steering BMW M3 1992 E36 Repair Manual

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
.

513-2



INTERIOR
TRim

DASHBOARD

Dashboard
removal
is
a
complex
operation,
involving
dis-

connection
and
dismantling
of
a
number
of
electrical
and
dash

structural
components
.

The
BMW
E36
is
equipped
with
SRS
airbags
mounted
in

the
steering
wheel,
in
the
dashboard
(1994
and
later)
on
the

passenger
side,
and
in
the
front
doors(1997
and
later)
.
Air-

bags
units
are
pyrotechnic
devices
and
should
be
treated
with

extreme
caution
.
Improper
handling
of
the
airbags
could

cause
serious
injury
.

WARNING
-

"
The
BMW
Supplemental
Restraint
System
(SRS)
is
complex
and
special
precautions
must
be
ob-
served
when
servicing
.
Serious
injury
may
result
if
system
service
is
attempted
by
persons
unfa-
miliar
with
the
BMW
SRS
and
its
approved
ser-vice
procedures
.
BMW
specifies
that
all
inspection
and
service
shouldbe
performed
byan
authorized
BMW
dealer
.

"
Beforeperforming
any
work
involving
the
steering
wheel
or
interior
trim
in
the
vicinity
of
the
airbags,
disconnect
the
negative
()
battery
cable
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
.

"
SRS
contains
aback-up
power
supply
within
the
SRS
control
module
.
A
10
minute
díscharge
peri-
od
should
be
allowed
after
the
battery
cable
has
been
disconnected
.

Glove
compartment,
removing
and
installing

1.
Open
glove
compartment
door
.

2
.
Remove
glove
compartment
mounting
screws
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

3
.
Pull
glove
compartment
out,
disconnecting
electrical

harness
connectors
as
necessary
.

4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

DASH80ARD

Fig
.
2
.



Glove
compartment
mounting
screws
(arrows)
.

Lower
left
dash
panel,

removing
and
installing

0013107

1
.
Remove
lower
dash
panel
retaining
screws
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

0013155

Fig
.
3
.



Lower
left
dash
panel
retaining
screws
(arrows)
.

2
.
Pull
lower
dash
panel
left
and
back
to
disengagefrom
driver's
footwell
retaining
clips
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

Dashboard,
removing
and
installing

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
and
cover
terminal
with
insulating
material
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautionsgiven
at
the
front
of
this
manual
onpage
vi¡¡
.

2
.
Remove
center
console
as
described
earlier
.

3
.
Remove
glove
compartment
as
described
earlier
.

4
.
Remove
lower
left
dash
trim
piece
as
described
above
.
Remove
lower
right
dash
trim
panel
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Fig
.
4
.



Lower
right
dash
trim
piece
retaining
screw
(arrow)
.

WARNING
-

Store
the
removed
airbags
in
a
safe
place
.
Position
the
airbags
facing
up
.

8
.
Remove
instrument
cluster
.
See
620
Instruments
.

5
.
Remove
driver
and
passenger
airbags
.
See
721
Air-

bag
System
(SRS)
.

6
.
Remove
steering
wheel
.
See
320
Steering
and
Wheel
Alignment
.

INTERIOR
TRIM



513-
3

Fig
.
5
.



Driver
side
knee
bolster
mounting
bolts
(arrows)
.

9
.
Remove
headlight
switch
.
Remove
turn
signal
and
windshield
wiper/washer
stalk
switches
.
See612
Switches
and
Electrical
Accessories
.

10
.
Remove
A/C
control
head
and
module
.
See
640
Heat-ing
and
Air
Conditioning
.

11
.
Remove
radio
.
See650
Radio
.

12
.
Remove
A-pillar
(windshield
pillar)
trim
on
left
and
right
sides
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

UU13156
Fig
.
6
.



A-pillar
(windshield
pillar)
trim
removal
.
Right
side
shown,
left
7
.
Remove
driver
side
knee
bolster
.
See
Fig
.
5
.



is
similar
.

DASHBOARD

513-
4



INTERIOR
TRIM

13
.
Remove
reinforcement
bar
below
steering
column
and
remove
steering
column
shear
bolts
.
Lower
steering

only
slightly
and
support
steering
column
.
See
Fig
.
7
.

WARNING
-

Lower
steering
column
only
enough
to
facilitate
re-
moval
of
the
dashboard
.
The
steering
column
sup-
ports
and
swivel
spindles
canbe
damaged
if
the
column
is
lowered
too
much
.

14
.
Remove
glove
compartment
support
frame
.See
Fig
.
8
.

0012643

Fig
.
8
.



Glove
compartment
support
frame
bolts
(arrows)
.

DASHBOARD

0013157

Fig
.
9
.



