check oil BMW M3 1992 E36 User Guide

020-
1
0



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

1.
Run
engine
for
afewminutes
to
warm
engine
oil
.
Shut



5
.
When
oil
flow
has
diminished
to
an
occasional
drip,
re-

engine
off
.



install
drain
plugwith
a
new
metal
sealing
washerand

torque
plug
.

2
.
With
car
on
level
ground,
place
drain
pan
under
oil
drain

plug
.
See
Fig
.
5
.



Tightening
Torques

"
Engine
oil
drain
plug

M12
bolt
(17mm
wrench)
.
...
.
..
.
25
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)



-

M22
bolt
(19mm
.
wrench)
...
.
...
.
60
Nm
(44
ft-Ib)

Fig
.
5
.



Engine
oil
drain
plug(arrow)
in
oil
pan
.

3
.
Remove
filter
housingcover
.
Remove
filter
cartridge

and
discard
any
O-rings
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

CAUTION-

Pulí
the
loose
plug
away
from
the
hole
quickly
to
avoidbeing
bumed
by
hot
oil
.
It
wíll
runout
quickly
when
the
plug
ís
removed
.
If
possible,
use
gloves
to
protect
your
hands
.

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

0012460

Fig
.
6
.



Engine
oil
filter
cartridge
.
Note
O-ring
locations
when
removing
cover
and
filter
.

4
.
Using
a
socket
or
box
wrench,
loosen
drain
plug
at
oil

drain
pan
.
By
hand,
remove
plug
and
letoil
drain
into

pan
.

6
.
Lubricate
and
install
new
O-rings
.
Install
a
new
filter

cartridge
and
housingcover
.
Tighten
cover
.
See
Fig
.
7
.

7



«
a~
.~~
fT~

iII~IIIi~
.

Fig
.
7
.



Oil
flter
housing
on
6-cylínder
engine
.
4-cylinder
engine
is

similar
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Engine
oil
filter
cover
to
oil

filter
housing
...................
25
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)

7
.
Refill
crankcase
with
oil
.'Approximate
oil
capacity
is
list-

ed
in
Tablee
.
Use
dipstick
to
check
correct
oil
level
.

8
.
Start
engine
and
check
that
oil
pressure
warning
light

immediately
goes
out
.

9
.
Allow
engine
to
run
for
a
few
minutes
to
círculate
new

oil,
then
check
for
leaks
at
drain
plug
and
oil
filter
.
Stop

engine
and
reclieck
oil
level
.

ENGINE
COMPAR



ENT
MAINTENANCE

The
information
underthis
heading
describes
routine
mainte-

nance-other
than
oil
change-done
in
the
engine
compart-

ment
.
It
is
not
necessary
for
the
car
to
be
raised
and
supported
off
the
ground
.
Information
on
oil
change
is
given
earlier
under

Engine
Oil
Change
.

020-
1
2



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

6-cylinder
engines
use
a
coil-on-plug
configuration,
and
re-



Battery
cablesshould
be
tight
.
The
terminals,
the
cable
moval
of
thetop
engine
cover
(between
the
camshafts)
and
ig-



clamps,
and
the
battery
case
should
be
freeof
the
white
deposits
nition
cofs
are
necessary
.
See
Fig
.
12
.
Blow
away
any
dust
or



that
indicate
corrosion
and
acid
salts
.
Even
a
thin
¡ayer
of
dust
dirt
around
the
ignition
coils,
and
then
remove
the
coils
.
Blow



containing
conductive
acid
salts
can
cause
battery
discharge
.
away
any
dustor
dirt
around
the
sparkplugs
.
Remove
the
spark

plugs
.



To
remove
battery
corrosion,
begin
by
disconnecting
theca-

bles
.
Disconnect
the
negative
(-)
cable
first
.
Clean
the
terminal

posts
and
the
cable
clamps
with
a
wire
brush
.
Clean
the
main
chassis
ground
terminal
next
to
the
battery
.
Corrosion
can
be
washedaway
with
a
baking
soda
and
water
solution
that
will
neutralize
the
acid
.
Apply
the
solution
carefully,
though,since
ít
will
also
neutralize
the
acid
inside
the
battery
.
Reconnect
the
ca-
ble
clamps,
positive
(+)
cable
first
.
Lightly
coat
the
outside
of
the

terminals,
hold
down
screws,
and
clamps
with
petroleum
jelly,
grease,
or
a
commercial
battery
terminal
corrosion
inhibitor
.

Fig
.
12
.
Ignition
coil
being
removed
from
spark
plug
on
M52
engine
.

NOTE-

If
necessary,
see
120
Ignition
System
for
more
details
on
coil
removal
.

B11004

Lightlylubricate
the
new
spark
plug
threads
with
a
small
amount
of
anti-seize
compound
.
Thread
the
plugs
into
the
cyl-
inder
head
byhand
to
prevent
cross-threading
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Spark
plug
to
cylinder
head
.......
25
Nm
(18
ft-ib)

Idie
Speed

Engine
¡dle
speed
canchange
due
to
a
number
of
factors,
in-
cluding
normal
wear
.
The
idle
speed
is
electronically
adaptive
and
non-adjustable
.
See
130
Fuel
Injection
for
more
information
.

Battery,
checking
and
cleaning

The
battery
is
located
in
the
right
side
of
the
luggage
com-
partment
.
Simple
maintenance
of
the
battery
and
its
terminal
connections
will
ensure
maximum
starting
performance,
espe-
cially
in
winter
when
colder
temperaturesreduce
battery
power
.

