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BMW E36 318i/323i/325i/328i/M3 repair manual 92-98.
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B
mw
3 Series
M3, 3181,
3231, 3251, 3281
Sedan, Coupe
and Convertible
1992, 1993,
1994, 1995,
1996,1997, 1998
Bentley,
Publishers
Cambridge,
Massachusetts

B -1
ROBERT BENTLEY, INC. I AUTOMOTIVE PUBLISHERS
Information that makes 1734 Massachusetts Avenue
the differenceo Cambridge,MA 02138 USA
800-423-45951617-547-4170
www.rb .com e-mail : sales@rb.com
WARNING-Important Safety Notice
Technical Contact Information
We value your feedback . Technical comments and
suggestions are helpful to us . Please send your
comments and thoughts to Bentley Publishers
e-mail : tech .bmw@rb .co m
From time to time, updates may be made to this
manual . A listing of updates can be found on the web
Iat www .rb .com/update s
Do not use this manual unless you are familiar with basic automotive repair procedures and safe workshop practices. This manual
illustrates the workshop procedures required for most service work . It is not a substitute for fui¡ and up-to-date information from the
vehicie manufacturer or for proper training as an automotive technician . Note that it is not possible for us to anticipate al¡ of the ways
or conditions under which vehicles may be serviced or to provide cautions as to all of the possible hazards that may result.
The vehicie manufacturer will continue to issue service information updates and parts retrofits after the editorial closing of this
manual . Some of those updates and retrofits will apply to procedures and specifications in this manual . We regret that we cannot
supply updates to purchasers of this manual .
We have endeavored to ensure the accuracy of the information in this manual . Please note, however, that considering the vast
quantity
and
the complexity
of
the
service
information involved,
we cannot warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information
contained in this manual .
FORTHESE REASONS,NEITHERTHE PUBLISHER NORTHE AUTHOR MAKES ANY
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,THATTHE INFORMATION IN
THIS BOOK IS FREE OF ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, AND WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMTHEIMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITYANDOF FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, EVEN IF THE PUBLISHER OR AUTHOR NAVE BEEN
ADVISED OF A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND EVEN IF A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS INDICATED IN THE MANUAL . THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR
ALSO DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGESTHAT RESULT FROM ANYUSE OF THE EXAMPLES,
INSTRUCTIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS
BOOK.I N NO EVENTSHALL OUR LIABILITYWHETHER INTORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE
EXCEEDTHECOST OFTHIS MANUAL.
Your common sense and good judgment are crucial to safe and successful service work.
Read procedures through before starting
them . Think about whether the condition of your car, your leve¡ of mechanical
skill, or your leve¡ of reading comprehension might
result in or contribute in some way to an occurrence which might cause you injury,
damage your car, or result in an unsafe repair.
lf
you
have doubts for these or other reasons about your ability to perform safe repair work
on your car, have the work done at an
authorized
BMW dealer or other qualified shop .
Part numbers listed
in this manual are for identification purposes only, not for ordering .
Always check with your authorized BMW
dealer to verify part
numbers and availability before beginning service work that may
requÃre new parts .
Before attempting any work on your
BMW, read the wamings and cautions on pages
vi¡
and vi¡¡,
and
any
waming or caution that
accompanies a procedure in the
service manual . Review the warnings and cautions on pages
vi¡ and viü each time you prepare to
work on your BMW .
Special tools required to perform certain
service operations are identified in the manual and
are recommended for use. Use of tools
other than those recommended in this service
manual may be detrimental to the car's safe
operation as well as the safety of the
person servicing the car .
Copies of this
manual may be purchased from most automotive
accessories and parts dealers specializing in
BMW automobiles, from
selected booksellers,
or directly from the publisher by mail .
The publisher encourages
comments from the reader of this manual .
These communications have been and will
be carefully considered in
the preparation of this and other
manuals . Please write to Robert Bentley, Inc
., Publishers at the address listed on the
top of this page .