Windshield
defroster
outlet
being
lifted
off
(arrow)
.
Fig
.
7
.



Reinforcementbar
bolts
(arrows)
.
Shear
(headless)
bolts
at

steering
column
will
have
to
be
drilled
out
and
replaceddur-

ing
reinstallation
.



16
.
Remove
mounting
bolts
on
left
and
right
ends
of
dash-

board
.
See
Fig
.
10
.

Fig
.
10
.
Dashboard
mounting
bolt
(arrows)
.
Left
side
shown,
right
is

similar
.
Some
models
may
have
may
have
two
bolts
oneach

side
.

17
.
Lift
instrument
panel
off
slowly,
making
sure
all
harness
15
.
Carefullypryout
defroster
outlets
(left
and
right
sides)



connectors
and
wiring
are
disconnected
.

a
t
base
of
windshield
.
Remove
screwbelow
each
out-

let
.
See
Fig
.
9
.



18
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

515-10



CENTRAL
LOCKING
AND
ANTI-THEFT

EWS
II
control
module,
replacing

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery

disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
onpage
vüf
.

2
.
Remove
glove
compartment
as
described
in
513
Inte-

rior
Trim
.

3
.
Remove
EWS
II
control
module
harness
connector
.

Pull
module
out
of
bracket
.
See
Fig
.
22
.

NOTE-

The
EWS
11
module
should
be
identified
with
EWS
11
markings
.

4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

Ring
antenna,
replacing



4
.
Cut
off
wire
ties
holding
wiring
harness
to
steering
col-

umn
.
1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.

CAUTION
-

Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery

disconnectioncautionsgiven
at
the
front
of
this
manualonpage
viii
.

2
.
Remove
lower
steering
column
cover
.
See
Fig
.
23
.

Transmitter/

receiver
Ring

r
module
antenna

Fig
.
22
.
Location
of
EWS
II
components
.

LOCKING
SYSTEM
AND
ELECTRONIC
IMMOBILIZATION

Fig
.
23
.
Steering
column
cover
retaining
screw
(arrow)
.

5
.
Gently
pry
off
ring
antenna
from
ignition
switch
.

7
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

0012543

3
.
Remove
lower
left
dash
trim
panel
as
described
in
513

Interior
Trim
.

6
.
Unplug
ring
antennaharness
from
EWS
II
transmit-

ter/receiver
module
as
described
below
.

EWS
II
transmitterlreceiver
module,

replacing

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
onpage
viii
.

2
.
Remove
lower
left
dash
trim
panel
and
knee
bolster
as
described
in
513
Interior
Trim
.

3
.
Unclip
auxiliary
relay
panel
under
steering
column
and
lower
it
to
access
relays
and
harness
connectors
.
See
Fig
.
24
.

Fig
.
24
.
Lowering
the
left
side
auxiliaryrelay
panel
.

CENTRAL
LOCKING
AND
ANTI-THEFT



515-11

0013164

4
.
Disconnect
harness
connector
from
transmitter/receiv-
er
module
.
Unclip
module
from
panel
.
See
Fig
.
25
.

5
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

0
A

0013035

Fig
.
25
.
Position
of
EWS
II
transmitter/receiver
module
(A)
on
left
side
auxiliaryrelay
panel
.

LOCKING
SYSTEM
AND
ELECTRONIC
IMMOBILIZATION

610-2



ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

Fuses
number47
and
50are
mounted
on
the
left
side
splice

panel
.
Refer
lo
Fig
.
5
.

Fuse48
is
mounted
on
the
auxiliary
relay
panel
.
Refer
to

Fig
.
3
.

Fuse
49
is
mounted
in
the
right
side
of
the
luggage
compart-

ment
behind
the
trim
cover
.

Relay
Positions

Mounted
in
the
left-hand
rear
comer
of
the
engine
compart-

ment,
the
power
distribution
box
contains
46
(uses
and
15
re-

lay
positions
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

Fuses31-46

-
Er
a
&QT
MM
~

Fig
.
2
.



E36
front
power
distribution
box
.

FUSE
AND
RELAY
POSITIONS

Fuses1-20

13
EL1
5
]

mmmmmmmmmm
Fuses
21-30
--



0013034)

1
.
Fuel
pump
relay



9
.



Heater/A/C
Blower
relay
2
.
System
(main)
relay



10
.



Rear
defogger
relay
3
.
Oxygen
sensorheater
re-



11
.
ABS
system
relay
lay



12
.
ABS
pump
relay
4
.



Horn
relay



13
.



High
speed
radiator
fan
re-
5
.



Taillight/foglight
relay



]ay
6
.
Low
beam
relay



14
.
A/C
compressor
relay
7
.



High
beam
relay



15
.



Low
speed
radiator
fan
re-
8
.



