
13
Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Principle of Operation
The  optical  infra  red  portion  of  the  sensor  operates  by  the  principle  of  refraction  (bending
of  a  light  ray).  The  rain  sensor  control  module  activates  the  emitter  diode  which  sends  a
beam  of  infra  red  light  through  the  windshield  on  an  angle.  The  set  angle  is  important
because it provides the beam with a calculated reflective path back to the detector diode.
The  beam  is  reflected  back  into  the  windshield  due  to  the  density  difference  of  the  glass
compared with the ambient air on the outside surface of the glass. When the windshield is
clean (no rain drops, moisture or dirt) the detector diode receives 100% of the infra red light
that the was sent by the emitter. With this condition, the rain sensor evaluation electronics
determines the windshield is free of rain drops. 
The density of water is closer to that of glass than air.   When rain starts to accumulate in
the sensor monitoring area, it causes part of the infra red beam to extend past the outside
surface of the glass and into the rain drop.   When this occurs, the beam is refracted and
only part of the beam returns to the detector diode.
The  rain  sensor  evaluation  elec-
tronics determines the windshield
has a few rain drops (or dirt) on it.  
The  intensity  of  the  returned  infra  red  beam  diminishes  proportionally  with  an  increase  of
water  droplets.  The  rain  sensor  control  module  generates  a  signal  proportionate  to  the
amount of rain on the windshield and broadcasts it to the GM via the K bus.
The  GM  activates  the  intermittent  wipe  cycle  if  the  windshield  wiper  stalk  switch  is  in  the
intermittent  position.  It  also  adjusts  the  frequency  of  wiping  the  windshield  depending  on
the four position thumb wheel.
12510114.eps
12510115.eps 

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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Rain Sensor Function
The rain sensor is online as soon as it receives KLR operating power. 
• When the windshield wiper stalk switch is placed in the intermittent position the GM sig-
nals  the  rain  sensor  control  module  via  the  K-Bus  of  the  request  for  intermittent  wiping
and the position of the knurled wheel (sensitivity).  
• As an acknowledgement, the rain sensor sends a command via the K Bus to activate the 
wiper motor. If more than 12 seconds pass before the GM receives the acknowledge- 
ment, the GM concludes the rain sensor has a defect and operates the intermittent wipe  
function as a system not equipped with a rain sensor. The wiper intermittent cycling is  
based solely on the knurled wheel setting.
• The  rain  sensor  continuously  monitors  the  windshield  for  rain  accumulation  and  signals
the GM to activate the wipers based on the knurled wheel position and how fast the rain
accumulates on the windshield.   
• The knurled wheel position signal (1-4) via the K bus informs the rain sensor of the select-
ed level of sensitivity.  
- Position 1 (least sensitive) delays the wiper activation signal.
- Position 4 (most sensitive) sends the wiper activation signal to the GM sooner.
• When the wiper motor park contacts signal the GM of the wiper arm position, the signal
is  simultaneously  sent  to  the  rain  sensor  as  an  indication  that  the  windshield  has  been
cleared of water drops and causes the rain sensor to reset the sensitivity delay timer back
to 0.
• If night time driving is detected via the integral photocell, the sensitivity to water droplets
is increased causeing a shorter delay than day time driving.
• Depending on the intensity of the rain the wipers will be operated continuously as if set in
the  normal  wiper  stalk  switch  position  regardless  of  the  knurled  wheel  setting.  For  this
reason, the vehicle speed signal on the K bus is not utilized on rain sensor equipped wiper
systems. 

• If the ignition switch is turned off with the wiper switch in the intermittent position, the rain
sensor will only become active after the ignition is switched back on and one of the fol-
lowing occurs:
- The stalk switch is moved from the intermittent position and then back.
- The knurled wheel setting is adjusted.
- or the wash function is activated.
The reasoning behind this switching strategy is to have the driver make a conscious deci-
sion to activate the system themselves. 
Rain Sensor Control Module Adaptation
The rain sensor control module adapts to the optics system environment as follows:
Windshield Aging:As the vehicle ages the possibility of stone chipping in the rain sensors
monitoring area may occur which will cause a loss of light in the optics system.  
The control module adapts for loss of light based on the intensity of the detected infra red
light with a cleared windshield (wiper motor park signal). Therefore, the rain sensors func-
tion is not adversely affected due to windshield aging.
Dirty  Windows:The  rain  sensor  adaptation  reacts  less  sensitively  to  a  dirty  windshield
(dirt, road salt, wax residue) after a completed wipe cycle. A dirty windshield has a film on
it that diminishes the ability of the infra red to refract into present water droplets. This caus-
es a delay in the rain sensor detection capabilities which lengthens the time intervals on an
intermittent wipe.
Windshield Wiper System Failsafe Operation
The GM provides failsafe operation of the wiper system if faults are detected with any of the
following input signals:
15
Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Function Faulted Input Detected Failsafe Function
Intermittent Wipe
Short or open circuit of
the knurled wheel signalDelay value for
setting 3 used.
Intermittent wipe
with Rain SensorFaulted Rain Sensor or 
K-Bus Signal corruptNormal Intermittent
wipe implemented
Wiper Motor not
Functional MovingPark contact feedback
signal takes longer than
16 secondsWiper motor control
deactivated for 3
minutes 

