BMW X5 2004 E53 Central Body Electronics Workshop Manual
Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 2004, Model line: X5, Model: BMW X5 2004 E53Pages: 64, PDF Size: 4.03 MB
Page 1 of 64

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Subject Page
Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Power Distribution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Windshield Wiping/Washing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Optional Rain Sensor (AIC)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Central Locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Remote RF Keyless Entry  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Model Year 2000 FZV Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Car Memory / Key Memory  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Power Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Window Anti-Trap Detection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Sunroof  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Interior Lighting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Anti-Theft (DWA) System  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Tilt Sensor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Interior Protection (UIS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Alarm Siren  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Alarm Indication  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Seat Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Mirror Operation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Seat Operation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Steering Column Operation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
General Functions of ZKE III  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Diagnosis/Troubleshooting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Revised 6-96 
Page 2 of 64

INTRODUCTION
The  Central  Body  Electronics  (ZKE  III)  equipped  on  the  X5  includes  the  following  sub-
systems under the total scope of its control:
• Windshield/tailgate wiping/washing,
including windshield rain sensor (AIC).
• Interior lighting
• Central locking
• Keyless entry
•  Tailgate release
The following is an overview of new or changed features found on the X5 ZKE III variant. 
• Passenger’s  door  module  is  now  incorporated  into  the  passenger’s  door  switchblock
module.
• Sunroof module (SHD)  located on the K bus.
• The Central Locking system uses a new style door lock actuator with hall effect sensors
similar to E46.
• The  GM  III  is  responsible  for  the  Key  Memory  feature.    It  provides  the  added
convenience  of  identifying  users  of  the  vehicle.   Whenever  the  vehicle  is  locked  or
unlocked  via  the  FZV  keyless  entry  system,  a  unique  key  identification  signal  (key
number) is transmitted to the General Module.
The  key  identification  signal  alerts  the  GM  to  communicate  with  other  control  systems
over the K Bus to store (when locked) or reset (when unlocked) certain driver adjustable
settings  for  the  driver  using  the  specific  key.    The  GM  also  resets  certain  driver
adjustable settings that it controls directly.
• Power windows/Sunroof
• DWA alarm system 
• Mirror - adjustment/memory/heating
• Seat adjustment/memory
• Steering column adjustment/memory
• Consumer cut-off/sleep mode
ZKE - 2 
Page 3 of 64

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Page 4 of 64

ZKE - 4
POWER DISTRIBUTION 
The  X5  utilizes  a  single  high  amperage  fused
power distribution center located to the left  EHC
air reservoir beneath the cargo area floor. 
The  main  fuse  box  is  located  inside  the  glove
box  above  a  hinged  panel.  This  places  the
power  distribution  close  to  the  main  electronics
carrier behind the glove box.  
The glove box mounted fuse box includes fuses
1 - 64.
Mounted on the top surface of the fuse panel are
the following relays:
FUEL PUMP
HORN
HEATED STEERING WHEEL
VISUAL ENTRY AID RELAY MODULE(OPTIONAL - REFER TO 1999 MODEL UPDATE)
NOT SHOWN IN THIS PHOTO
This view shown through passenger side airbag opening in dash panel.     
Page 5 of 64

RADIO
UNLOADER
RELAY
ZKE - 5
An additional fuse panel is located
in  an  electrical  carrier  located  at
the right rear of the cargo area.  
The panel contains fuses 72 - 87.
The  carrier  also  contains  the
following relays
LOWER TAILGATE
ACTUATOR RELAY
REAR WINDOW
DEFROSTER
RELAY
	 
		
	
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Page 6 of 64

WINDSHIELD WIPING/WASHING
• The GM III controls all of the windshield wiping/washer and headlight washing functions.
• Output  control  of  the  wiper  motor  is
through  the    windshield  wiper  double
contact  relay.    The  relay  is  located  in  the
engine  compartment  E-box  and  is  tan  in
color.
• The system continues to have four wiping
stages  and  four  interval  wiping  speeds.
The wiping stage inputs are coded signals
through a two wire link with a combination
of  high/low  inputs  as  on  previous
systems. 
• The Windshield Wiping System can also be supplemented with the Rain Sensor system
as  optional  equipment.      The  Rain  Sensor  detects  rain  drops  on  the  windshield  and
automatically activates the wipers when the stalk switch is in the intermittent position.
Wiper Stalk Switch:
SINGLE: Holding the wiper switch down in the single position provides a ground signal to
activate the slow speed circuit providing wiper operation until the switch is released.
INTERMITTENT: The  intermittent  wiping  time  inputs  are  provided  by  a  potentiometer
mounted in the wiper stalk switch. 
• The intermittent
wiping intervals are
dependent on the
road speed.  
• As road speed
increases, the
wiping interval
delay is decreased. 
SLOW (I) AND FAST (II): The stage I and stage II wiping speeds are also affected by road
speed.  The factory encoded settings are the same as previous systems:
• Stage I automatically switches to intermittent when the vehicle is stopped 
• Stage II switches to stage I when stopped.
ZKE - 6
WINDSHIELD WIPER
DOUBLE RELAY  
Page 7 of 64

