Engine speed BMW 323i 1992 E36 Service Manual

170-2



RADIATOR
AND
COOLING
SYSTEM

Cooling
Fans



TROUBLESHOOTING

Belt-driven
coolingfan
.
The
primary
cooling
fan
is
belt-

driven
.
It
is
mounted
to
the
frontof
the
coolant
pump
through
a

fan
clutch
.
The
fan
clutch
is
a
viscous
fluid
coupling
that
con-

trols
the
speed
of
thefan
based
on
engine
compartment
tem-

perature
.

Electric
cooling
fan
.
Models
with
M44
engine
and
stan-

dard
transmission
substitute
an
electric
fan
for
the
belt-driven

viscous
fan
.
This
is
attached
to
the
rear
of
the
radiator
and

controlledvia
the
DME
5
.2
engine
management
system
.

NOTE-

The
electric
cooling
fan
in
these
models
is
activated
by
the
engine
control
module
(ECM)
.

Auxiliary
coolingfan
.
In
al¡
models
a
two-speed
electric

auxiliary
cooling
fan
is
mounted
behind
the
front
grill
and
in

front
of
the
radiator
.
This
fan
is
primarily
used
for
the
A/C
sys-

tem,
but
also
operates
when
the
coolant
temperature
ex-

ceeds
a
predetermined
leve¡
.

Warnings
and
Cautions

The
following
warnings
and
Cautions
should
beobserved

when
working
on
the
cooling
system
.

WARNING
-

"
Atnormal
operating
temperature
the
cooling
sys-
tem
is
pressurized
.
Allow
the
system
to
cool
as
long
as
possible
before
opening-a
minimum
of
an
hour-then
release
the
cap
slowly
to
allow
sale
release
of
pressure
.

"
Releasing
the
cooling
system
pressure
lowers
the
coolants
boiling
point
and
the
coolant
may
boíl
suddenly
.
Use
heavy
gloves
and
wear
eye
and
laceprotection
to
guard
against
scalding
.

"
Use
extreme
care
when
draining
and
disposing
of
engine
coolant
.
Coolant
is
poisonous
and
lethal
to
humans
and
pets
.
Pets
are
attracted
to
coolant
because
of
its
sweet
smell
and
taste
.
Consult
a
veterinarian
immediately
if
coolant
is
ingested
byan
animal
.

CAUTION-

"
Avoidadding
cold
water
to
the
coolant
while
the
engine
is
hot
or
overheated
.
If
it
is
necessary
to
add
coolant
to
ahot
system,
do
so
only
with
the
engine
running
and
coolant
pump
tuming
.

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

TROUBLESHOOTING

Most
cooling
system
faults
can
be
grouped
into
one
of
three

categories
:

"
Cooling
system
leaks

"
Poor
coolant
circulation

"
Radiator
cooling
fan
faults

When
investigating
the
cause
of
overheating
or
coolant

loss,
begin
with
a
visual
inspection
.
Be
sure
to
check
the
con-

dition
and
tension
of
the
coolant
pump
drive
belt
.
Check
hoses

for
cracks
or
softness
.
Check
clamps
for
looseness
.
Check

the
coolant
leve¡
and
check
for
evidence
of
coolantleaks
from

the
engine
.

Check
that
the
radiator
fins
are
not
blocked
with
dirt
or
de-

bris
.
Clean
the
radiator
using
low-pressure
water
or
com-

pressed
air
.
Blow
outward,
fromthe
engine
side
out
.

Inspect
the
coolant
pump
by
first
removing
the
drive
belt

from
the
pump
.
Firmly
grasp
opposite
sídes
of
the
pulley
and

check
for
play
in
all
directions
.
Spin
the
pulley
and
check
that

the
shaft
runs
smoothly
.

NOTE-

The
coolant
provides
lubrication
for
the
pump
shaft,
soan
occasional
drop
of
coolant
leaking
from
the
pump
is
acceptable
.
If
coolant
drips
steadily
from
the
vent
hole,
the
pump
should
be
replaced
.

The
cooling
system
becomes
pressurized
at
normal
operat-

ing
temperature,
which
raises
the
boiling
point
of
the
coolant
.

