1998 BMW M3 steering wheel

Table
a
.
E36
Component
Locations

Component



Model
Year



Location



Refer
to

Anti-theft
Control
Module



1992-1998



Behind
glove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

Anti-theft
Horn



1
1992-1998



1
Right
rear
engine
compartment

Anti-slip
(Traction)
Control
Module



1994-1998



Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
8
.
(AST/ASC+T)



Fig
.
9
.

Anti-slip
(Traction)
Control
Switch



1994-1998



In
center
console

Automatic
Climate
(A/C)
Control



1992-1998



Behind
center
console
Module

AutomaticTransmission
Range



1992-1998



~
Next
to
gear
shift
lever
in
center
console



Fig
.
29
.
Switch
(Gear
Position/Neutral
Safety
Switch)

Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Dual
Switch



1992-1998



Right
side
radiator



1



Fig
.
18
.

Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Motor



1992-1998



Behind
front
grill

Auxiliary
Fuse
Box
(Left
Splice



1992-1998



I
Behind
left
front
footwell
kick-panel
Panel)

Auxiliary
RelayPanel



1
1992-1998



1
Left
side
of
dash
under
steering
column

Auxiliary
Fuse
Box
In
Trunk



1



1997-1998



1
Right
sideof
trunk
behind
trim
panel

AuADSry
ThrottlePosition
Motor



11994-1998



Front
of
engine
compartment

B+
Jump
Start
Junction
Point



1992-1998



Right
rear
of
engine
compartment



Fig
.
7
.

Back-Up
Light
Switch
(Manual)



1992-1998



Right
or
left
side
top
of
transmission



Fig
.
30
.

Body
Electronics
Control
Module



1994-1998



Behindglove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
(ZKE
IV)



Fig
.
9
.

Brake
Fluid
Level
Sensor



1992-1998



Top
of
brake
fluid
reservoir
at
master
cylinder



Fig
.
15
.

Brake
Light
Switch



1
1992-1998



1
On
brake
pedal
supportbracket

Brake
Pad
Sensor,
Left
Front



1
1992-1998



1
Left
front
brake
caliper

Brake
Pad
Sensor,
Right
Rear



1992-1998



Right
rear
brake
caliper

Camshaft
Actuator
(VANOS)



1993-1998



Front
of
cylinder
head
Camshaft
Position
Sensor
(Cylinder



1992-1998



Front
of
engine
Identification)

Carbon
Canister
Valve
(TLEV)



1
1997-1998



1
In
sparewheel
well
in
trunk

ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS



610-11

Fig
.
5
.

Fig
.
4
.

Fig
.
24
.

Fig
.
7
.

Central
Locking
Module
(ZVM)



11992-1993



1
Behindglove
compartment



I



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

Check
Control
Module
(if
applicable)
1
1992
-
1998



1
Below
left
side
of
dash

Child
Protection
Window
Control



1992-1998



Center
console
(console)

Chime
Module



1992-1998



Below
left
side
of
dash
inleft
dash
trim
panel

Clock
(Multi-Function)



1993-1998



Center
console

Clutch
Pedal
Switch



1992-1998



On
clutch
pedal
support
bracket

Continued

COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

Tablea
.
E36
Component
Locations

Component



Model
Year



Location



Refer
to
Engine
Compartment
Light
Switch



1993-1996



Over
right
headlight
assembly



Fig
.
7
.

Engine
Control
Module
(ECM)



1992-1998



Right
rear
enginecompartment,
behind
bulkhead
panel



Fig
.
7
.

Engine
Control
Module
(System)



1992-1998



I
Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.
Relay
Engine
Coolant
Leve¡
Sensor



1
1992-1998



1
Left
front
of
enginecompartment,
radiator
coolant
reservoir

Engine
Coolant
Temperature



1992-1998



I
Left
front
of
engine
under
intake
manifold



I



Fig
.
19
.
Sensor



Fig
.
20
.

