airbag BMW 525i 1997 E39 User Guide

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Steering and Wheel ~li~nrnentl
Steering gearbox, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative (-) battery cable. See 020 Mainte-
nance.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the battew read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warnings.
- Remove airbag unit from steering wheel. See 721 Airbag
System (SRS).
WARNING -
Improper handling of the airbag could cause serious injury
Store the
airbag with the horn pad facing up. If stored lacing
down, accidental deployment couldpropel it violently info the
air, causing
injuv
- Remove steering wheel as described earlier.
- Drain power steering system reservoir.
- Raise front of car.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place jack stands under suspension
Darts.
- Remove heat shield from left side of subframe.
- Remove fluid hoses from top of steering gearbox. Immedi-
ately plug all fluid openings.
Remove and discard
pitman arm self-loclting nut (arrow).

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L.. Steering and Wheel ~li~nrnentl ~
4 Mark A on steering gearbox shaft must be located in center
of
pitman arm slot.
- Adjust pitman arm as described later.
I 5"?~~5~"
I / < Gap A = 0.5 - 8.5 mm (0.02 - 0.33 in)
- Tighten pitman arm pinch bolt to specification.
' 1 Tightening torques
I u "steering Steering gearbox to subframe 62 Nm (46 ft-lb)
box Steering shaft universal joint to steering 19 Nm (14 It-lb)
gearbox (replace bolt)
- Install center tie rod to pitman arm using a new self locking
Pilrnan nut. arm
5nz3zn588 - Connect harness connector for Servotronic electro-hydraulic
regulator
if necessary.
- Connect fluid hoses to steering gearbox. Use new sealing
washers at couplings and make sure not to overtorque banjo
bolts.
Tightening torques Hydraulic lines to steering gearbox (banjo bolts)
MI0 12 Nm (9 ft-lb)
- M14 35 Nm (26 ft-lb)
. M16 40 Nm (30 ft-lb)
MI8 45 Nm (33 it-lb)
Center tie rod to pitrnan arm 65 Nm (48 it-lb)
(use new self-loclting nut)
- Reconnect negative (-) battery cable.
- lnstall airbag unit. See 721 Airbag System (SRS).
- Fill and bleed power steering system as described earlier.

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400 Body-General
........................ General ........................... .40 0.2 Roof paddin~ 400-7
Body Assembly ................... .40 0.2
Body dimensions (in inches)
............ .40 0.2
Bodyshell
........................... 400-3
Exterior and aerodynamics
............. .40 0.3
Sport Wagon ...................... .40 0.4
Tailgate
............................ .40 0.5
Tailgate lock system
.................. .40 0.5
Rear wiper system ................... .40 0.6
Antenna and sound system ............ .40 0.6
Safety and Security Features ....... .40 0.7
Safety cage
......................... .40 0.7
Door locks and door handles
........... .40 0.7
.
........................... Seat belts 400-7
Airbags ............................ 400-8
Battery safety terminal (BST)
........... 400-9
Security
............................ 400-9
Interior Features ................... 400-9
............................. Seats 400-10
Instruments and controls .............. 400-10
Central body electronics
.............. 400-1 1
Heating and Air
Conditioning (IHKA)
............... 400-12

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Body-General
SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES
A number of new or improved safety and security features are
incorporated in
E39 cars.
Safety cage
4 The body safety cage is a continuation of an established
BMW concept for passenger protection. Tubular impact
structures built into the body provide protection against pas-
senger injury during front or rear impacts.
Door locks and door handles
4 The door handles allow easy door opening, but are secure in
accidents.
Electrical components in the locks are fully encapsulated and
cannot be picked easily. The door handles, latches and
loclc
assemblies offer reliability and security against theft.
Door position and
loclc condition are detected by hall sensors.
Roof padding
In addition to the side and head protection airbags, there is
supplementary padding at the roof pillars and along the roof
above the doors. This is positioned to present energy absorb-
ing
surlaces to passengers thrown around by side impact
forces.
Seat belts
Each front seat belt assembly has a height-adjustable anchor
at the 8-pillar.
An automatic pyrotechnic (explosive charge) tensioner tight-
ens the front belt at the buckle upon impact, snugging up lap
and shoulder segments of the belt. The tensioners are de-
signed to automatically tension the belts by about
2 inches
(55 mm) in the event ofa collision.
A force limiter puts an upper limit on the amount of iorce each
belt can exert on the passenger.

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400-8
Body-General
Airbags
Front airbags, s~de a~rbags, pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
and the Battery Safety Terminal (BST) are integrated into the
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and its variants.
NOTE-
The BMW SRS system is called Multiple Restra~nt System
(MRS). Over the years,
E39 cars were equipped with MRS,
MRS
11, MRS 111. Each version offers varied features and im-
provements over the previous system.
< As many as 8 airbags may be installed in E39 cars, depend-
ing on model and MRS version.
The front
airbags operate without sodium azide propellant,
widely considered an irritant when an
airbag is deployed.
Starting with
1999 models. "smart"front passenger and driver
airbags were installed. These are of the dual-threshold, dual
stage design, including a
sensorto help prevent the unneces-
sary deployment of the passenger side
airbag if the seat is un-
occupied.
MRS control Depend~ng on options chosen, one airbag may be installed in module each door of the sedan and Sport Wagon models, protecting
passengers against
s~de impacts.
Head Protection System (ITS)
airbags strelch diagonally
across the tops of the front doors.
Airbag deployment automatically triggers fuel shutoff, turns
on the hazard and interior lights, and unlocks the doors.
- -
WARNING -
Airbags are inflated by an explosive device. Handled im-
properly or without adequate safeguards,
airbag units can
be very dangerous. Special precautions must be observed
prior to any worlc at or near any of the airbags. See
721 Air-
bag System (SRS).
Always disconnect the battery and cover the negative
(-) battery terminal with an insulator before starting di-
agnostic, troubleshooting or service work on cars fitted
with SRS, and before doing any welding on the
car.