Leaks
may
prevent
the
system
from
becoming
pressurized,

allowing
the
coolant
to
boil
at
a
lower
temperature
.
If
visual
ev-

idence
is
inconclusive,
a
cooling
system
pressure
test
can

help
to
pinpointhard-to-find
leaks
.

If
the
cooling
system
is
full
of
coolant
and
holds
pressure,

the
next
most
probable
cause
of
overheating
are
:

"
Faulty
radiator
fan

"
Loose
or
worn
drive
belt

"
Failed
thermostat
or
coolant
pump

"
Clogged/plugged
radiator
or
coolant
passages
.

NOTE
-

"
Some
early
style
coolant
pumps
were
fitted
wíth
fi-
berlplastic
type
impellers
.
Over
time,
this
impeller
can
wear
away
and
result
in
overheating
.
The
plastic
im-
peller
can
also
slip
or
free-wheel
on
the
pump
shaft
.
If
the
engine
overheats
and
no
other
faults
canbe
found,
theold
style
impeller
may
be
the
cause
of
the
problem
.

"
Only
pumps
with
the
updated
metal
impeller
should
be
used
for
replacement
.

Cooling
System
Pressure
Test



If
the
engine
overheats
and
no
other
cooling
system
testsindicate
trouble,
the
radiator
may
have
some
pluggedpassag-

A
cooling
system
pressure
test
is
used
to
check
for
internal



es
that
are
restricting
coolant
flow
.

leaks
.
Some
of
the
common
sources
ofinternal
leaks
are
a
faulty
cylinder
head
gasket,
a
cracked
cylinder
head,
or
a



Temperature
Gauge
Quick
Check
cracked
cylinder
block
.

The
coolant
temperature
sensor
is
located
on
the
intake
To
doa
cooling
system
pressure
test,
a
special
pressure



manifold
(left)
side
of
the
cylinder
head,
under
the
intake
man-
tester
is
needed
.



ifold
runners
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

WARNING
-

At
normal
operating
temperature
-
the
cooling
sys-
tem
is
pressurized
.
Allow
the
system
to
cool
before
opening
.
Release
the
cap
slowly
to
allow
sale
re-
tease
of
pressure
.

With
the
engine
cold,instan
a
pressure
tester
to
the
expan-

sion
tank
.
Pressurize
thesystem
to
the
specification
listed
be-

low
.
Pressure
should
not
drop
more
than
0
.1
bar
(1
.45
psi)
for

at
leakt
two
minutes
.
If
the
pressure
drops
rapidly
and
there
is
no
sign
of
an
externa¡
leak,
the
cylinder
head
gasket
may
be
faulty
.
Considera
compression
test
as
described
in
100
En-

gine-General
.

The
screw-on
type
expansion
tank
cap
should
also
be
test-

ed
using
a
pressure
tester
and
the
correct
adapter
.

Cooling
System
Test
Pressure

"
Radiator
test
pressure
.........
.
1
.5
bar
(21
.75
psi)

"
Radiator
cap
test
pressure
..
.
........
2
bar
(29
psi)

CA
UTION-

Exceeding
the
speclfied
test
pressure
could
dam-
age
the
radiatoror
other
system
components
.

Carefully
inspect
the
radiator
cap
for
damage
.
Replace
a

faulty
cap
or
a
damaged
cap
gasket
.

Thermostat
Quick
Check



In
later
models,
the
ECT
sensor
and
the
gauge
sender
are
combined
into
one
sender
unit
.
For
wire
colors
refer
to
Table
a
.
To
check
if
the
thermostat
is
opening
and
coolant
is
circulat-

ing
through
the
radiator,
allow
a
cold
engine
to
reach
operat-

ing
temperature
(temperature
gauge
needieapproximately

centered)
.
Shut
off
engine
.
Feel
the
top
radiator
hose
.
If
the

hose
is
hot
to
the
touch,
the
coolant
is
probably
circulating
cor-
rectly
.
If
there
are
any
cool
areas
in
the
hose
or
radiator,
cool-

ant
flow
to
the
radiator
is
probably
restricted
.
Check
for
a
faulty

thermostat
or
aplugged
radiator
.

NOTE-

A
thermostat
that
is
stuck
open
will
cause
the
engine
to
warmup
slowly
and
run
belownormal
temperature
at
highway
speed
.
A
thermostat
that
is
stuck
closed
will
re-

strict
coolant
flow
to
the
radiator
and
cause
overheating
.