ZKE - 7
Page 8 of 64

ZKE - 8
WINDSHIELD WASHING:
Pulling  the  Windshield  Wiper  Switch  rearward  closes  the  “wash”  contact  providing  a
switched ground input to the GM.  The GM activates the windshield washer pump directly
via a power output final stage transistor.
HEADLIGHT WASHING:
When  the  headlights  are  on,  the  headlight
washer  pump  is  activated  with  the  first
activation  of  the  windshield  washer  pump.
The  GM  recognizes  headlights  on  via  K  bus
signalling.
Within  the  same  “on”  cycle  (ignition  key  has
not  been  switched  off),  it  is  only  activated
again after five successive windshield washer
cycles.
The  GM  provides  a  ground  on  the  headlight
washer  relay  control  circuit  providing  pump
operation.  The relay is located in the e-box.
The  X5  uses  three  separate  washer  pumps
which are all easily accessible on the 5.3 liter
washer  fluid  reservoir  located  in  the  engine
compartment.  
GM III
HEADLIGHT WASHER
RELAY
HEADLIGHT
WASHER
PUMP
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
PUMP
TAILGATE
WASHER
PUMP   
Page 9 of 64

REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER SYSTEM
The  tailgate  window  wiper/washer  system  is  included  in  the  scope  of  ZKE  however  is  not
controlled  directly  by  the  GM.      The  control  electronics  are  integrated  into  the  rear  wiper
motor  assembly.    It  contains  two  hall  sensors,  one  for  monitoring  park  position  and  other
for the end stop, or to signal reverse direction of the wiper motor.
The  rear  wiper  system  is  operator  controlled
through  the  wiper  stalk  switch  providing  the
following functions:
• Intermittent rear window wiping
• Programmed rear window wiping interval
• Operation of the rear window washer
Pressing  the  wiper  stalk  forward  to  the  first
detent  activates  the  rear  wiper  in  the
intermittent mode. 
The default timed interval is approximately 12 seconds. The full sweep and park positions
are recognized by the two hall sensors on the motor gear assembly. If the wiper is switched
OFF, the wiper blade will return to the park position.
The  programmed  wiper  interval  procedure  is  identical  to  the  E39  sport  wagon;  Briefly
switch  the  rear  wiper  ON/OFF,  Wait  the  desired  interval  time,  Switch  the  rear  wiper  ON
again.  The OFF time will be the programmed interval - up to approx. 30 seconds
Rear  window  washing  is  activated  by  pressing  the  wiper  stalk  switch  to  the  full  forward
position. The washer pump operates followed by two full wiping cycles. The wipers will then
switch to the intermittent wiping mode.
When the transmission is shifted into reverse, the wiper will switch to continuous operation
until the vehicle is shifted out of reverse. This high signal is provided by the LCM III when it
activates the back up lights.
ZKE - 9  
Page 10 of 64

OPTIONAL RAIN SENSOR (AIC)
The  Windshield  Wiping  System  will  also  be  available  with  an  optionally  equipped  Rain
Sensor.    The  Rain  Sensor  provides  added  driver  convenience  and  enhances  safety  by
automatically  activating  the  intermittent  function  of  the  windshield  wipers  when  water
droplets are detected on the windshield.
COMPONENTS:
The  rain  sensor  unit  is  mounted  on  the  top  center  area  of  the  interior  windshield  surface
directly behind the rear view mirror. The unit contains:
•Optical Prism Body:This  portion  of  the  unit  is
permanently  fixed  to  the  windshield.    It  can  not  be
removed  and  can  only  be  replaced  with  a
replacement windshield.  
The  prism  body  has  a  reflective  surface  that  faces
the  back  of  the  windshield.    The  prism  body  also
acts  as  the  windshield  mount  for  the  Rain  Sensor
Control Module.
•Rain Sensor Control Module:The control module incorporates the following;
- Infra Red Emitter and Detector Diodes
- Optics heater (prevents condensation from forming on diodes and prism)
- Optics evaluation and control electronics
- Photo cell to detect night time driving 
The control module requires four signals for operation; KL R, KL 31, Windshield Wiper
Motor Park Signal Feedback and K Bus interface.
ZKE - 10
GM III