Air BMW 328i 1995 E36 Workshop Manual

240-
6



AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION

14
.
Remove
transmission
by
pulling
back
and
down
.
Lower

jack
to
allow
transmission
to
clear
vehicle
.



Tightening
Torques

"
ATF
drain
plug
to
ATF
sump

CA
UTION-



MS
270R/A4S
310R
....
..
....
.
..
25
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)

Do
not
allow
the
torque
converter
to
fati
off
the



ASS
310Z(M10
plug)
..
..
..
.
.
..
.
..
16
Nm
(12
ft-Ib)

transmission
inputshaft
.



"
ATF
fill
plug
to
ATF
sump

MS
270R/A4S
310R
..
..
....
..
..
.
33
Nm
(24
ft-Ib)

15
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
noting
the
following
:



MS
310Z(M30
plug)
......
.
.
..
.
.
100
Nm
(74
ft-Ib)

"Blowoutofcoolerlineswithlow-pressurecompressed



"
ATF
cooler
lines
(A4S
270R/A4S
310R)

air
and
flush
coolerwith
clean
ATF
twice
before
reat-



Coupling
nuts
............
.
.
..
..
.
20
Nm
(15
ft-Ib)

taching
lines
to
transmission
.



Hollow
bolts
.........
.
.....
..
..
.
37
Nm
(28
ft-Ib)

"
Reinforcing
cross
brace

CAUTION-



to
chassis
(M10)
.............
.
..
.
42
Nm
(31
ft-Ib)

"
Wear
safety
glasses
when
working
with
com-



"
Torque
converter

pressedair
.



to
driveplate
(M10)
.........
..
.
..
45
Nm
(33
ft-Ib)

"
Transmissionsupport
crossmember
to
chassis

"
Do
not
reuse
ATF
after
flushing
.



M8
......................
22-24
Nm
(16-17
ft-1b)

M10
................
.
....
..
.
..
42
Nm
(31
ft-Ib)

"
Install
new
sealing
washers
on
hollow
bolts
.



"
Transmissíon
to
engine
(Torx-head
with
washer)

"
Insta¡¡
new
O-rings
on
transmission
cooler
lines,
where



M8
......................
..
.
..
21
Nm
(15
ft-Ib)

applicable
.



M10
.....................
..
..
.
42
Nm
(31
ft-Ib)

"
Inspect
driveplate
for
cracks
or
elongatedholes
.
Re-



M12
................
.
....
..
.
..
72
Nm
(53ft-Ib)

place
if
necessary
.

"
Check
to
be
sure
torque
converter
is
seated
correctly

in
transmission
during
final
installation
.

"
When
mounting
transmission
to
engine,
the
three

mounting
tabs
on
torque
converter
must
be
aligned

with
indentations
on
driveplate
.
Use
an
alignment

dowel
to
line
up
bolt
holes,
if
necessary
.
"
Fill
transmission
with
clean
ATF
until
oil
leve¡
is
even
with
fill
hole
.
Then
check
fluid
leve¡
as
described
ear-
lier
.

"
Adjust
gearshift
mechanism
.
See
250
Gearshift
link-

age
.

NOTE-

Torx-head
mounting
bolts
shouldalwaysbe
used
with
washers
to
prevent
difficult
removal
.

TRANSMISSION
REMOVAL
AND
INSTALLATION

GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
................
.
.
.
250-1



AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
GEARSHIFT
...
.
.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
250-3
MANUAL
TRANSMISSION



Gearshift
mechanism,
adjusting
GEARSHIFT
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
..........
.
.
.
250-1



(automatictransmission)
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
250-3

Gearshift
lever,
removing



Gear
position/neutral
safety
switch,
replacing
(manual
transmission)
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.......
250-1



(automatic
transmission)
..
.
.
.
.........
.
.
250-4

Gearshift
lever,
installing



Automatic
shiftlock,
checking
function
(manual
transmission)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
250-2



(automatic
transmission)
..
..
...
.
.
.
....
..
250-5

Shiftinterlock,
checking
function

(automatic
transmission)
.......
.
.
.
.....
.250-6

GENERAL

This
repair
group
covers
transmission
gearshift
and
linkage
service
.

