Steering. General information and device (BMW 3 Series E36)

The steering system consists of a steering wheel, a steering column, a steering gear, and steering rods. The steering wheel is mounted on a steering column, which transmits steering movements to the steering gear. The steering gear moves a rack through a toothed engagement.

On models without power steering, the steering ratio varies depending on the steering wheel angle. This means that the greater the steering wheel angle, the less proportional the steering becomes. As the steering wheel angle increases, it becomes easier to turn, for example when parking the car. In the middle position, the steering ratio, which is close to a direct gear, ensures precise control of the car, which is especially important at high speeds.

Some models are equipped with a power steering. It is designed to reduce the effort required to turn the steering wheel. The power steering consists of a hydraulic pump, an expansion tank and a pipeline. The hydraulic pump is driven by a V-belt. The pump sucks in fluid from the expansion tank and delivers it under high pressure to the steering gear. There, the regulator unit, together with the working piston, maintains the control movement.

With the extended equipment set, the Airbag safety system is installed on the cars. In this case, we are talking about an air bag, which in the folded state is stored behind the steering wheel trim. In the event of a strong impact (which corresponds to a head-on collision with a solid obstacle at a speed of at least 18 km/h) sensors are triggered, unlocking the system safely. The electrical circuit is closed and a small fuse in the air bag is triggered. In this case, the air bag is filled with released non-toxic gases within about 30 milliseconds. With such rapid filling of the bag, damage to the head and upper body is reduced. Within a few seconds, the air bag is compressed again, as the gases escape through the holes in the bag.



The Airbag system is constantly monitored by the diagnostic system. After the ignition is switched on, the indicator lamp on the instrument panel lights up and remains lit for approximately 6 seconds. This indicates the functional capability of the system. If the indicator lamp lights up while driving, this indicates a fault in the system. The fault is stored in a memory in the diagnostic unit and can be queried and rectified at a BMW service station.

Attention: All work related to the Airbag system must be carried out only at a BMW service station. It is also prohibited to carry out work on the steering wheel and steering column yourself.