For what it is worth, as I've never used 3DS Max: This link speaks of 3 ways to fix the normals in 3DS Max,
with either "reset normals", or "Break", or "Unify" command in 3DS Max:
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-forum/model-gets-strange-black-grey-quot-shaded-quot-polys-and-it-just/td-p/4420379

-Brian

(Google search was "3dsmax import normals problem)