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

WARNING
-

"
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
bat-
tery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manualonpage
viii
.

"
Battery
acid
is
extremely
dangerous
.
Take
care
to
keep
it
from
contacting
eyes,
skin,
or
clothing
.
Wear
eye
protection
.
Extinguish
all
smoking
ma-
terials
and
do
not
worknear
any
oyen
flames
.

Battery
electrolyte
should
be
maintained
at
the
correct
level
just
above
the
battery
plates
and
their
separators
.
The
correct
leve¡
is
approximately
5
mm
(
1
/4
in
.)
above
thetop
of
battery
plates
orto
thetop
of
the
indicator
marks
(if
applicable)
.
The
battery
plates
and
the
indicator
marks
can
beseen
once
the
fill-
er
caps
are
removed
.
If
the
electrolyte
level
is
low,
replenish
it
by
adding
distilled
water
only
.

Battery,
repiacing

Batteries
are
rated
by
ampere
hours
(Ah),
the
number
of
hoursa
specific
current
draín
can
be
sustained
before
complete
discharge,
or
by
cold
cranking
amps
(CCA),
the
number
of
amps
available
to
crank
the
engine
in
cold
weather
conditions
.
In
general,
replacement
batteries
should
alwaysbe
rated
equal
or
higherthan
the
original
battery
.

CAUTION-

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

The
battery
is
held
in
place
bya
single
hand
screw
and
píate
.
A
secure
battery
hold-down
is
important
in
order
to
prevent
vi-
brations
and
road
shock
from
damaging
the
battery
.

NOTE-
NOTE-
"
Always
disconnect
the
negative
()
cable
first,
and
Design
characteristics
of
the
convertible
body
cause
vi-



connect
ft
last
While
changing
batteries,
clean
away
brations
in
the
trunk
area
.
Therefore,
E36
convertibles



any
corrosion
in
or
around
the
battery
tray
.
require
a
specialbattery
designed
for
constant
vibra-
tion
.
When
repiacing
the
battery,
be
sure
the
replace-



"
Design
characteristics
of
the
convertible
body
cause
ment
is
designed
specffically
for
the
convertible
.



vibrations
to
oscillate
in
the
trunk
area
.
Therefore,
the
convertible
model
uses
a
specialbattery
designed
for
this
constant
vibration
.

Accelerator
and
Throttle
Linkage

The
accelerator
and
throttie
linkage
should
be
lubricated
pe-
riodically
.
Use
a
general
purpose
oil
on
the
joints
and
bearings

of
the
linkage
.
Use
a
multipurpose
grease
on
the
bearing
points

of
the
throttie
plate
.

Engine
Drive
Belts

Drive
belts
and
pulleys
transfer
power
from
theengine
crank-

shaft
to
various
accessories
.
See
Fig
.
13
.
Depending
on
model

and
model
year,
engine
driven
accessories
are
driven
by
V-

belts,
poly-ribbed
(serpentine)
belts,
or
a
combination
of
the

two
.
For
example,
early
4-cylinder
engines,
usetwo
V-belts
and
one
poly-ribbed
belt
.

Inspect
drivebelts
with
the
engine
off
.
lf
the
belt
shows
signs

of
wear,
cracking,
glazing,
or
missing
sections,
it
should
be
re-

placed
immediately
.

V
belt,
replacing

(4-cylinder
engines
built
up
to
1194)

0012472

Fig
.
13
.
Drive
belt
and
tensioner
assembly
for
late
4-cylinder
engine
wíth
poly-ribbed
drive
belt
.

V-belts
should
be
inspected
during
regular
maintenance
in-

tervais
.
Incorrect
tension
can
decrease
the
life
of
the
belt
and

the
component
it
drives
.
The
V-belt
tension
is
adjusted
through

a
toothed-rack
mechanism
.

Inspect
belts
with
the
engine
off
.
Twist
the
beltto
inspect
its

sidewalls
and
bottom
.
Beltstructural
damage,
glazed
or
shiny

sidewaljs
caused
by
a
loose
belt,
orseparation
are
al¡
reasons

to
replace
a
belt
.

Replacement
of
the
V-belts
every
four
years
is
recommend-

ed
.
Loosen
the
mounting
bolts
and
adjust
the
belt-driven
unit

until
the
belt
tension
is
as
loose
aspossible
.
Remove
the
belt
by

slipping
it
over
the
pulleys
.
In
some
cases
it
may
be
necessary

to
removeone
V-belt
to
get
to
another
.
Use
a
torque
wrench
and

a
crowfoot
wrench
to
turn
the
tensioning
gear
bolt
and
set
belt

tension
.
Hold
the
wrench
steady
and
tighten
the
locknut
on
the

rear
of
the
tensioning
gear
bolt
.
Tighten
al¡
other
mounting
nuts
.

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM



020-
1
3

NOTE-

"
For
the
most
accurate
check,
V-belt
tension
should
be
checked
using
a
V-belt
tension
gauge
.

"
Belt
squealing
is
normally
caused
by
loose
beltten-sion
.
Belt
dressings
should
not
be
used
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Tensioning
gear
(alternator

belt
tensioning)
.
.
.
...............
7
Nm
(62
in-lb)

"
Tensioning
gear(power
steering

belt
tensioning)
...
..
...
8
to
8
.5
Nm
(71
to
75
in-lb)

"
Tensioning
gear
locking
nut
.......
24
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)

NOTE-

When
belts
are
replaced
with
new
ones,
store
the
old
set
in
the
luggage
compartment
for
emergency
use
.