RADIATOR
AND
COOLING
SYSTEM



170-
3

U
.¡ig
.v

Fig
.
2
.
Temperature
gauge
sender
on
M44
engine
.
Temperature
gauge
sender
location
is
similar
on
al]
engines
.

In
early
models,
the
engine
coolant
temperature
(ECT)
sen-

sor
for
the
fuel
injection
and
the
coolant
temperature
gauge

sender
are
located
side
by
side
.

Table
a
.
Coolant
Temperature
Sensor
Wire
Colors

Function



Sensor



Terminal



Wire
colors
location
number

Two
sensors
:
Temperature
Rear
1
Brown/violet
gauge
sender



2



Brown/yellow
ECT
sensor



Front



1



Brown/red
2



Brown
or
Brown/black

One
sensor
:
Temperature
Dual
1
Brown/yellow
gauge
sender



sensor



2



Brown/violet
ECT
sensor



3



Brown/red
4
Brown/black
or
Grey/black

TROUBLESHOOTING

170-
4



RADIATOR
AND
COOLING
SYSTEM
A
quick
testat
the
coolant
temperature
gauge
sender
can



The
auxiliary
cooling
fan
comes
on
when
coolant
tempera

determine
if
the
gauge
is
functioning
correctly
.



ture
exceeds
a
predetermined
leve¡
or
whenever
the
air
condi-

tioning
is
on
.
A
dual-range
temperature
switch
for
cooling
fan
lf
the
gauge
needie
remains
at
the
rest
position
with
theen-



control
is
mounted
on
the
right
side
of
the
radiator
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
gine
warm,
remove
the
harness
connector
from
the
sender
and
jumper
the
correct
terminals
in
the
connector
to
simulate
a
high
engine
temperature
.
See
Table
a
.
Turn
the
ignition
on
.

If
the
gauge
needle
moves
upward,
the
sender
is
faulty
.
If
the

gauge
does
not
respond,
the
wiring
to
the
gauge
is
broken
(open
circuit)
or
the
gauge
itselfis
faulty
.

WARNING
-

1996
and
laten
models
are
OBD
11
compliant
.
Dis-
connecting
electrical
connectors
wíth
the
ignition
turned
on
may
set
fault
codes
in
the
ECM
.
It
is
rec-
ommended
that
you
leave
the
diagnosis
of
faults
in
the
coolant
temperature
sensorsystem
to
the
BMW
dealer
service
department
which
has
specialized
OBD
11
scan
tool
equipment
.

If
the
gauge
needle
reads
too
high
when
the
engine
is
cold,
remove
the
harness
connector
from
the
sender
.
Turn
the
igni-

tion
on
.
lf
the
gauge
needle
position
does
not
change,
the
wir-

ing
or
the
gauge
is
shorted
to
ground
.
If
the
gauge
needle

drops,
the
sender
is
faulty
and
should
be
replaced
.
When
re-

placing
a
faulty
coolant
temperature
sender,
the
gasket
ring
on
the
sender
should
also
be
replaced
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Temperature
gauge
sender
to
engine
18
Nm
(13
ft-Ib)

Cooling
fan,
testing

NOTE-

OnM44
engines
with
manual
transmission,
the
primary
electric
cooling
fan
is
mounted
on
the
engine
side
of
the
radiator
and
is
controlled
by
the
engine
control
module
(ECM)
.
Troubleshooting
thiscircuit
should
be
left
to
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
with
the
proper
diagnostic
equipment

An
otherwise
sound
cooling
system
may
still
overheat,
par-
ticularly
with
prolonged
idling,
due
to
a
failure
of
the
coolíng

fan(s)
.

The
belt-driven
cooling
fan
is
controlled
by
a
temperature
dependent
viscous
clutch
.
A
failed
fan
clutch
may
affect
air
flow
through
the
radiator
resulting
in
overheating
orpossibly
overcooling
.
Speed

Low
sp
High
s

With
the
engine
off,
check
thefan
clutch
by
spinning
thefan
.



eed
The
fan
should
spin
on
the
clutch
with
some
resistance
.



peed
Check
for
signs
of
leaking
fluid
from
the
clutch
.
If
thefan
free-
wheels
with
no
resistance,
cannot
be
tu
rned
by
hand,
or
there
are
signs
of
oil
leakage,
the
clutch
should
be
replaced
.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Fig
.
3
.



