service indicator BMW 318i 1997 E36 Workshop Manual

If
steam
is
coming
from
the
engine
compartment
thenthere
is



With
the
engine
and
ignition
off,
check
for
loose
or
corroded
most
likely
a
burst
coolant
hose
or
a
large
leak
in
the
cooling



battery
cables
or
wires
at
the
battery
or
thealtemator
.
Discon-
system
.
To
find
the
leak,
look
for
signs
of
coolant
leakage
on



necting,
cleaning,
and
reinstalling
corroded
wires
and
connec-
hoses,
at
hose
connections,
or
on
the
radiator
.
Let
theengine



tors
may
solve
the
problem
.
Also
check
drive
belt
tension
as
cool
thoroughly,
then
add
coolant
or
water
to
fill
the
system
and



described
in
020
Maintenance
Program
.
start
the
engine
.
If
a
great
deal
of
water
or
coolant
flows
out
of
the
hole,
then
thecarshouldnot
be
driven
until
repairs
are
made
.
lf
there
is
slight
seepage,
then
it
may
be
possible
to
drive



TOWi
ng

a
short
distance,
adding
coolant
as
needed
.
The
cars
covered
by
this
manual
should
be
towed
witha
tow
truck
using
wheel
lift
or
flat
bed
equipment
.
Do
not
tow
thecar
on
all
four
wheels
except
for
very
short
distances
to
move
it
to
a
safe
place
.
If
thered
engine
oil
pressure
warning
light
illuminates,
imme-
diately
stop
thecar
and
turn
off
the
engine
.
Have
the
vehicle



A
towing
eye
is
provided
in
the
luggage
compartment
tool
kit
.
flat-bedded
or
towed
to
an
authorized
service
center
and
have



The
towing
eye
can
be
screwed
into
the
front
or
rear
bumper
.
the
engine
oil
pressure
checked
.



See
Fig
.
18
and
Fig
.
19
.

Low
Oil
Pressure

NOTE-

Detafed
information
on
checking
the
oil
pressure
is
covered
ín
119
Lubrication
System
.

Brake
Fluid
Leve¡

The
brake
fluid
leve¡
warning
light
may
bean
indicator
of
brake
fluid
loss
.
Problems
with
the
brakesystem
should
be
checked
and
repaired
immediately
.
See
340Brakes
for
more

information
.

Check
Engine
Warning
Light

Dim
Lights

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER



010-13

If
the
"CHECK
ENGI
NE"
warning
light
comes
on
or
flashes,
it
indicates
that
an
emissions-related
fault
has
occurred
.
Faults
suchas
a
failed
oxygen
sensor
or
a
faultyfuelinjector
can
tum

the
light
on,
causing
the
exhaust
or
evaporative
emissions
to

exceed
a
specified
limit
.
The
engine
can
be
safely
driven
with

the
light
on,
although
the
emission
systems
should
be
checked

assoonas
possible
.
See
100
Engine-General
for
more
infor-

mation
on
the
Check
Engine
Light
and
the
On-board
diagnostic

system
.

Headlights
and
instrument
panel
illuminationthat
are
dim
or

gradually
getting
dimmer
generally
indicate
a
problem
with
the

battery
or
charging
system
.
The
battery
charge
indicator
light

may
come
on
as
the
lights
are
dimming
.
In
either
case,
theen-

gine
and
accessories
are
running
off
of
the
battery
alone,
and

will
soon
discharge
it
altogether
.

If
possible,
do
not
stop
the
engine
unless
you
have
the
capa-

bility
to
jump
start
¡t
.
There
may
not
be
enough
power
in
the

starting
system
torestart
the
engine
.
Instead,turn
off
as
many

electrical
consumers
as
possible
.
This
will
reduce
the
current

drain
and
will
allow
thecar
to
be
driven
farther
before
you
lose

all
battery
power
.

Fig
.
18
.
Pry
open
rear
tow
lúg
access
panel
.

When
towingthecar
from
the
front
with
the
rear
wheelson

the
ground,
a
maximum
distance
of
20
miles
is
acceptable
.
If

thecar
needs
to
be
towed
further,
have
the
rear
wheels
placed
on
dollies
.

CA
UTION-

"
Do
not
tow
with
sling-type
equipment
The
front
spoilers
andbumper
covers
may
sustain
dam-
age
.