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Doors
This repair group covers front and rear door repair informa-
tion. It includes removal and installation of front and rear
doors and trim panels.
For information on
airbag removal and installation, see 721
airbag.
For information on the power door windows and door glass
replacement, see
512 Door Windows.
For information on the power door
loclting system, see 515
Central Locking and Anti-Theft.
WARNING-
E39 cars are fitted with side-impact airbags in the front doors
and optional side impact
airbags in the rear doors. When
servicing doors, always disconnect the negative
(-) battery
terminal. See
721 Airbag System (SRS) for cautions and
procedures
relatinq to the airbaq system.
Front or rear door, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative (-) battery cable.
Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery discon-
nection cautionsgiven in
001 General Cautions and warn-
ings.
Remove harness connector mounting bolt (arrow) at door
pillar.

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Doors
~obr adjustment
Front fender to
4.25 mm i 0.25 mm (0.17 i- 0.01 in)
front door gap
Front
door to 4.5 mm i 0.25 mm (0.18 i 0.01 in)
rear door gap
Rear door to rear fender 4.0 mm i 0.25 mm (0.16 i 0.01 in)
Permissible deviation 1 .O mm (0.04 in)
from
~arallel
Tightening torque
Door hinge to door frame
20 Nm (15 it-lb)
Door check, replacing
WARNING -
E39 cars are fitted with side-impact airbags in the front doors
and optional side impact
airbags in the rear doors. When
servicing doors, always disconnect the negative
(-) battery
terminal. See
721 Airbag System (SRS) for cautions and
procedures relating to the
airbag system.
- Close door window completely.
- Disconnect negative (-) battery cable.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the batter)! read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warnings.
- Remove interior door panel. See Door trim panels, remov-
ing and installing.
- Where applicable, remove side-impact airbag from door. See
721 Airbag System (SRS). Remove door vapor barrier.
Disconnect door
check by
(arrow) and removing pin. squeezing I mounting
pin tabs

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... -
Doors
Remove rubber cover (A) and bolts (B) from door check lock-
plate on door.
Worlting inside door, remove door check assembly
Installation is reverse of removal.
Lubricate door check before installing.
- If removed, use new mounting bolts when reinstalling side-
impact airbag to door.
Tightening torque
Door
check to door frame 24 Nm (16 it-lb)
Door hinge adjustment
If the installed door is uneven or out of parallel, spacers can
be used to correct its position. Spacers are placed behind the
hinge and are available in two different thicltnesses
(0.5 mm
and 1.0 mm).
- Front and rear door adjustment procedure is similar.
Tightening torque Door hinge to door
frame 20 Nrn (15 ft-lb)

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WARNING -
E39 cars are fitted with side-impact airbags in the front doors
and optional side impact
airbags in the rear doors. When
servicing doors, always disconnect the negative
(-) battery
terminal. See
721 Airbag System (SRS) for cautions and
procedures relating to the
airbag system.
Door trim panel, removing and installing
Disconnect negative (-) battery cable.
CAUTION--
Prior to disconnecting the battem read the batfew discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and warn-
ings.
Q Open door, and remove screw (arrow) located
in air
duct.
< Pry out seat memory switch and disconnect wiring harness.

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51 2-2
I Door Windows 1
This repair group covers door glass, window regulator and
power window motor repair information.
CA U JIO&
All E39 models are equipped with side-impact airbags in the
front doors. Some models are also equipped with
airbags in
the rear doors. Be sure to read the
airbag warnings and cau-
tions in 721
Airbag System (SRS).
Electric window switch replacement is covered in 612
Switches.
The windshield, rear window, fixed rear doorglass, and cargo
compartment glass (Sport Wagon only) are bonded using
special adhesives and tools. It is recommended that bonded
glass replacement be done by an authorized
BMW service fa-
cility or an automotive glass installer.
Special tools
Some window repair operations require special tools.
Power windows
- Power window features in E39 models include:
Control of the front and rear door window motors is carried
out directly by the General Module (GM
Ill).
One-touch operation in both directions on all four windows.
Cable type window regulator used for all door windows.
. Anti-trap protection provided by pressure sensitive finger
guard.
Right front and each rear door has a single window switch
located in door handle trim.
Rear door window switches can be deactivated by press-
ing child lock-out switch in the driver's window switch block.
Convenience closinglopening of the windows from driver's
loci( cylinder or convenience opening only from remote un-
lociting feature (FZV) remote key.
Window (FZV) operation can be owner customized with
Car Memory function. See 515 Central Locking and Anti-
Theft.
After ignition is switched off, electric windows can be oper-
ated until a door is opened or until
I6 minutes has elapsed.
The GM
IiI bases window motor end position on current
draw (load). There is a maximum window motor run time of
6 seconds. The motor is then switched off even if the end
position load sensor fails.