This manual was published by
Robert Bentley, Inc ., Publishers . BMW has not
reviewed and does not vouch forthe accuracy
of
the
technical
specifications and procedures
described in this manual.
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
BMW 3 Series Service Manual M3, 318i,
323i, 3251, 328i, Sedan, Coupe and
Convertible:
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,
1998 .
p . c m .
Includes index .
ISBN 0-8376-0326-9
1 . BMW
3 Series automobile--Maintenance
and repair--Handbooks, manuals,
etc . I . Robert
Bentley, inc .
TL215
.13251356 1999
629 .28' 722--cic21
99-17179
CIP
Bentley
Stock No . B398
Editorial closing
01/99
0302010099 1098765432
The paper used in this
publication is acid free and
meets the requirements
of the National Standard for
Information Sciences-
Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials . O
©Copyright 1999 Robert Bentley, Inc
.
All rights
reserved . All information
contained in this manual is based
on the information available
to the publisher at the
time of editorial
closing .
The right is reserved to make
changes at any time without notice .
No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval
system, or
transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without the prior
written
consent of the
publisher . This includes text,
figures, and tables . All rights reserved
under Berne and Pan-American
Copyright conventions .
Manufactured in the United
States of America

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 nrt
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 Rear
Suspension
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 System
180 Exhaust System
240 Automatic
Transmission
250 Gearshift Linkage
260
Driveshaft

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BMW 7
Series Service Manual: 1988-1994
7351, 735iL, 740i,
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Robert Bentley
ISBN 0-8376-0328-5
BMW
3
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Manual : 1992-1998
M3, 3181,323i,325i, 328i,
Sedan, Coupe and
Convertible Robert Bentley
ISBN 0-8376-0326-9
Glory Days : When
Horsepower and
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: 1996-1998 Passion Ruled Detroit
4-cylinder and 6-cylinder models
Jim Wangers ISBN 0-8376-0208-4
Robert Bentley ISBN 0-8376-0327-7
Alfa Romeo Owner's BibleTM
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Pat Braden with foreword by Don Black
3181, 325, 325e(es), 325i(is), and 325i
ISBN 0-8376-0707-9
Convertible Robert Bentley
ISBN 0-8376-0325-0
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Moses Ludel ISBN 0-8376-0152-5
BMW5-Series Service Manual: 1989-1995
5251,
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Robert
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528e, 5331,
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ISBN 0-8376-0318-8
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Complete Roundel
1969-1998 :30 Years of
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Michael Keyser ISBN
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The Speed Merchants
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Michael Keyser ISBN
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Mustang 5.0 Technical
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Al Kirschenbaum ISBN
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Maximum Boost: Designing,
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Corky Bell ISBN 0-8376-0160-6
Volkswagen Sport Tuning
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1992 Gasoline, Diesel,
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David
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1990-1994
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9M-f, Ir-
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on Alexander with
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Volkswagen United States
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1985-1993, including
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Joseph
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Robert
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The Scientific
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Volkswagen Model
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0-8376-0078-2 1980-1984 Gasoline Models, including
Volkswagen Beetle:
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Jeep Owner's BibleTM
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Eurovan
Official Factory Repair
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MANUUAS
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Inspection/Maintenance
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Emission Test Handbook
:1980-1997
Volkswagen
of America ISBN
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Rabbit, Jetta Service Manual: 1977-1984
Diesel Models, including Pickup Truck
and
Turbo Diesel Robert Bentley
ISBN
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Super
Beetle, Beetle and Karmann Ghia
Official Service Manual Type 1:1970-1979
Volkswagen United States ISBN 0-8376-0096-0
Beetle and Karmann Ghia Official Service
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Type 1:1966-1969 Volkswagen
United
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Harley-Davidson Evolution V Twin
Owner's BibleTM Moses Ludel
ISBN 0-8376-0146-0
Audi
100, A6 Official Factory Repair
Manual: 1992-1997, including S4, S6,
quattro and
Wagon models .
