General
Data
and
010
FundamentalsfortheDo-lt-YourselfOwner
Maintenance
020
Maintenance
Program
Engine
Transmission
Suspension,
Steering
and
Brakes
4
Body
100
Engine-General
110
Engine
Removal
and
Installation
113
Cylinder
Head
Removal
and
Installation
116
Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain
117
Camshaft
Timing
Chain
119
Lubrication
System
200
Transmission-General
210
Clutch
230
Manual
Transmission
510
Exterior
Trim,
Bumpers
520
Seats
Bo
y
Equipment
512
DoorWTdws
540
nr
t
513
InteriorTrim
541
Convertible
Top
515
Central
Locking
and
Anti-Theft
600
Electrical
System-General
620
Instruments
Electrical
S
stem
610
Electrical
Component
Locations
630
Exterior
Lighting
611
Wipers
and
Washers
640
Heating
and
Air
Conditioning
6
612
Switches
and
Electrical
Accessories
650
Radio
Equipment
and
720
SeatBelts
Accessories
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams
Foreword
.
...
.
.
.
..................
.
.
.
.....
.
............
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
................
.
.
.
.....
.
......
.
................
.
.
.
.....
v
Warnings
and
Cautions
.....
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
..........
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
......
.
.........
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
......
.
.
.
.
.
............
.
.
.
.
.
.
.vii
Index
..............
.
.
.
.....
.
............
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
........
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
......
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
........
.
.
.
..
back
of
book
300
Suspension,
Steering
and
330
RearSuspension
Brakes-General
331
Final
Drive
310
Front
Suspension
340
Brakes
320
Steering
and
Wheel
Alignment
400
Body-General
411
Doors
410
Fenders,
Engine
Hood
412
Trunk
Lid
120
Ignition
System
121
Battery,Starter,
Alternator
130
Fue¡
Injection
160
Fuel
Tank
and
Fuel
Pump
170
Radiator
and
Cooling
System180
Exhaust
System
240
Automatic
Transmission
250
Gearshift
Linkage
260
Driveshaft
GENERAL
.
....
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
400-1
INTERIOR
EQUIPMENT
......
.
.
.
.......
400-4
Seats
and
Seatbelts
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
..
400-4
BODY
ASSEMBLY
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.400-2
Instruments
and
Controls
.
..
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
400-4
Exterior
and
Aerodynamics
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
400-2
Central
Body
Electronics
.......
.
.
.
...
.
...
400-5
Coupe
Models
..
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
400-3
Electronic
Immobilization
System
.
.
.
...
.
...
400-5
Convertible
Models
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
400-3
Heating
and
Air
Conditioning
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
400-6
GENERAL
This
section
covers
system
descriptions
and
general
ser-
vice
information
for
the
repair
groupsfound
in
4
Body
and
5
Body
Equipment
.
When
working
or
servicing
cars
equipped
with
SRS
air-
bag(s),
the
following
precautions
must
be
observed
to
prevent
injury
.
F19
.1
.
The
BMW
E36
coupe
.
400
Body-General
BODY-GENERAL
400-1
WARNING
-
"
Airbags
are
inflated
by
an
explosivedevice
.
Han-dled
improperly
or
without
adequate
safeguards,
airbag
units
can
be
very
dangerous
.
Special
pre-cautions
must
be
observed
prior
to
any
work
ator
near
the
driver's
side
airbag,
the
passenger's
side
airbag
(where
applicable),
or
the
side-impact
aírbags
(where
applicable)
.
See
721
Airbag
Sys-
tem
(SRS)
.
"
Always
disconnect
the
battery
and
cover
the
neg-
ative
(-)
battery
terminalwith
an
insulator
before
starting
diagnostic,
troubleshooting
or
service
work
oncars
fitted
with
SRS,
and
before
doíng
any
welding
on
the
car
.
0013098
GENERAL
400-
4
BODY-GENERAL
INTERIOR
EQUIPMENT
E36
interiors
have
a
unique
character,
with
a
combínation
of
sporty
features
and
innovative
design
.
Al¡
body
versions
were
made
in
a
wide
choice
of
interior
and
exterior
colors
.
New
colors
with
matching
leather
and/or
fabric
upholstery
were
in-
troduced
for
each
model
year,
including
light-alloy
wheels
in
new
designs
.
Driving
comfort
is
enhanced
by
power
steering,
tilt
steering
wheel
(optional),
height-adjustable
front
seats,
and
electrical-
ly
adjustable
and
heated
rear-view
mirrors
.