Radiatorcooling
fan
temperature
switch
(arrow)
.

WARNING
-

"
Use
caution
when
testing
the
electric
cooling
fan(s)
and
coolant
temperature
switch
.
Keep
hands
and
wires
clear
of
thefan
blades
.
The
cool-
ing
fan(s)
can
run
any
time
the
ignition
is
ON
.

"
For
greatest
safety,
coolíng
fan
and
coolant
tem-perature
switch
tests
shouldbe
performed
on
acoldengine
with
the
air
conditioning
off
.

Table
b
.
Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Switching

Temperatures

Switching
temperature
196°F(91°C)
210°F(99°C)

0012506

If
a
faulty
thermostat,
trapped
air,
or
a
restriction
in
the
sys-
tem
is
not
allowing
the
coolant
to
circulate
through
the
radia-
tor,
the
temperature
switch
will
not
close
and
the
auxiliary
cooling
fan
will
not
run
.
Before
making
the
tests
described
be-
low,
make
sure
the
thermostat
is
operating
correctly
as
de-
scribed
earlier
.
The
normal
switching
temperatures
for
the

dual
-speed
switch
are
listed
in
Table
b
.

NOTE-

Some
cars
covered
by
this
manual
may
have
an
alter-
nate
cooling
fan
switchwith
switching
temperatures
of
176%190W
(80%88°C)
.
When
replacing
the
switch
check
theswitching
specifications,
whichshouldbe
stamped
on
the
switch
body
.

1
.
If
coolant
is
circulating
at
normal
operating
tempera-
ture,
but
auxiliary
cooling
fan
does
not
run,
disconnect
connector
from
radiator
temperature
switch
and
make
tests
listed
in
Table
c
.

Table
c
.
Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Temperature

Switch
Tests

Wires
jumpered



Test



Test
resuits
conditions

Black/green
(terminal2)
and



Ignition
ON



Fan
runs
on
brown
(terminal
1)



low
speed

Black/gray
(terminal
3)
and



Ignition
ON



Fan
runson
brown
(terminal



I
1)



high
speed
2
.
If
fan
runs
only
when
powered
directly
by
jumpered
connector
and
hot
coolant
is
circulating
through
radia-
tor,
radiator
temperature
switch
is
most
likelyfaulty
.
Use
a
new
sealing
ring
when
replacing
switch

Tightening
Torque

"
Temperature
switch
to
radiator
......
15
Nm
(11
ft-Ib)

3
.
If
auxiliary
fan
does
notrun
when
powered
directly,
check
for
battery
voltage
at
temperature
switch
connec-
tor
(black/green
wire)
with
ignition
on
.
If
battery
voltage
is
not
present,
check
fuses
.
See
610
Electrical
Com-
ponent
Locations
.

RADIATOR
AND
COOLING
SYSTEM



170-
5

~r~nmm
a
00
0

Fig
.
4
.



Auxiliary
radiator
cooling
fan
low
speed
relay
(1)
and
high
speed
relay
(2)
in
power
distribution
box
.
(Relay
locations
may
vary
.)

Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Circuit
Fuses



Fig
.
5
.
Auxiliary
radiator
fan
resistor
(arrow)
.
"
Fuse16
.
...................
..
..
...
...
.5
amp

"
Fuse
41
(ex
.
M44
w/man
.
trans)
.
..
.
..
.....
30
amp

"
Fuse
48
(M44
w/man
.
trans
.
only)
..
.
..
.....
40
amp



COOLING
SYSTEM
SERVICE

0013034

4
.
If
no
faults
are
found,
remove
low
speed
relay
and
turn



Coolant,draining
and
filling

ignition
ON
.
See
Fig
.
4
.



1
.
Remove
expansion
tank
cap
.
Set
temperature
controls
"
Check
for
power
at
terminal
30
and
terminal
86
of
relay



to
full
warm
.
socket
.

"
Reinstall
low
speed
relay
and
repeat
testat
high
speed



WARNING
-
relay
socket
.
Fix
any
wiring
faults
found
.