"
Towínga
BMW
with
an
automatic
transmission
with
the
rear
wheelson
the
ground
can
resuft
in
transmission
damage
due
to
lackof
lubrication
and
should
be
avoided
.

0013128

EMERGENCIES

020
Maintenance
Program

GENERAL
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
..
020-2

BMW
Service
Indicator
......
..
....
..
...
..
.
020-2

Oil
Service
.....
.
..........
..
...
...
...
..
.
020-2

Inspection
I
and
Inspection
II
.
..
....
..
...
..
.
020-2

Resetting
Service
Indicator
....
.
....
..
...
..
.
020-3

MAINTENANCE
TABLES
..
.
.
.
.
.
........
020-3

FLUID
AND
LUBRICANT

SPECIFICATIONS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
....
.
...
020-8

Manual
Transmission
Fluid
..
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
020-8

Automatic
Transmission
Fluid
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
020-8

Final
Drive
Gear
Oil
................
.
.
.
.
020-9
Brake
Fluid
.
.
.
.
.
................
.
.
.
.
020-9
Engine
Coolant
(Anti-freeze)
.
.
...
.
....
.
.
.
.
020-9

Power
Steering
Fluid
........
..
......
.
.
.
.
020-9

ENGINE
OIL
SERVICE
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
020-9

Engine
oil,
checking
leve¡
..
...
...
..
........
020-9
Engine
oil
and
filter,
changing
....
.
......
.
..
020-9

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT

MAINTENANCE
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
020-10

Air
filter,
replacing
.
...
...
.
.....
.
.....
.
...
020-11

Spark
plugs,
replacing
...
.
......
.
...
..
...
020-11

¡dle
Speed
.
..
...
...
....
.
......
.
...
..
...
020-12

Battery,
checking
and
cleaning
.......
..
...
020-12

Battery,
replacing
.
.....
.
.....
.
.....
..
...
020-12

Accelerator
and
Throttle
Linkage
.
.....
..
...
020-13

Engine
DriveBelts
.....
.
....
..
...
...
...
.
020-13

V-belt,
replacing

(4-cylinder
engines
built
up
to
1/94)
..
....
.
020-13

Poly-ribbed
belt,
replacing

(4-cylinder
engines
built
from
1194

and
all
6-cylinder
engines)
.
.
....
..
......
020-13

Cooling
System
Service
.
...
..
....
..
....
..
020-14

Power
steering
fluid,
checking
leve¡
.
..
....
.
.
020-14

Oxygen
Sensors
....
...
..
..
....



.
.....
.
.
020-15

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM



020-1

UNDER-CAR
MAINTENANCE
.
..
.
...
.
.
.020-16
'

Fuel
filter,
replacing
...
.
.....
..
.....
..
..
.020-16

Tires,
checking
inflation
pressure
.
.....
.
....
020-17

Tires,
rotating
...
..
.....
..
....
..
....
.
....
020-17

Wheels,
aligning
..
.....
.
...........
.
....
'020-17

Brake
system,
inspecting
.
.
....
.
.....
..
...
020-17

Brake
pad/rotor
wear,checking
.
......
.
....
020-17

Brake
fluid,
replacing
.........
..
.



..
..



.
020-17

Parking
brake,
checking
......
.
.....
..
....
020-17

Exhaust
system,
inspecting
....
..
.....
.
...
.020-18

Manual
Transmission
Senrice
..
..
.....
.
....
020-18

Manual
transmission
fluida

checking
and
filling
..
.
....
..



.
.
..
..
....
020-18

AutomaticTransmission
Service
.
....
...
....
020-18

Front
suspension
and
steeringlinkages,
inspecting
..
.
:.....
.
....
..
.....
..
...
.
.020-18

Rear
suspension,
inspecting
.
..
...
...
....
..
020-18

Final
drive
oil
leve¡,
checking
.
.
.
...
....
...
..
020-18

Fuel
tank
and
fuel
lines,
inspecting
.
.....
....
020-19

Clutch
fluid,
checking
...
...
...
...
....
.....
020-19

Drive
axle
joint
boots,
inspecting
...
..
.....
..
020-19

BODY
AND
INTERIOR

MAINTENANCE
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.020-19
Windshield
Wiper
Blade
Maintenance
....
.
.
020-19

Body
and
hinges,
lubricating
.
.....
..
......
.
020-19

Seat
Belts
...
..
...
...
...
..
.....
..
.....
.
.
020-20

Exterior
Washing
..
...
...
..
.
.
...
..
......
.020-20

Waxing
.....
..
...
...
...
..
.....
..
.......
020-20

Polishing
..
...
...
...
....
..
..........
..
.
.'020-20

Washing
Chassis
.
...
....
.
....
..
.....
.
...
020-20

Special
Cleaning
.
.
.....
..