Evaporative
Emission
Valve



1992-1998



Left
side
strut
Power
area

Evaporator
Temperature
Sensor



1992-1998



Left
side
of
heater
box

EWS
II
Control
Module



1/1995
-
1998



Behind
glove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

EWS
II
Ring
Antenna



1
1/1995
-
1998
1
At
ignition
cylinder

EWS
II
Transmitter
Module



1/1995
-
1998



Right
side
of
steering
column
in
auxiliaryrelay
panel



Fig
.
3
.

Exhaust
Gas
Flap
Valve



1996-1998



Left
rear
muffler
area

Flasher
Relay



1992-1998



Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.

Foglight
Relay



1



1992-1998



1
Power
distribution
box



1



Fig
.
2
.

Fresh
Air
FlapActuator



1



1992



1
Right
side
of
heater
box

Fresh
Air
FlapActuator



1
1993-1995



1
Below
right
side
heater
box

Fresh
Air
FlapActuator



1
1996-1998



Below
left
side
heater
box

Fuel
Injectors



1992
-
1998



Top
left
side
of
engine

Fuel
Leve¡
Sensor,
Left



1
1992-1998



/
Under
left
side
of
rear
seat
infuel
tank

Fuel
Leve¡
Sensor,
Right



1



1992-1998



1
Under
right
side
of
rear
seat
in
fuel
tank



1



Fig
.
28
.

Fuel
Pump



1



1992-1998



1



Under
right
side
of
rear
seat
in
fuel
tank



1



Fig
.
28
.

Fuel
Pump
Relay



1



1992-1998



1
Power
distribution
box



1



Fig
.
2
.

Fuel
Pump/Start
Identification
Relay



1994
-
1996



Power
distribution
box

Fuel
Tank
Pressure
Sensor



1
1997-1998



1
Right
rear
wheel
well
behind
trim
liner

ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS



610-13

Fuse
andRelay



x(Power



11992-1998



I
Left
side
of
engine
compartment



I



Fig
.
2
.
Distribution
Box



Fig
.
7
Fig
.
10
.

Gas
Filler
LockMotor



1992-1998



Right
side
of
luggage
compartment

Gear
Position/Neutral
Safety
Switch



1992-1998



Next
to
gear
shift
lever
in
center
console



Fig
.
29
.
(Automatic
Transmission
Range
Switch)

Glove
Compartment
Lock
Motor



1994-1998



Behind
glove
compartment

Grounds

G
100



1995-1998



Front
of
left
front
fender
(headlights)



Fig
.
22
.

G
101



1992-1998



Front
of
right
front
fender

Continued

COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

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

612-2



SWITCHES
AND
ELECTRICAL
ACCESSORIES

5
.
Remove
lower
steering
column
cover
from
steering
col-

umn
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

uu12543

Fig
.
1
.



Lower
steering
column
cover
retaining
screw
(arrow)
.

6
.
Remove
stalk
switch
holder
retaining
screw
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

Fig
.
2
.



Stalk
switch
holder
retaining
screw
(arrow)
.

0012555

7
.
Depress
retaining
tabs
to
release
stalk
switchholder
.

Push
stalk
switchholder
downwards
and
off
steering

column
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

8
.
Depress
catches
on
stalk
switch
and
release
switch

from
columna
See
Fig
.
4
.

9
.
Cut
wíre
ties
retaining
harness
to
steering
column
.
Dis-

connect
switch
electrical
connector
located
at
bottom
of

steeringshaft
.

10
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
noting
the
following
:

"
Place
turn
signal
indicator
in
center
position
before
in-

stalling
.

"
Ensure
that
self
cancelling
cams
on
turn
signal
switch

are
not
damaged
during
installation
.

INTERIOR
SWITCHES

WARNING
-

Once
theairbag
unit
is
installed
and
all
other
ser-
vice
procedures
havebeen
completed,
start
theen-

gine
and
check
that
the
SRS
warning
light
goes
out
.