When
installing
a
new
belt,
gently
pry
it
over
the
pulleys
.
Too

much
force
may
damage
the
belt
or
the
accessory
.
Tension
the

belt(s),
runthe
engine
for
a
few
minutes
(at
least
1500
rpm),

then
recheck
the
belt
tension
.

CAUTION-

Do
not
over
tighten
the
V-belts
.
Overtightening
will
cause
shaft
bearings
to
fail
prematurely
.

Poly-ribbed
belt,
replacing

(4-cylinder
engines
buiit
from
1194

and
all
6-cylinder
engines)

An
automatic
belt
tensioner
is
used
to
keep
the
belts
ten-

sioned
properly
.
Unless
the
tensioner
mechanism
malfunc-

tions,
the
poly-ribbed
belts
do
not
require
tension
adjustment
.

To
reduce
the
chance
ofbelt
failure
while
driving,
replace-

ment
of
the
belts
every
four
years
is
recommended
.
Mark
drive

belt
rotationdirectíon
if
removing
and
reusing
an
old
belt
.

To
remove
the
belt,
it
is
necessary
toretract
the
self-tension-

er
.
Using
a
breaker
bar
or
other
long
socket
assembly,
rotate

the
tensioner
to
loosenthe
belt
.
See
Fig
.
14
or
Fig
.
15
.
On
4-cyl-

inder
engines,
it
will
benecessary
to
remove
the
A/C
compres-

sor
belt
to
remove
the
main
drive
belt
.

WARNING
-

Observe
care
when
replacing
the
belt
.
Personal
in-
jury
could
result
if
the
tensioner
springs
back
into
position
uncontrollably
.

With
the
belt
removed
from
the
pulleys,
inspect
the
pulleys

for
wear
or
damage
that
may
cause
early
failureof
the
new
belt
.

This
is
also
a
good
opportunity
to
inspect
the
belt-driven
acces-

sories,
checking
for
bearing
wear
and
excess
play
.
Drive
belt

routing
is
shown
in
Fig
.
16
and
Fig
.
17
.

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

020-
1
4



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

uu11989

Fig
.
14
.
Engine
drive
belt
tensíoner
being
released
on
late
4-cylinder
engine
.
Pry
off
tensioner
cover
and
then
lever
tensioner
in
clockwise
direction
(as
facing
engine)
and
slip
beltoff
pulleys
.



Fig
.
17
.
Engine
drive
belt
routing
for
late
4-cylinder
engine
with
poly-
ribbed
drivebelts
.

CA
UTION-

Use
only
BMW
approved
phosphate-free
anti-
freeze
when
filling
the
cooling
system
.
Use
of
anti-

B11177



freeze
containing
phosphates
!s
considerad
to
be

Fig
.
15
.
Engine
drive
belt
tensioner
being
released
on
6-cylinder
en-



harmful
to
the
cooling
system
.

gine
.
Pry
off
tensioner
cover
and
then
lever
tensioner
in
clock-
wise
direction
(as
facing
engine)
and
slipbelt
off
pulleys
.



A
translucent
expansion
tank,
or
overflow
resenroir,
providesmonitóring
of
coolant
leve¡
.
Because
the
expansion
tank
is
translucent,
thecoolant
level
can
be
checked
visually
without
opening
the
system
.
Always
check
thecoolant
leve¡
with
theen-gine
cold
.
The
coolant
leve¡
should
be
at
the
maximum
mark
on
O



o
'~
I



the
expansion
tank,
as
shown
in
Fig
.
18
.

OO



Hose
connectionhld
b
tiht
s
soueg



an
ddry
.
Coolánt
seepage
indicates
either
that
the
hose
clamp
is
loose,
that
the
pose
is

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

0012470

Fig
.
16
.
Engine
drive
belt
routing
for
6-cylinder
engine
.
A/C
compres-
sor
drive
belt
not
shown
.

'92

irá
Alternator
belt

Coolant~
0
pp



o0o



Belt
tensioner

Cooling
System
Service

0013000

Cooling
system
maintenance
consists
of
maíntaining
thecoolant
leve¡,
inspecting
hoses
.
Because
the
coolant's
anti-cor-

rosion
and
anti-freeze
additives
gradually
lose
their
effective-
ness,
replacement
of
thecoolant
every
two
years
up
to
1996
models,
and
every
three
years
from
1996
is
recommended
.
Asa
preventive
measure,
replacement
of
the
cooling
system
hos-
es
every
four
years
is
also
recommended
.

damaged,
or
that
the
connection
is
dirty
or
corroded
.
Dried
cool-
ant
has
a
chalky
appearance
.
Hoses
should
be
firm
and
springy
.
Replace
any
hose
that
is
cracked,
that
has
become
soft
and
limp,
or
has
been
contaminated
by
oil
.
See
Fig
.
19
.

Power
steering
fluid,
checking
leve¡

Check
the
power
steering
fluid
level
in
the
fluid
reservoir
.
Park
thecar
on
leve¡
ground
with
the
engine
off
.
The
level
is
cor-
rect
if
it
is
between
the
MIN
and
MAX
marks
on
the
dipstick
.
See
Fig
.
20
.
If
the
leve¡
is
below
the
MIN
mark,
start
the
engine
andadd
fluid
to
the
reservoir
to
bríng
the
leve¡
up
.
Stop
the
engine
and
recheck
the
leve¡
.
Hand-tighten
the
reservoir
cap
.