Inside
thecar
there
are
reading
lights
at
four
seating
positions
.
Seats
and
Seat
Belts
NOTE-
Theseat
base
usedon
cars
with
pyrotechnic
seatbelt
Anatom¡cal
ly-correct
seats
are
constructed
from
polyure-
tensioners
is
not
interchangeable
with
the
earlier
seat
thane
foam
containing
areas
or
"zones"
of
different
firmness
.
base
.
The
seat
bases
have
steel
springs
for
added
support
and
strength
.
The
power
seats
are
provided
with
conveniently
lo-
Instruments
and
Controls
cated
switches
along
the
outside
edge
of
the
seat
.
Heated
seats
are
an
option
in
all
models
.
See
520
Seats
for
more
de-
Everything
in
the
interior
passenger
compartment
essential
tails
.
to
the
driver
is
logically
grouped
and
easy
to
reach
.
Al¡
instru-
ments
and
controls
havebeen
arranged
ergonomically
and
The
M3
sport
seat
is
shown
in
Fig
.
3
.
are
fully
integrated
into
the
overall
design
of
the
vehicle
.
Fig
.
3
.
M3
sport
seat
.
INTERIOR
EQUIPMENT
0013195
The
early
E36
cars
areequipped
with
a
single
(driver
side)
airbag
in
the
steering
wheel
.
Startingwith
the
1994
models,
a
dual
airbag
Supplemental
Restraint
System
has
been
stan-
dard
equipment
.
Side-impact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
are
op-
tional
in
1997
4-door
cars
and
standard
equipment
in
all
1998
models
.
Through
1996,
E36
seatbelts
were
equipped
with
BMW's
original-designspring
tensioners
.
In
1997,
the
seat
base
de-
sign
was
modified
to
accommodate
a
pyrotechnic
(explosive
charge)
seatbelt
tensioner
.
Both
types
of
tensioners
arede-
signed
to
automatically
tension
the
belts
by
about2
inches(55
mm)
in
the
event
of
a
collision
.
The
padded
dashboard
houses
the
instrument
cluster
and
the
ventilation
and
heating
system
.
The
instrument
cluster
uses
large
easy-to-read
analog
instruments
and
is
removable
as
a
unit
without
removing
the
dashboard
.
The
Service
Inter-
val
Indicator
(SII)
will
remind
the
driver
when
thecar
requires
service
.
See
620
Instruments
.
The
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
unit
in
thecenter
of
the
dashboard
comes
in
a
variety
of
four
configurations,
the
most
advanced
being
the
On-Board
Computer
(OBC)
.
See
Fig
.
4
.
Al¡
versions
of
the
MID
have
a
clock
and
calendar
.
In
addi-
tion,
different
versions
areequipped
with
a
"check
control,"
display
for
fuel-economy
information
and
system
warnings
.
Consult
the
owner's
manual
for
fui¡
operating
instructions
.
GENERAL
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
............
720-1
REAR
SEATBELT
ASSEMBLY
...
.
....
.
.
720-4
Rear
seat
belt,
removing
and
installing
FRONT
SEATBELT
ASSEMBLY
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
720-2
(fixed
seat
back
models)
..
.
......
.
....
.
.720-4
Automatic
Front
Seat
Belt
Lock
Tensioners
.
.
720-2
Rear
seat
belt,
removing
and
installing
Mechanical
spring
tensioner,
disarming
.
...
.
720-2
(fold-downseat
back
models)
.
...
.
...
.
.
.
.
720-5
Front
seat
belt
reel,
removing
and
installing
.
.
720-3
Center
rear
lap-belt,
removing
and
installing
.
.720-5
GENERAL
All
E36
models
are
equipped
with
3-point
shoulder
belts
at
tract
and
tension
the
seat
belt
by
55
mm
(approximately
2
four
seating
positions
.
On
4-doormodels,
there
is
an
addition-
inches)
in
the
event
of
an
accident
.
a
l
lap
belt
in
thecenter
of
the
rear
seat
.
The
seat
beltreel
should
lock
when
driving
quickly
through
Automatic
seat
belt
tensioners
are
integrated
into
the
front
curves,
during
severe
braking
or
in
case
of
a
collision
.
The
au-
seat
belt
locks
.
Through
the
1996
model
year
cars,
a
mechan-
tomatic
reel
does
not
require
any
servicing
and
should
never
¡cal
spring
tensioner
is
used
.
See
Fig
.