Special
service
tools
are
required
for
some
of
the
proce-

dures
given
here
.
To
gain
access
to
the
complete
gearshift

mechanism
ít
is
necessary
to
remove
the
exhaust
system
and
the
driveshaft
as
described
in
180
Exhaust
System
and260
Driveshaft
.

MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
GEARSHIFT

Gearshift
lever,
removing

(manual
transmission)

The
manual
transmission
gearshift
linkage
is
shown
in
Fig
.1
.
Use
thisillustration
asaguide
when
removing
and
installing

the
linkage
.

1
.
Pull
straight
upon
shift
knob
lo
remove
it
from
shift
lever
.

NOTE
-

Removal
of
the
shift
knob
will
require
about
90
lbs
.
of
force
.

2
.
Pry
upon
rear
of
shift
boot
tounclip,
then
remove
boot
from
front
retainers
.

3
.
Raise
vehicle
togain
access
to
underside
of
vehicle
.

WARNING
-

Make
sure
thecar
is
stable
and
well
supported
at
afl
times
.
Use
a
professional
automotive
lift
orjackstands
designed
for
the
purpose
.
A
floor
jack
is
not

adequate
support
.

250
Gearshift
Linkage

GEARSHIFT
LINKAGE



250-1

Fig
.1
.



Manual
transmission
gearshift
linkage
.

4
.
Disconnect
oxygen
sensorharness
connectors
.
Re-

move
completeexhaust
system
.
See
180
Exhaust

System
.

MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
GEARSHIFT

DRIVESHAFT
SERVICE
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
..
.
.
.260-3

Driveshaft,
aligning
...............
.
...
.
.
260-3

Driveshaft,
removing
..............
.
.
.
.
.
.
260-4

260
Driveshaft

DRIVESHAFT
260-1

GENERAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
........
.
...
.
260-1



Driveshaft,
installing
.
....
.
..
.
............
260-4

Flex-disc,
replacing
.....
.
.
.
.............
260-5
TROUBLESHOOTING
..
.
.
.
...
.
.........
260-1



Center
bearing
assembly,
replacing
.
......
.260-6
Frontcentering
guide,
replacing
..
.
.......
.
260-7

TABLE

a
.
Driveshaft
Troubleshooting
.
.
...
......
.
....
..
.
.
260-2

GENERAL



NOTE-

For
rear
drive
axlerepair
information,
see330
Rear
The
two-piece
driveshaft
is
joined
in
thecenter
by
a
sliding



Suspension
.
splined
coupling
.
This
coupling
compensates
for
fore
and
aft
movement
of
the
drive
line
.
The
driveshaft
ís
connected
to
the



Driveshaft
noise
or
vibration
may
be
caused
by
worn
or
transmission
bya
rubber
flex-disc
and
to
the
final
drive
by
a



damaged
components
.
Check
the
universal
joints
for
play
.
universal
joint
.
It
is
supported
in
the
micidle
by
a
center
support



With
the
driveshaft
installed,
pull
and
twist
the
driveshaft
while
bearing
.
The
bearing
is
mounted
in
rubber
to
isolate
vibration
.



watching
the
joint
.
The
BMW
specificationfor
play
is
very
See
Fig
.
1
.



small,
so
almost
any
noticeableplay
could
indicate
a
problem
.

TROU
BLESHOOTING



Check
thetorque
of
thefasteners
at
the
flange
connections
.
Check
therubber
of
the
flex-disc
and
center
bearing
for
dete

The
source
of
driveline
vibrations
and
noise
can
be
difficult



rioration
or
tearíng
and
check
for
preload
at
the
center
bearing

to
pinpoint
.
Engine,
transmission,
rear
axle,
or
wheel
vibra-



with
a
visual
inspection
.
Check
the
driveshaft
for
broken
or

tions
can
be
transmitted
through
the
driveshaft
to
the
car



missing
balance
weights
.
The
weights
are
welded
tabs
on
the

body
.
Noises
from
the
rear
of
thecar
may
be
caused
by
final



driveshaft
tubes
.
In
addition
to
inspecting
for
faulty
driveshaft

drive
problems,
orby
faulty
wheel
bearings,
drive
axies,
or



parts,
the
installed
angles
of
the
driveshaft
should
also
be

evenworn
or
improperly
inflatedtires
.



considered
.