Emergency
flasherrelay



¡ay

Auxiliary
Relay
Panel

The
auxiliary
relay
panel
contains
five
relay
positions
.
In
lat-

er
modeis
an
additional
fuse
holder
(Fuse48)
and
the
EWS
II
(anti-theft)
transmitter/receiver
module
are
located
on
this

panel
.
See
Fig
.
3
.

The
panel
is
located
nextto
the
steering
column
under
the
driver's
side
dashboard
.
To
access
this
panel,
remove
the
pwer
dash
panel
on
driver's
side
.
See513
Interior
Trim
.

Then
remove
the
driver's
side
knee
bolster
.
Lower
the
relay
panel
by
gently
releasing
the
plastic
retainers
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

During
installation,
be
sure
the
retainer
tabs
are
engaged
in
the
relay
panel
.

Splice
Panel,
Left

3

¡ni

Fig
.
3
.
Auxiliary
relay
panel
under
left
side
of
dash
.

Fuse
48)
0013035

1
.



Comfort
relay
(where
ap-



4
.



Not
used

plicable)



5
.



Not
used

2
.
Crash
control
module



6
.



EWS
II
transmitter/receiv-

3
.



Park
ventilation
relay



er
module
(from
Jan
.
1995)

0013164

Fig
.
4
.



Auxiliary
relay
panel
under
left
sideof
dashboard
(arrow)
.

The
left
splice
panel
contains
four
relay
positions
and
an
ad-
ditional
fuse
holder
(Fuses
47
and
50)
.

To
access
the
left
side
electrical
splice
panel,
remove
the

left
side
dash
panel
and
knee
bolster,
as
described
earlier
.

The
panel
is
located
above
and
lo
the
left
of
the
clutch
pedal
.

See
Fig
.
5
.

Fig
.
29
.
Transmission
gear-position/neutral
safety
switch
under
center
console
.
Squeeze
connector
tabs
(arrows)
to
disengage
har-
ness
connector

ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS



610-
9

6263

Fig
.
30
.
Back-up
light
switch
(arrow)
on
transmission
.
(Switch
may
be
found
on
right
or
left
sideof
transmission,
depending
on
ap-
plication
.)

Fig
.
31
.
ASS
wheel
speed
sensor
(arrow)
in
front
steering
arm
.

Component
Location
Table

Table
a
is
a
cross-referenced
listing
of
electrical
compo-

nents
in
E36
vehicles
beginning
onpage
10
.
In
addition
to
lo-

cation
descriptions,
where
possiblethere
is
areference
to
a

figure
showing
the
component
.

NOTE-

-
Every
component
is
not
installed
in
everycar
.

"
Due
to
changes
in
production,
component
locations
may
vary
.
Consult
your
BMW
dealer
forthe
latest
in-
formation
.

"
The
figure
numbers
are
all
within
this
section
.
Many
other
electrical
components
are
illustrated
throughout
this
book
.
Consult
the
main
index

"
The
gear-position/neutral
safetyswitch
is
aleo
some-
times
referred
to
as
the
automatic
transmission
range
switch
.

"
The
EWS
11
system
is
also
sometimes
referredto
as
the
Driveaway
Protection
System
or
the
electronic
im-
mobilization
system
.

"
All-Season
Traction
(AST)
is
also
sometímes
referred
to
as
ASC
or
ASC+T
.

0012117

COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

610-10



ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

Component



Model
Year



Location



Refer
to

ABS
Hydraulic
Control
Unit



1992-1998



Left
rear
engine
compartment
undermaster
cylinder



Fig
.
7
.
Fig
.
10
.

ABS
Hydraulic
Control
Unit
Relay



1992-1998



Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.

ABS
Pedal
Travel
Sensor



1992-1998



On
brake
booster
beside
master
cylinder



Fig
.
10
.

ABS
Relay



1992-1998



Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.

ABS/AS
T
(Traction)
Control
Module



1992-1998



Behind
glove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

ABS
Speed
Sensor,
Left
Front



1992-1998



Left
front
steering
arm



Fig
.
31
.
Wheel

ABS
Speed
Sensor,
Left
Rear



1992-1998



Left
rear
trailing
arm
Wheel

ABS
Speed
Sensor,
RightFront



11992-1998



Right
front
steering
arm
Wheel

ABS
Speed
Sensor,
Right
Rear



1992-1998



I
Left
rear
trailing
arm
Wheel
1

A/C
Compressor



1
1992-1998



(
Rightlower
frontof
engine

A/C
Compressor
Control
Relay



1
1992-1998
1992-1998
1992-1998

A/C
Control
Module

A/C
Evaporator
Temperature
Sensor
A/C
Pressure
Switch



1992-1998



Right
frontof
engine
compartment

A/C
Program
Switch



1992-1998



Center
of
dash
below
radio

A/CRecharging
Ports



1992-1998



Right
rear
engine
compartment



Fig
.
16
.