Toyota
Truck & Land Cruiser Owner's
Audi
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BibleTM
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Audi 80,
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AUDI SERVICE MANUUAS
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Factory
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ISBN
0-8376-0201-7
including
80 Quattro, 90 Quattro and
20-valve
models Audi of America
Unbeatable BMW : Eighty Years
of
FUEL
INJECTION
ISBN 0-8376-0367-6
Engineering and Motorsport
Success
Ford Fuel
Injection and Electronic Engine
Audi 100,
200 Official Factory Repair
Jeremy Walton ISBN 0-8376-0206-8
Charles O Probst, SAE
Manua1
:1988-1991 Audi of America Control:
1788-1993 .
BMW 6 Series Enthusiast's
CompanionTM
ISBN 0-8376-0301-3
ISBN
0-8376-0372-2
Jeremy W .11
ISBN 0-8376-0149-5
Ford Fuel Injection
and Electronic Engine
Audi
50005 5000CS Official Fa ,ctory
BMW
Enthusiast's CompanionTM BMW
Control:
1980-1987 Charles O. Probst, SAE
Repair Manual :
1984-1988 Gasoline,
Car
Club of America ISBN 0-8376-0321-8
ISBN 0-8376-0302-1 Turbo, and
Turbo Diesel, including Wagon
BMW Notecards
Series 1 Photography by
Bosch Fuel In1ection and
Engne
and Quattro Audi
of America ISBN 0-8376-
i
Klaus Schnitzer
ISBN 0-8376-0211-4
Management Charles
O. Probst, SAE
0370-6
ISBN 0-8376-0300-5
Audi 5000, 50005
Official Factory Repair
Manual : 1977-1983 Gasoline and Turbo
VOLKSWAGEN OFFICIAL
SERVICE Gasoline, Diesel
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MANUUAS
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Robert Bentley ISBN
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1993-early 1999, including
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Robert Bentley ISBN 0-8376-0366-8
SAAB
OFFICIAL
SERVICE
1992-1999
Volkswagen of America
Saab 90016 Valve
Official Service Manual:
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19851993
Robert Bentl ISBN 0837603129 -ey---
Saab 900 8 Valve Official
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1981-1988 Robert
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Manual :
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1995-1997 Volkswagen
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Robert Bentley ISBN 0-8376-0285-8
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Foreword
This
service manual covers 1992 through 1998 BMW 3 Series models, and is specifically de-
signed to
cover only those models built for sale in the United States .
BMW, and most accessories and parts sellers specializing in BMWs, refer to the 3 Series cars
coveredby this manual as the E36 model . The code "E36"
is
BMW's
internal code for the basic plat-
form shared by al¡ of the cars covered by this manual . Except
for
the
engine and afew other compo-
nents, the models covered by this manual share
many of same components such as suspension
parts, body panels,
and the interior pieces . When ordering parts, especially body parts, knowing the
E36 code may be helpful .
BMW also uses an interna¡ code for the engines used in the 3 Series models
. Consult the text in
the 100 Engine-General repair group of this manual
for
a
complete listing of engine codes . Engine
-
code information is primarily used
internally by BMW, but may be helpful if you have access to BMW
technical information .
Forthe BMW
ownerwith basic mechanical skills, this manual gives detailed maintenance and
re-
pair
information . In addition, the BMW owner who has no intention of
working on his or her own car
will find that owning and reading this manual will make
it possible to be better informed and to dis-
cuss repairs more intelligently with a professional
technician . This manual has been prepared from
the repair information that BMW provides to
its factory-trained technicians and has been developed
primarily with the do-it-yourself
BMW owner in mind . The aim throughout has been clarity and
un-
derstanding with practical
descriptions, step-by-step procedures, and accurate
specifications.
