Test drive BMW 3 Episode E36 1991 - 1998 Sedan

BMW 3 series 9 years later

The BMW of the 3rd series debuted in 1988. Her design caused a wide controversy. Opponents claimed that stylistically the machine falls out of the general row and is generally too avant -garde for BMW. Among those who stood up for the BMW 3, there was Pol marriage. By that time, he no longer worked for BMW, but this did not stop him from saying: the 3rd episode is the best that was done on BMW after my departure.
 
In Moscow, the first BMW 3 appeared almost immediately after the debut. It was a black machine with tinted glasses and a flashing beacon on the rear window shelf. BMW looked menacingly and exquisitely, it was always clean and napled, and drove at a speed of at least 120 km/h. Sooner or later, any car is on the service. This does not always mean that he is sick. A good owner in the service stops in for the sake of prevention. But, as the practice of operating the BMW of the 3rd series in our country showed, it makes sense to call into the service only immediately before repair. You are surprised and ask, what other options are there?
 
The experience of official dealers indicates that many people (usually owners of cars without instructions, that is, second-hand) come to them at their BMW only to ask mechanics about the features of the operation of the machine. And they are a little upset when they find out that there are no such features. It is no secret that there are detailed applications for BMW models. They write everything that the owner needs to know. Even the brand of gasoline of each specific car is indicated on the second or third page of this useful book. What to do when there is no book?
 
Go to the official dealer. But not with questions, but for the book. It exists in any languages, including Russian. It is difficult to write about the experience of nine -year exploitation of tremors. They do not break. There are no weaknesses in the car to which you need to pay attention to. The work of BMW service stations is usually reduced only to the conduct of then. But the stations are not ruined, on the contrary, the sportswear of the character of the BMW dictates to drivers the temperamental driving style, so at least the breakdowns. But this is the guilt of the drivers, the topic is inexhaustible and not at all for this section.
 
The machine does not break with regular and proper maintenance. The BMW of the 3rd series, for example, is very demanding on the deadlines for replacing engine oil. So that the driver does not forget about this, a special indication is provided on the instrument panel. When starting the engine below, under the instruments, the line of green bulbs is lit. If they are lit less and less from starting to launch, then the replacement is close. At some point, a yellow light will light up, and after a few kilometers of the mileage will flash red. That's it, now exactly for the service. And excited people come, and from the threshold: everything, red is on, help!. Monky even claim that she does not pull. Pulls. But it’s really time for that.
 
To the brand of motor oil, treshka is demanding no more than other cars. In a thick book there is a list of firms whose oils have passed the factory tests and are recommended by BMW for use. Preference is given to synthetics. By the way, an oil counter with green, yellow and red bulbs with each change of oil is reset.
 
In the world, there are more and more cars in which the spark plugs need to be changed only after 60, or even 100 thousand kilometers of mileage. But in three, they have to be changed every 10-15 thousand kilometers, it is painfully powerful - up to 40 kV - the ignition by car. By the way, the instrument set is a candle key. But for an independent replacement of candles, you need a skill, even finding them on some models of the 3rd series is not always easy.
 
Changing candles, butter and oil filter, it is worth changing and air. There is no need to adjust the valves. And although I had to meet workshops in Moscow, in the list of services of which were also listed: we adjust the valve on BMW, there is nothing to regulate the BMW. There are hydrothens. On the very first tremors, the timing drive was belt. Gradually, the company abandoned it, and, starting since 1990, there is a chain on all BMW engines. You can not particularly worry about its tension. There are hydraulic lines.
 
What else can be destroyed in the car? Suspension? As practice shows, the BMW of the 3rd series is very tenacious. The second-hand-hand that came from Germany with a mileage for 100,000 km usually do not need to be repaired suspension or even extending. Our roads do not destroy the suspension. She is destroyed by dashing drivers. Some see and go around hatches, but many do not. But even a man -to -man suspension is most often not completely out of order. The first usually fly the top bushings of the rear shock absorbers. The bushings are rubber, and with a great desire, they can be fed for a replacement for 50-60 thousand kilometers. But replacing them is easy.
 
As a rule, cars who came from Europe have a rather modest clearance. A few years ago, when the official promotion of the BMW trademark to Russia was just beginning, at one of the press conferences, the company representative said that specially for Russian Bavarians collect the eastern package, thanks to which the machines have tougher and the clearance of 20 mm is increased. If you buy a car from an official dealer, then the eastern package will be installed for free (when ordering it will be called an addition to 199 extra). For a second-hand car or a new one, but bought in Germany, the eastern package can also be installed, but, of course, for money. Spaces under the springs and tougher shock absorbers enter it. And at the same time you can change the springs to more rigid ones. It will not be harmful to put on the European car and the protection of the crankcase. You understand, just in case.
 
Do not worry about bearings. On a three -row, they are two -row and quite durable. The pads, which are disk, that drum brakes, serve for a very long time. The car is light, and the loads on their lot are sparing. In cars with automatic gearbox, the eyelids of the pads are slightly shorter. But no matter how rapid the owner is, the most merciless riding to the deformation of the brake discs does not lead.
 
Another problem of cars from Europe is a catalytic neutralizer. It is believed that the catalyst Kaprizen, lives his own life, does not give in to persuasion, answers with aggression to the intervention and more likely in the world likes to fail. The experience of Moscow technical stations BMW testifies to another.
 
The catalyst is tenacious. You can agree with him. On cars that came from Europe, the catalyst works normally 50-60 thousand km. In most cases, it does not pull that it is not a catalyst, but a sensor (lambda-zond). In addition, you can get rid of the catalyst if necessary.
 
There are several ways to agree with the catalyst and its environment - lambda -zond - there are several. If the motor is on a car with a working volume of 1.6-1.8 liters, its control unit can be reprogrammed to work without a catalyst. If the motor is large (2-2.5 liters) volume and with a double-wool head, it will not be possible to reprogram the block in the forehead. But the official dealer can order another block, designed to work without lambda-zond and catalyst, and at its station to install and adjust it. It is expensive, only the control unit costs DM1600-1700.
 
You can do otherwise. A corporate chip of the control unit is bought, a new one is recorded in it - without a catalyst - a program of work, for this there is a special set of disks. The chip is put in the control unit. It turns out three times cheaper - near DM600.
 
After reprogramming, the catalytic neutralizer can be left in place, because the lambda zond is already disconnected. But at the technical stations, such a service is also proposed - you can put another exhaust system. Usually a new section is ordered and welded instead of a neutralizer. But it is better to replace the entire front of the pipe without digesting anything.
 
Electrics and electronics in the BMW of the 3rd series are very tolerant of our salt winter. Usually, an electrician perishes only due to a violation of the tightness of the body. If, for example, at the railway crossing, the plugs of the technological holes of the bottom or masters who made the body repair, returning the car, could not maintain the tightness of the body, were lost. In general, the BMW of the 3rd series is not very suitable for independent service in its own garage. You can defeat the procedure for changing the oil in the engine. But to change the oil in the box will not work - you need a lift and a special tool. Invading the suspension with a wrench at the ready will also not work.

Therefore, every 15,000 kilometers - welcome to the station.
 
Text: Sergey Aslanyan, Alexander Pikulenko

  

Source: Magazine Motor