020-
1
8



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

Fig
.
25
.
Inspect
brake
pads
with
the
caliper
removed
.
Minimum
brake
pad
thickness
shown
by
dimension
(A)
.

NOTE-

The
parking
brake
may
lose
some
of
its
effectiveness
if
it
is
not
used
frequently
.
This
is
due
to
corrosion
build-
up
on
the
parking
brake
drum
.
To
remove
corrosion,
ap-
plythe
parking
brake
just
until
it
begins
togrip,
then
pulí
the
lever
up
one
more
stop
(click)
.
Drive
thecar
approx-
imately
400
meters
(1,300
ft
.)
and
release
the
brake
.
To
recheck
the
adjustment
of
the
parking
brake
see340
Brakes
.

UNDER-CAR
MAINTENANCE

0011920

Manual
transmission
fluid,

checking
and
filling

The
manual
transmission
fluid
leve¡
should
be
checked
at

specified
intervals
.
Check
and
fill
the
transmission
with
the
car

ona
leve¡
surface
.
Transmission
(luid
leve¡
checking
and
re-

placement
procedures
are
covered
in
230
Manual
Transmis-

sion
.

Automatic
Transmission
Service

The
automatic
transmission
is
not
equipped
with
a
dipstíck
.

Therefore,
checking
the
ATF
level
is
an
ínvolved
procedure,

which
includes
measuring
and
maintaining
a
specified
ATF

temperature
during
the
checking
procedure
.

For
more
complete
ATF
service,
including
checking
ATF
lev-

e¡
and
ATF
filter
replacement
procedures,
see
240
Automatic
Transmission
.

Front
suspension
and
steering
linkages,

inspecting

Inspection
of
the
front
suspension'and
steering
includes
a
check
of
all
moving
parts
for
wear
and
excessive
play
.
Also
in-

spect
the
rubber
seals
and
boots
for
cracks
or
tears
that
could

allow
the
entry
of
dirt,
water,
and
other
contaminants
.
See
310

Front
Suspension
.

Exhaust
system,
inspecting



Rear
suspension,
inspecting
Exhaust
system
life
varies
widely
according
to
driving
habits



Final
drive
and
rear
drive
axle
service
consists
of
checking

and
environmental
conditions
.
If
short-distance
driving
pre-



and
changing
the
gear
oil,
inspecting
for
leaks,
and
checking
dominates,
the
moisture
and
condensation
in
the
system
will



the
rear
drive
axle
rubber
boots
for
damage
.
not
fully
dryout
.
This
will
lead
to
early
corrosion
damage
and
more
frequent
replacement
.
The
areas
where
leaks
are
most
likely
to
occur
are
around
the
driveshaft
and
drive
axle
mounting
flanges
.
For
more
infor

Scheduled
maintenance
of
the
exhaust
system
is
limitedlo



mation
on
ídentifying
oil
leaks
and
their
causes,
see330
Rear
inspection
.
Check
for
restrictions
due
to
dents
or
kinks
.
Check



Suspension
.
for
weakness
or
perforation
due
to
rust
.
Check
lo
see
that
all
the
hangers
are
in
place
and
properly
supporting
the
system
and
that
the
system
does
not
strike
the
body
.
Alignment
of
the
sys-



Final
drive
oil
leve¡,
checking

temand
the
location
of
the
hangers
aredescribed
in
180
Ex-
haust
System
.



Check
the
lubricant
leve¡
with
thecar
level
.
Remove
the
oil
filler
plug
.
The
leve¡
is
correct
when
the
fluidjust
reaches
the

edge
of
the
filler
hole
.
Install
and
tighten
the
oil
filler
plug
when
Manual
Transmission
Service



the
oil
level
is
correct
.
See
Fig
.
26
.

Manual
transmissionservice
consists
of
inspectingfor
leaks



The
final
drive
should
be
filled
with
a
special
BMW
lubricant
and
checking
and
changing
the
fluid
.



available
through
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.
In
addition,
the
lubricant
type
varies
depending
onwhether
or
nota
limited-slip
Evidence
of
transmissionleaks
is
fkely
to
beseenaround
the



differential
is
fitted
.
driveshaft
mounting
flange
and
at
the
bottom
of
the
bellhousing
.
For
more
information
on
identifying
oil
leaks
and
their
causes,
see230ManualTransmissionand210
Clutch
.



Tightening
Torque

"
Finaldrive
filler
plug
to
final
drive
housing
..................
70
Nm
(52
ft-Ib)

NOTE-

Use
a14
mm
or17
mm
alíen
bit
socket
to
remove
the
drain
plug
.

"
If
thecar
is
raised
in
the
air,
it
shouldbe
leve¡
.

Fuel
tank
and
fuel
fines,
inspecting

0012474

Inspect
the
fuel
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
fuel
system
for
damage

or
leaks
.
Check
for
fuel
leaks
in
the
engine
compartment
or

fuel
odors
in
the
passenger
compartment
.
Check
for
faultyfuel

lines
bybending
them
.
If
any
leaks
are
present,
fuel
should
be

expelled
.
Check
for
any
evaporative
emissions
hoses
that

may
have
become
disconnected,
checking
carefully
at
the

charcoal
canister
and
evaporative
emissionspurge
system
.

See130
Fuel
Injection
and
160
Fuel
Tank
and
Fuel
Pump

for
component
locations
and
additional
information
.