Air
Flow
Sensor



1992-1998



Between
throttle
housing
&
filter
housing



Fig
.
7
.

Airbag
Contact
Slip
Ring



1992-1998



Rear
ofsteering
wheel

Airbag,
Driver



1992-1998



In
center
of
steering
wheel



Fig
.
25
.

Airbag,
Passenger



1994-1998



Right
front
of
dash
above
glove
compartment



Fig
.
26
.

Airbag,
Side-Impact



1997-1998



Behind
right/left
front
door
panel
Airbag
Control
Module
(Basic)



1992-1993



Behind
glove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

Airbag
Control
Module
(ZAE)



1994-1998



On
center
tunnel
under
rear
seat
cushion

Airbag
Crash
Sensor,
Airbag



1992-1993



On
righUleft
front
strut
tower
Airbag
Crash
Sensor,
Right/Left



1997-1998



Right/left
door
si¡¡
behind
front
seatSide
Impact

Alternator
(Generator)



1992-1998



Left
lowerfront
of
engine

Amplifier
Hi-fi



1992-1998



Left
front
side
of
luggage
compartment

Antenna
Amplifier
AM/FM



1992-1998



In
upper
left
side
C-pillar



Fig
.
27
.

COMPONENT
LOCA
TIONS

Table
a
.
E36
Component
Locations

Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.

Behind
center
console

Left
sideof
heater
box

Continued

Table
a
.
E36
Component
Locations

Component



Model
Year



Location



Refer
to

Anti-theft
Control
Module



1992-1998



Behind
glove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

Anti-theft
Horn



1
1992-1998



1
Right
rear
engine
compartment

Anti-slip
(Traction)
Control
Module



1994-1998



Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
8
.
(AST/ASC+T)



Fig
.
9
.

Anti-slip
(Traction)
Control
Switch



1994-1998



In
center
console

Automatic
Climate
(A/C)
Control



1992-1998



Behind
center
console
Module

AutomaticTransmission
Range



1992-1998



~
Next
to
gear
shift
lever
in
center
console



Fig
.
29
.
Switch
(Gear
Position/Neutral
Safety
Switch)

Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Dual
Switch



1992-1998



Right
side
radiator



1



Fig
.
18
.

Auxiliary
Cooling
Fan
Motor



1992-1998



Behind
front
grill

Auxiliary
Fuse
Box
(Left
Splice



1992-1998



I
Behind
left
front
footwell
kick-panel
Panel)

Auxiliary
RelayPanel



1
1992-1998



1
Left
side
of
dash
under
steering
column

Auxiliary
Fuse
Box
In
Trunk



1



1997-1998



1
Right
sideof
trunk
behind
trim
panel

AuADSry
ThrottlePosition
Motor



11994-1998



Front
of
engine
compartment

B+
Jump
Start
Junction
Point



1992-1998



Right
rear
of
engine
compartment



Fig
.
7
.

Back-Up
Light
Switch
(Manual)



1992-1998



Right
or
left
side
top
of
transmission



Fig
.
30
.

Body
Electronics
Control
Module



1994-1998



Behindglove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
(ZKE
IV)



Fig
.
9
.

Brake
Fluid
Level
Sensor



1992-1998



Top
of
brake
fluid
reservoir
at
master
cylinder



Fig
.
15
.

Brake
Light
Switch



1
1992-1998



1
On
brake
pedal
supportbracket

Brake
Pad
Sensor,
Left
Front



1
1992-1998



1
Left
front
brake
caliper

Brake
Pad
Sensor,
Right
Rear



1992-1998



Right
rear
brake
caliper

Camshaft
Actuator
(VANOS)



1993-1998



Front
of
cylinder
head
Camshaft
Position
Sensor
(Cylinder



1992-1998



Front
of
engine
Identification)

Carbon
Canister
Valve
(TLEV)



1
1997-1998



1
In
sparewheel
well
in
trunk

ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS



610-11

Fig
.
5
.

Fig
.
4
.

Fig
.
24
.

Fig
.
7
.

Central
Locking
Module
(ZVM)



11992-1993



1
Behindglove
compartment



I



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

Check
Control
Module
(if
applicable)
1
1992
-
1998



1
Below
left
side
of
dash

Child
Protection
Window
Control



1992-1998



Center
console
(console)

Chime
Module



1992-1998



Below
left
side
of
dash
inleft
dash
trim
panel

Clock
(Multi-Function)



1993-1998



Center
console

Clutch
Pedal
Switch



1992-1998



On
clutch
pedal
support
bracket

Continued

COMPONENT
LOCATIONS