If
the
warning
light
stays
on,
the
SRS
system
will
not

function
as
designed
.
Have
the
system
diagnosed

and
repaired
by
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

0012545

Fig
.
3
.



Depress
retaining
tabs
(arrows)
and
push
holder
down-

wards
.

0012556

Fig
.
4
.



Depress
upper
and
lower
catches
simultaneously
and
unplug

harnessconnector
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Steering
wheel
to
steering

column
spindle
(Bolt)
...
.
.
.
..
.....
63
Nm
(46
ft-lb)

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

620-2
INSTRUMENTS

Fig
.1.



Instrument
cluster
retaining
screws
(arrows)
.

INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER

0012562

Fig
.
3
.



Turnbulb
base
45°
in
direction
shown
(arrow)
.

l
v



w
r
v
9



10



11



12



13



14



15



16



)7



18



19



20
y
21

1
.
Temperature
warning



12
.
Brake
fluid
warning

oo13n6



2
.
Right
turn
signal



13
.
Brake
pad
wear
warning
3
.
Instrument
lighting



14
.ABS
warning
Fig
.
2
.



Instrument
cluster
connector
locking
lever
(arrow)
.



4
.
Oil
pressure
warning



15
.
Seat
belt
warning5
.
Highbeam



16
.ASTwarning
6
.
Battery
charging
lamp



17
.Check
control
6
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
noting
the
following
:



7
.
Left
turn
signal



18
.Check
engine

"
Instrument
cluster
harness
connector
locking
levers



8
.
Low
fuel
warning



19
.
LCD
lighting

must
be
in
up
position
before
installing
connector
.



9
.
Airbag
warning



20
.
Rear
foglight
(not
used)
10
.
Catalytic
converter
warning



21
.
Front
foglights
"
Install
airbag
to
steering
wheel
as
described
in
721



11
.
Emergency
brake
Airbag
System
(SRS)
.



0012563

"
Reconnect
negative
(-)
cable
to
battery
last,
once
al¡



Fig
.
4
.



Bulb
designation
chart
.

harness
connectors
have
been
reconnected
.

"
Recode
cluster
as
described
in
Instrument
cluster,



CAUTION-
seif-testing
.



Note
wattage
of
bulb
.
Excessive
wattage
could
melt
cluster
housing
.
Replace
defective
bulbs
with

Instrument
cluster
bulbs,
replacing



reptacementbulbs
of
the
same
wattage
.

1
.
Remove
instrument
cluster
as
described
above
.



Odometer
coding
plug,
replacing

2
.
Remove
faulty
bulb
by
turning
bulb
base
45°
inits

mount
and
remove
from
housing
.
See
Fig
.
3
.



The
coding
plug
maintains
a
record
of
thevehicle
mileage
.

The
back
of
the
instrument
cluster
and
its
bulb
locations
are



1
.
Record
vehicle
mileage
.

shown
in
Fig
.
4
.
2
.
Remove
instrument
cluster
as
described
earlier
.

721
Airbag
System
(SRS)

Airbag
Systems
.......
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
721-1

AIRBAG
SENSORS
AND
ELECTRONICS
721-2

SRS
Warning
Light
and
Fault
Display
.
.
.
.
.
..
721-2

Airbagcontact
ring,
replacing
........
.
.
.
.
.
721-3

Airbag
crash
sensor,replacing
..
.
....
.
...
.
721-4

ZAE
control
module,
replacing
.
.
.
.........
721-5

GENERAL

This
repair
group
covers
only
removal
and
installation
of
air-
bag
components
.
Airbag
system
repair
and
fault
diagnosis
is
not
covered
here
.
Diagnostics,
component
testing,
and
airbag
system
repair
should
be
carried
out
by
trained
BMW
service
technicians
.

NOTE-

Special
test
equipment
is
required
to
retrieve
SRS
fault
codes,
diagnose
system
faults,
and
resetltum
off
the
SRS
indicator
light
.
The
SRS
indicator
light
will
remain
on
until
any
problem
has
been
corrected
and
the
fault
memory
has
been
cleared
.