Flex-disc

Center
universal
joint

Fig
.1
.



Driveshaft
and
final
drive
assembly
.

Rear
section
Splined
shaft



of
driveshaft
Center
support



`



Clamping
sleeve
bearíng
assembly

Differential
inputflange

0013110

TROUBLESHOOTING

260-2
DRIVESHAFT

Further
inspection
requires
removal
of
the
driveshaft
.

Check
the
front
centering
guide
on
the
transmission
output
flange
for
damage
or
misalignment
.
Also
check
runoutatthe

transmission
outputflange
and
output
shaft,
and
at
the
final

drive
input
flange
.
Check
the
bolt
hole
bores
in
theflange
for

wear
and
elongation
.

Driveshaftflange
runout
(max
.
allowable)

"
Transmission
outputflange

axial
play
...
.
..
...
..
.
.......
0
.10
mm
(0
.004
in
.)

radial
play
.......
...
.
.
.......
0
.07
mm
(0
.003
in
.)

"
Final
driveinput
flange
radial
play
(measured
at

driveshaft
centering
lip)
..
......
0
.07
mm
(0
.003
in
.)

Spinthe
center
bearing
and
check
for
the
smooth
operation

without
play
.
Check
that
thesplines
of
the
sliding
coupling

move
freely
.
Clean
and
lubricate
the
splines
with
molybdenum

disulfide
grease
(Molykote
®
Longterm
2
or
equivalent)
.

Check
the
universal
joints
for
wear
or
binding
.
If
any
joint
isdif-

ficult
to
move
or
binds,
the
driveshaft
section
should
be
replaced
.

Table
a
.
Driveshaft
Troubleshooting

NOTE-

With
the
driveshaft
installed,
theactual
amount
that
the
universal
joints
pivot
is
limited
.
For
the
most
accurate

test,
check
universal
joints
in
their
normal
range
of

movement
.

If
inspection
revealsnothing
wrong
with
the
driveshaft,
it

may
need
to
be
rebalanced
.
This
can
be
done
by
a
speciality

driveshaft
repair
shop
.
Also,
check
the
alignment
ofthe
drive-

shaft
as
described
below
.

NOTE-

Minor
driveshaftvibrations
can
often
be
correctedsim-

ply
by
disconnecting
the
driveshaftat
the
finaldrive,

and
repositíoning
the
driveshaft
90°,
180°
or270°
inre-
lationto
the
final
drive
input
flange
.

Table
a
lists
symptoms
of
driveshaft
problems
and
their

probable
causes
.
Most
of
the
repair
information
is
contained

within
this
repair
group
.

Symptom



Probable
cause



Corrective
action

1
.
Vibration
when



a
.
Incorrect
preload
of
center
bearing
.



a
.
Check
preload
of
center
bearing
.
Readjust
preload
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

starting
off
(forward



b
.
Center
bearing
rubber
deteriorated
.



b
.
Inspect
center
bearing
and
rubber
.
Replace
if
necessary
.
orreverse)
.



c
.



Flex-disc
damaged
or
worn
.



c
.



Inspect
flex-disc
.
Replace
if
necessary
.

TROUBLESHOOTING

d
.
Engine
or
transmission
mounts
faulty
.
I
d
.
Inspect
engine
and
transmission
mounts
.
Align
or
replace,
if
nec-

essary
.

e
.
Front
centering
guide
worn,
or



e
.
Check
front
centering
guide
and
replace
if
necessary
.
Check

driveshaft
mounting
flanges
out
of



runout
of
driveshaft
flanges
.

round
.

f
.



