rear BMW 328i 1997 E36 Workshop Manual

ENGINE
HOOD

Hood,
raising
to
service
position

CA
UTION-

Do
not
switch
on
the
windshield
wipers
wlth
the
engine
hood
raised
.
As
a
precaution,
remove
the
wiper
motor
fuse
.
See
610
Electrical
Compo-
nent
Locations
.

1
.
4-door
models
:
Open
hood
fully
.
Remove
bolt
from

hood
hinge
behind
hood
supports
(left
and
right)
.
Raise
hood
to
service
position
.
See
Fig
.
5
.

2
.
2-door
models
:
Open
hood
fully
.

Fig
.
5
.



Hood
support
bracket
boltto
be
removed
(A)
on
4-door
cars
.

Remove
bolts
at
left
and
right
hinges
.
Swing
bracket
in
direc-
tion
of
arrow
to
raise
hood
into
service
position
.

"
Remove
ground
cable
atright
hood
hinge
.

"
Whilean
assistant
supports
hood,
detach
both
hood

supportsfrom
hood
.

"
Remove
detent
screws
at
back
of
hood
hinges
.
See

Fig
.
6
.
"
Lift
hood
while
pulling
hinge
forward
.
Support
hood
at

higher
position
.

3
.
When
service
work
is
complete,
return
hood
to
lower

position
and
instaf
screws
or
bolts
.

FENDERS,
ENGINE
HOOD



410-
3

Fig
.
6
.



Torx
screw
at
base
of
hood
hinge
(arrow)
.

Hood,
removing
and
installing

0013147

1
.
Raise
hood
.
Where
applicable,
partially
remove
hood

acoustic
insulation
to
access
rear
of
hood
.
See
Fig
.
7
.

Fig
.
7
.



Hood
insulation
retainer
being
pried
out

3
.
Detachgas-charged
hood
supportsfrom
hood
.

CAUTION
-

The
hood
is
heavy
.
Before
removing
the
hood
sup-
ports
or
hood
retainingbolts,
be
sure
to
have
an
assistant
help
support
the
hood
.

0013148

2
.
Disconnect
washer
fluid
hoses
from
washer
nozzles
.

Where
applicable,
disconnect
electrical
harness
con-

nectors
fromheated
nozzles
.

ENGINE
HOOD

GENERAL

This
repair
group
covers
front
and
rear
door
repair
informa-
tion,
including
removal
and
installationof
the
interior
doorpan-
els
.

DOORS

WARNING
-

Late
M3
moddis
havealuminum
doors
.
Use
extra
care
in
handling
aluminum
parts
in
order
to
avoid
damage
from
gouging
or
corrosión
.

NOTE-

"
For
information
on
the
power
door
windows
and
door
glass
replacement,
sea512Door
Windows
.

"
Forinformation
on
the
power
door
locking
system,
see
515
Central
Locking
and
Anti-Theft
.

WARNING
-

Some
1997
and
all
1998
cars
are
fitted
with
side-im-
pact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
.
When
servicing
doors
on
cars
with
front
side-impact
airbags,
always
dis-
connect
the
negative
(-)
battery
terminal
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
for
cautions
and
procedures
relating
to
the
airbag
system
.

Front
orrear
door,
removing
and
installing

1
.
If
workingon
front
door
with
side-impact
airbag,
discon-

nect
negative
(-)
battery
cable
.

CAUTION
-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
vüi
.

2
.
Unbolt
main
harness
connector
at
door
pillar
and
sep-
arate
connector
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

411
Doors

GENERAL
.............
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
411-1



DOOR
PANELS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
411-4

Front
door
trim
panel,
removing
and
installing
.411-4
DOORS
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.......
.
....
.
.
.
411-1



Rear
door
trim
panel,
removing
and
installing
.411-5
Front
or
reardoor,
removing
and
installing
..
.
411-1



Rear
side
trim
panel,
removing
and
installing
Door
check,
replacing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
411-3



(coupemodel)
.
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.............
411-6

Door
Adjustment
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
411-3



Rear
side
trim
panel,
removing
and
installing
(convertible
models)
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
411-6

DOORS
411-1

Fig
.
1
.



Door
harness
connector
being
removed
fromdoor
pillar
.
Re-
move
mountingscrews
atA,
then
separate
connector
by
pulling
upon
harness
lock(top
arrow)
.