1.
On
1997
and
later
be
opened
.
Belts
that
do
not
retract
and/or
lockproperly
cars,
a
pyrotechnic
(explosive
charge)
tensioner
is
used
.
Au-
should
be
replaced
promptly
.
tomatic
seat
belt
tensioners
aredesigned
to
automatically
re-
1
.
Seat
belt
lock
boft
2
.
Seat
belt
lockwith
mechanical
spring
tensioner
3
.
Seat
belt
anchor
bar
(two-door
models)
4
.
Seat
belt
anchor
bolt
5
.
Seat
belt
reelbolt
6
.
Seat
belt
reel
7
.
B-pillar
guide
nut
8
.
B-pillar
sliding
guide
9
.
Convertible
seat
beltreel
10
.Convertible
B-pillar
guide
Fig
.
1
.
Front
seat
belt
components
.
720
Seat
Belts
SEAT
BELTS
720-1
GENERAL
720-2
SEAT
BELTS
WARNING
-
"
For
maximum
protection
from
injury,
seat
belts
should
be
replaced
as
a
set
(including
all
hard-
ware),
if
they
are
subject
to
occupant
loading
in
a
collision
.
"
Seat
belts
should
not
be
modified
or
repaired
.
The
seat
belt
anchorage
points
should
not
be
changed
or
modified
.
"
Do
notbleach
or
dye
seat
belt
webbing
.
Webbing
that
is
severely
fadedor
re-dyed
will
not
meet
the
strength
requirements
of
a
collision
and
must
be
replaced
.
"
Seat
belts
shouldbe
periodically
inspected
for
webbing
defects
suchas
cuts
or
pulled
threads
.
FRONT
SEATBELT
ASSEMBLY
Automatic
Front
Seat
Belt
Lock
Tensioners
The
procedure
for
disabling
the
mechanical
spring
tension-
er
used
on
early
cars
is
covered
below
.
On
cars
with
thepyro-
technic(explosive
device)
tensioners,
the
orange
harness
connectorshould
be
removed
from
the
tensioner
any
time
the
seat
is
removed
.
WARNING
-
Both
the
mechanical
and
the
pyrotechnictensioners
are
powerful
devíces
and
shouldbehandled
with
extreme
care
.
Mechanical
spring
tensioner,
disarming
1
.
Remove
front
seat
.
See
520
Seats
.
2
.
Disarm
tensioner-electrically
adjustableseats
:
"
Working
at
side
of
seat,
turn
activating/deactivating
screw
clockwise
until
display
changes
from
green
to
red
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
"
Before
reinstalling
seat,
turn
screw
until
display
chang-
esback
to
green
.
NOTE-
Green
is
armed
.
Red
is
disarmed
.
3
.
Disarm
tensioner-manually
adjustable
seats
:
"
Cut
wíre
tie
next
to
tab
on
bowden
cable
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
"
Turn
and
lift
tabto
disengage
cable
housing
from
seat
bracket
.
"
Disconnect
cable
end
from
seat
lever
.
"
When
reinstalling,
correctly
engage
tab
end
of
cable
into
seat
bracket
and
fasten
in
position
using
new
wíre
tie
.
FRONT
SEATBELT
ASSEMBLY
0012737
Fig
.
2
.
Electrically
adjustable
front
seat
.
Turn
screw
(A)
to
disarm
me-
chanical
tensioner
.
Display
B
tucos
from
green
to
red
.
F19
.3
.
Manuallyadjustablefrontseat
.Turnandlifttab(arrow)todis-
Rear
seat
belt,
removing
and
installing
(foid-down
seat
back
modeis)
1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
.
See
520
Seats
.
2
.
Remove
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolt
from
beneath
rear
seat
.
NOTE
-
The
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolts
alsohold
the
center
lap-belt
in
place
(where
applicable)
.
Be
sure
to
note
relative
positions
of
metal
belt-end
anchors
in
order
to
reas-
semble
correctly
.
3
.
On
4-door
models
:
Unbolt
shoulder
belt
lock
bolt
from
body
nextto
rear
door
frame
.
4
.
On
2-door
models
:
Remove
rearside
panel
as
de-
scribed
in
411
Doors
.
Unbolt
shoulder
belt
lock
bolt
from
body
next
to
quarter
panel
.
5
.
Unlock
and
flip
down
folding
rear
seat
backrest
.
Re-
move
trim
plug
from
back
of
cushion
(luggage
compart-
ment
side)
.
6
.