WARNING
-

When
checking
for
fuel
leaks,
the
engine
must
be
cold
.
A
hot
exhaust
manifold
or
exhaust
system
could
cause
the
fuel
to
ignite
or
explode
causing
se-
rious
personal
injury
.
Uentilate
the
workarea
and
clean
up
spilled
fuel
immediately
.

Clutch
fluid,
checking

The
hydraulic
clutch
and
the
brake
system
share
the
same

reservoir
and
the
same
brake
fluid
.
Clutch
fluid
leve¡
and
brake

fluid
level
are
checked
at
the
same
time
.
See340
Brakes
for

more
information
.
See210
Clutch
for
information
on
the
clutch

and
the
hydraulic
clutch
operating
system
.

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM



020-19

Drive
axie
joint
boots,
inspecting

100
Engine-General

The
protective
boots
must
be
closely
inspected
for
cracks
andany
other
damage
that
will
allow
contaminants
to
get
ínto
the
joint
.
If
the
rubber
boots
faf
,
the
water
and
dirt
that
enter
the
joint
will
quickly
damage
¡t
.
Replacement
of
the
drive
axle
joint
boots
and
inspection
of
the
joints
are
described
in
330
Rear
Suspension
.

BODY
AND
INTERIOR
MAINTENANCE

Windshield
Wiper
Biade
Maintenance

Common
problems
with
the
windshield
wipers
include

streaking
or
sheeting,
water
drops
after
wiping,
and
blade
chat-

ter
.
Streaking
is
usually
caused
when
wiper
blades
are
coated

with
road
film
or
car
wash
wax
.
Clean
the
blades
using
soapy
water
.
If
cleaning
theblades
does
not
cure
the
problem
then

they
should
be
replaced
.
BMW
recommends
replacing
the
wip-
er
blades
twice
a
year,
before
and
after
the
cold
season
.
Onold-

er
cars,
check
the
tension
spring
that
holds
the
wiper
to
the

glass
.
Replace
the
wiper
arm
if
the
springs
are
weak
.

Drops
that
remainbehind
after
wipingare
caused
by
oil,
road

film,
or
diesel
exhaust
coating
the
windshield
.
Use
an
alcohol
or

ammonia
solution,
or
a
non-abrasive
cleanser
to
clean
the

windshield
.

Wiper
blade
chatter
may
be
caused
by
dirty
or
worn
blades,

bya
dirty
windshield,
or
by
bentor
twisted
wiper
arms
.
Clean

the
blades
and
windshield
as
described
above
.
Adjust
the
wiper

arm
so
that
there
is
even
pressure
along
the
blade,
and
so
that

the
blade
is
perpendicular
to
the
windshield
atrest
.
Lubricate

the
wiper
linkage
with
a
light
oil
.
The
linkage
is
located
under

the
hood
on
the
drivers
side
.
If
the
problem
persists,
theblades
are
excessively
aged
or
worn
and
should
be
replaced
.
See
611
Wipers
and
Washers
.

Body
and
hinges,
lubricating

The
door
locks
and
lock
cylinders
canbe
lubricated
with
an

oil
that
contains
graphite
.

The
body
and
door
hinges,
the
hood
latch,
and
the
door

check
rods
should
be
lubricated
with
SAE
30
or
SAE
40
engine

oil
.
Lubricate
the
seat
runners
with
multipurpose
grease
.
Do
not

apply
any
oil
to
rubber
parts
.
If
door
weatherstrips
are
sticking,

lubricate
them
with
silicone
spray
or
talcum
powder
.
The
hood

release
cable
should
be
lubricated
as
well
.

The
use
of
winter
lock
de-icer
spraysshould
be
kept
to
an
ab-

solute
minimum,
as
the
alcohol
in
the
de-icer
will
wash
the

grease
out
of
the
lock
assemblies,
and
may
cause
the
locks
to

corrode
internally,
or
become
difficult
to
operate
.

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-1

ignition

Table
b
.
Engine
Management
Systems



engine
has
high
mileage
.

Engine



1
System

4-cylinder
engines
M42
(1992-1995)



Bosch
DME
Ml
.7
M44
(1996-1998)



Bosch
DME
M5
.2
(OBD
II)

6-cylinder
engines
M50
(1992)



Bosch
DME
M3
.1
M50
VANOS
(1993-1995)



Bosch
DME
M3
.3
.1
M52
(1996-1998)



Siemens
MS41
.1
(OBD
II)
S50US
(1995)



Bosch
DME
M3
.3
.1
S52US
(1996-1998)



Siemens
MS41
.1
(OBD
II)

Both
the
4-cylinder
and
6-cylinder
engines
use
a
distributor-

less
ignition
system
with
individual
ignition
coils
for
each
cylin-

der
.

FuelDelivery

Pressurized
fuel
from
the
in-tank
fuel
pump
is
injected
via

solenoid-type
fuel
injectors
.
The
ECM
controls
the
opening

and
closing
of
the
injectors
by
switchingthe
ground
side
of

each
injector
circuit
.
The
exact
amount
of
fuel
injected
is
de-

termined
by
the
amount
of
timethe
injectors
are
open
.

Cooling
System

Whenever
the
engine
is
running,
acoolant
pump
circulates

coolant
through
the
engine
and,
if
either
heater
control
valves

are
open,
through
the
heater
core
in
the
passenger
compart-

ment
.
The
coolant
absorbs
excess
heat
and
carries
it
to
the
ra-

diator
where
it
is
transferred
into
the
passing
airstream
.
A

thermostat
controls
the
flow
of
coolant
through
the
radiator

based
on
engine
temperature
.