3
.
Withdoor
fully
open,
remove
pin
bolts
from
top
and
bot-
tom
door
hinges
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

0011650

Fig
.
2
.



Door
hinge
pin
bolt
(arrow)
.
Top
hinge
shown
.
Also
remove
pin
bolt
from
lowerhinge
.

DOORS

411-2
DOORS

4
.
Remove
retainer
clip
(early
models
only)
from
doorcheck

pin
onbody
pillar
.
Drive
out
door
check
pin
.
See
Fig
.
3
.



Door
Adjustment

"
Door
gap

to
fender/rear
door
.........
approx
.
5
mm
(0
.189
in)

"
Permíssible
deviation
from
parallel
.
.0
.5
mm
(0
.020
in)

0011651

Fig
.
3
.



Door
check
pin
being
removed
.
Note
retainer
clip
(A)
usedon

early
models
.

5
.
Remove
doorby
lifting
up
off
lowerhinge
halves
.

CAUTION-

Be
careful
not
to
damage
door
or
other
painted
body
surfaces
.
Make
sure
no
load
is
placedon

wiring
harness
.

6
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Keep
in
mind
the
fol-

lowing
:

"
Align
doorso
that
panel
gaps
are
equal
on
either
side,

as
described
later
.
If
necessary,
adjust
door
hinges
as

described
later
.

"
Adjust
door
striker
so
that
trailing
edge
of
front
door
is

slightly
higher
(1
mm)
than
leading
edge
of
rear
door
.

See
515
Central
Locking
and
Anti-Theft
.

"
Repair
any
paint
damage
and
paínt
any
exposed
met-

al
.

CAUTION-
.

"In
2-door
models,
removing
and
installing
the
door
may
upset
the
adjustment
and
alignment
of
the
window
.
Window
adjustment,
as
described
in
512DoorWindows,
must
be
carried
out
ater
installation
to
prevent
damaging
the
glass
.

"
If
battery
power
is
lost
or
the
battery
has
been
disconnected,
the
windows
must
be
re-initialized
.
Both
one
touch
upldown
and
pinch-protection
will
be
inactive
until
windows
are
re-initialized
.
See
512
Door
Windows
.

DOOR
CHECK,
REPLACING

Door
check,replacing

WARNING
-

Some
1997
and
all
1998
cars
are
fitted
with
side-im-

pact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
.
When
servicing
doors

on
cars
with
front
side-impact
airbags,
always
dis-

connect
the
negative
(-)
battery
terminal
.
See
721

Al
rbag
System
(SRS)
for
cautions
and
procedures
relating
to
the
airbag
system
.

1
.
Closedoor
window
completely
.

2
.
If
working
on
front
door
with
side-impact
airbag,
discon-

nect
negative
(-)
battery
cable
.,

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery

disconnection
cautions
gíven
at
the
front
of
this

manual
on
page
viii
.

3
.
Remove
interior
door
panel
and
vapor
barrier
as
de-

scribed
later
.

4
.
Where
applicable,
remove
side-impact
airbag
from
door
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
.

NOTE-

In
some
models
covered
inthis
manual,
ít
is
not
essen-

tial
to
remove
the
side-ímpact
airbag
to
access
internal

door
components
.
However,
the
procedure
is
recom-

mended
for
safety
reasons
.

5
.
Remove
retainer
clip
(early
models
only)
from
door

check
pin
on
body
pillar
.
Drive
out
door
check
pin
.
Refer

to
Fig
.
3
.

6
.
Remove
bolts
and
rubber
cover
fromdoor
check
lock-
plate
ondoor
.

7
.
Remove
door
check
from
inside
door
.

8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Lubricate
door
check
before
installing
.

"
Use
new
mounting
bolts
when
reinstalling
the
side-im-

pact
airbag
to
thedoor(where
applicable)
.

"
If
battery
was
disconnected,
re-initialize
window
regu-

lator
motors
as
described
in
512
Door
Windows
.

Door
Hinge
Adjustment

If
the
installed
door
is
uneven
or
out
of
parallel,
shims
can
be
used
to
correct
its
position
.
The
shims
are
placedbehind
the
hinge
plate
and
are
available
in
two
different
thicknesses
(0
.5
mm
and
1
.0
mm)
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Door
hinge
to
door
.............
..
21
Nm
(15
.5
ft-I
b)
"
Door
striker
to
door
...........
...
25
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)

DOOR
PANELS

0
l
o
0013102

Fig
.
4
.