The BMW
owner intending to do maintenance and repair should have a
set of tools including a set
of metric
wrenches and sockets, screwdrivers, a torque wrench,
and feeler gauges, since these ba-
sic
tools will be used to do the majority of the
maintenance and repair procedures described in this
manual . This manual includes detailed
information on these basic tools and other tips for the begin-
ner in the first section of the
manual, entitled 010 Fundamentals for the Do-It-Yourself
Owner .
For some of the
repairs described in this manual, BMW technicians use special tools .
The text will
note when a
repair requires these special tools and, where possible,
will recommend practica¡ alter-
natives .

We have endeavored to ensure
the
highest degree of
accuracy possible . When the vast array of
data presented in
the manual
is
taken into account, however, no claim to infallibility can be made .
We therefore cannot be
responsible for the result of any errors that may have crept into the text. The
publisher encourages
comments from the readers of this manual with regard to any errors and, al-
so, suggestÃons for
improvement in the presentation of technical material. These communications
have been and
will
be
carefully considered in the preparation of future printings of this and other
manuals . Please
contact Robert Bentley, Inc . using the contact information on the copyright page
at
the beginning of this manual .
BMW offers extensive warranties, especially on components of the fuel delivery and emissions
control systems . Therefore, before deciding to repair a BMW that may still be covered wholly or in
part by any warranties issued by BMW of North America, consult your authorized BMW dealer . You
may find that he can make the repair either free or at minimum cost .
Regardless of its age and whether or not it is still protected by warranty, your BMW is an easy car
to get serviced . So if at any time a repair is needed that you feel is too difficult to do yourself, a
trained BMW technician is ready to do the job for you . Each authorized BMW dealer senrice depart-
ment has made a significant investment in service and diagnostic test equipment, specials tools,
and BMW original parts . It is also the best source of the most up-to-date repair and service tech-
niques, which includes factory training and technical literature . Servicing your BMW through an au-
thorized BMW dealer will insure that your investment will be protected while maintaining the highest
degree of service standards .
Robert Bentley

Please read these warnings and cautions
before proceeding with maintenance and repair work
.
WARNING-
"
Friction materials (such as brake pads or shorts or clutch discs)
contain asbestos fibers or other friction materials. Do not create
" See also Cautions on page viü
dust by grinding, sanding, or by cleaning with compressed air.
" Some repairs may be
beyond your capability . If you lack the
Avoid breathing dust. Breathing any friction material dust can lead
skills, tools and equipment, or a suitable workplace for any proce-
to serious diseases and may result in death .
dure described in this manual, we suggest you leave such repairs
"
Batteries give
off explosive hydrogen gas during charging .
to an authorized BMW dealer service department or other quali-
Keep sparks, lighted matches and open flame away from the top
fied shop .
of
the battery If hydrogen gas escaping from the cap vents is
" Do not re-use any fasteners that are
worn or deformed in normal
ignited, it will ignite gas trapped in the cells and cause the battery
use . Many fasteners are
designed to be used only once and
to explode .
become unreliable and may
fail when used a second time. This
" Connect and disconnect
battery cables, jumper cables or a bat-
includes, but is
not limited to, nuts, bolts, washers, self-locking nuts
or
bolts, circlips and cotter pins . Always replace these fasteners
with new
parts.
" Do not quick-charge the battery (for boost
starting) for longer
" Never work under a lifted car unless it is
solidly supported on
than one minute . Wait at least one minute before boosting
the bat-
stands designed for the purpose . Do
not support a car on cinder
tery a second time .
blocks, hollow tiles or other props that
may crumble under contin-
uous load . Never work under a
car that is supported solely by a
" Do not allow battery
charging voltage to exceed 16 .5 volts. If the
jack. Never work under
the car while the engine is running .
battery
begins producing gas or boiling violently, reduce the charg-
ing
rate .
Boosting a sulfated battery at a high charging rate can
" If you are
going to work under a car on the ground, make sure
cause an explosion .
that the ground is
level . Block the wheels to keep the car from
roll-
ing .
Disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal
(ground strap) to
" The air-conditioning system is
filled with chemical refrigerant,
prevent others from starting the car while you
are under it.
which is hazardous .
The A/C system should be serviced only by
trained technicians
using approved refrigerant recovery/recycling
" Never run the engine
unless the work area is well ventilated .
equipment, trained in related safety precautions,
and familiar with
Carbon monoxide kills .
regulations governing the discharging and disposal of
automotive
" Finger rings,
bracelets and other jewelry should be removed
so
chemical refrigerants.
tery charger only
with the ignition switched off, to prevent sparks.
Do
not disconnect the battery while the engine is running .
that they
cannot cause electrical shorts, get caught
in running
"
Do not expose any part of
the A/C system to high temperatures
machinery, or be crushed by heavy parts .
such as open
flame. Excessive heat will increase system pressure
"
Tie long hair behind your head . Do not wear
a necktie, a scarf,
and may cause
the system to burst .
loose clothing, or a necklace when you
work near machine tools or
"
Some aerosol tire inflators are highly flammable .
Be extremely
running engines . If your
hair, clothing, or jewelry were to get caught
cautious when repairing a tire that may
have been inflated using
in the machinery, severe
injury could result .
an aerosol tire inflator. Keep
sparks, open flame or other sources
" Do not attempt to
work on your car if you do not feel
well . You
of
ignition away from the
tire repair area . Inflate and deflate the tire
increase the
danger of injury to yourself and
others if you are tired,
at least four
times before breaking the bead from
the rim . Com-
upset
or have taken medication or
any other substance that may
Pletely remove the tire from the rim before attempting
any repair.
keep
you from being fully alert .
"
Illuminate your work area
adequately but safety. Use a portable
safety light for working
inside or under the car. Make sure
the bulb
is enclosed by a wire
cage . The hot filament of an accidentally
bro-
ken bulb can ignite
spilled fuel or oil .
" Catch
draining fuel, oil, or brake fluid in
suitable containers. Do
not use
food or beverage containers
that might mislead someone
into
drÃnking from them . Store flammable
fluids away from fire haz-
ards .
Wipe up spills at once, but do
not store the oily rags,
which
can ignite and burn
spontaneously .
" Always observe
good workshop practices.
Wear goggles when
you operate
machine tools or work with
battery acid . Gloves or
other protectioe
clothing should be
worn whenever the job requires
working with harmful substances
.
" Greases, lubricants
and other automotive
chemicals contain
toxic substances,
many of which are absorbed
directly through the
skin . Read
the manufacturer's instructions
and warnings carefully
.
Use
hand and eye protection . Avoid
direct skin contact
"
Cars covered by this manual are equipped
with a supplemental
restraint system (SRS), that
automatically deploys an airbag(s) in
the event of a frontal
Ãmpact . The airbag(s) is inflated by an
explo-
sive device. Handled
improperly or without adequate
safeguards,
can be accidently
activated and cause serious injury.
" The
ignition system produces high voltages
that can be fatal .
Avoid contact with exposed
terminals and use extreme care when
working on a car with the engine
running or the Ãgnition switched on
.
" Place jack stands
only at locations specified by
manufacturer.
The vehicle
lifting jack supplied with the vehicle
is intended for tire
changes only . A heavy duty floor jack should be
used to lift vehicle
before
installing jack stands. See 010
Fundamentals for the Do- .
it-Yourself Owner.
" Battery
acid (electrolyte) can cause
severe burns . Flush contact
area with
water, seek medical attention .
"
Aerosol cleaners and solvents
may contain hazardous ordeadly
vapors and are highly
flammable . Use only in a
well ventilated
area . Do
not use on hot surfaces (engines,
brakes, etc .) .
"
Disconnect the battery
negative (-) terminal
(Ground strap)
"
Do not remove coolant reservoir or
radiator cap with the engine
whenever you work
on the fuel system orthe
electrical system . Do
hot . Danger of bums and
engine damage .
not smoke
or work near heaters or
other fire hazards . Keep an
approved
fire extinguisher handy.
continued on
next page
vii

Please read these warnings and cautions
before proceeding with
maintenance and repair work .