When
servicing
cars
equipped
with
SRS,
the
precautions

on
this
page
mustbeobserved
to
prevent
personal
injury
.

Airbag
Systems

The
airbag
system
installed
on
E36
cars
through
the
1993
model
year
consisted
of
a
single
airbag
in
the
steering
wheel
.
This
systemcan
be
identified
by
the
orange
crash
sensors
lo-
cated
on
the
front
wheel
wells
and
the
absence
of
a
passenger
side
airbag
.

The
ZAE
airbag
system,
starting
in
model
year
1994
(pro-
duction
date9/93
and
later),
provides
both
a
driver
side
and
a
passenger
sideairbag
.
On
ZAE
vehicles,
the
crash
sensorsare
integrated
into
the
airbag
control
module,
located
under
thecenter
of
the
rear
seat
.
The
ZAE
control
module
triggers

deployment
of
the
airbags
When
it
sensos
the
vehicle
deceler-
ating
at
a
rate
equivalent
to
a
head-on
collisionof
at
least
13
mph
(18
km/h)
.

In
some
1997
4-door
models
and
all
1998
models,
side-impact
airbags
were
installed
in
the
front
doors
.
The
airbag
units
are

mounted
behindthe
door
trim
panels
.
Caution
mustbeused

when
working
on
vehicle
systems
in
the
proximity
of
air
bags,
such
as
the
steering
column,
the
dashboard,
or
the
doors
.

AIRBAG
SYSTEM
(SRS)



721-1

GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
......
.
.
.
.
721-1



Front
side-impact
airbag
crash
sensor,
removing
and
installing
....
.
.....
.
.....
.
721-5

AIRBAGS



..............
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
721-5

Driver
side
airbag,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
721-5

Passenger
side
airbag,

removing
and
installing
..............
.
.
.721-6

Front
side-impact
airbag,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
.721-7

WARNING
-

"
Airbag(s)
are
inflated
byan
explosive
device
.
Handled
improperly
or
without
adequate
safe-
guards,
the
System
can
be
very
dangerous
.
Spe-
cial
precautions
must
be
observed
prior
to
any
work
ator
near
the
driverside
airbag,
the
passen-
ger
side
airbag
(where
applicable)
or
the
side-im-
pact
airbags
(where
applicable)
.

"
The
airbag
is
a
vehicle
safety
system
.
Serious
in-
jury
may
result
if
System
service
is
attempted
by
persons
unfamiliar
with
the
BMW
SRS
and
its
ap-
proved
service
procedures
.
BMW
advises
that
all
inspection
and
service
be
performed
by
an
autho-
rized
BMW
dealer
.

"
Always
disconnect
the
battery
and
cover
the
neg-
ative
()
battery
terminal
with
an
insulator
before
startingdiagnostic,
troubleshooting
or
service
worknot
associated
with
SRS,
and
before
doing
any
welding
on
the
car
.

"
If
an
airbag
has
been
activated
due
to
an
acci-dent,
BMW
specifies
that
SRS
components
be
replaced
.
For
more
information
on
post-collision
SRS
service,
see
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

"
Do
not
allow
the
airbag
unit
to
come
in
contact
with
cleaning
solutions
orgrease
.
Never
subject
an
airbag
unit
to
temperatures
aboye
212°F
(100°C)
.
When
reconnecting
the
battery,
no
per-
son
should
be
inside
the
vehicle
.

"
Always
place
an
airbag
unitthat
has
been
re-
moved
from
its
packaging
with
the
padded
sidefacing
upward
.
Do
not
leave
an
airbag
unlt
unat-
tended
.

"
!f
the
airbag
unit
or
airbag
control
modulehas
been
dropped
froma
height
of
!
1
2
meter
(1
Y2
ft.)
ormore,
theairbag
unit
should
not
be
installed
.

Aírbag
system
components
are
shown
in
Fig
.
1.

GENERAL

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
.