Universal
joints
worn
or
seized
.



f
.



Check
universal
joint
play
and
movement
.
Replace
driveshaft
if

necessary
.

g
.
Sliding
coupling
seized
.



g
.
Remove
driveshaft
and
check
movement
of
sliding
coupling
.

Clean
coupling
splines
and
replace
parts
asnecessary
.

h
.
Driveshaft
misaligned
.



h
.
Check
driveshaft
alignment
.

2
.
Noise
during
on/off



a
.
Finaldrive
components
worn
or



a
.
Remove
final
drive
and
repair
.

throttle
or
when



damaged
(excessive
pinion-to-ring-

engagíng
clutch
.



gear
clearance)
.

b
.



Drive
axleor
CV
joint
faulty
.



b
.



Inspect
drive
axles
and
CV
joints
.
Repair
or
replace
as
neces-
sary
.

c
.
Sliding
coupling
seized
.



c
.
Remove
driveshaft
and
check
movement
of
sliding
coupling
.

Clean
coupling
splines
and
replace
parts
as
necessary
.

3
.
Vibration
at
25
to
30



a
.
Front
centering
guideworn,
or



a
.
Check
front
centering
guide
and
replace
if
necessary
.
Check
mph
(40
to
50



driveshaft
mounting
flanges
out
of



runout
of
driveshaft
mounting
flanges
.
km/h
).



round
or
damaged
.

b
.
Universal
joints
worn
or
seized
.



b
.
Check
universal
joint
play
and
movement
.
Replace
driveshaft
if
necessary
.

c
.



Flex-disc
damaged
or
worn
.



c
.



Inspect
flex-disc
.
Replace
if
necessary
.

d
.
Center
bearing
rubber
deteriorated
.



d
.
Inspect
center
bearing
.
Replace
if
necessary
.

e
.
Sliding
coupling
seized
.



e
.
Remove
driveshaft
and
check
movement
of
sliding
coupling
.
Clean
coupling
splines
and
replace
parts
asnecessary
.

f
.



Misaligned
installed
position
.



f
.



Check
driveshaft
alignment
.

Symptom



1



Probable
cause

4
.
Vibration,
audible



a
.
Front
centering
guide
worn,
or



a
.
Check
front
centering
guide
and
replace
if
necessary
.
Check
rumble
over35
mph



driveshaft
mounting
flanges
out
of



runout
of
driveshaft
mounting
flanges
.
(60
km/h)
.



round
or
damaged
.

b
.
Mounting
flange
bolts
loose
or
holes



b
.
Remove
driveshaft
and
check
transmissionoutput
flange
and
worn
.



final
drive
input
flange
.
Replace
if
necessary
.
c
.
Driveshaft
unbalanced
.



c
.
Check
driveshaft
for
loose
or
missing
balance
weights
.
Have
driveshaft
rebalanced
or
replace
if
necessary
.

DRIVESHAFT
SERVICE

Driveshaft,
aligning

d
.
Universal
joints
worn
or
seized
.



d
.
Check
universal
joint
play
and
movement
.
Replace
driveshaft
if
necessary
.

e
.
Sliding
coupling
seized
.



e
.
Remove
driveshaft
and
check
movement
of
sliding
coupling
.
1



Clean
coupling
splines
or
replace
parts
asnecessary
.

f
.



Incorrect
preload
of
center
bearing
.



f
.



Check
preload
of
center
bearing
.
Readjust
if
necessary
.
g
.
Center
bearing
faulty
.



g
.



Replace
center
bearing
.

h
.
Final
drive
rubber
mount
faulty



h
.
Inspect
final
drive
rubber
mount
and
replace
if
necessary
.i.



Driveshaft
misaligned
.



i.



Check
driveshaft
alignment
.

Repair
kits
for
the
universal
joints
are
not
available,
and
it
is
not
common
practice
to
repair
the
universal
joints
on
BMW
driveshafts
.
Worn
or
damaged
universal
joints
usually
require
replacement
of
that
section
of
the
driveshaft
.