CAUTION-
" See also Warnings on page
vi¡
" Before doing any electrical welding
on cars equipped with ABS,
disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal (ground strap) and the
" If you lack the skills, tools and equipment, or
a suitable work-
ABS control unit connector.
shop for any procedure described in this manual, we suggest you
leave such repairs to an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified " On cars equipped with anti-theft radios, make sure you know the
shop.
correct radio activation code before disconnecting the battery or
removing the
radio. lf the wrong code is entered into the radio
" BMW is constantly improving
its cars and sometimes these
when power
is restored, that radio may lock up and be rendered
changes, both in parts and specifications, are made
applicable to
inoperable, even if the correct
code is then entered .
earlier models. Therefore, part numbers listed in this
manual are
for reference
only . Always check with your authorized BMW dealer " Always make sure ignition is off before disconnecting
battery .
parts department for the
latest information .
" Label battery cables before disconnecting . On some models,
" Before starting a job, make certain
that you have all the neces-
battery
cables are not color coded .
sary tools and parts on hand . Read
al¡ the instructions thoroughly,
do not attempt shortcuts . Use tools appropriate
to the work and
"
Disconnecting the
battery may erase fault code(s) stored in con-
use only replacement parts meeting BMW specifications .
Make-
trol module
memory Using special BMW diagnostÃc equipment,
shift
tools, parts and procedures will not make good repairs
.
check for fault codes prior to
disconnecting the battery cables. If the
Check Engine light is illuminated, see
100 Engine-General for
" Use pneumatic
and electric tools only to loosen threaded parts On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) fault code
information . lf any other
and fasteners . Never use these
tools to tighten fasteners, espe- system faults have been detected (indicated
by an Ãlluminated
cially on light alloy parts. Always use
a torque wrench to tighten warning light), see an authorized BMW dealer.
fasteners
to the tightening torque specification listed
.
" If a normal
or rapid charger is used to charge battery, the battery
" Be mindful of the
environment and ecology . Before you drain the must be disconnected
and removed from the vehicle in order to
crankcase, find out the
proper way to dispose of the oil . Do not avoid damaging paint and upholstery
pour oil onto the ground,
down a drain, or into a stream, pond or
lake
. Dispose of in accordance with Federal,
State and Local laws.
"
Do not quick-charge the battery (for boost
starting) for longer
than one minute . Wait at least one
minute before boosting the bat-
e If battery
power is lost or the battery has been
disconnected, the
tery
a second time .
power
windows must be re-initialized . Both one touch
up/down
and pinch-protection
will be inactive until windows are
re-initial-
"
Connect and
disconnect a battery charger only with the battery
ized . See 512 Door Windows
.
charger switched off.
" The
control module for the anti-lock
brake system (ABS) cannot
withstand
temperatures from a paint-drying
booth or a heat lamp
in excess of 203°F
(95°C) and should not be subjected
to temper-
atures in excess of
185°F (85°C) for more than two hours .
" Sealed or "maintenance free"
batteries should be slow-charged
only, at an amperage rate that
is approximately 10% of the bat-
tery's
ampere-hour (Ah) rating .
" Do not allow
battery charging voltage to exceed
16 .5 volts. If the
battery begins
producing gas or boiling violently, reduce the
charg-
ing rate . Boosting
a sulfated battery at a high charging
rate can
cause an explosion .

GENERAL
FUNDAMENTALS FORTHE DO-ITYOURSELF
OWNER 010-1
010 Fundamentals for the
Do-lt-Yourself Owner
GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .010-1 TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
. .
.
. .
.
. . . . . . . . . . . 010-8
Basic Tool Requirements . . . . . . . . .
.