Lubrication
System

The
lubrication
system
is
pressurized
whenever
theengine

is
running
.
The
oil
pump
draws
oil
through
a
pickup
in
the
bot-

tom
of
the
oil
pan,thenforces
it
through
a
replaceable
oil
filter

and
finto
the
engine
oíi
passages
.

On
4-cylinder
engines,
the
oil
pump
is
mounted
to
the
front

engine
cover
.
On
6-cylinder
engines,thechain-driven
oil

pump
is
bolted
to
the
bottom
of
the
cylinder
block
.

A
pressure
relief
valve
limits
the
maximum
system
pres-

sure
.
A
bypass
valve
prevents
the
oil
filter
from
bursting
and

insures
engine
lubrication
should
the
filter
become
plugged
.

See
119
Lubrication
System
for
additional
information
.

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-
5

Various
versions
of
DME
systems
are
usedon
thecars
cov-



MECHANICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING
ered
by
this
manual
.
See
Table
b
.
Each
system
is
highly
adaptive
to
compensate
for
things
suchasengine
wear
and



When
troubleshooting
an
engine
that
fails
to
start
or
runs
vacuum
leaks
.



poorly,
first
check
its
mechanical
condition-particularly
if
the

Warnings
and
Cautions

For
personal
safety,
as
well
asthe
protection
of
sensitive
electronic
components,
the
following
warnings
and
cautions
must
be
adhered
to
during
all
troubleshooting,
maintenance,
and
repairwork
.

WARNING
-

"
The
ignition
system
produces
high
voltages
that
can
be
fatal
.
Avoid
contact
with
exposed
termi-
nals
anduse
extreme
caution
when
working
on
a
car
with
the
ignition
switched
on
or
the
engine
running
.

"
Do
not
touch
or
disconnect
any
high
voltage
ca-
bles
from
the
coil,
distributor,
orspark
plugs
while
the
engine
is
running
or
being
cranked
by
the
starter

"
Connect
and
disconnect
the
engine
manage-
ment
system
wiring
and
test
equipment
leads
only
when
the
ignition
is
switched
off
.

"
Gasoline
is
highly
flammable
and
its
vapors
are
explosive
.
Do
not
smoke
or
work
on
a
car
near
heaters
or
other
fire
hazards
when
diagnosing
and
repairing
fuel
system
problems
.
Have
a
fire
extínguisher
available
in
case
of
an
emergency
.

"
Disconnecting
the
battery
may
erase
fault
code(s)
stored
in
control
module
memory
.
Using
special
BMW
diagnosnnc
equipment,
check
for
fault
codes
prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery
cables
.
If
the
Check
Engine
lightis
illuminated,
see
On-

Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
forfault
code
infor-
mation
.
If
any
other
system
faults
havebeen
de-tected
(indicated
byan
illuminated
warning
light),
see
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

CAUTION-

"
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
bat-
tery
disconnection
cautions
gíven
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
viii
.

"
Do
notconnect
any
test
equipment
that
delivers
a
12-volt
power
supply
to
terminal15
(+)
of
the
ignition
coil
.
The
current
flow
may
damage
the

ECM
.
In
general,
connect
test
equipment
only
as
specified
by
BMW,
this
manual,
or
the
equip-
ment
maker
.

"
Do
not
disconnect
the
battery
with
the
engine
running
.
Do
notrunthe
engine
with
any
of
the
sparkplug
wires
disconnected
.

MECHANICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING

100-6
ENGINE-GENERAL

Cylinder
compression,
checking

A
compression
tester
is
needed
to
make
a
compression
test
.

To
obtain
accurate
test
results,
the
battery
and
starter
must
be
capable
of
cranking
the
engine
at
250-300
rpm,
and
theen-

gine
should
be
at
normal
operating
temperature
.
Use
com-

pressed
air
to
clean
aroundthe
spark
plugs
before
removal
.

1
.
Disable
the
ignítion
system
by
removing
the
engine

management
system
main
relay
and
the
fuel
pump
re-
¡ay
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

WARNING
-

The
ignítion
system
produces
high
voltages
that
canbe
fatal
.
Avoid
contact
with
exposed
termínals
and

useextreme
caution
when
working
on
acar
wíth
the
ignítion
switched
on
or
the
engine
running
.

Fuel



DM
E
pump
main
re
ay



rel
ay
o
oa
ooa

.,
o00
oao

Fig
.
6
.



Engine
management
relays
in
power
distribution
box
inleft
rear
of
engine
compartment
.

CAUTION-

"
On
OBD
11
cars,
making
a
compression
test
may
causea
faultto
set
in
the
ECM
and
may
also
il-
luminate
the
Check
Engine
light
.
The
light
can
only
be
tumed
out
using
special
scan
tool
equip-
ment,using
eíther
the
BMW
specialservíce
tool
or
using
a
"generic"
OBD
11
scan
tool
.
Discon-
necting
the
battery
will
not
erase
the
fault
mem-
orynor
turn
outthe
light
.

0013034,

0012630

Fig
.
7
.



Remove
spark
plug
wires
from
spark
plugs
on
4-cylinder
en-
gine
using
special
tool
.
Tool
is
stored
under
cover
at
rear
of
cylinder
head
(arrow)
.

Fig
.
8
.



Remove
engine
cover
on
6-cylinder
engine
byprying
off
nut
covers
and
removing
nuts
(A)
.
Be
careful
not
to
let
rubber
in-
sulators
fall
off
as
cover
is
removed
(arrows)
.