Remove
seat
beltreelbolt
andwasher
.
See
Fig
.
10
.
Fig
.
10
.
Rear
seat
beltreelbolt
(arrow)
.
0012676
7
.
Gently
pry
off
plastic
trim
at
top
of
backrest
and
pull
out
seat
beltreel
from
seat
.
NOTE-
The
seat
beltreel
is
held
snugly
by
the
backrest
cush-
ion
.
Moderate
force
will
be
needed
to
pulí
ít
out
.
8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Rear
seat
beltreel
bolt,
anchor
bolt,
or
lock
boltto
body
...............
48
Nm
(36
ft-Ib)
Center
rear
lap-belt,
removing
and
installing
1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
.
See520
Seats
.
2
.
Remove
shoulder
belt
anchor
bolts
from
beneath
rear
seat
.
3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
SEAT
BELTS
720-
5
NOTE-
The
shoulderbeltanchorbolts
also
hold
the
centerlap-
belt
in
place
.
Be
sure
to
note
relative
positions
of
metal
belt-end
anchors
in
order
to
reassemble
correctly
.
WARNING
-
Alignment
tabs
on
seat
belt
reels
must
be
rein-
stalled
in
their
original
positions
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Lap-belt
reelbolt
or
lock
boltto
body
.
48
Nm
(36
ft-Ib)
REAR
SEATBELT
ASSEMBLY
GENERAL
This
section
contains
wiring
diagrams
for
1992
through
1998
BMW
3
Series
models
.
WARNING
-
On
cars
equipped
with
airbags,
special
precautions
apply
to
any
electrical
testing
or
repair
.
The
airbag
unit
is
an
explosive
device
and
must
be
handled
with
exterme
care
.
Before
starting
any
work
onan
airbag
equipped
car,
refer
to
the
warnings
and
cau-
tions
in
720
Seatbelts
and
721
Airbag
Systems
(SRS)
.
NOTE-
The
"
gear
position/neutral
safetyswitch
is
also
some-
timesreferred
to
as
the
automatic
transmission
range
switch
.
"
The
EWS
11
system
is
also
sometimes
referred
to
as
the
Driveaway
Protection
System
or
the
electronic
im-
mobilization
system
.
ELECTRICAL
WIRING
DIAGRAMS
ELE-1
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams
GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
................
.
.
.
ELE-1
Horns
.....
.
.....
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
ELE-153
Instrument
Panel
.
.
.
.
.
.
..............
ELE-165
ELECTRICAL
WIRING
DIAGRAMS
...
.
.
.
ELE-2
Interior
Lights/Illumination
.............
ELE-211
ABS
..............
.
.
.
.....
.
.....
ELE-117
Lumbar
Control
.
....................
ELE-247
ABS/AST
.............
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.....
ELE-120
On-Board
Computer
..................
ELE-173
Airbag
(Supplemental
Restraint
System)
..
ELE-140
Park
Ventilation
.
.
.
...........
.
...
.
..
ELE-139
Air
Conditioning
and
Heating
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
ELE-129
Power
Distribution
......
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
ELE-2
Anti-Theft
(Alpine)
..........
.
.
.
...
.
...
ELE-144
Power
Door
Locks
.
.
......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
ELE-226
Anti-Theft
(EWS
II)
.
........
.
.
.
...
.
...
ELE-150
Power
Mirrors
...
.
.
.
......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
ELE-241
Body
Computer
Module
.....
.
.....
.
...
ELE-176
Power
Seats
......
.
......
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
..
ELE-243
Charging
System
.
.
................
.
.
.
ELE-67
Power
Sunroof
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...............
ELE-248
Convertible
Top
.
.
.
.
................
.
.
ELE-253
Power
Windows
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.........
ELE-231
Cruise
Control
..
.
.
.
...........
.
....
.
.
ELE-112
Radio/Cassette/CD/Speakers
..........
ELE-255
Data
Link
Connector
................
.
.
.
ELE-86
Rear
Window
Defogger
...............
ELE-160
Engine
Cooling
.......
.
.......
.
....
.
.
.
ELE-94
Shift
Interlock
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...............
ELE-110
Engine
Management
...
.
.......
.
....
.
.
.
ELE-70
Starting
....
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
................
ELE-63
Exterior
Lights
........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
ELE-194
Transmission
Electronics
.
..............
ELE-96
Ground
Distribution
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
ELE-35
Warning
System
:
Chimes
.............
ELE-178
Headlights/Foglights
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
ELE-180
Wiper/Washer
.