Door
hinge
and
door
check
components
.
Front
and
rear
doors
are
similar
.

WARNING
-

Some
1997
and
all
1998
cars
are
fitted
with
side-im-
pact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
.
When
servicing
doors
on
cars
with
front
side-impact
airbags,
always
dis-
connect
the
negative
()
battery
terminal
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
for
cautions
and
procedures
relating
to
the
airbag
system
.

Front
door
trimpanel,
removing
and
in-

stalling

1
.
On
cars
with
side-impact
airbags,
disconnect
negative

(-)
battery
cable
.

CAUTION
-

Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.

Fig
.
5
.



Pry
outside
mirror
switch
from
door
armrest
.

3
.
Unscrew
door
locking
knob
.

Fig
.
6
.



Pry
off
plugs
(arrows)
and
remove
screws
.

DOORS
411-
3

2
.
Carefully
pry
out
mirror
adjustment
switch
and
discon-
nect
harness
connector
from
switch
.
Fig
.
5
.

5
.
Unclip
door
panel
from
door
perimeter
.
See
Fig
.
7
.

0013168

4
.
Pry
off
trim
cover
for
insíde
door
handle
.
Pry
off
con-
cealing
plugs
from
armrest
.
Remove
door
panel
retain-
ing
screws
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

UU13169

DOOR
PANELS

411-
4
DOORS

6
.
Disconnect
radio
speaker
harness
connector
.

Fig
.
7
.



Door
panel
being
unclipped
from
door
.
Pull
panel
retaining

clips
off
one
at
a
time
.

7
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
noting
the
following
:

"
Replace
any
damaged
plastic
parts
orclips
.

"
Renew
vapor
barrier
ifit
is
damaged
.

"
Use
new
mounting
bolts
when
reinstalling
the
side-im-

pactairbag
to
the
door
(where
applicable)
.

"
When
installing
door
panel,
align
metal
retainers
on

window
sill
with
openingsontop
of
door
panel
.
See

Fig
.
8
.

"
Check
door-lock
mechanism
and
window
for
ease
of

movement
.

"
If
battery
was
disconnected,
re-initialize
window
regu-

lator
motors
as
described
in
512
Door
Windows
.

373

Fig
.
8
.



Metal
retainers
at
base
of
window
should
be
in
position
to
mate
with
openings
in
door
trim
panel
.

DOOR
PANELS

Reardoor
trimpanel,

removing
and
installing

1
.
Open
door
and
pry
out
power
window
switch
.
Discon-

nect
harness
connector
.

2
.
Remove
ash
tray
.

3
.
Pry
off
trim
cover
from
inside
door
handle
.

4
.
Pry
off
concealing
plugs
from
armrest
.
Remove
door

panel
retaining
screws
.
See
Fig
.
9
.

Fig
.
9
.



Pry
off
plugs
(arrows)
andremove
screws
.

5
.
Unscrew
door
locking
knob
.

6
.
Unclip
panel
from
door
perimeter,
starting
at
thetop
of

the
door
.

7
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Replace
any
damaged
plastic
parts
or
clips
.

"
Renew
vapor
barrier
ifit
is
damaged
.

"
Align
metal
retainers
on
window
sill
with
openings
in

trim
panel
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
8
.

"
Check
door-lock
mechanism
and
window
for
ease
of

movement
.

Rear
side
trim
panel,
removing
and
install-

ing
(coupe
models)

1
.
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
.
Remove
rear
backrest
side

section
.
See
520
Seats
.

2
.
Pull
off
edge
trimat
bottom
of
rear
side
window
.
See

Fig
.
10
.

3
.
Gently
unclip
trim
panel
andremove
.

4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Replace
any
damaged
plastic
parts
or
clips
.

Fig
.
10
.
Panel
edge
trim
piece
trim
being
removed
.

Rear
side
trimpanel,
removing
and
install-

ing
(convertible
models)

To
remove
the
rearside
panel
in
convertible
models
it
is
necessary
to
:

"
Remove
rear
seat
cushion
and
rear
backrest
side
sec-
tion
.

"
Lower
side
window
;
open
convertible
roof
.

"
Leftside
:
Remove
convertible
top
lid
release
lever
trim
.

"
Remove
power
window
switch
and
disconnect
harness
connector
.