Allow
the
cooling
system
to
cool
before
openlng
or

On
early
productioncars
(up
to
9/92)
:
If
fan
operates
only
on



draining
the
cooling
system
.

high
speed
and
no
electrical
faults
have
been
foundup
to
this
point,
usean
ohmmeter
to
check
that
fan
resistor
is
not
electri-



2
.
Place
3
ra
allo

ug
.



beneath
radiator
drain
plug
and
re-

cally
open
.
Resistor
is
mounted
on
auxiliary
cooling
fan
housing



move
drain
plg
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

behind
front
grille
.
See
Fig
.
5
.
Wiring
diagrams
for
the
radiator

cooling
fan
canbefoundunder
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams
.



3
.
Place
3-g



pail
beneath
rear
of
engine
blo
.
Loos-
en
and
re

mlon

ove
engine
blockcoolant
drain
plug
k
.

COOLING
SYSTEM
SERVICE

GENERAL
.
.
.......
.
......
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
...
180-1



Exhaust
system,
removing
and
installing
.
...
.180-3

EXHAUST
SYSTEM
REPLACEMENT
.
...
180-1



Exhaust
manifolds,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.180-5

GENERAL

The
exhaust
system
is
designed
to
be
maintenance
free,
al-
though
regular
inspection
is
warranted
due
to
the
harsh
oper-
atingconditions
.
Under
normal
conditions,
the
catalytic

converter
does
not
require
replacement
unless
it
is
damaged
.

On
1996
and
later
cars,
a
pre-
and
post-catalytic
converter

oxygen
sensor
is
used
at
each
catalytic
converter
.
Be
sure
to

take
care
when
removingthe
system
not
to
damage
the
sen-



EXHAUST
SYSTEMREPLACEMENT
sors
.

See
130
Fuel
Injection
for
information
on
testing
oxygen

sensors
.

NOTE-

OnM52
engines,
two
resonator
pípes
(short
and
long)
are
incorporated
into
the
rear
muffler
assembly
.
See
Fíg
.
1
.
An
exhaust
flap
is
integrated
into
the
outlet
side
of
the
short
pipe
.
The
flap
is
operated
by
a
vacuum
ac-
tuator
via
the
Siemens
MS
41
.1
engine
control
mod-
ule)
.
The
flap
is
closed
at
engine
speeds
below
2,500
rpm
.
This
allows
exhaust
gasses
to
flow
through
the
long
resonator
pipe
and
reduce
noise
.
Above
2,500rpm,
the
exhaust
flap
is
open
(no
vacuum
applied
to
the
actuator)
and
allows
exhaust
gasses
to
flow
through
the
short
pipe
for
maximum
performance
.

180
Exhaust
System

0013101

Fig
.
1
.



Rear
muffler
(active
silencer
usedon
M52
engines)
.
Vacuum

operated
flap
(A)
changesbetween
short
and
long
pipes,
de-

pending
on
engine
speed
.

EXHAUST
SYSTEM



180-1

WARNING
-

Exhaust
gases
are
colorless,
odorless,
and
very
toxic
.
Run
the
engine
only
ín
a
well-ventilated
area
.
Immediately
repair
any
leaks
in
the
exhaust
system
or
structural
damage
to
the
car
body
that
might
al-
lowexhaust
gases
to
enter
the
passenger
compart-
ment
.

Exhaustsystem
components
are
detailed
in
Fig
.
2
through

Fig
.
4
.

New
fasteners,
clamps,rubber
mounts,
and
gaskets
should

be
used
when
replacing
exhaust
components
.
A
liberal
appli-
cationof
penetrating
oil
to
the
exhaustsystem
nuts
and
bolts
in
advance
may
make
removal
easier
.

WARNING
-

"
The
exhaust
system
and
catalytic
converter
op-
erate
at
high
temperatures
.
Allow
components
to
cool
before
servicing
.
Wear
protectíve
clothíng
to
prevent
bums
.
Do
not
use
flammable
chemicals
near
a
hot
catalytic
converter
.

"
Old,
corroded
exhaust
system
components
crumble
easíly
and
often
have
exposed
sharp
edges
.
To
avoid
injury,
wear
eye
protection
and
heavy
gloves
when
working
with
old
exhaust
parts
.