.....
.
...............
ELE-155
Heated
Seats
........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
ELE-245
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS
Relayand
fuse
positions,
ground
locations
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
................
seeRepair
Group
610
CAUTION-
Always
switchthe
ignition
off
and
disconnect
the
negative
(-)
battery
cablebefore
removing
any
electrical
components
.
"
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
bat-tery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.
"
Connect
and
disconnect
ignition
system
wires,
multiple
connectors
and
ignition
test
equipment
leads
only
while
ignition
is
switched
off
.
-Always
switch
a
test
meter
to
the
appropiate
func-
tion
and
range
before
making
test
connections
.
"
All-Season
Traction
(AST)
is
also
referred
to
as
ASC
or
ASC+T
.
GENERAL
TOFUSEF16
GGRN
(DIAGRAM
4
OF
5)
TOFUSEF28
HGRN
(DIAL
RAM
4
OF
5)
TOFUSEF24
GRN
(DIAGRAM
4
OF
5)
10437
2
F
-
1I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
>
I
I
I
_I
L-1
L
I
D
I
_I
ENGINECONTROL
UNLOADER
INSTRUMENTUNCOUPLING
BLOWERNo
DULE(DME)
RELAY
CLUSTER
DIODE
RELAY
1
I
FUSE
I
F44
I
154
v__-----__---------
a--
_
---____--aaa-r
====
=---~,
.
I--1
I-
I
I,\
I
CONSOLE
I
I
_'
II
I
III
TELEPHONE
I1
GLOVEBOX
I
I
I
CONNECTOR
I
LIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
SEAT
FIGHT
LEFT
ROLLOVER
SUPPLEMENTAL
FRONTFRONT
OCCUPANCY
SIDESIDE
SENSOR
RESTRAINT
SEATBELT
SEATBELTDETECTOR
IMPACTIMPACT
SYSTEM
SWITCH
SWITCH
SENSOR
SENSOR
CONTROL
MODULE
I
IGNITION
SWITCH
I
OFF
START
OFF
START
OFF
START
OFF
/
START
ACC-__U-
_____________
_
ACC
"
__U_
_____
AC
_-
_____
A
C
____
,
a
FROMFRONTPOWER
DISTRIBUTION
BOX
(DIAGRAM
2
OF
5)
56
ELECTRONICIMMOBLIZER
((
1
.
2
.8
L
(
L)
8
5O
1
8
~
CONTROL
9
MODULE
I
_
_
IF-")
I
1
I
I
I
I
I
I
WIPERI
RADIO
WASHER
BODYELECTRONICS
WASHER
Pump
CONTROL
MODULEMODULE
(ZKE
IV)
61
31
5'
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
II
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
LEFT
MAKEUP
CONVERTIBLETOP
TOP
SPATIAL
FRONTDOME/
ANTITHEFT
T
RIGHT
MAKEUP
LEFT
RIGHT
MIPROFLIGHT
CONTROLMODULEH
I
FI
SOUND
MAPLIGHT
CONTROLMODULE
MIRRORLIGHT
REAR
FEAR
SWTCH
RELAY
ASSEMBLY
INTERIOR
INTERIOR
______
-
-
-
-
-
_____________________________
-_
FRONTPOWER
FROMFUSE
F43
---
I
DISTRIBUTION
BOX
(OIAGRAM30F5)
J
II
FUSE
FUSE
I
F45
146
7
.5
-_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
ELECTRICAL
WIRING
DIAGRAMS
ELE-21
Power
Distribution
1998Except
318ti
(3
of
5)
2B
NOTUSED
0259
231X
7Oat8
5I
4151
51
5
;
4
4
1
2
O
16
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
II
I
I
I
I
I
f
I
I
I
ON-BOARD
CHECK
STARTER
TRANSMITTER
INSTRUMENT
BRAKE
LISHT
COMPUTERCONTROL
IMMOBILIZATION
MODULE
CLUSTER
SWITCH
MODULE
MODULE
SWITCH
---
-
-
------
--
FRONT
POWER
TOFUSEF45
I
DISTRIBUTION
BOX
'DIAGRAM
S
CPS)
FUSE
"
FUSE
HORN
RELAY
CRUISECRUISE
CONTROLCONTROL
MODULE
SWITCH
I
I
I
I
I
II
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
II
II
II
LUGGAGECOMPARTMENT
II
II
II
TELEPHONE
CONNECTOR
DATALINK
CONNECTOR