The
driveshaft
is
balanced
to
cose
tolerances
.
Whenever
it
is
to
be
removed
or
disassembied,
the
mounting
flanges
and
driveshaft
sections
should
bemarked
with
paint
or
a
punch

before
proceeding
with
work
.
This
will
ensure
that
the
drive-
shaft
can
be
reassembled
or
installed
in
exactlythe
same
ori-
entation
.

Universal
joint
play

"
Maximum
allowable
...........
0.15
mm
(0.006
in
.)

The
alignment
of
the
driveshaft
does
not
normally
need
to
be
checked
unless
the
engine/transmission
orthe
final
drive
havebeen
removed
and
installed
.
If,
however,
all
other
parts
of
the
driveshaft
havebeen
inspected
and
found
to
be
okay,
butthere
is
still
noise
or
vibration,
driveshaft
alignment
should

be
checked
.

There
aretwo
important
driveshaft
alignment
checks
.
The
first
is
to
make
sure
that
the
driveshaft
runs
straight
from
the
transmission
to
the
final
drive
;
without
any
variation
from
side-

to-side
caused
by
misalignment
ofthe
engine/transmission
in
its
mounts
.
Make
a
basic
check
by
sighting
along
the
drive-

shaft
from
back
lo
front
.
Any
misalignmentshould
be
apparent
from
the
center
bearingforward
.
To
adjustthe
side-to-side
alignment,
loosen
the
transmission
or
engine
mounts
to
repo-

sition
them,
then
retighten
the
mounts
:
The
driveshaft
should

be
exactly
centered
in
the
driveshaft
tunnel
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

Table
a
.
Driveshaft
Troubleshooting
(continued)

DRIVESHAFT
260-3

Corrective
action

b
:izó
Fig
.
2
.



Driveshaft
side-to-side
alignment
.
Driveshaft
should
be
cen-
tered
in
driveshaft
tunnel
.

The
second
important
driveshaft
alignment
check
is
more
complicated
.
It
checks
the
amount
the
driveshaft
is
angled
vertically
at
the
joints
.
This
angle
is
known
as
driveshaft
de-
flection
.

In
general,
there
should
be
little
deflection
in
the
driveshaft
between
the
engine,
thecenter
bearing,
and
the
final
drive
.
Precise
checks
require
theuse
of
a
large
protractor
or
some
other
means
of
measuring
the
angle
of
the
engine
and
the
fi-

nal
drive
and
comparing
these
angles
to
the
angle
of
the
drive-

shaft
sections
.

To
change
the
deflection
angle,
shims
can
be
placed
between
the
center
bearing
and
the
body
or
between
the
transmission

and
íts
rear
support
.
When
using
shims
to
change
a
deflection

angle,
keep
in
mind
that
the
angle
of
adjacent
joints
will
also
change
.
Deflection
anglesshould
beas
small
as
possible
.

DRIVESHAFTSERVICE

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

NOTE-

The
traction
control
system
referred
to
as
AST
(all
sea-
son
traction)
may
also
be
referred
to
as
ASC
(Automat-
ic
Stability
Control)
and
ASC+T
(Automatic
Stability
Control+Traction)
.

The
AST
system
improves
traction
by
electronically
apply-

ing
the
rear
brakes
when
therear
drive
wheels
are
spinning
at

a
faster
rate
than
the
front
wheels
.
The
combined
ABS/AST

control
module,
operating
through
the
ABS
hydraulic
control

unit,
modulates
braking
force
at
therear
wheels
.

In
addition,
AST
uses
retarded
ignition
timing
and
an
auxil-iary
engine
throttle
plate
to
reduceengine
torque
and
maintain

vehicle
stability
.

The
auxiliary
throttle
plate
is
held
open
by
spring
pressure
.

The
AST
system
actívates
the
auxiliary
throttie
position
motor

(ADS)
to
cose
the
AST
throttle
as
needed
.
This
reduces
the

volume
of
engine
intake
air
.
Due
to
the
throttle
closing
very
rapidly
during
AST
operationthe
driver
cannot
increase
theengine
power
output
regardless
of
how
far
theaccelerator
pedal
is
pushed
to
the
floor
.

