air bags BMW 528i 1997 E39 User Guide

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Door windows1
Window motor limit stop function
If repeated window activation (upldown cycles) exceeds one
minute, the
GM Ill deactivates the internal relays and disre-
gards any further
upldown requests. The GM Ill provides mo-
tor activation after a short duration but not for the full one
minute monitoring cycle.
The
GM Ill monitors the number of times a window motor is
activated. It counts each cycle and stores the number in
memory. Afler the stop function limit is reached and the win-
dow motor is deactivated, the
GM Ill slowly reverses the
stored count of activation until the stored number equals
0,
thus allowing the window motor to cool down.
WARNING-
* Always wear hand and eye protection when working with
brolen glass.
If a window is brolen, all of the glass bits should be
vacuumed out of the door cavity. Use a blunt
so-ewdi-iv-
er to clean out any remaining glass pieces from the
window guide rails.
When servicing the door windows, the harness con-
nector to the window regulator should always be dis-
connected to prevent pinching fingers in the moving
window mechanism.
Sedan and Sport Wagon doors are similar. Use the following
procedures for window service on these models.
WARNING-
E39 cars are iitted with side-impact airbags in the front
doors. Some are equipped with
airbags in the rear doors
as well. When
servicing the door windows on cars with
side-impact airbags, always disconnect the negative
(-)
battery cable. See 721 Airbag System (SRS) for cau-
tions and procedures relating to the
airbag system.
* Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery dis-
connection cautionsgiven
001 General Warnings and
Cautions.

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Door Windows
Tilt window glass carefully inside door cavity and lift out of
door.
Installation is reverse of removal.
Replace plastic window retainers once glass is inside door.
Use new mounting bolts when reinstalling side-impact
air-
bag to door.
Adjust window as described earlier,
Sedan and Sport Wagon doors are similar. There are two win-
dow rails in each front window regulator, only one in the rear.
Otherwise the front and rear regulators are similar.
WARNING-
E39 cars are Wed with side-impact airbags in the front
doors. Some are equipped with
airbags in the rear doors
as well. When servicing the door windows on cars with
side-impact airbags, always disconnect the negative
(-)
battery cable. See 721 Airbag System (SRS) for cau-
tions and procedures relating to the
airbag system.
Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery dis-
connection cautions given at the front
001 General
Warnings and Cautions.
NOTE-
Because window operation is electronically controlled, a win-
dow motor does not have mechanical endpositions. For this
reason it can be removed and installed with the window in
any position and does not need reinitialization.
Front window regulator removing and
installing
NOTE-
BMW recommends removing the window regulator and mo-
tor as one unit, then separating the two on the bench.
- Remove front door panel as described in 411 Doors.
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery, then remove air-
bag unit and vapor barrier from door. See 721 Airbag Sys-
tem (SRS).

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I lnterior Trim
This repair group covers interior trim removal and installation
procedures.
- Refer to the following repair groups for additional information:
250 Gearshift Linkage
41 1 Doors (interior door panels)
@ 612 Switches
620 Instruments
640 Heating and Air Conditioning [IHKA control panel!
650 Radio
721 Airbag System (SRS)
lnterior trim repairs
lnterior trim and finish panels are clipped or screwed into
place. Many of the trim retaining clips are designed
to be used
only once. When removing trim that is held in place with clips,
it is a good idea to have spare clips on hand before beginning
the job.
WARNING-
Special precautions must be observed when servicing the
BMWSupplementai Restraint System (SRS). Serious inju-
ry may result if system service is attempted by persons un-
familiar with the BMW
SRS and its approved service
procedures. BMW
speciiies that all inspection and service
should be performed by an authorized BMW
dealer.
Before performing any work involving airbags, discon-
nect the negative
() battery cable. See 721 Airbag
System (SRS).
Airbags contain a back-uppowersupply within the SRS
control module. A
5 second discharge period should be
allowed after the battery cable has been disconnected.
CAUTION-
* When working on electrical switclies or lights, always dis-
connect the negative
(-) cable from the battery and insu-
late the cable end to prevent accidental reconnection.
a Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery dis-
connection cautions given in
W1 General Warnings
and Cautions.
To prevent marring the trim when working on interior
components, work with plastic prying
tools or wrap the
tips of screwdrivers and pliers with tape before prying