. . . . . . 010-8
HOW
TO USE THIS MANUAL . . . . . . . . . . . 010-2
Jack Stands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-9
Warnings, Cautions and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-2
Oil Change Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-9
GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .010-2
Torque Wrench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-10
Feeler
Gauges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-10
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-2
Digital Multimeter
. . .
.
. . . . . .
. .
. . . . . . . . . 010-10
LÃfting the Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
010-3
gMW Special Tools . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
. . . . .
010-11
Raising car safely . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-3
Working under car safely . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-4
EMERGENCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-11
ADVICE FOR THE BEGINNER . . . . . . . . . . 010-4
Changing a Tire . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .010-11
Car Will Not Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .010-11
Planning Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-4
Jump Starting Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-12
Cleanliness . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-4
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-12
Non-reusable Fasteners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-5
Low Oil Pressure
. . . ... . . . . . . . . . .
.
.. . . . .
010-13
Tightening Fasteners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-5
Brake Fluid Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-13
Gaskets and Seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-5
Check Engine Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-13
Electrical Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-6
pim Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-13
Wire Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-6
TowÃng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .010-13
BUYING
PARTS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
010-6
Spare
Parts Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-14
Genuine BMW Parts
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
. . .
010-6
Non-returnable Parts . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
010-7
TABLES
Information You Need to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-7
a. General Bolt Tightening Torques
SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-7
Although the BMW is a sophisticated and complex machine,
basic maintenance can be accomplished by an interested own-
er with mechanical skills and the right information . Most of the
preventive maintenance that is required in
the lifetime of the av-
erage BMW is weil within
the capabilities of the do-it-yourseifer.
WARNING -
Do
not use this manual unless you are familiar with
basic
automotive repair procedures and sale work-
shop practices . This manual illustrates the work-
shop procedures required for most
service work
;
it
is not a substitute for full and up-to-date
information
from the vehicle
manufacturer or for proper training
as an
automotive technician . Note that it is not pos-
sible for
us to anticipate al¡ of the ways or conditions
under which vehicles may be serviced or
to provide
cautions as to all of the possible hazards
that may
result '
in Nm (max . permissible) . .. . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010-5
WARNING -
Your common sense and good judgment are crucial
to sale and successful service work. Read proce-
dures through before starting them. Think about
whether the condition ofyour
car, your leve¡ of me-
chanical skill, or your
leve¡
of
reading comprehen-
sion might result in or contribute in some way to an
occurrence that might cause you injury damage
your car, or result in an unsafe repair . lf you have
doubts for these or other reasons about your
abilÃty
to perform sale repair work on your car, have
the
work done
at
an
authorized BMW dealer or other
qualified shop.
This section of the manual is intended to help the beginner
get started . To begin with there is a discussion on How To Use
This Manual . Tips on mechanicas skills and workshop practic-
es that can help the beginner do a faster and more thorough job
can be found under Getting Started. The basic tools needed
to do most of the procedures in this manual are found under
Tools
.
The
section ends
with
a quick reference guide to Emer-
gencies, including basic troubleshooting and information
on
how to gauge the seriousness of a problem .
GENERAL

010-2
FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE DO-ITYOURSELF OWNER
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
A note contains helpful information, tips that will hefp in
The manual is divided into nine sections : doing a better job and completing !t more easÃly .
0 GENERAL DATA AND MAINTENANCE
1 ENGINE
2 TRANSMISSION
3 SUSPENSION,
STEERING AND BRAKES
4 BODY
5 BODY EQUIPMENT
6 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7 EQUIPMENTANDACCESSORIES
ELECTRICAL WIRING DIAGRAMS
0 GENERAL DATA AND MAINTENANCE covers the rec-
ommended maintenance schedules and service procedures
needed to perform BMW scheduled maintenance work. Also
within this section is the 010 Fundamentals for the Do-It-
Yourself Owner section, which contains basic instructions,
tips and
helpful
hints
for
do-it-yourself maintenance and repair .