...
.
.....
..
..
.020-20

Interior
Care
.
....
..
....
..
..



.
.
......
.
...
020-20

Leather
Upholstery
and
Trim
...
..
....
...
...
020-20

TABLES

a
.
Oil
Service
......
...
.
..
.............
...
---
020-4

b
.
Inspection
1
Service
..
.
.
.............
....
...
020-5

c
.
Inspection
11
Service
.
.
...
...........
..
.
..
..
020-6

d
.
Scheduled
Maintenance-Time/Mileage
Intervals
..
020-7

e
.
Fluids
and
Lubricants
..
...
...........
.....
..
020-8

020-2



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

GENERAL

The
information
given
in
this
repair
group
includes
the
routine

checks
and
maintenance
steps
that
are
both
required
by
BMW

under
the
terms
of
the
vehicle
warranty
protection
and
recom-

mended
by
BMW
to
ensure
long
and
reliable
vehicle
operation
.

GENERAL

NOTE-

Aside
from
keeping
yourcar
in
the
bestpossible
condi-
tion,
proper
maintenance
plays
a
role
in
maintaining
full
protection
under
BMWs
new-car
warranty
coverage
.
If
in
doubtabout
the
terms
and
conditions
of
yourcark
warranty,
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
should
be
able
to
explain
them
.

NOTE-

BMW
is
constantly
updating
their
recommended
main-
tenance
procedures
and
requirements
.
The
informa-
tion
contained
here
is
as
accurate
as
possible
at
the
time
of
publication
.
If
hhere
is
any
doubt
aboutwhat
pro-
cedures
apply
to
a
specific
model
or
model
year,
or
what
intervals
should
be
followed,
remember
that
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
has
the
latest
information
on
factory-recommended
maintenance
.

BMW
Service
Indicator

The
BMW
Service
Indicator
notifies
the
driver
when
mainte-
nance
is
required
.
The
service
indicator
consístsof
multiple
light
emitting
diodes
(lEDs)-typically
five
green,
one
yellow,
andone
red-as
well
as
OIL
SERVICE
and
INSPECTION
indi-
cators
.

When
the
ignition
is
tumed
on,the
green
LEDs
come
on
.
They
go
out
when
the
engine
is
started
.
After
the
Service
Indi-
cator
is
reset,
al¡
green
LEDs
will
be
illuminatedwith
the
keyon
.
As
thecar
is
driven
in
normal
use,
fewer
and
fewer
green
LEDs
will
be
illuminated
before
start-up,indicating
that
the
next
main-
tenance
interval
is
approaching
.

When
thecar
has
accumulated
sufficient
use
to
require
the
next
maintenance
interval,
the
yellow
LED
will
come
on
along
with
either
the
OIL
SERVICE
indicator
or
the
INSPECTION
in-
dicator
.
These
LEDs
will
stay
on
after
the
engine
is
started
.
If
maintenance
service
is
delayed,
thered
LED
will
also
illuminate
as
a
reminder
that
maintenance
service
is
overdue
.

An
OIL
SERVICE
interval
will
alwaysbe
followed
by
an
IN-
SPECTION
interval,
which
will
then
be
followed
byan
OIL
SER-VICE
interval,
andsoon
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

'
80
100/

60
II

"
1

,



ló
1
,
4
`20
140s



#
X120
100
leo
A
O
,



80



km/h`F



*101
200
,
,
~60

BMW
has
taken
a
unique
approach
to
establishing
mainte-

nance
intervals
.
BMW's
Service
Indicator
System
computes

maintenance
intervais
based
not
only
on
elapsed
mileage,
but



Fig
.
1
.



Service
indicator
display
in
lower
section
of
speedometer
.
also
on
such
inputs
as
enginespeed,engine
temperature,
number
of
starts,
and
length
oftrips
.
At
the
appropriate
time,
the
system
indicates,
through
lights
in
the
instrument
cluster,
when



Oil
Service

the
next
routine
maintenance
is
due
.

