BMW 3 1992 - Page 5

Foreword
This
service manual covers 1992 through 1998 BMW 3 Series models, and is specifically de-
signed to
cover only those models built for sale in the United States .
BMW, and most accessories and parts sellers specializing in BMWs, refer to the 3 Series cars
coveredby this manual as the E36 model . The code "E36"
is
BMW's
internal code for the basic plat-
form shared by al¡ of the cars covered by this manual . Except
for
the
engine and a few other compo-
nents, the models covered by this manual share
many of same components such as suspension
parts, body panels,
and the interior pieces . When ordering parts, especially body parts, knowing the
E36 code may be helpful .
BMW also uses an interna¡ code for the engines used in the 3 Series models
. Consult the text in
the 100 Engine-General repair group of this manual
for
a
complete listing of engine codes . Engine
-
code information is primarily used
internally by BMW, but may be helpful if you have access to BMW
technical information .
Forthe BMW
ownerwith basic mechanical skills, this manual gives detailed maintenance and
re-
pair
information . In addition, the BMW owner who has no intention of
working on his or her own car
will find that owning and reading this manual will make
it possible to be better informed and to dis-
cuss repairs more intelligently with a professional
technician . This manual has been prepared from
the repair information that BMW provides to
its factory-trained technicians and has been developed
primarily with the do-it-yourself
BMW owner in mind . The aim throughout has been clarity and
un-
derstanding with practical
descriptions, step-by-step procedures, and accurate
specifications .
The BMW
owner intending to do maintenance and repair should have a
set of tools including a set
of metric
wrenches and sockets, screwdrivers, a torque wrench,
and feeler gauges, since these ba-
sic
tools will be used to do the majority of the
maintenance and repair procedures described in this
manual . This manual includes detailed
information on these basic tools and other tips for the begin-
ner in the first section of the
manual, entitled 010 Fundamentals for the Do-It-Yourself
Owner .
For some of the
repairs described in this manual, BMW technicians use special tools .
The text will
note when a
repair requires these special tools and, where possible,
will recommend practica¡ alter-
natives .