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513-12
Interior Trim
< Remove steering column trim panel by releasing clips (ar-
rows).
< Remove left side mounting fasteners (arrows).
Lilt dash panel upwards and remove through passenger
door.
- Installation is the reverse of removal.
Window and door post trim panels,
removing and installing
Windshield post trim (A pillar), removing and Installing
- On 1998 and later cars, disconnect battery negative (-) cable
I
WARNING-
On 1998 and later models, front Head Protection System
(HPS)
airbags are installed in the driver and passenger side
windshieldpost
trim (A-pillar). See 721 Airbag System
(SRS) for warnings and cautions regarding airbags.
< Remove A-p~llar trim panel fastener cap (arrow)

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51 3-1 4
llnterior Trim
Carefully pry bottom of upper trim panel away from door post
to release clips.
Pull upper trim panel straight down (arrow) to remove.
Installation is reverse of removal.
If necessary replace defective or
broken mounting clips.
Rear window pillartrim (C-pillar), removing and installing
(models without rear
HPS airbags)
1 I
WARNING-
On 1998 and later models, rear Head Protection System
(HPS)
airbags may be installed (optional equipment) in the
driver and passenger side C-pillar area.
The procedure given
below does not cover models with rear HPS airbags. See
721 Airbag System (SRS).
4 Carefully pry interior light out of C-pillar trim panel and dis-
connect wiring harness.
Carefully pry trim panel out at top to release clips,
- Pull trim panel straight up to remove.
- lnstallation is reverse of removal.
If necessary replace defective or broken mounting clips.

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51 3-1 5
I Interior Trim
Dash panel support, removing and
installing
- Remove lower dash panel. See Lower dash panel assem-
bly, removing and installing.
- Remove upper dash panel. See Upper dash assembly, re-
moving and installing.
- Remove upper steering column fasteners. See 320 Steering
and Wheel Alignment.
4 Remove dash support fasteners (arrows).
Remove wire ties as necessary and remove support.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
Rear parcel shelf, removing and installing
(models without rear
HPS airbags)
WARNING-
On 1998 and later models, rear Head Protection System
(HPS)
airbags may be installed (optional equipment). The
procedure given below does not covermodels with rear HPS
airbags. See721
Airbag System (SRS).
- Remove C-pillar trim panels. See Rear window pillar trim
panel (C-pillar), removing and installing.
- Remove rear seat backrest. See 520 Seats.
- Rear parcel shelf removing:
Remove center headrest fasteners.
Remove
seatbelt floor mounting fasteners.
Carefully pry out safety belt trim panels and feed
seatbelt
through slots.
. . . - -. . . . . . . . . Remove expansion rivets and slide pane fonvard to re-
move.
< Remove expanson r:vets (arrows).
Remove vent panels (A).
Remove speafter pane s (B).
Remove center head rest s-pporl fasteners (C).
Slioe parcel shelf forward lo remove.
- lnsta lation s reverse of removal.