The
Oil
Service
indicator
signals
the
need
for
the
most
basic
levelof
routine
maintenance
.
BMW's
required
oil
service
speci-
fies
changing
the
engine
lubricating
oil
and
the
engine
oil
filter

after
the
engine
has
been
warmed
up
.
BMW-recommended
ad-

ditional
maintenance
for
this
service
is
listed
in
Table
a
.

NOTE-

For
reference,
the
BMW
Oil
Service
requirements
are
approximately
equivalent
to
the
maintenance
that
other
European
manufacturers
specify
at
intervals
with
a
maximum
of
every
7,500
miles
or6
months
.

CAUTION-

Be
sure
to
follow
the
ínstructions
forresetting
the
Oil
Service
indicator
fight
.
The
Inspection
indica-
tor
can
be
accidentally
reset
rendering
its
function
inaccurate
.

Inspection
l
and
Inspection
II

The
Inspection
indicator
signals
the
need
for
more
compre-
hensive
maintenance
and
Inspection
.
There
are
two
sets
of
in-
spection
requirements,
Inspection
I
and
Inspection
ll
.
These
inspections
alternate
throughout
a
car's
maintenance
history
.
If
the
last
Inspection
interval
was
Inspection
I,
the
next
Inspection
interval
(following
an
Oil
Service)
will
be
Inspection
ll,
the
next
after
that
will
be
Inspection
I,
and
so
on
.

Inspection
I
tasks
are
listed
in
Table
b
.
Inspection
II
in-
cludes
most
of
the
tasks
from
Inspection
I
with
additional
In-
spection
11
tasks
.
A
complete
listing
of
Inspection
II
tasks
are
listed
in
Table
c
.

NOTE-



Aftermarket
reset
tools
can
be
purchased
from
one
of
the
fol-
lift
owng
manuacurers
:
For
referente,
the
BMW
Inspection
1
and
Inspection
11
requirements
are
approximately
equivalent
to
the
main-
tenance
requirements
that
other
European
manufac-



Assenmacher
Bo
s
turers
specify
.
Inspection
I
is
normally
due
at
intervals



lder,
CO
80301

Specialty
Tools

with
a
maximum
of
15,000
miles
or
12
months
.
lnspec-



(303)
530-2424

tion
11
is
normally
due
at
intervals
with
a
maximum
of
30,000
miles
or
24
months
.



Peake
Research,Automotive
Products
Division
P
.O
.
Box
28776

San
Jose,
CA
95159

Resetting
Service
Indicator



(408)
369-0406

When
the
specified
maintenance
has
been
carried
out,
the
service
indicator
memory
should
be
reset
.



MAINTENANCE
TABLES

The
senrice
indicator
is
reset
using
a
special
tool
.
The
tool
is
plugged
into
the
diagnostic
connector
in
the
engine
compart-

ment
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

iii

Fig
.
2
.



Service
indicator
reset
tool
installed
in
diagnostic
connector
(aftermarket
tool
shown)
.

CAUTION-

Follow
themanufacturer's
directions
when
reset-
ting
the
service
Indicator
.
If
the
reset
procedures

are
done
incorrectly,
the
reset
tool
or
the
electron-
ic
service
indicator
may
be
damaged
.

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-
3

Table
a,b,c,
and
don
the
following
pages
list
the
routine
maintenance
tasks
specified
by
BMW
.
The
intervals
for
most
of
thesetasks
are
determined
by
the
Service
Indicator
.
The
main-

tenance
intervals
for
afew
additional
items
are
based
on
either
elapsedmileage
ortime
.
These
intervals
are
indicated
in
sepa-
rate
tables
.

Except
where
noted,
the
maintenance
items
listed
apply
to
all
models
and
model
years
coveredby
this
manual
.
The
columns

on
the
rightsitie
of
each
table
give
quick-referente
information

about
the
job
.
The
bold
text
references
the
repair
groups
where

additional
repair
information
can
befound
.