"
Remove
door
panel
inset
by
pulling
forward
.

"
Remove
corner
protector
rubber
trim
.

"
Pull
off
side
panel
after
removing
screw
fastener(s)
.
Dis-
engage
from
front
shoulder
belt
.

412-2



TRUNK
LID

Trunk
lid,
aligning

1.
Raise
trunk
lid
.

2
.
Loosen
boits
at
trunk
lid
lock
until
it
can
just
be
moved
.

See
Fig
.
3
.

Fig
.
3
.



Trunk
lid
lock
mounting
boits
(arrows)
.

0013172

3
.
Loosen
bolis
at
left
and
right
trunk
hinges
until
lid
can

just
be
moved
.

4
.
Working
at
lower
comers
of
trunk
lid,
screw
in
rubber

buffers
on
left
and
right
sides
fully
.

5
.
Prop
open
trunk
lid
and
remove
gas
pressure
strut
as

described
below
.

WARNING
-

"
Make
sure
to
support
trunk
lid
before
removing
strut
.

"
Trunk
lid
with
gas
pressure
strut
removed
will
drop
without
damping
.

6
.
Close
trunk
lid
and
align
lid
to
body
at
rear
and
front
.
Open
trunk
lid
and
tighten
hinge
bolis
.

7
.
Adjust
lock
so
that
closed
trunk
lid
is
approximately
1
mm
(0
.04
in
.)
belowtop
of
rear
fenders
.
Tighten
lock
bolts
.

TRUNK
LID

8
.
Open
trunk
lid
and
screw
outrubber
stops
so
that

closed
trunk
lid
is
flush
with
top
of
rear
fenders
.

9
.
Reinstall
gas
pressure
strut
.

Seam
Clearance
Specification

"
Trunk
lid
to
rear
fender

or
bumper
..........
4
.3
-
5
.3
mm
(0
.169
-
0
.209
in)

"
Max
.
deviation
from
parallel
.......
0
.5
mm
(0
.019
in)

Trunk
lid
support
strut,

removing
and
installing

WARNING
-

Make
sure
to
support
trunk
lid
before
removing
strut

1
.
Open
trunk
lid
.
Remove
spring
clip
from
support
strut

and
remove
strut
from
body
end
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Fig
.
4
.



Support
strut
spring
clip
(arrow)
at
body
end
.

2
.
Remove
strut
from
trunk
lid
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Replace
any
trim
re-

taining
clips
damaged
during
removal
.

GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
..
.
...
.
.........
510-1



Front
bumper
impact
absorber,
replacing
....
510-4

Rear
bumper,
removing
and
installing



.....
.510-4

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS
.
...
.
.....
510-1



Rear
bumper
impact
absorber,
replacing
...
.
510-6
Outside
mirrorglass,
replacing



.
.
.........
510-1



Bumper
height,
adjusting



...
.
...
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
510-6
Outside
mirror
housing,
removing
and
installing
....
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-1



EXTERIOR
TRIM



...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
510-6
Outside
mirror,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
510-2



BMW
embiem,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-7

Body
side
molding,
replacing



.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-7
BUMPERS



.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.....
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-3



Radiator
grille,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.510-7
Front
bumper,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
510-3



Front
panel,
removing
and
installing
...
.
.
.
.
.
510-7

GENERAL

510
Exterior
Trim,
Bumpers

This
repair
group
includes
repair
information
for
the
outside

rear
view
mirror,
front
and
rear
bumpers,
and
the
easily
re-

movable
exterior
trim
parts
.

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS

The
remove
controlled
mirrors
come
in
two
styles
:
heated
and
unheated
.
Many
of
the
mirror
components
are
separately

available
from
an
authorized
BMW
dealer,
including
the
glass

and
outside
plastic
housing
.

Outside
mirror
glass,
replacing

CAUTION-

Mirror
shouldbe
ator
above
room
temperature
before
removal
.
Otherwise,
small
plastic
parts
or
glass
will
break
.

1
.
Insert
thin
pry
tool
(wooden
or
tape-wrapped
screwdriv-

er)
between
bottom
mirror
edge
and
mirror
housing
and

carefully
pry
out
mirror
glass
from
housing
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

2
.
Heated
mirror
:
remove
heating
element
harness
con-

nectors
from
back
of
mirror
glass
.

3
.
Install
new
glass
into
position
by
pressing
firmly
until
it

snaps
into
place
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS



510-1

00130
..