The
auxiliary
throttle
plate
is
placed
ahead
of
the
conven-

tional
throttle
plate
in
the
throttle
body
.

Traction
control
also
comes
into
operationduringdecelera-
tion
.
Decelerating
on
snowy
or
icy
road
surfaces
can
lead
to
rear
wheel
slip
.
If
a
rear
wheel
startsto
drag
or
lock
up
when

the
throttle
is
closed
rapidly
orduringdownshifting,the
AST
system
can
limit
the
problem
by
advancing
the
ignition
timing
.

A
switch
on
the
center
console
is
used
to
togglethe
AST
on

or
off
.

The
AST
system
is
designed
to
be
maintenance
free
.
There

are
no
adjustments
that
can
be
made
.
Repair
and
trouble-
shooting
of
the
AST
system
requires
special
test
equipment

andknowledgeand
should
be
performed
only
by
an
autho-

rized
BMW
dealer
.
Table
a
lists
theconditions
indicated
by

the
AST
indicator
light
in
the
instrument
cluster

SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL



300-5

Tablea
.
AST
Indicator
Lamp
Function

Indicator
lamp



1
Condition



1
Comment

Light
on



Normal
AST
start-



Automatic
AST
up



self-test

Light
off



AST
monitoring



Automatic
AST
op-
mode



eration

Press
AST
button,



AST
off
(disabled)



Rocking
the
car
tolight
comes
on



getout
of
snow
or
other
loose
surface
Driving
with
snow
chains

Press
AST
button
:



AST
monitoring



Automatic
AST
op-
light
goes
out



I
mode



eration

Light
flashes



AST
active
mode



I
Normal
AST
oper-
ation
as
it
controls
wheel
speed

Light
stays
on
af-



Defect
in
AST



Consult
BMW
ter
start
up
or



dealer
for
diagno-
comes
on
while



sis/repair
driving



(Vehicle
operation
remains
normal)

WARNING
-

Even
a
car
with
AST
is
subject
to
the
normal
physi-
cal
laws
.
Avoid
excessive
speeds
for
the
road
con-
ditions
encountered
.

CAUTION-
"
If
the
tires
on
the
carare
of
different
makes,
the
AST
system
may
over-react
.
Only
fit
tires
of
the
same
make
and
tread
pattem,

"In
adverse
conditions,
such
as
trying
to
rock
the
car
outof
deep
snow
or
another
soft
surface,
or
when
snow
chainsare
fitted,
it
is
advisable
to
switch
off
AST
and
allow
the
cars
driveline
to
op-
erate
conventionally
.

INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS

increased
power
output
and
road-handling
demands
.

The
steering
geometry
is
modified
by
changing
the
cast-

er/camber
angles
slightly
.
This
is
accomplishedby
reposition-

ing
the
upper
strut
mounting
holes
in
the
frontstrut
towers
and

through
different
front
and
rear
control
arms
.

M3
Brake
System
Improvements

"
Vented
directionalfront
rotors
:
315
mm
dia
.
x
28
mm
thick
.

"
Vented
directional
rear

rotors
:
312
mm
dia
.
x20
mm
thick
.

"
Larger
brake
pads
and
calipers
.

"
Modified
Teves
ABS
system
.

SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL



300-
7

M3
SUSPENSION
AND
BRAKES



NOTE-

M3
brake
rotors
are
directional,
having
a
different
part

TheE36
M3
was
introduced
in
late
1994
as
a
1995
model
.



number
for
each
side
.
Rotors
with
an
odd
part
number

The
design
of
the
M3
suspension,
steering
and
brakes
is
a



go
on
the
left
while
rotors
with
en
even
part
numbergo

modification
of
existing
E36
systems
which
accommodates



on
the
right
.

M3
Front
SuspensionImprovements

"
Reinforced
spring
plates,control
arms,
control
arm
bush-

ings,
steering
arms
.