MAINTENANCE
TABLES

020-
4



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

L



~



~
c
.c
a



a>
mL



~



~L



L
w



a



£
'S



d
E

Maintenance
ítem



z



3



c

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Change
oil
and
oil
filter

Check
fluid
levels
(coolant,steering,
brake/clutch,
ATF)

Under
car
maintenance

Check
steeringrack
and
steeringlinkages
for
leaks
andexcess
play
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
.
Check
brake
calipers,
rotors,
and
brake
pad
thíckness
.
Inspect
for
dam-
aged
hoses
and
lines,
leaks
or
damage
.
Check
hand
brake,adjust
cable
if
necessary
.
Repair
Group
340

Check
and
adjust
tire
pressures,
including
spare

Body
and
interior
maintenance

Check
operation
of
exterior
and
interior
lights,
including
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
horns,
headlight
flasher
anddimmer
switch
.
Check
headlight
and
driving
light
aiming
.
6
Electrical
System

Check
function/condition
of
seat
belts
.
Repair
Group
720

Check
windshield
washer
fluid
level
and
concentration,
add
as
necessary
.
Check
operation
of
washer
system
.
Check
condition
of
wiper
blades
.
Repair
Group
611

Road
Test

Check
braking
performance,
steering,
heating
and
ventilation,
manual
or
automatic
transmis-
sion,
and
mirrors

Service
Interval
Reset

Reset
service
indicator
using
specialreset
tool
.

MAINTENANCE
TABLES

Table
a
.
Oil
Service

Table
b
.
Inspection
I
Service

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-5

ad

d
d
ID

a



r



c



d
a~
;v
a
:
Q~
wE
y
a
r
E
R
:
L-



0
Maintenance
ítem



1



z



3
~



c
d

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Change
oil
and
oil
filter
.

Check
brake/clutch
fluid
leve¡

Check
battery
acid
leve¡
and
correct
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
121

Check
engine
coolant
level
and
anti-freeze
protection
and
addasnecessary
.
Inspect
for
cooling
system
leaks
.
Repair
Group
170

Lubricate
throttie
linkage

Under
car
maintenance

Check
transmission
for
externa¡
leaks
.

Check
manual
transmission
oil
leve¡
andadd
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
230

Check
final
drive
lubricant
and
addasnecessary
.

Check
fue¡
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
all
connections
for
leaks
.

Inspect
exhaust
system
.
Repair
Group
180

Check
steeringrack
and
steeringlinkages
.
Check
power
steering
system
for
leaks
.
Check
(luid
leve¡
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
for
damaged
hoses
and
fines,
leaks
or
damage
.
Remove
calipers
and
check
brake
pad
wear
.
Check
brake
rotors
for
scoring
damage
.
Repair
Group
340

Check
parking
brake
operation,
adjust
cable
if
necessary
Repair
Group
340

Inspect
front
and
rear
suspension,
including
wheel
bearings,
for
play
.
Repair
Group
320/330

Inspect
wheelsand
tires,
including
spare,
check
tire
pressure
and
condition

Body
and
Interior
Maintenance

Lubricate
door
hinges
and
hood
latch,
hood
hinges

Check
headlight
and
driving
light
aiming
and
adjust
as
necessary
.

Check
operation
of
headlights,
parking
lights,
back-up
fights,
licenseplate
lights,
interior
lights,
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
turnsignals,
emer-gency
flashers,
stop
fights,
horas,
headlight
flasher
and
dimmer
switch

Replace
ventilation/A/C
micro-filter
.
Check
functionof
air
conditioning
.
Repair
Group
640

Check
function
of
seat
belts
.
Repair
Group
720

Check
tightness
of
mountfng
screws
on
airbag
front
crash
sensors
(Airbag
I)
.
Repair
Group
721

Check
windshield
washer
fluid
leve¡
and
concentration,
add
as
necessary
Check
operation
of
washer
system
.
Check
condition
of
wiperblades
.
Repair
Group
611

Tighten
nuts
and
bolts
for
door
locks
and
striker
plates

Replace
batteries
for
alarm/remote
control
in
masterkey(where
applicable)
.

Road
Test

Check
braking
performance,
steering,
HVAC,
manual
or
automatic
transmission,
and
mirrors

Service
Interval
Reset

Reset
service
indicator
using
specialreset
tool
.

MAINTENANCE
TALES

d
a
d
_
L

G>
G1
a
N
.






G1
Ñ



N
N
O
.
r
d

Maintenance
ítem



°
~



Z



~
i
I
D
i
Body
and
Interior
Maintenance
(cont
.)

Replace
ventilation/A/C
micro-filter
.
Check
function
of
air
conditioning
.
Repair
Group
640

Check
function
of
seat
belts
.
Repair
Group
720

Check
windshield
washer
fluid
level
and
concentration,
add
asnecessary
.
Check
operation
of
washer
system
.
Check
condition
of
wiperblades
Repair
Group
611

Tighten
nuts
and
belts
for
door
locks
and
striker
plates
.