The next seven sections (1 through 7) are repair based and
are further broken down into three digit repair groups . Each ma-
jor section begins with a General repair group, e.g . 100 En-
gine-General . These "00" (double zero) groups are mostly
descriptive
in
nature, covering topics such as theory of opera-
tion and troubleshooting . The remainder of the repair groups
contain the more involved repair information. The last major
section contains detailed electrical wiring diagram schematics .
A master listing of the 9 major sections and the correspond-
ing individual
repair groups can be found on the inside front
cover .
Each repair group begins with a Table of Contents listing the
majos subject headings within the group . Page numbers
throughout the manual are organized according to the repair
groupsystem . For
example, youcan expect to find repair infor-
mation on brakes (Repair Group 340) beginning
on page 340-
1 . A comprehensive index can be found at the back of the man-
ual .
Warnings,
Cautions and Notes
Throughout this manual are many
passages
with the
head-
ings WARNING, CAUTION, or NOTE . These very important
headings
have
diflerent
meanings .
WARNING -
The text under this heading warns of
unsafe practic-
es thatare very likelyto cause Ãnjury, eitherby
dÃrect
threat to the person(s) pertorming the work or by in-
creased
risk
of
accident or mechanfcal fallure whÃle
driving.
CAUTION-
A caution calls
attention to important precautions
to be observed during the repair
work that will helo
prevent accidentally damaging the car
or its parts.
GETTING STARTED
Safety
NOTE-
Please read every WARNING, CAUTION,
and NOTE at the
front
of
the manual and as they appear in repair procedures .
They are very important . Read them before you begin any
maintenance or repair job.
Some WARNINGs and CAUTIONs are repeated wherever
they apply . Read them all . Do not
skip any.
These messages
are important, even to the owner who never intends to work on
the car .
GETTING STARTED
Most of the necessary maintenance and minor repair that
an
automobile
will
need can be
done with ordinary tools, even by
owners with little or no experience in car repair . Below is some
important information on how to work safely, a discussion of
what tools will be needed and how to use them .
Although
an
automobile presents many hazards, common
sense and good equipment can helo ensure safety. Many acci-
dents happen because of carelessness . Pay attention and stick
to these few important safety rules .
WARNING -
" Never run the engine in the work area unless it
is well-ventflated. Theexhaustshouldbe vented
to the outside. Carbon monoxide (CO) in the ex-
haust kilts.
" Remove all neckties, scarts, loose clothing,
or
jewelry when working near running engines or
power tools. Tuck in shirts . Tie long haÃr and se-
cure it under a cap. Severe injury can result from
these things beÃng caught in rotating parts.
" Remove rÃngs,
watches, and bracelets. AsÃde
from the dangers of
moving parts, metallic jew-
elry conducts electricity and may cause
shorts,
sparks, bums, or damage to the electrical sys-
tem when accidentally contacting the battery or
other electrical terminals .
" Disconnect the
battery negative () cable when-
ever working on
or
near
the fuel system or any-
thlng that is electrically powered. Accidental
electrÃcal contact may damage the electrical
system or cause a fire.
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This BMW E36 repair manual is specifically designed for models 92-98. It provides detailed instructions and step-by-step procedures for repairing and maintaining your BMW E36 318i, 323i, 325i, 328i, or M3. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional mechanic, this comprehensive manual will assist you in troubleshooting, diagnosing, and fixing various issues with your BMW E36.
Key Features:
- Complete coverage for BMW E36 models from 1992 to 1998
- Detailed instructions for maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting
- Step-by-step procedures and diagrams for easy understanding
- Comprehensive information on engine, transmission, electrical systems, and more
- Includes specifications, torque settings, and tightening sequences
- Essential tool recommendations for each repair
- Written by experts in BMW repair and maintenance
Whether you need to perform routine maintenance tasks or tackle major repairs, this BMW E36 repair manual is an indispensable tool for any BMW owner. It will help you save time and money by enabling you to take control of your vehicle's maintenance and repairs.