4
.
On
6-cylinder
engines,
disconnect
the
harness
connec-
tors
from
the
ignítion
coils
by
lifting
the
retaining
clip
.

Remove
the
coil
mounting
nuts
andremove
the
six
coils
.
See
Fig
.
9
.
Remove
the
sparkplugs
.
"
Failure
to
remove
the
main
relay
or
attempting
to
disable
the
ignítion
system
by
other
methods
may
resultin
damage
to
the
engine
control
module
.



NOTE-

Used
sparkplugs
should
be
reinstalled
in
the
same
cyl-

2
.
On
4-cylinder
engine
:
Remove
plastic
engine
cover
from



inder
fromwhich
they
were
removed
.

top
of
cylinder
head
.
Disconnect
spark
plug
wires
and
re-
move
spark
plugs
.
See
Fig
.
7
.



5
.
Insta¡¡
the
compression
gauge
in
the
first
cylinder's

3
.
On
6-cylinder
engine
:
Remove
top
engine
coverby
pry-



spark
plug
hole,
tight
enough
to
form
a
good
seal
.

ing
off
nut
covers
and
removing
mounting
nuts
.
See
Fig
.
8
.

MECHANICAL
TROUBLESHOOTING

100-8
ENGINE-GENERAL

Symptom



1



Probable
cause
and
correctiveaction

1
.
Engine
will
not
start
or
run
.
Starter
cranks



a
.



No
fuel
reaching
engine
.
Check
forfuelin
tank
.

engine
at
normal
speed
.



Fuel
pump
notoperating
.
Repair
Group
160

b
.
No
spark
.
Check
ignition
system
.
Repair
Group
120

c
.
Incorrect
valve
timing
.
Check
timing
chain
.
Repair
Group
117

2
.
Check
Engine
warning
light
illuminated
.



a
.
DME
engine
management
system
self-diagnostic
fault
detected
.
Sea
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
or
other
qualified
shop
for
OBD
II
fault
code
diagnosis
.
See
also
On-
board
Diagnostics(OBD),
given
later
inthis
repair
group
.

3
.
White
exhaust
smoke
(steam)
.



a
.
Failed
cylinder
head
gasket
(probably
accompanied
bylowcompression
readings)
.

Replace
gasket
and
resurface
cylinder
head
if
necessary
.
Repair
Group
113
4
.
Blue-gray
exhaust
smoke
and
oily
spark



a
.
Contaminated
or
gasoline-diluted
engine
oil
.
Change
engine
oil
and
replace
oil
filter
.
plugs
.
Indicates
oii
burning
in
combustion
.



Repair
Group
020

b
.
Faulty
valve
guide
seals
or
valve
guides
.
Replace
valve
guide
oil
seals
or
overhaul
cylinder
head
.
Repair
Group
116

5
.
Pinging
or
rattling
when
under
load,



a
.
Ignition
timing
too
advanced
.
Ignition
knocksensors
faulty
(CheckEngine
light
traveling
uphill,
or
accelerating,
especially



illuminated)
.
Repair
Group
120fromlow
speeds
.
Indicates
pre-ignition
or



b
.
Fuel
octane
leve¡
toolow
.
detonation
.



c
.
Engine
running
too
hot
or
overheating
.
Check
cooling
system
.
Repair
Group
170

6
.
Light
metallic
tapping
that
varies
directly
with
engine
speed
.
Oil
pressure
warning
light
not
illuminated
.

7
.
Light
metallic
knock
that
varies
directly
with
enginespeed
.
Oil
pressure
warning
light
blinking
or
fully
illuminated
;
may
be
most
noticeable
during
hard
stops
or
cornering
.

8
.
Screeching
or
squealing
under
load
that



a
.
Loose,worn,
or
damaged
drive
belt
.
Inspect
belt(s)
.
Repair
Group
020
goesaway
when
coasting
.

9
.
Growling
or
rumbling
that
varieswith
engine



a
.
Remove
drive
belt(s)toidentifyfaulty
component
.
Check
for
play,
bearing
roughness,
rpm
.
Indicates
abad
bearing
or
bushing
in



and
loose
mountings
.
Refer
to
appropriate
repair
group
for
repair
procedures
.
an
engine-driven
accessory
.

DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING



On-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)

On-Board
Diagnostics
is
incorporated
into
al¡
engine
man-



Two
generations
of
OBD
are
usedon
thecars
covered
by
agement
systems
used
on
the
cars
covered
by
this
manual
.



this
manual
:
Therefore,
checking
for
fault
codes
should
be
the
first
step
in
troubleshootinga
driveability
problem
.
For
additional
informa-



On-Board
Diagnostics
tion
on
engine
management
and
repair
see130
Fuel
Injec-
tion
.