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721 Airbag System (SRS)
........................... General ............................ 721-2 Airbags 721-8
..... E39Airbags ......................... 721-3 Driver airbag. removing and installing 721-8
Two-stage airbag (MRS 111) ............ .72 1.4 Passenger airbag. removing and installing . 721-9
Airbag indicator light .................. .72 1.4 Door mounted side-impact airbag.
............... Warninas .......................... .72 1.5 removina and installina 721-10 .
..... Head protection airbag components 721
-1 1 Airbag Electronics ................. '721-6 Head protection airbag (HpS) .......... 721-12 MRS ............................... 721-6
MRS
airbag system diagram ........... .72 1.6
MRS control module. replacing ......... .72 1.7
Side-impact crash sensor.
removing and installing
................ .72 1.7

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721 -2
l~irba~ System (SRS)
This repair group covers airbag components and replace-
ment.
Airbag system repairand fault diagnosis is not covered.
Diagnostics, component testing, and
airbag system repair
should be carried out by trained BMW service technicians.
Individual
airbag system components can only be tested elec-
tronically when installed in the car. BMW service testers
DIS
or MoDiC or equivalent must be used for diagnostic work.
WARNING-
Special test equipment is required to retrieve airbag fault
codes, diagnose system faults, and
reseffturn off the air-
bag indicator light. The indicator light will remain on until
any problem has been corrected and the fault memory has
been cleared.
Airbags are part of the BMW Multiple Restraint System
(MRS). Three versions of MRS are available in E39 models.
Multiple Restraint Systems
MRS and MRS II include the following restraint components:
311 996-811 997
911
997-311 999
311 999-2002
Driver and passenger front
airbags (MRSIMRS II)
MRS
MRS
II
MRS Ill
Passenger front two-stage airbag (cars manufactured
from
911998).
The seat occupancy sensor (SBE) is used for detection of
a passenger in the right front seat. MRS uses the SBE in-
put to determine seat belt tensioner
and/or front airbag de-
ployment thresholds.
Side impact
airbag for driver and front passenger
(MRSIMRS II)
Leftlright side impact crash sensors (MRSIMRS 11)
Side impact airbag for rear passenger (MRS II) (optional)
Head Protection System (HPS) for driver and front passen-
ger (MRS
II)
Battery Safety Terminal - BST (MRS II)
Hall Sensor seat belt switches (MRS II)
Front pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
Fuel pump cut off message

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721 -3
Airbag System (SRS)
MRS Ill adds the following features:
MRS
Ill employs "smart" technology. Smart technology re-
fers to the control module's programming for the deploy-
ment of the airbags, in stages depending on the severity of
the impact.
Two-stage a~rbag for ooln drver and passenger Alloivs for
a softer
c~snioning elfecl when the airbags are lr ggered at
lighter impact,
MRS
Ill satellite sensors use 2 wire connectors
Rear side
airbags arrive de-activated from the factory and
can only be activated upon written request from the cus-
tomer.
Rear seat head protection is available when ordered with
optional rear seat side airbags.
E39 Airbags
Driver airbag
Passenger airbag
Head Protection System (HPS)
Inflatable Tubular Structure
(ITS) (MRS
II and MRS Ill)
Front side impact airbag
Rear door side impact airbag
(optional) (MRS I1 and MRS Ill)

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I Airbag System (SRS)
Two-stage airbag (MRS Ill)
Beginning with 2000 model year (911 999 production) the front
airbags were changed to a two-stage style airbag. This en-
sures that the force of
airbag inflation is not greater than nec-
essary to provide
protection. The airbags are designed to
Drovide "soit" de~lovment if the acceleration sensor detects a
iow-speed impact, and "hard deployment in higher speed im-
pacts.
NOTE-
A two-stage passenger airbag was used on cars built be-
tween
9/1998 and 3/1999. This pre-smart technology airbag
used two ignition stages. Stage one is designed to ignite first
during an impact. Stage two ignites after a timed period, as
programmed in the MRS
I1 control module.
Airbag indicator light
The MRS control module detects and stores system status
The
airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster displays
the status of the
airbag system when the ignition key is in "ac-
cessory" or
ON positions.
System normal: lndicator light comes on briefly, then goes
out.
- System malfunction: lndicator light fails to come on.
System malfunction: lndicator light comes on briefly, goes
out and lights up again.
The
airbag indicator light also comes on if the seat belt pyro-
technic tensioners have been triggered.