BMW 3 Series E36 car engine ignition system

Ignition system. General information
The ignition system produces an ignition spark, which ignites the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders at a certain moment. To produce an ignition spark of...

Engines with an ignition system that does not have moving elements (all engines except 316i, 318i manufactured before August 1993)
The operation of the spark plugs is controlled without moving elements only by the control unit; there is no mechanical ignition distributor. Thanks to the...

Functioning of the parametric ignition system
The ignition system, like the fuel injection system, is controlled by a common central electronic circuit that operates using a parameter field (DME = digital...

Safety precautions when working with the ignition system
Electronic ignition systems contain high voltages of up to 4,000 volts. Under adverse conditions, such as high humidity in the engine compartment, voltage...

Checking the ignition timing
Note: The ignition timing is controlled by the control unit and can only be checked, but not set. The current position is determined by two sensors (one on the...

Removal and installation the distributor cap/distributor rotor
Removal Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Caution: When the battery is disconnected, the information in the electronic memory devices, such as the...

Checking the ignition wires
Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Caution: When the battery is disconnected, the information in the electronic memory devices, such as the engine...

Checking the ignition coil
The ignition coil is checked using an ohmmeter. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Caution: When the battery is disconnected, the information in the...

Checking and replacing the pulse sensor
The DME control unit receives information about the engine speed from a pulse sensor located on the pinion behind the crankshaft pulley. A second sensor on the...

Removal and installation the DME control unit
Note: Each control unit is programmed for certain basic parameters, which are only average values. The control unit receives different input values from the...

Spark plugs
The spark plug consists of a central electrode, an insulator with a housing, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode is hermetically secured in the...

Technical data of the ignition system (DME)

Ignition system fault diagnostics
* ) Applies only to models 316i, 318i produced before August 1993. Other petrol engines have an ignition system without moving elements and without a...

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Similar sections for other types of BMW cars:
Power unit: Ignition system BMW 5 Series E34 (1988-1996)
Power unit: Ignition and control systems BMW 7 Series E38 (1994-2001)

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