General Module - Sporadic Accessory/Lighting Operation
Group 61General Electrical Systems
Bulletin Number
61 16 96
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
November 1996
Product Engineering
SUBJECT:
Malfunctions of General Module
MODEL:
3 Series (E36) with ZKE IV, 6/94-12/95 production
Situation:
As ambient temperatures fall below 0°C (32°F.), the voltage regulator in certain General Modules (GM) of the Central Body Electronics (ZKE IV) can initiate a reset. This reset can be more likely as the temperature falls further below 0°C. (32°F.). The GM reacts in this instance as it would if the power supply had been briefly interrupted.
Effect:
The following symptoms may arise:
^ The interior lighting briefly fails to illuminate.
^ On Convertibles only: the trunk lighting, the glove compartment light, and the reading lights may briefly fail to work.
^ The comfort relay may "click" sporadically when the ignition is switched to the "Accessory" (KI. "R") position.
^ The double-lock function of the Central Locking System may fail to engage, making it impossible to double-lock the vehicle until one of the front doors has been opened and closed again.
Note:
The GM will normally not double-lock after the ignition has been switched off unless it sees that one of the front doors has been opened and closed; however, in this malfunction, the "memory" of the door having been opened is not retained, and a front door must be opened and closed again before double-lock is enabled.
^ The power windows and/or central locking system may fail to work.
^ The comfort closing and one-touch features of the windows may fail to work if the windows were open when the reset took place.
^ When diagnosing the General Module, the various voltage resets (maximum number = 31) are listed under "4 Test Procedure" and "5 Battery Status".
Vehicles Affected:
3 Series (E36) vehicles equipped with General Module (ZKE IV), produced from June 1994 to approximately December 1995.
Correction:
In the case of customer complaint of one or more of the above-listed symptoms, when no other cause can be found for such complaint, replace the General Module.
Procedure:
1. Select the General Module with the DIS Tester or MoDiC.
2. Call up the fault memory and status displays for the given malfunctions. Check whether anything else could have caused the fault in question.
3. If the fault appears definitely to be caused by a General Module reset, replace the General Module if it bears the following characteristics:
Manufacturer Part Number Hardware/Date Code
UTA 61 35 8 336 149 All with HW 13
Reinshagen 61 35 8 353 095 All with HW 13/HW 14 up to
or and including manufacturing
Kostal date of 20/95.
UTA, 61 35 8 369 482 All with HW 14 up to and
Reinshagen, including manufacturing date of
or Kostal 48/95.
If a General Module is determined to be the cause of a customer complaint (due to a reset) and fits one of the above-listed categories, it should be replaced with Part Number 61 35 8 369 482. All parts of earlier Hardware Version have been cleared from the Parts Distribution Centers.
Parts Information:
Part Number Description Quantity
61 35 8 369 482 General Module (uncoded) 1
Warranty Information:
Parts and Labor are reimbursable under the terms of the BMW New Car Limited Warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles.
Defect Code:
Use the defect Code appropriate to the failure encountered.
Labor Operation: 61 35 120
Labor Allowance: 5 FRU
SIGNATURES OMITTED IN ORDER TO CONSERVE PAPER