EXHAUST
SYSTEM
REPLACEMENT

T

GENERAL
..
.
......
.
.
.
.....
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-1

Manual
Transmission
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.'
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-1

Automatic
Transmission
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-1

Transmission
ID
Codes
..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
200-2

GENERAL

E36
models
areequipped
with
a
longitudinal
drivetrain
.
The

transmission
is
bolted
directly
to
the
rear
of
the
engine
.
A

driveshaft
connects
the
output
shaft
of
thetransmission
to
the

final
drive
.
The
final
drive
is
mounted
lo
the
rear
suspension

and
the
body
.
Individual
drive
axles
with
integrated
constant

velocity
joints
transfer
rotational
power
to
the
rear
wheels
.

Manual
Transmission

Due
to
different
power
characteristics
and
performance
re-

quirements,
four
different
manual
transmissions
are
used
in

the
models
coveredby
this
manual
.
Manual
transmission
ap-

plications
are
given
in
Table
a
.

TRANSMISSION-GENERAL
200-1

200
Transmission-General

TABLES

a
.
Manual
Transmission
Applications
..
...........
200-1
b
.
Automatic
Transmission
Applications
...........
200-1

Fig
.
1
.



ZF-manufacturedmanual
transmission
.

For
transmission
gear
ratio
information
and
repair
informa-

tion,
see
230
Manual
Transmission
.



Automatic
Transmission

E36
carswith
standard
transmission
use
a
single-disc
clutch
with
dual-mass
flywheel
.
For
further
information,
see
210
Clutch
.

Table
a
.
Manual
Transmission
Applications

Model
Year
Engine
Transmission
318ifisfC



1992-1995



M42



Getrag
S5D
200
G'

1996-1998



M44



Getrag
S5D
250
G

323is/iC



1998



M52



Getrag
S5D
250
G

325ifsriC



1992-1995



M50



Getrag
S5D
250
G

3281/isfC



1996-1998



M52



ZF
S5D320
Z

M3



1995



S50US



ZF
S5D310
Z

1996-1998



S52US



ZF
S5D320
Z

'The
1992
M42
engine
may
be
fitted
witheither
the
Getrag
SSD
200
G
trans-
mission
or
S5D
250
Getrag
.
The
S5D
200G
was
discontinued
in
production
in
as
of
9/92
.
Thistransmission
is
interchangeable
with
Getrag
S5D
250
G
.

Four
different
automatic
transmissions
are
used,
depend-

ing
on
model
and
model
year
and/or
production
date
.
All
of
the

automatic
transmissions
are
electrohydraulically
controlled

with
either
four
or
five
forward
speeds
.
Automatic
transmis-

sion
applications
are
given
in
Table
b
.

For
automatic
transmission
repair
information,
see
240Au-

tomatic
Transmission
.

Table
b
.
Automatic
Transmission
Applications

Model
1
Year
1
Engine
1
Transmission

318i1is/1C



1992-1995
~
M42
323isfiC



1998



M52



A4S
310
R
3251/is/1C
1992-1995
M50

3181/isfC



11996-1998



M44



A4S
270
R
328i/is/1C
1996-1998
M52

M3



1996-1998



S50US



I
A5S
310
Z
S52US

GENERAL

8
.
Disconnect
main
harness
connector
from
transmission

by
turning
its
bayonet
lock
ring
counterclockwise
.
Re-

move
wiring
harness
from
transmission
housing
.
See
Fig
.
8
.

Fig
.
8
.



Harness
connector
at
automatic
transmission
.

9
.
Where
applicable,
disconnect
harness
connector
from

speed
sensor
at
top
óf
transmission
.

10
.
Disconnect
transmission
cooler
line
clamps
from
en-

gine
.
Disconnect
lines
from
transmission
.

11
.
Support
transmission
with
transmission
jack
.
Remove

reinforcing
cross
brace
(if
applicable)
and
transmission

support
crossmember
.

NOTE-

Note
installation
positionof
support
crossmember
.

12
.
Remove
access
plug
in
cover
plate
on
right
side
of
en-

gine
block
and
remove
torqueconverter
bolts
.
Turn

crankshaft
to
access
boits
.
See
Fig
.
9
.

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION



240-
5

Bellhousing
access
hole

Socket
wrench

Fig
.
9
.