"
1992-1995models
....
.
..
....
.
..
.......
OBD
I

"
1996-1998models
.
....
..
.
.
.
..
.
........
OBD
II

DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING

Tablec
.
Engine
Mechanical
Troubleshooting

b
.
Warped
or
cracked
cylinder
head
.
Resurface
or
replace
cylinder
head
.
Repair
Group
113

c
.
Cracked
cylinder
block
.
Replace
engine
or
short
block
.

c
.
Worn
piston
rings
.
Overhaul
or
replace
engine
.

d
.
Failed
cylinder
head
gasket
.
Replace
gasket
.
Repair
Group
113

d
.
Air/fuel
mixture
too
lean
(Check
Engine
light
illuminated)
.
Repair
Group
130

a
.
Valveclearances
excessive
.
Check
hydraulic
valve
adjusters
.
Repair
Group
116

b
.
Low
oil
pressure
orpossibly
defective
warning
light
circuit
.
Check
oil
pressure
andwarning
light
circuit
.
Repair
Group
119
c
.
Dirty
oil
.
Change
oil
.
Repair
Group
020
.

a
.
Low
oil
leve¡
.
Check
and
correct
oil
leve¡
.

b
.
Low
oil
pressure/worn
or
faulty
oil
pump
.
Oil
pump
pickup
restricted/clogged
.
Check
oil
pressure
.
Repair
Group
119

The
OBD
system
detects
emissions-related
engine
manage-
ment
malfunctions
and
tucos
on
the
Check
Engíne
lightin
the
in-
strument
cluster
.
TheCheck
Engine
light
will
stay
on
until
the
code(s)are
called
up
and
the
memory
is
erased
.
When
faulty
are
detected,
the
OBD
system
stores
a
Diagnostic
Trouble
Code
(DTC)
in
the
system
ECM
.
In
addition,
the
Check
Engine
warn-
ing
light
will
come
on
if
an
emissions-related
fault
is
detected
.

100-
1
0
ENGINE-GENERAL

Table
d
.
OBD
I
Fault
(Blink)
Codes
(continued)

(1992-1995
modeis
only)

Graphic
representation
of
flashing
Check
Engine
light
fault
code
:
1221
-
;
5
Seconds
.
;--~
2
.5
r
----------------
Check
Engine
light
on

Fault
code
and
meaning



Corrective
action

Check
Engine
light
off

Code
1243
:
Crankshaft
position
sensor
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Test
crankshaft
position/rpm
sensor
and
wiring
from
sensor
lo
DME

control
module
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1244
:
Camshaft
position
sensor
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Test
camshaft
position
sensor
and
wiring
fromsensor
to
DME
con-
trol
module
.
Repair
Group
130

Code
1245
:
Electronic
transmission
control
intervention
(DME
3
.3
.1



Check
wiring
between
DME
control
module
and
auto
.
transmission
only)



control
module

Code
1247
:
Ignition
secondary
monitor
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Check
secondary
voltage
lo
ignition
coils
.
Check
wiringat
ignition

coils
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1251
:
Fuel
injector
#1
(DME
3
.113
.3
.1
only)



1
Test
injector
operation/signal
lo
injector
.
Repair
group130

Code
1252
:
Fuel
injector
#2
(DME
3
.113
.3
.1
only)



Test
injector
operation/signal
lo
injector
.
Repair
group130

Code
1253
:
Fuel
injector
#3
(DME
3
.1/3
.3
.1
only)



Test
injector
operation/signal
to
injector
.
Repair
group130

Code
1254
:
Fuel
injector
#4
(DME
3
.1/3
.3
.1
only)



Test
injector
operation/signal
to
injector
.
Repair
group
130

Code
1255
:
Fuel
injector
#5
(DME
3
.1/3
.3
.1
only)



Test
injector
operation/signal
to
injector
.
Repair
group130

Code
1256
:
Fuel
injector
#6
(DME
3
.1/3
.3
.1
only)



Test
injector
operation/signal
lo
injector
.
Repair
group130

Code
1261
:
Fuel
pump
control



Test
fuel
pump
relay
and
fuel
pump
circuit
.
Repairgroup
160

Code
1262
:
Idle
speed
control



Test
idleair
controlvalve
and
signalto
valve
.
Repair
Group
130

Code
1263
:
Fuel
tank
evaporative
(EVAP)
system



Test
EVAP
purge
valve
.
Repair
Group
160

Code
1264
:
Oxygen
sensor
heater



1
Test
oxygen
sensorheater
and
heater
relay
.
Repair
group
130

Code
1265
:
Check
engine
lamp
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



1
Test
for
faulty
bulb
or
wiring
.
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams

Code
1266
:
VANOS
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



1
Test
VANOS
solenoid
.
Check
for
signal
to
VANOS
solenoid
.

Code
1267
:
Air
pump
relay
control
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Test
air
pump
relay
and
wiring
(where
applicable)
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams
Code
1271
:
Ignition
coil
#1
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
ignitioncoil
and
wiring
toignitioncoil
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1272
:
Ignition
coil
#2
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
ignitioncoil
and
wiring
loignitioncoil
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1273
:
Ignition
coil
#3
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
ignitioncoil
and
wiring
loignitioncoil
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1274
:
Ignítion
coil
#4
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
ignitioncoil
and
wiring
toignitioncoil
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1275
:
Ignitioncoil
#5
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
ignition
coil
and
wiring
loignitioncoil
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1276
:
Ignition
coil
#6
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Test
ignitioncoil
and
wiring
loignitioncoil
.
Repair
Group
120

Code
1281
:
DME
control
module
memory
supply
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Check
voltage
supply
from
battery
lo
DME
control
module
.
Electri-

Code
1282
:
Fault
code
memory
(DME
3
.3.1
only)



Check
DME
control
module
inputs/outputs
.
Control
module
may
be
faulty
.
Repair
Group
130

Code
1283
:
Fuel
injector
output
stage
(DME
3
.3
.1
only)



Check
DME
control
module
inputs/outputs
.
Control
module
may
be
faulty
.
Repair
Group
130

DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING

cal
Wiring
Diagrams