• A  remote  luggage  compartment  button  is  installed  in  the  left  kick  panel  (center  console
in the E53) to open the luggage compartment from inside the vehicle.
• The EWS is interfaced for double lock monitoring and unlock function. With the presence  
of an accepted EWS key in the ignition, the vehicle will be unlocked and disarm DWA.    
• The automatic locking feature (> 99 MY) activates the door locks when a road speed 
signal of 5 MPH  and engine RPM is detected via the K-Bus. The factory default setting 
of this feature is off (can be encoded on for individual users with Key Memory function).
• In the event of an accident (ignition on), the GM will be signalled to unlock all doors.
Hardware Features:
• The external lock cylinders are located in the  
driver’s door and luggage compartment lid   
(E53/E39 Sport Wagon does not have a tail- 
gate lock cylinder).
• The driver’s door and luggage compartment   
incorporates an overrunning lock cylinder. The  
lock cylinder will free wheel or spin If any key  
other than the vehicle key or tool, such as a  
screw driver, is inserted into the cylinder. The 
lock cylinders can be manually locked/un- 
locked  by turning the key “past” lock/unlock.
• The door lock buttons are mechanically uncoupled from the  
lock actuators when locked. 
The door lock buttons “mechanically” lock the individual 
doors. This provides manual locking in the event of a central  
locking malfunction.
• Child safety locks (located in 
the rear doors) are  actuated 
by inserting a key in the slot on  
the door latch or by sliding a  
lever (dependent on model). 
The door can now only be  
opened from outside.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Door
Button
Lock
12520117.eps
12520119.eps
12510121.eps
12520120.eps 

•  Signal "NG"; switched ground output signal provided to the GM. The signal is used for
two purposes,
1. As  a  momentary  acknowledgment  that  the  tilt  sensor  received  STDWA  and  is  cur-
rently monitoring the vehicle angle.
2. If the tilt sensor detects a change in the vehicle's angle when DWA is armed, signal
NG is switched to inform the GM to activate the siren. 
When  the  tilt  sensor  receives  the  STDWA  signal  from  the  GM  it  memorizes  the  vehicle's
parked  angle.  The  angle  of  the  vehicle  is  monitored  by  the  solid  state  electronics.  Once
armed,  if  the  angle  changes,  the  tilt  sensor  provides  a  switched  ground  signal  to  the  GM
to activate DWA.  
As with the interior sensor, the tilt sensor is also switched OFF when the vehicle is locked
two times within ten seconds. The LED will flash one time for confirmation. This allows the
sensor to be switched OFF for transportation purposes.
Glass Breakage Sensors (Early E38 - before FIS Sensor): The door windows (includ-
ing  the  rear  quarter  glass  wire  loop)  are  monitored  by  inductive  sensors  mounted  on  the
inside of the door behind the trim panel. A closed window is recognized by a magnetic plate
on the glass lining up with the sensor. 
If the glass is broken, the plate falls away and the signal from the sensor changes and the
GM will activate the alarm.
Alarm  Siren: The  alarm  siren  is  mounted  in  the  rear  wheel  well,  behind  the  inner  wheel
housing cover (early E38 used an alarm horn). The E53 alarm siren is located in the left side
of the engine compartment.
The  siren  contains  electronic  circuitry  for  producing  the  warn-
ing tone when the alarm is triggered. The siren also contains a
rechargeable battery that is used to power the siren when the
alarm is triggered.  
The rechargeable battery will allow the siren to sound if it or the
vehicle’s  battery  is  disconnected.  The  siren  battery  is
recharged, from the vehicle’s battery, when the alarm is not in
the armed state.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
625200108.eps 

Servotronic (E38 only)
Purpose of the System
The  servotronic  steering  system  is  based  on  a  conventional  power  assisted  steering  sys-
tem.  An  additional  electro-hydraulic  solenoid  and  oil  passageways  are  added  to  the  con-
ventional worn and roller type steering box. The GM monitors the vehicle’s road speed and
regulates  an  electro-hydraulic  solenoid.  The  servotronic  steering  system  provides  the  fol-
lowing:    
• A light steering effort at low speeds and while parking.
• Increased steering effort as road speed increases.
The "Direct Hydraulic Reaction" provided by the system allows the frictional forces between
the front wheels and road surface to be transmitted to the driver. This allows the driver to
make a better judgment in regard to the driving conditions.
This principle of direct hydraulic reaction can be used with the servotronic system because
of the spool valves that are already used with the worm and roller steering box.
Refer to ST056 Chassis Dynamics for further “mechanical” details of Servotronic. 
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III 

9. What type of sensor is used to detect the position of a seat with Memory?  What type
of signal does it produce?__________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
10. How does the Seat Module communicate a request for a stored memory position with
the mirror modules?_______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
11. On an E38 with Servotronic, why is the speed signal provided to the GM from both  
the IKE “A” signal and the K-Bus?___________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
12. An E38 customer complains that when exiting the vehicle the steering wheel moves 
up. What is the cause of this?______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
13. How does the SZM monitor the Seat Heating temperature?_____________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
14. What circuits are controlled by Consumer Cut Off? ____________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
15. If a technician double locked a 2000 MY E39 while still inside the vehicle, how could  
he/she exit the vehicle?____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
16. How is the MY 2000 key charged?__________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
17. How is the DWA Disarmed (emergency)?_____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
18. What functions will deactivate the exterior door handle lighting? _________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________     
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III