Fig
.1
.
Prying
mirror
glass
out
of
mirror
housing
.
Note
screwdriver
shaft
wrapped
with
tape
.

Outside
mirror
housing,

removing
and
installing

1
.
Remove
mirror
glass
as
described
above
.

2
.
Remove
housing
retaining
screws
and
lift
off
rear
hous-
ing
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

3
.
Tilt
mirror
housing
forward
and
compress
plastic
retain-

ers
and
lift
off
front
housing
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Check
mirror
function

before
installing
covering
parts
.

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS

510-2



EXTERIOR
TRIIVI,
BUMPERS

Fig
.
2
.



Mirror
housing
retaining
screws
(arrows)
.

Fig
.
3
.



Use
need1e-nose
pliers
to
release
retainers
(arrows)
.

Outside
mirror,
removing
and
installing

0013039
0013040

1
.
Remove
triangular
trim
plate
by
prying
and
lifting
gently
fromdoor
frame
.
See
Fig
.
4
.
Unhook
harness
splice

connector
from
base
of
trim
píate
.

2
.
Separate
harness
connector
.
Support
mirror
and
re-
move
mirror
mounting
bolts
.
Lift
mirror
off
door
.
See

Fig
.
5
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Check
mirror
function
before
installing
covering
parts
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Outside
mirror
to
door(M6)
..
.
..
.
..
.
6
Nm
(4
.5
ft-Ib)

OUTSIDE
REAR
VIEW
MIRRORS

0013041
Fig
.
4
.



Pry
plastictrim
in
direction
of
arrow
1,
then
lift
off
in
direction

of
arrow
2
.

0013042
Fig
.
5
.



Mirror
mounting
bolts
(arrows)
.
Two-door
body
style
shown
.

510-4



EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS

Fig
.
8
.



Bumper
cover
retaining
screws
(arrows)
in
left
wheel
weil
.

7
.
Disconnect
harnessconnectors
at
outside
temperature



0013052

sensor
at
rear
of
left
side
of
bumperand
temperatura



Fig
.
9
.



Front
bumper
impact
absorber
mounting
nuts
(A)
and

switch
at
rear
of
right
side
of
bumper
(if
applicable)
.



bumper
bracket
hardware
(B)
.

8
.
Slide
bumper
straight
off
sida
brackets
.

9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
notingthe
following
:



When
removing
and
installing
therear
bumper
or
its
compo-

"
Slide
side
brackets
on
bumper
and
body
carefully
to-



nents,
referto
Fig
.
10
.

gether
.

"
Make
sure
tabs
on
trim
strip
engage
slots
in
bumper



1
.
Raise
and
properly
support
vehicle
.

correctly
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Bumper
to
bumper

bracket
(M8
nut)
............
...
.
.
22
Nm
(16
ft-Ib)

2
.
Working
under
bumper,
remove
screws
or
expansion

Front
bumper
impact
absorber,replacing



rivetsat
corners
and
middle
of
lower
bumper
panel
.
Pull

panel
backward,
uncoupling
it
from
bumper
cover
.
See

Thebumper
mounting
bracket
and
impact
absorber
mount-



Fig
.
11
.

ing
hardware
are
accessible
with
the
Font
bumper
removed,
as
described
above
.
See
Fig
.
9
.



3
.
Remove
bumper
cover
expansion
rivets
and
screws
in-

side
left
and
right
rear
wheel
wells
.

NOTE
-

Install
the
bumper
bracket
boltwith
thread
locking
com-
pound
suchas
Loctite
8
270
or
equivalent
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Bumper
bracket
to
impact
absorber

(M10
nut)
.
..
.
...
.............:.
55
Nm
(41
ft-Ib)
"
Impact
absorber
to
chassis
(M6
nut)
...
9
Nm
(7
ft-Ib)

BUMPERS

Rear
bumper,
removing
and
installing

WARNING
-

Make
sure
that
the
car
is
firmly
supported
on
jack

stands
designad
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack

stands
beneath
a
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not

place
jack
stands
under
suspension
parts
.

4
.
Remove
left
and
right
bumper
bracket
mounting
bolts

and
remove
bumper
.
See
Fig
.
12
.

5
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

NOTE-

Install
the
bumper
bracket
bolt
with
thread
locking
com-
pound
suchas
Loctite®270
or
equivalent
.