"
Recalibrated
struts,
firmer
springs
.

"
Stiffer
stabilizerbar,
larger
stabilizer
bar
bushings
.

"
Front
stabilizer
linked
to
struts
.

M3
Wheels/Tires

"
Front
wheels
1992-1998
:.....
7
.5J
x
17
in
.
light
alloy

"
Rear
wheel
1992-1997
.......
7
.5J
x17
in
.
light
alloy

"
Rear
wheel
(option)
........
.8
.5
Jx17
in
.
light
alloy

"
Front
and
rear
tire

1992-1997
.............
.
.
.
...
...
235/40
x
17
in
.

"
Front
tire
1998
only
......
...
.
.
.
...
225/45
x
17
in
.

"
Rear
tire
1998
only
.......
.
.
.
...
...
245/40
x
17
in
.

CAUTION-

In
en
emergency,
an
M3
front
wheel/tire
assembly
may
be
mounted
on
the
rearaxle
.
However
a
rear
wheel/tire
assemblymust
not
be
mounted
on
the
front
axle
.

M3
RearSuspensionImprovements

"
Reinforced
trailing
arms
.

"
Recalibrated
shock
absorbers,
firmer
springs
.



SUSPENSION
AND
STEERING

TROUBLESHOOTING

Stable
handling
and
ride
comfort
both
depend
on
the
integ-

rity
of
the
suspension
and
steering
components
.
Any
symp-

tom
of
instability
or
imprecise
road
feel
may
be
caused
by

worn
or
damaged
suspension
components
.

When
troubleshooting
suspension
and
steering
problems,

also
consider
the
condition
of
tires,
wheels,
and
their
align-

ment
.
Tire
wear
and
incorrect
inflation
pressures
can
dramati-

cally
affect
handling
.
Subtie
irregularities
in
wheel
alignment

angles
also
affect
stabílity
.
Mixing
different
types
or
sizes
of

tires,
particularly
on
the
same
axle,
can
affect
alignment
and

may
unbalancea
car's
handling
.

Table
b
lists
the
symptoms
of
common
suspension
and

steering
problems
and
their
probable
causes,
and
suggests

corrective
actions
.
Bold
type
indicates
the
repair
groups

where
applicable
test
and
repair
procedures
can
befound
.

SUSPENSION
AND
STEERING
TROUBLESHOOTING

300-8



SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL

Tableb
.
Suspension
and
Steering
Troubleshooting

Symptom



1



Probable
cause
Repairs
(Repair
Groups
shown
in
bold)

Car
pulís
to
one
side,
wanders



a
.
Incorrect
tire
pressure



a
.
Check
and
correct
tire
pressures
.
020
b
.
Incorrect
wheel
alignment



b
.
Check
and
adjust
wheel
alignment
.
320
c
.
Faulty
brakes
(pulls
only
when
braking)



I
c
.
Check
for
sticking/damaged
front
caliper
.
340

Steering
heavy,
poor
return-



a
.
Worn
upper
strut
bearing(s)



a
.
Replace
strut
bearings
.
310
to-center



b
.
Incorrect
tire
pressure



b
.
Check
and
correct
tire
pressures
.
020
c
.
Power
steering
system
faulty



c
.
Check
power
steering
fluid
level
.
Test
system
pressure
.
320

Front-end
or
rear-end
vibra-



a
.
Worn
strut
cartridgesor
shock
absorbers



a
.
Replace
strut
cartridges
.
310,
330
tion
or
shimmy



b
.
Worn
suspension
bushings
(control
arm
or
trail-



b
.
Replace
worn
bushings
.
310,
330
ing
arm)
c
.
Worn
front
suspension
ball
joints
(control
arm,



c
.
Replace
worn
ball
joints
.
310
steering
arm
orsteering
tie-rod
end)d
.
Unbalanced
or
bent
wheels/tires



d
.
Balance
tires
.
Check
tiresfor
uneven
wear
pat-
terns
.
Check
wheels
for
damage
.
e
.
Loose
wheel
lug
boits



e
.
Tighten
lug
boits
to
proper
torque
.

Poor
stability,
repeated
bounc-
I
a
.
Worn
strut
cartridgesor
shock
absorbers



I
a
.
Replace
strut
cartridges
.
310,
330
ing
after
bumps,
suspension
bottoms
outeasily

Suspension
noise
(especially



a
.
Worn
front
upper
strut
bearings



a
.
Replaceupper
strut
bearings
.
310
over
bumps)



b
.
Loose
front
strut
cartridge



b
.
Check/tighten
strut
cartridge
collar
nut
.
310
c
.
Worn
suspensionbushings
(control
arm
or
trail-



c
.
Replace
worn
bushings
.
310,
330
ing
arm)d
.
Worn
stabilizer
bar
rubber
mounts



d
.
Replace
stabilizer
bar
rubber
mounts
.
310,
330
e
.
Loose
suspension
crossmember



e
.
Check
crossmember
for
damage
.
Tighten
mounting
boits
.

Uneven
ride
height



a
.
Incorrect
coil
springs



a
.
Measure
ride
height
and
replacesprings
as
re-
quired
.
310,
330
b
.
Bent
or
damaged
suspension
components



b
.
Inspect,
repair/replace
asnecessary
.
310,
330
c
.
Sagging
coil
springs



c
.
Measure
ride
height
and
replace
springs
as
re-
quired
.
310,
330

Wheel
noise,
continuous



I
a
.
Worn
wheel
bearing



I
a
.
Replacewheel
bearing
.
310,
330
growling,
may
be
more
notíce-
able
when
turning

Steering
loose,
imprecise



a
.
Incorrect
tire
pressure



a
.
Check
and
correct
tire
pressures
.
020
-



b
.
Loose
steering
gearmounting
bolt(s)



b
.
Inspect
and
tighten
boits
.
320
c
.
Worn
tie
rodend(s)



c
.
Replace
tie
rod(s)
and
align
wheels
.
320
d
.
Faulty
front
wheel
bearing



d
.
Replace
wheel
bearing
.
310
e
.
Worn
or
damaged
steering
gear



e
.
Adjust
or
replace
steering
gear
.
320
f
.
Worn
tires



f
.
Replace
tires
.
010

SUSPENSION
AND
STEERING
TROUBLESHOOTING

GENERAL

310
Front
Suspension

GENERAL
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
........
.
310-1



FRONT
WHEEL
BEARINGS
..
.
.
.
.......
310-8

SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
..
.
310-2



Front
wheel
bearing,
replacing
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
310-8

Strut
assembly,
removing
and
installing
.....
310-2



STABILIZER
BAR
..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
310-9

Strut
assembly,
disassembling



Stabilizerbar,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
...
310-9

and
assembling
.
.
.
...
.
.....
.
.........
310-4

Ride
Height
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
........
.
310-4



SUBFRAME
CROSSMEMBER
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
310-9

Subframe
crossmember,
CONTROL
ARMS
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.....
310-5



removing
and
installing
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
310-9

Control
arm,
removing
and
installing
....



..
310-5
Outer
control
arm
ball
joint,
replacing



Table

exce
t
M3
models



310-6



a
.
Front
Ride
Height
Specifications
..
.
.....
..
.
..
..
310-5
Control
arm
bushing,
replacing
.
.
.
...
.
.....
310-7

The
E36
front
suspension
is
shown
in
Fig
.
1
.
For
a
general



Specialservice
tools
arerequired
for
most
of
the
work
de-

description
of
the
front
suspension
and
components,
see
300



scribed
in
this
repair
group
.
Read
the
procedures
through
be-

Suspension,
Steering
and
Brakes-General
.



fore
beginning
any
job
.

Stabilizer
bar

Power
steering

fluid
cooler

Control



Strut
assembly
arm

Tierod

Fig
.
1
.



BMW
E36
front
suspension
.
(M3
suspension
shown
.
Others
are
similar
.)

FRONT
SUSPENSION



310-1

Steering
arm
0012132

GENERAL