Access
andremove
torque
converter
boits
through
hole
in
bellhousing
cover
.

0

A

fij
13
.
Remove
bellhousing-to-engine
mounting
bolts
.
See



Fig
.
10
.
Transmission-to-engine
Torx-head
mounting
bolts
.
Fig
.
10
.

0012592

TRANSMISSION
REMOVAL
AND
INSTALLATION

Fig
.
10
.
Align
contact
slide
(1)
with
slot
in
switch
housing
(2)
before
in-
stalling
gear
position/neutral
safety
switch
.

Fig
.
11
.
Engage
release
button
pin
to
hole
in
pull
rod
before
installing

The
automatic
shiftlock
uses
an
electríc
solenoid
to
lock
the
selector
lever
in
P
or
N
.
Depressing
the
foot
brake
withthe
ig-
nition
on
energizes
the
solenoid,
allowingthe
lever
to
be
moved
into
a
drive
gear
.
The
solenoid
is
energized
only
when

the
engine
speed
is
below
2,500
rpmand
thevehicle
speed
is

below
3
mph
.
The
solenoid
ís
mounted
in
the
right-hand
side

of
theselector
lever
housing
.
See
Fig
.
12
.

1
.
With
engine
running
and
car
stopped,
place
selector
le-
ver
in
P
or
N
.

2
.
Without
depressing
brake
pedal,
check
that
selector
le-

ver
is
locked
in
position
P
or
N
.

3
.
Depress
brakepedal
firmly
.
Solenoid
should
be
heard

to
energize
.

GEARSHIFT
LINKAGE



250-
5

Fig
.
12
.
Automatic
shiftlock
prevents
drive
gear
selection
until
the
brakepedal
is
depressed
.

4
.
Check
thatselector
lever
can
now
be
moved
out
of
P
or
N
.

NOTE
-

The
next
test
should
be
performed
in
anopen
area
with
the
parking
brake
on
and
with
extreme
caution
.

5
.
With
selector
lever
in
P
or
N
and
brake
pedal
de-

pressed,
raise
engine
above
2,500
rpm
.
Check
that
se-

lector
lever
cannotbe
moved
outof
P
or
N
.

shift
lever
handle
.



If
any
faults
are
found
check
the
electrical
operation
of
the
shiftlock
solenoid
and
check
for
wiring
faultsto
or
from
the
Automatic
shiftiock,
checking
function



transmission
control
module(TCM)
.
See610
Electrical

(automatic
transmission)



Component
Locations
and
Electrical
Wiring
Diagrams
.

NOTE
-

The
solenoid
is
controlled
viathe
TCM,
using
brakepedal
position,
engine
speed,
and
road
speed
as
con-
trolling
inputs
.

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
GEARSHIFT

300-2



SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL

Steering

INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

The
steering
linkage
connects
the
rack-and-pinion
unit
through
tie
rodsto
the
steering
arms
.
The
tie
rod
ends
allow
the
wheels
to
pivot
and
react
to
suspension
travel
.

Rear
Suspension

The
rear
axle
carrier
is
the
main
mounting
point
for
the
final

drive
housing
and
the
rear
suspension
components
.

Trailing
arms
locatethe
rear
wheels
and
anchorthe
springs,

shocks
and
stabilizer
bar
.
Driveaxies
with
constant-velocity

(CV)
joints
at
both
ends
transfer
power
from
the
differential
to

the
road
wheels
.
The
differential
is
mounted
to
the
rearaxle

carrier
through
rubber
mountsand
bushings
to
hele
isolate

drivetrain
noise
and
vibration
.

Brakes

E36
cars
areequipped
with
power
disc
brakes
with
an
inte-
gral
antilock
brakes
(ABS)
.
The
parking
brake
is
a
dual-drum

system
integrated
with
the
rear
brake
rotors
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

Power
assist
is
provided
by
a
vacuum
booster
when
the
en-

gine
is
running
.
The
brakepedal
pushrod
is
connected
directly

to
the
master
cylinder,
so
failure
of
the
vacuum
booster
does

not
normally
result
in
total
brake
failure
.

0012124



Each
disc
brakeuses
a
caliper
with
a
single
hydraulic
cylin-
Fig
.
2
.



Front
suspension
control
arm
(arrow)
.



der
.
Brake
pads
in
the
left
front
and
right
rear
contain
wear

sensors
.
When
the
padsneed
replacement,the
sensors
illu-
The
front
suspension
is
designed
with
minimum
positive



minate
a
light
on
the
dashboard
.
steering
offset
.
This
geometry
contributes
to
stability
when

traction
is
unequalfrom
side
to
side
.
Suspension
travel
is
lim-



Tires
and
Wheels
ited
by
rubber
bump
stops
.

The
three
point
mounting
of
each
L-shaped
control
arm
ere-



Tiresize
is
critica¡
to
the
proper
operatíon
of
the
E36
ABS
or

cisely
controls
the
front-to-rear
and
side-to-side
position
of
the



ABS/AST
system
.
Severa¡
different
styles
of
wheels,
in
15,16

strut,
while
the
flexibility
of
the
joints
and
mounts
alsoallows



and
17
inch
diameters,
are
available
from
an
authorized
BMW

the
movement
necessary
for
suspension
travel
.
The
control



dealer
.

arm
mounting
points
are
designed
with
anti-dive
geometry
.

The
suspension
reduces
the
normaltendency
for
the
front
of



NOTE-
the
vehicle
to
dive
under
hard
braking
.



Aftermarket
wheelsshould
be
selected
wlth
care
.
Im-
properly
fitted
wheels
can
contact
anddamage
sus

Control
arm
position
is
fixed,
with
no
adjustment
provisions



pension,
brakeorbodycomponentsandmayadversely

on
the
control
arms
for
alter¡ng
front
wheel
al
ignment
.
A
stabi-



affect
vehicle
stability
.

lizer
bar
mounted
to
both
control
arms
heles
to
reduce
body
rol¡
whencomering
.



INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)
is
standard
on
all
E36
cars
.

The
variable-assist
power
steering
system
consists
of
an



Standard
on
some
models
and
installed
as
optional
equipment
on

engine-driven
hydraulic
pump,
a
rack-and-pinion
type
steer-



others,
is
All
Season
Traction
(AST)
.

ing
gear,
and
connecting
linkage
to
the
road
wheels
.
TheE36
utilizes
an
engine-speed
dependent
variable
effort
steering



Antilock
Brake
System
(ABS)

system
.
At
low
speeds,
maximum
power
assist
is
provided
to
ease
parking
and
city
driving
.
Athigh
speeds,
assist
is
re-



The
electronically-controlled
ABS
maintains
vehícle
stabili
duced
to
ensure
stability
.



ty
and
control
during
emergency
braking
by
preventing
wheel
lock-up
.
ABS
provides
optimum
deceleration
and
stability
dur-

300-4



SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL

Three-channel
ABS
ís
used
on
al[
E36
cars
equipped
with



Al¡
Season
Traction
(AST)
standard
ABS
.
Each
front
wheelhas
a
separate
solenoid

valve
to
modulate
hydraulic
pressure
to
that
brake
caliper
.



The
traction
control
system
works
in
conjunction
with
ABS
The
rear
wheels
are
modulated
asa
pair,
controlled
by
a
sin-



and
the
engine
management
system
to
enhance
vehicle
con
gle
solenoid
valve
.



trol
.
The
main
function
of
the
AST
system
is
to
maintain
the
rolling

contact
between
the
tires
and
the
road
surface
under
al¡
driving
E36
cars
equipped
with
ABS/AST
utilize
a
four
channel
sys-



conditions
.
This
is
achieved
through
exact
application
and
tem,
which
functionsexactly
as
the
three
channelsystem



management
of
braking
and
drivetrain
forces
.
above,except
that
the
rear
wheels
are
modulated
individually
.

IDLE
SPEED
CONTROL
VALVE

HROTTLE
PLATE

6
.

Í
III

i



ADS
ACTU
AT
OR

THROTTLE
PLATE
POSITION
SENSOR

DME

Fig
.
6
.
All
Season
Traction
(AS)
works
withother
drivetrain
systems
to
enhance
vehicle
control
.

INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

The
throttle
control
system
used
in
AST
is
illustrated
in
Fig
.

MASS
AIR
FLOW
SENSOR

JADS
THROTTLE
PLATE
POSITION
SENSOR

0013006