(M3
suspension
shown
.
Others
are
similar
.)

FRONT
SUSPENSION



310-1

Steering
arm
0012132

GENERAL

Fig
.
3
.



ABS
wheel
speed
sensor
mounting
bolt
(arrow)
.

NOTE-

Note
flats
on
stabilizer
bar
linkball
joint
for
placement
of
open
end
wrench
.

CAUTION-
Do
not
remove
center
strut
retaining
nut
.

8
.
Lower
strut
assembly
from
car
.

NOTE-

Store
the
removed
strut
assembly
upríght
.
Do
not
allow
it
to
líe
horizontally
or
upside-down
for
any
lengthoftime
.
If
íncorrect
storage
has
occurred,
place
the
strut
assembly
upríght
wíth
the
rod
fully
extended
for
at
least
24
hours
.

0012117

FRONT
SUSPENSION



310-3

6
.
Unbolt
splash
shield
and
steering
arm
from
strut
.
Sus-



Fig
.
4
.



Strut
and
steering
arm
assembly
.
pend
steering
arm
assembly
from
chassis
using
stiff
wire
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

1
.
Nut



6
.
Bolt
2
.
Strut



7
.
Bolt
3
.
ABS
wheel
speed
sensor



8
.
Flat
washer
4
.
Cable
holder



9
.
Self-locking
nut
5
.
Steering
arm



10
.
Washer
11
.
Bolt

9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Be
sure
to
use
new

CAUTION-



self-locking
nuts
and
bolts
.

The
steering
arm
ball
joint
can
be
damaged
if
the



"
Use
new
steering
arm
mounting
bolts,
or
clean
bolts
arm
is
allowed
to
hang
unsupported
.



and
use
Locktite
®
270
orequivalent
thread-locking
compound
.

7
.
Support
strut
assembly
from
below
.
From
above,
re-



"
On
M3
models
:
When
attaching
stabilizer
link
to
strut,

move
three
strut
mounting
nuts
on
strut
tower
.



use
a
thin
wrench
to
hold
flats
on
link
parallelto
strut
.
"
Have
car
professionally
aligned
When
job
is
complete
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Brake
caliper
to
steering
arm
......
110
Nm
(81
ft-lb)

"
Road
wheel
to
hub
.........
100±10
Nm
(74
t7
ft-Ib)

"
Stabilizer
bar
link
to
strut
(M3)
.....
.
59
Nm
(44
ft-lb)

"
Steering
arm
to
strut
housing

"
(encapsulated
bolts-always
replace)
107
Nm
(78
ft-lb)

"
Strut
assembly
to
strut
tower

(self-locking
nuts)
........
...
..
..
.
24
Nm
(16
ft-Ib)

SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS

310-
4



FRONT
SUSPENSION

Strut
assembly,

disassembling
and
assembling
-
Be
sure
upper
spring
pad
is
correctly
installed
to
upper

NOTE-



spring
plate
and
spring
end
is
correctly
seated
in
up-
Springs
andlor
struts
should
always
be
replaced
in



per
and
lower
spring
plates
.

pairs
.



"
Use
a
new
self-locking
top
(center)
nut
.
Tighten
nut
fui-
¡y
before
releasing
spring
compressor
.

Replacing
the
upper
strut
mount,
spring
and
strut
requires



"
Have
car
professionally
aligned
when
job
is
complete
.

that
the
strut
first
bedisassembled
.
For
a
guide
to
the
parts

during
strut
replacement,
see
Fig
.
5
.
Tightening
Torques

WARNING-



"
Upper
strut
mount
to
strut
shaft
(seif-locking
nut)

Do
not,attempt
to
disassemble
thestruts
without
a



shaft
with
external
hexagon
......
..
65
Nm
(48
ft-1b)

springcompressordesignedspecificallyforthisjob
.



shaft
with
interna¡
hexagon
.......
..
44
Nm
(32
ft-Ib)

"
Road
wheel
to
hub
........
.100±10
Nm
(74
±7
ft-lb)

1
.
Remove
strut
assembly
as
described
earlier
.
Place
in

secure
support
.
Ride
Height

2
.
Using
spring
compressor,
compress
spring
until
spring

force
onupper
mount
is
relieved
.



Ride
height
is
measured
from
the
lower
edge
of
the
wheel

arch
to
the
bottom
edge
of
the
wheel
rim
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

WARNING
-

Make
sure
the
spring
compressor
grabs
the
spring



lf
the
ride
height
is
outside
the
specification
listed,
new

fully
and
securely
before
compressing
it
.



springs
should
be
installed
.
Be
sure
to
have
theold
spring

code
number
on
hand
when
ordering
new
spring
.

3
.
Pry
protective
cover
off
top
ofstrut
assembly,
then
re-

move
top
(center)
nut
andwasher
whileholding
strut



NOTE-

shaftstationary



The
spring
part
number
is
stamped
near
the
end
of
the
spring
cofls
.

4
.
Remove
upper
strut
mount
and
related
components
.

5
.
Release
spring
compressor
carefully
and
evenly,
allow-

ing
spring
lo
expand
slowly

1
Self-locking
hex
nut



Absorber/

Flat
washer



bump
stop

Nut

Cover

Upper



~
strut
mount



Pin
Z



Piston
bellows

Flat
washer



r
i

t1



~



1
Upper
spring
plate

1



1



1

Upper
spring
pad



I



1
-



,



Lower
spring
pad

-
Í



0012136

Fig
.
5
.



Front
spring,
spring
plate
and
related
parts
.

SHOCKABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS

6
.
Assembly
is
reverse
of
disassembly,
noting
the
follow-

ing
:

Table
a
lists
front
suspension
ride
height
specifications
.

These
specifications
apply
to
a
car
in
a
normally
loaded
posi-

tion
.
When
checking
ride
height
or
installing
suspension
com-

ponents
that
require
thecar
to
be
"normally
loaded,"load
the

car
as
follows
: