Powe BMW 325i 1994 E36 User Guide

Final
Drive
Gear
Oil

BMW
recommends
using
only
a
specially
formulatedsyn-
thetic
gear
oil
that
is
available
through
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
parts
department
.
For
additional
information
on
this
¡u-
bricant
andany
other
lubricants
that
may
be
compatible,
con-
tact
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
senrice
department
.
See
331
Final
Drive
.

Brake
Fluid

Brake
fluid
absorbs
moisture
easily,
and
moisture
in
the
fluid
affects
brake
performance
and
reliability
.
This
is
why
brake
fluid
should
be
flushed
from
the
system
every
two
years
.
When
re-
placing
or
adding
brake
fluid,
use
only
new
(luid
from
previously
unopened
containers
.
Do
not
use
brake
fluid
that
has
been
bled
from
the
system,
even
ifit
is
brand
new
.
Use
only
DOT
4
brake
fluid
.
See340
Brakes
for
more
information
.

Engine
Coolant
(Anti-freeze)

BMW
recommends
coolant
that
is
a
50/50
mixture
of
distilled
water
and
phosphate/nítrate
freeanti-freeze
containing
ethyl-
ene
glycol
.
Anti-freezeraises
the
boiling
point
and
lowersthe
freezingpoint
of
the
coolant
.
It
alsocontains
additives
that
help
prevent
cooling
system
corrosion
.

Power
Steering
Fluid

The
power
steering
fluid
is
Dexron
II]®
ATF,
or
equivalent
.

The
system
is
permanently
filled
and
does
not
have
a
drain
.
Routinely
adding
ATF
is
not
required
unlessthe
system
is
leak-
i
n
g,

WARNING
-

Be
sure
to
check
the
fluid
specifications
on
the
pow-
er
steering
reservoir
to
confirm
the
fluid
type
in-
stalled
in
the
system
.
In
some
instances,
the
power
steering
system
may
be
filled
with
an
alternative
hy-
draulic
fluid
designated
CHF
7
.1
.

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-

ENGINE
OIL
SERVICE



Engine
oil
and
fiiter,
changing

Fig
.
3
.



Engine
oil
level
dipsticklocation
on
4-cylinder
engine
(arrow)
.
Dipsfck
is
marked
with
mínimum
and
maximum
level
marks
.

Fig
.
4
.



Oil
filler
cap
(arrow)
.
6-cylinder
engine
shown
.
0012202

Engine
oii,
checking
leve¡



A
complete
oil
change
requires
new
oil
(see
Table
e),
a
new
oil
filter
insert
kit,
and
a
new
drain
plug
sealing
washer
.
The

The
engine
oil
leve]
is
checked
with
a
dipstick
in
the
engine



tools
needed,
a
drain
plug
socket
or
box
wrench
(17
mm
or19

block
.
Check
the
oii
leve¡
with
the
canon
a
level
surface,
after



mm)
and
a
drain
pan
(8-10
US
qt
.
capacity),
are
described
in

the
engine
has
been
stopped
for
atleast
a
few
minutes
.
Check



010
Fundamentals
for
the
Do-It-Yourself
Owner
.

the
leve¡
by
pulling
outthe
dipstick
and
wiping
it
clean
.
Reinsert

it
all
the
way
and
withdraw
it
again
.
The
oil
leve¡
is
correct
if
it
is



NOTE-
between
the
two
marks
near
the
end
of
the
stick
.
See
Fig
.
3
.



If
using
a
"fast-lube"
service
facility
for
oil
changes,
make
sure
the
technician
hand-starts
and
torques
the
Add
oil
through
the
filler
cap
on
thetop
of
the
cylinder
head
.



engine
oil
drain
plug
using
hand-tools
.
Power
tools
can
See
Fig
.
4
.
Add
only
the
amount
needed
to
bring
the
oil
leve¡to



strip
the
threads
of
the
plug
and
the
oil
pan
.

the
MAX
mark
on
the
dipstick,
using
an
oil
of
the
correctviscos-
ity
andgrade
.
Too
much
oil
canbe
just
as
harmful
as
too
little
.

ENGINE
OIL
SERVICE

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
.

Fig
.
18
.
Fill
mark
on
coolant
expansion
tank
.
Coolant
level
should
be

at
mark
when
engine
ís
cold
.

.
..
e
..
.-
..



~
..
.-
.

Ozone
Damaged
Hose

0012476

Fig
.
19
.
Examples
of
damage
to
coolant
hoses
.
Any
of
conditions

shown
is
cause
for
replacement
.
Courtesy
of
Gates
Rubber
Company,
Inc
.

Specification

"
Power
steering
fluid
..........
.
...
Dexron
III®ATF

Oxygen
Sensors

1996
and
later
engines
are
equipped
withmultiple
oxygen

sensors
.
See
Fig
.
21
.
A
regulating
sensor
is
mounted
before

each
catalytic
converter
and
amonitoring
sensor
downstream

of
each
converter
.
The
regulating
sensor
monitors
engine
com-

bustion
efficiency
and
helps
to
control
the
fuel
injection
system

and
exhaust
emissions
.
The
monitoring
sensor
is
usedby
the

On-board
diagnostic
system
to
monitor
the
function
of
the
cata-

lytic
converter
.

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM



020-
1
5

NOTE-

5pecialsockets
for
replacingthe
oxygen
sensor
are

available
from
most
automotive
parts
stores
.
The
sock-

et
has
agroove
cut
down
one
side
to
allow
the
sensor

to
be
installed
without
damaging
the
wire
hamess
.

Fig
.
20
.
Power
steering
fluid
dipstick
showing
MIN
and
MAX
marks
.

OBD
II
enhanced
emission
standards
require
the
engine

control
module
(ECM)
to
monitor
the
oxygen
content
in
theex-

haust
bothbefore
and
after
the
catalytic
converter
.
This
allows

for
tightercontrol
of
the
tail
pipe
emissions
and
also
allowsthe

ECM
to
diagnose
converter
problems
.
lf
the
DME
detects
that

catalytic
converter
or
oxygen
sensor
efficiency
has
degraded

past
a
certain
pre-programmed
limit,
it
will
turn
on
the
Check

Engine
light,
and
store
a
diagnostic
trouble
code
(DTC)
in
the

ECM
.

Replacement
of
oxygen
sensors
at
the
specified
intervals
en-

sures
that
the
engine
and
emission
control
system
wíll
continue

to
operate
as
designed
.
Extending
the
replacement
interval

may
void
the
emission
control
warranty
coverage
.
See
180
Ex-

haust
System
for
information
on
replacing
the
oxygen
sen-

sors
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Oxygen
sensor
to

exhaust
system
........
.
.
.
..
55±5
Nm
(40±4
ft-Ib)

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

020-20



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

Seat
Belts



Washing
Chassis

Dirt
and
other
abrasive
particles
will
damage
seat
belt
web-



Periodic
washing
of
the
underside
of
the
car,
especially
in

bing
.
If¡t
is
necessary
to
clean
seat
belts,
use
a
mild
soap
solu-



winter,
will
help
prevent
accumulation
of
road
salt
and
rust
.
The

tion
.
Bleach
and
other
strong
cleaning
agents
may
weaken
the



besttime
to
wash
the
underside
is
just
after
the
car
has
been

belt
webbing
and
should
be
avoided
.



driven
in
wet
conditions
.
Spray
the
chassis
with
a
powerful
jet
of

water
.
Commercial
or
self-service
car
washes
may
not
be
best

WARNING-



for
this,
as
they
may
recycle
the
salt-contaminated
water
.

Do
not
clean
the
seat
belt
webbing
using
dry
clean-
ing
or
other
chemicals
.
Allow
wet
belts
to
dry
before
allowing
them
to
retract
.



Speeial
Cleaning

The
condition
of
the
belt
webbing
and
the
function
of
the
re-

tractor
mechanisms
should
be
inspected
.
See720
Seat
Belts
for
seat
belt
inspection
information
.

Exterior
Washing

The
longer
dirt
isleft
on
the
paint,
the
greater
the
risk
of
dam-
aging
the
glossy
finish,
either
by
scratching
or
by
the
chemical
effect
dirt
particles
may
have
on
the
paintedsurface
.

Do
not
wash
the
car
in
direct
sunlight
.
If
the
engine
hood
is

warm,
allow
it
to
cool
.
Beads
of
water
not
only
leavespots
when
dried
rapidly
by
the
sun
or
heat
from
the
engine,
but
also
can
act
as
small
magnifyingglasses
and
burn
spots
into
the
finish
.
Wash
thecar
with
a
mixture
of
lukewarmwater
and
a
car
wash
product
.
Rinse
using
plenty
of
clear
water
.
Wipe
the
body
dry
witha
soft
cloth
towel
or
chamois
to
prevent
water-spotting
.

Waxing

For
a
long-lasting,protective,
and
glossy
finish,
apply
a
hard
wax
after
thecar
has
been
washed
and
dried
.
Use
carnauba
or
synthetic
based
products
.
Waxing
is
not
needed
after
every
washing
.
You
can
tell
when
waxing
is
required
by
looking
at
the
finísh
when
it
is
wet
.
If
the
water
coats
the
paint
in
smooth
sheets
instead
of
forming
beads
that
rol¡
off,
a
new
coat
of
wax
is
needed
.
Wax
shouldnot
be
applied
to
black
trim
pieces,
rub-
ber,or
other
plastic
parts
.

Polishing

Use
paintpolish
only
if
the
finish
assumes
a
dull
lock
after
long
service
.
Polish
can
beused
to
remove
tar
spots
and
tar-
nish,
but
afterwards
a
coat
of
wax
should
be
applied
to
protect
the
clean
finish
.
Do
not
use
abrasive
polish
or
cleaners
on
alu-
minum
trimor
accessories
.

BODYAND
INTERIOR
MAINTENANCE

Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain

The
aluminum
cylinder
head
uses
chain-driven
double

overhead
camshafts
and
four
valves
per
cylinder
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
Tha
rvfinriar
hand
nmnlnve
n
ernceflnier
rineinn
fnr
nronter

Tar
spots
canbe
removed
with
a
bugand
tar
remover
.
Never

use
gasoline,
kerosene,
nail
polish
remover,
or
other
unsuitable

solvents
.
Insect
spots
also
respond
to
tar
remover
.
A
bit
of
bak-

ing
soda
dissolved
in
the
wash
water
will
facilitate
their
removal
.
This
method
can
also
beused
to
remove
spotting
from
tree
sap
.

Interior
Care

Dirt
spots
can
usually
be
removed
with
lukewarm
soapy
wa-
ter
or
a
dry
foam
cleaner
.
Use
spot
remover
for
grease
and
o¡I

spots
.
Do
not
pour
the
(quid
directly
on
the
carpetor
fabric,
but
dampen
a
clean
cloth
and
rub
carefully,starting
at
the
edge
of
the
spot
and
working
inward
.
Do
not
use
gasoline,
naptha,
or

other
flammable
substances
.

Leather
Upholstery
and
Trim

Leather
upholstery
and
trim
should
be
periodically
cleaned
using
a
slightly
damp
cotton
or
wool
cloth
.
The
idea
is
to
get
rid
of
the
dirtin
the
creases
and
pores
that
can
cause
brittleness
and
premature
aging
.
On
heavily
soiled
areas,
usea
mild
deter-
gent
(such
as
Woolite®)
or
other
specially
formulated
leather
r

cleaners
.
Use
two
tablespoons
to
one
quart
of
cold
water
.
Dry

the
trim
and
upholstery
completely
using
a
soft
cloth
.
Regular
use
of
agood
quality
leather
conditioner
will
reduce
drying
and
crackingof
the
leather
.

1
.
Camshafts
2
.
Rocker
arms
3
.
Hydraulic
valve
adjusters
(HVA)
4
.
Valve
and
conical
valve
spring

GENERAL
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
100-1

Cylinder
Block
and
Crankshaft
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
100-1

Connecting
Rods
and
Pistons
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-1

Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-2

VANOS
(Variable
Valve
Timing)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
100-2

DISA
(Dual
Resonance
Intake
System)
.
.
.
.
.
100-3

Engine
Management
System
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-3

Ignition
......
.
.
.
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

Fuel
Delivery
..
.
.
.
.....
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

Cooling
System
.
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
100-5

Lubrication
System
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

MECHANICALTROUBLESHOOTING
.
.
.
.
100-5

Warnings
and
Cautions
..
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-5

Cylinder
compression,
checking
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-6

EngineMechanical
Troubleshooting
Table
.
.
.
100-7

DRIVEABILITY
TROUBLESHOOTING
...
100-8

GENERAL

There
are
various
engíne
configurations
used
in
the
1992-

1998
E36
cars
.
See
Table
a
.

On
both
four-
and
6-cylinder
engines,
the
cylinder
block
is

cast
¡ron
with
integral
cyiinders
.
The
cyiinders
are
exposed
on

all
sides
to
circulating
coolant
.

The
fully
counterweighted
crankshaft
rotates
in
replaceable

split-shell
main
bearings
.
Oiiways
drilled
into
the
crankshaft
pro-

vide
bearing
lubrication
.
O¡I
seals
pressed
into
alloy
sea¡
hous-

ings
are
installedat
both
ends
of
the
crankshaft
.

100
Engine-General

Tablea
.
Engine
Specifications

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-1

On-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
100-8

Basic
Requirements
....
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.100-11

Preventive
Maintenance
......
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-11

Basic
Engine
Settings
..
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-11

Oxygen
Sensors
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
....
.100-11

Air
Flow
Measurement
and
Vacuum
Leaks
.
.100-12

Battery
Voltage
.
.
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-12

Wiring
and
Harness
Connections
.
.
.
.
.....
100-13

Ground
Connections
...
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.....
100-13

Fue¡
Supply
....
.
...........
.
.
..
.....
.100-14

TABLES

a
.
Engine
Specifications
...
...
...........
.
..
..
.100-1

b
.
Engine
Management
Systems
..
..
...........
..
100-5

c
.
Engine
Mechanical
Troubleshooting
..........
.
.
100-8

d
.
OBD
1
Fault
(Blink)
Codes
(1992-1995
models
only)
.
...
..
..
..........
..
.100-9
e
.
Engine
Driveability
Troubleshooting
...........
.100-15
Model



Engine
code



No
.
of



Dispiacement



Compression



Horsepower
cyiinders



liters
(cu
.
in
.)



ratio



SAE
net
@
rpm

318i/is/¡C
1992-1995



M42



4



1
.8
(109
.6)



10
.0
:1



100
@
6000
1996-1998



M44



4



1
.9
(115
.6)



~
10
.0
:1



103
@
6000

323ís/iC
1998



M52



6



2
.5
(152
.2)



10
.5
:1



168
@
5,500

325i/is/iC
1992-1995



M50



6



2
.5
(152
.2)



10
.0
:1



110
@
5,900

328i/is/iC
1996-1998



M52



6



2
.8
(170
.4)



10
.2
:1



190
@
5,300

M3
1995



S50US



6



3
.0
(182
.5)



10
.5:1



240
@
6,000
1996-1998



S52US



6



3
.2
(192
.3)



10
.5:1



240
@
6,000
Cylinder
Block
and
Crankshaft



Connecting
Rods
and
Pistons

The
forged
connecting
rods
use
replaceable
split-shell

bearings
at
the
crankshaft
endand
solid
bushings
at
the
pis-

ton
pin
end
.
The
pistonsare
of
the
three-ring
typewith
two
up-
per
compression
rings
and
a
lowerone-piece
o¡i
scraper
ring
.

Fui¡-floating
piston
pins
are
retained
with
circlips
.

GENERAL

100-2
ENGINE-GENERAL

Cylinder
Head
and
Valvetrain

The
aluminum
cylinder
head
uses
chain-driven
double
overhead
camshafts
and
four
valves
per
cylinder
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

The
cylinder
head
employs
a
crossflow
design
for
greater

power
and
efficiency
.
Intake
air
enters
the
combustion
cham-

ber
from
one
side
while
exhaust
gasses
exit
from
the
other
.

Oílways
in
the
head
provide
lubrication
for
the
camshafts)
and
valvetrain
.

Fig
.
1
.



M52
twin-cam,
4-valve-per-cylinder
engine
with
hydraulíc
lift-
ers
.

On
all
engines
exceptthe
M44
engine,
valveclearance
is
by
seif-adjusting
hydraulic
lifters
.
On
M44
engines,
instead
of
hy-

draulic
lifters,
hydraulic
pedestaisare
used
in
combination
with
roller
rocker
arms
to
actuate
the
valves
.
Hydraulic
pedes-
tals
have
the
same
function
as
hydraulic
lifters,
which
ís
to
maintain
zero
valve
clearance,
reduce
valve
noise,
and
elimí-
nate
routíne
adjustment
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

VANOS
(Variable
Valve
Timing)

GENERAL

1
.
Camshafts
2
.
Rocker
arms
3
.
Hydraulic
valve
adjusters
(HVA)
4
.
Valve
and
conical
valve
spring

4

Fig
.
2
.



Cross
sectionof
M44
twin-cam,
4-valve-per-cylinder
head
.
Note
function
of
hydraulíc
pedestal
in
combination
with
rock-er
arm
(with
roller
bearing
for
reduced
friction)
.

The
main
components
of
the
VANOS
system
arethe
piston

housing
with
integral
spool
valve
and
solenoid,
and
the
modi-

fied
intake
camshaft
and
sprocket
assembly
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

1993
and
later
6-cylinder
engines
are
equipped
with
a
vari-



B11001

able
intake
valve
timing
system,
known
as
VANOS
(from
the
German
words
Variable
Nockenwellen
Steuerung)
.
The



Fig
.
3
.
VANOS
(variable
intake
valve
timing)
systemusedon
M52
en-
VANOS
system
electro-hydraulically
adjusts
intake
valve
tim-



gine
.
When
solenoid
is
actuated,
oíl
pressure
is
directed
to
ingfor
enhanced
mid-range
performance
.
The
VANOS
sys-



front
side
of
gear
cup
piston
.
This
forces
gear
cup
finto
camtem
is
controlled
by
the
engine
control
module
(ECM),
using



shaft
to
advance
intake
valve
timing
.
enginespeed,engine
load
and
engine
temperature
asthe
pri-
mary
inputs
.



When
the
engine
is
running,
the
piston
housing
is
supplied
with
pressurized
engine
oil
víathe
solenoid-actuatedspool
At
low
speeds,
the
intake
valves
open
late
to
ensure
smooth



valve
.
Depending
on
the
position
of
the
spool
valve,
oil
isdi
engine
operation
.
At
mid-rangespeeds,
thevalves
open
early



rected
to
either
the
front
or
back
side
of
the
gear
cup
piston
.
(valvetiming
advanced,
VANOS
actuated)
for
increased
torque,
improved
driveability,
and
reduced
emissions
.
And
at



When
the
solenoid
isin
the
off
position,
engine
oíl
is
direct-
high
speeds,
the
valves
again
open
late
for
optimum
power



ed
to
the
back
side
of
the
piston
.
This
holds
the
gear
cup
for-
and
performance
.



ward
and
valve
timing
is
maintained
at
the
normal
"late"
position
.
When
the
solenoid
is
energized,
the
spoolvalve
is
moved
forward
and
oil
pressure
is
directed
to
the
front
side
of
the
piston
.
This
in
turn
moves
thegear
cup
further
into
the

camshaft
secondary
drive,
causing
thecamshaft
to
"advance"

12
.5°
.
The
helical
gears
are
cut
so
that
forward
motion
of
the

gear
cup
is
transiated
into
rotational
motion
of
the
camshaft
.

See
117
Camshaft
Timing
Chain
for
testing
and
repair
infor-
mation
on
the
VANOS
system
.

DISA
(Dual
Resonance
Intake
System)

DISA,usedon
4-cylinder
engines,
is
a
dual
intake
runner

system
that
effectively
provides
the
advantages
of
both
short

and
long
intake
runners
within
the
same
engine
.
For
best
per-

formance,
long
intake
runners
aremost
beneficial
atlow-
and
mid-engine
speeds
(below
4,200
rpm),
and
short
intake
run-
ners
enhance
torque
at
high
engine
speeds
(above4,200
rpm)
.

NOTE-

The
term
DISA
comes
from
the
German
words
Differ-
enzierte
Sauganlage,
and
can
roughty
be
transiated
as
a
differing
intake
manifold
configuration
.

The
DISA
solenoid
valve
is
controlled
by
the
DME
control

module,
using
engine
speed
as
the
primary
input
.
The
main

components
of
the
system
are
the
modified
twin-section
in-

takemanifoldwith
change-over
valve,
the
twin-barrel
throttle

body,
and
the
electrical/pneumatic
actuating
components
.

See
Fig
.
4
.

r

I

I

I

?
,
in
UpPer,
take
-1
manifold

1
-1
Throttle
housing
(Heated)

q
:lZU

Fig
.
4
.



DISA
system
components
.
DISA
changes
the
intake
runner

length
based
on
engine
speed
.

The
DISA
system
electro-pneumatically
changes
the
intake
runner
length
through
the
twin-section
intake
manifold
and
a
change-over
butterfly
valve
.
The
change-over
valve
is
located
at
a
point
in
the
intake
manifold
where
four
pipes
come
into
two
.
When
the
change-over
valve
is
closed,
the
4-way
primary
intake
manifold
and
the
2-way
ram
air
manifold
areconnected
to
make
the
"long"
configuration
.
When
the
change-overvalve
opens,
intake
air
flow
is
redirected
through
only
the
short
4-

way
primary
intake
manifold
.

The
change-over
valve
is
held
in
the
normally
open
position
bya
spring
.
Thisallows
for
an
open
valve
in
the
event
of
sys-
tem
failure
.
During
low
andmid
enginespeeds,
the
DME
con-

trol
module
supplies
power
to
the
solenoid
valve,
which
in
turn

allows
vacuum
to
be
applied
lo
the
vacuum
diaphragm
.
This

causes
the
valve
to
close
(long-pipe
configuration)
.
When
en-
gine
speed
reaches
approximately
4,800
rpm,
the
DME
con-
trol
module
electrically
signals
the
solenoid
valve
and
the
valve
opens,
creating
the
short
pipe
configuration
:

Further
detafs
on
DISA
canbefound
in
130
Fuel
Injection
.

Engine
Management
System

Al¡
enginescoveredby
this
manual
usean
advanced
engine

management
system
called
Digital
Motor
Electronics
(DME)
.

In
the
DME
system,
advancedOn-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD),

fuel
injection,
ignition,
and
otherfunctions,
are
combined
under

the
control
of
theEngine
Control
Module
(ECM)
.
See
Fig
.
5
.

-



Lower
intake
manifold

DISAvacuum
'
~servo

EíY1z

ENGINE-GENERAL
100-
3

le

-
DISA
solenoid
valve

0012591

/
with
butterfly
va¡

GENERAL

100-4
ENGINE-GENERAL

'



TEMP

PRECAT



POST
CAT



OXYGENSENSOR
HEATING

#
.
THROTTLE
POSITION



FUEL
INJECTOR
CONTROL
(SEQUENTIAL)

OPERATING
POWER



00

CAMSHAFT
POSITION
SENSOR

ECM



I
MAIN
GROUND

RELAY



J_



-



AC
COMPRESSOR
RELAY
CONTROL

TERMINAL
15

MEMORY
POWER
FUEL
PUMP
RELAY
CONTROL
AUX
GROUND
P

CRANKSHAFT
POSITION
dESENSOR

INTAKE
AIR

ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP

FUEL
TANK
PRESSURE
SENSOR

S-EML
S-MSR

ASC
S-ASC

VEHICLE
SPEED

LOW
FUEL
LEVEL

A/C
SWITCH
ON
(AC)
E36
IHKA
COMPRESSOR"ON"

SIGNAL
(KO)

INDIVIDUAL
SERIAL
NUMBER

MS41
.1

SECONDARY
AIR
1NJECTION
AIR
PUMP®
RELAY
CONTROL

IDLE
CONTROL
VALVE



'M

FUEL
INJECTION
(TI)

ENGINE
SPEED
(TD)

Fig
.
5
.



Siemens
MS
41
.1
OBD
II
engine
management
systemusedon
1996
and
later
M52
engines
.

GENERAL

IGNITION
COILS
CONTROL

L
r"Q
if~
CIYVFIYC



CHE
AMP
CONTROL
ENGINE

THROTTLE
POSITION

6

ECM
RELAY
CONTROL

ASC

THROTTLE
..
:
.
.
..
-11



1Q\\\
POTENTIOMETER
POWER

CAN



TCM
II



SCAN
(DES
;
ER

DIAGNOSIS

OBD
II
I
II

GENERIC
SCANTOOL



0012596