Replace
batteries
for
alarm/remote
control
in
masterkey
(where
applicable)
.

Check
ground
connection
(mounting
screws)
of
SRS
(airbag)
front
sensor
to
body,
if
applicable
.
Repair
Group
721

Road
Test

Check
braking
performance,
steering,
HVAC,
manual
or
automatic
transmission,
and
mirrors

Service
Interval
Reset

Reset
service
indicator
using
specialreset
tool
.

Maintenance
ítem

Replace
oxygen
sensor
.
Repair
Group
180
1992-1994
1995-
on

Flush
and
replace
brake
fluid/clutch
fluid
.
Repair
Group
340

Drain
and
flush
cooling
system
and
replace
coolant
.
Repair
Group
170
1992-19961997-1998

Anti-corrosion
warranty
inspection
.

Tablec
.
Inspection
II
Service
(continued)

Cabled
.
Scheduled
Maintenance-Time/Mileage
Intervais

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-7

e
~
e
e

i
:
l=
N



l
"
r
NM
I
«)

al



aN



-
11



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O
Ó



I
Ó



I`
Ó

d
Ny
.
0



°
_



VÑ



Ñ



Ñ
1
ZG

NN

MAÍNTENANCE
TABLES

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION



240-1

240
Automatic
Transmission

GENERAL
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.........
.
240-1



TRANSMISSION
REMOVAL
AND

INSTALLATION
..................
.
.
.
.
.240-4
TRANSMISSION
SERVICE
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
240-1



Transmission,
removing
and
installing
....
.
.
.240-4

ATF
leve¡,
checking
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..........
240-1

ATF,
draining
and
filling
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..........
240-2



TABLE

a
.
Automatic
Transmission
Gear
Ratios
.......
..
.
.
240-1

GENERAL



TRANSMISSION
SERVICE



lo

Automatic
transmissions
are
identified
by
code
letters



ATF
leve¡,
checking

foundon
a
data
plate
located
on
the
sideof
thetransmission

case,
behind
the
manual
valve
lever
.
See
200Transmis-



The
automatic
transmissions
installed
in
the
E36
models
sion-General
for
application
information
.
Forgear
ratio
spec-



are
normally
filled
with
Dexron
III
automatic
transmission
fluid

ifications,
see
Table
a
.



(ATF),
although
alternative
fluids
have
been
installed
from
the

factory,
depending
on
transmission
type
and
model
year
.

CAUTION-



Some
transmíssions
are
filled
with
a
special
BMW
"lifetime"

ATF
does
not
circulate
unless
the
engine
is
run-



automatic
transmission
fluid,
which
does
not
require
periodic

ning
.
When
towing
an
automafic
transmission
ve-



fluid
changes
.

hicle,
usea
flat-bed
truck
or
ralse
the
rear
wheels
off
the
ground
.



CAUTION-

Mixing
different
types
of
transmission
fluids
will

The
electronic
transmission
control
module
(TCM)
monitors



lead
to
transmission
failure
.

transmissionoperation
for
faults
and
alerts
the
driver
by
illumi-

nating
the
transmission
fault
indicator
on
the
instrument
pan-

el
.
On-board
diagnostic
codes
stored
in
the
TCM
mustbe



NOTE-

downloaded
and
interpreted
by
trained
technicians
using
spe-



The
transmission
lubricant
instafed
can
be
foundona

cial
BMW
diagnostic
equipment
.



type
plate
on
the
side
of
the
transmission
.
In
addition,
a
sticker
may
be
located
on
the
fluid
sump
indicatingthe
typeof
transmission
lubricant
used
.
Ifin
doubt,
con

NOTE-



sult
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
for
altemate
fluid
use

Internal
repairs
to
the
automatic
transmission
require



and
current
information
regardingtransmission
operat-
special
service
equipment
and
knowledge
.
If
it
is
deter-



ing
fluids
.

mined
thatinterna¡
service
is
required,
consult
en
au-

thorízedBMWdealerabouta
factoryreconditioned
unit



The
transmission
is
not
equipped
with
a
dipstick
.
Checking
or
a
transmission
rebuild
.



the
ATF
leve¡
requires
measuring
and
maintaining
a
specified

ATF
temperature
during
the
checking
procedure
.
The
check-

ing
temperature
is
not
fully
warm
orcold
(the
ATF
sump

should
be
approximately
warm
to
the
touch)
.

Table
a
.
Automatic
Transmission
Gear
Ratios

Transmission



MS
310R
(THM-R1)



MS
310R
(THM-Rl)



MS
310Z(5HP
18)



I



MS
270R
(THM-R1)
(1992-1993)(1993-on)

Gear
ratios
:
1st



2
.40



2
.86



3
.67



2
.86

2nd



1
.47



1
.62



2
.00



1
.62
3rd



1
.00



1
.00



1.41



1
.00
4th



0
.72



0
.72



1
.00



0
.72
5th



-



-



0
.74



-
Reverse



2
.00



2
.00



4
.10



2
.00

TRANSMISSIONSERVICE

400-
4
BODY-GENERAL

INTERIOR
EQUIPMENT

E36
interiors
have
a
unique
character,
with
a
combínation
of
sporty
features
and
innovative
design
.
Al¡
body
versions
were
made
in
a
wide
choice
of
interior
and
exterior
colors
.
New

colors
with
matching
leather
and/or
fabric
upholstery
were
in-
troduced
for
each
model
year,
including
light-alloy
wheels
in
new
designs
.

Driving
comfort
is
enhanced
by
power
steering,
tilt
steering
wheel
(optional),
height-adjustable
front
seats,
and
electrical-
ly
adjustable
and
heated
rear-view
mirrors
.
Inside
thecar
there
are
reading
lights
at
four
seating
positions
.

Seats
and
Seat
Belts



NOTE-

Theseat
base
usedon
cars
with
pyrotechnic
seatbelt

Anatom¡cal
ly-correct
seats
are
constructed
from
polyure-



tensioners
is
not
interchangeable
with
the
earlier
seat

thane
foam
containing
areas
or
"zones"
of
different
firmness
.



base
.

The
seat
bases
have
steel
springs
for
added
support
and
strength
.
The
power
seats
are
provided
with
conveniently
lo-



Instruments
and
Controls
cated
switches
along
the
outside
edge
of
the
seat
.
Heated
seats
are
an
option
in
all
models
.
See
520
Seats
for
more
de-



Everything
in
the
interior
passenger
compartment
essential
tails
.



to
the
driver
is
logically
grouped
and
easy
to
reach
.
Al¡
instru-
ments
and
controls
havebeen
arranged
ergonomically
and
The
M3
sport
seat
is
shown
in
Fig
.
3
.



are
fully
integrated
into
the
overall
design
of
the
vehicle
.

Fig
.
3
.



M3
sport
seat
.

INTERIOR
EQUIPMENT

0013195

The
early
E36
cars
areequipped
with
a
single
(driver
side)
airbag
in
the
steering
wheel
.
Startingwith
the
1994
models,
a
dual
airbag
Supplemental
Restraint
System
has
been
stan-
dard
equipment
.
Side-impact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
are
op-
tional
in
1997
4-door
cars
and
standard
equipment
in
all
1998
models
.

Through
1996,
E36
seatbelts
were
equipped
with
BMW's
original-designspring
tensioners
.
In
1997,
the
seat
base
de-
sign
was
modified
to
accommodate
a
pyrotechnic
(explosive
charge)
seatbelt
tensioner
.
Both
types
of
tensioners
arede-
signed
to
automatically
tension
the
belts
by
about2
inches(55
mm)
in
the
event
of
a
collision
.

The
padded
dashboard
houses
the
instrument
cluster
and
the
ventilation
and
heating
system
.
The
instrument
cluster
uses
large
easy-to-read
analog
instruments
and
is
removable
as
a
unit
without
removing
the
dashboard
.
The
Service
Inter-
val
Indicator
(SII)
will
remind
the
driver
when
thecar
requires
service
.
See
620
Instruments
.

The
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
unit
in
thecenter
of
the
dashboard
comes
in
a
variety
of
four
configurations,
the
most
advanced
being
the
On-Board
Computer
(OBC)
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Al¡
versions
of
the
MID
have
a
clock
and
calendar
.
In
addi-
tion,
different
versions
areequipped
with
a
"check
control,"

display
for
fuel-economy
information
and
system
warnings
.
Consult
the
owner's
manual
for
fui¡
operating
instructions
.

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