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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.

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51 2-3
Door Windows
Window switches
4 The push type window switch provides the GM Ill with a cod-
ed ground signal. Holding a switch at the first detent provides
a single ground signal on one wire requesting the GM
Ill to
open the window. When released, the ground signal is re-
moved and the window motor stops.
- Momentarily pushing the switch to the second detent and re-
leasing provides an additional ground signal on the second
wire requesting "one touch mode". The GM
Ill lowers the win-
dow automatically until it reaches the end position. Each win-
dow has four positions, two each for the standard mode of
operation and two for the one-touch mode. All window oper-
ation signals are digital inputs to the door modules and GM
111.
- The switch functions in the same manner for window closing
but the ground signal sequence is reversed.
4 Window switch positions.
1. Off
2. Open
3. One touch open
4. Close
5. One touch close
Rear window child lockout switch
4 The rear window child lockout switch (arrow) is incorporated
in the driver's window switch block in
leit front door arm rest.
When activated, it provides a constant ground signal to the
GM
Ill, preventing the windows from being operated from the
rear door switches.
- The lockout switch ground signal is overridden by the GM Ill
if a passive safety system (MRS) crash signal is received.

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51 2-4
I Door Windows
/ Anti-trap strip
Power window motors
The window motors are mounted on cable regulators. The
window motor control circuit consists of two wires for operat-
ing the motor in both directions.
The motors are activated by relays in the GM
Ill. The relays
provide either power or ground depending on the direction of
window travel. The GM
Ill controls the polarity based on a re-
quest to run the window from a window switch or a conve-
nience
openinglclosing signal.
Convenience openinglclosing
The GM Iii provides the convenience openlclose feature, pro-
viding control of the power windows (and sunroof) from out-
side the vehicle with the key in the driver's door lock. The FZV
(remote key) provides the same function for window opening
only.
Anti-trap protection is active during convenience closing from
the driver's door lock.
If the GM receives a request to operate convenience closing
or opening for more than
110 seconds, the function is deacti-
vated and a
fault code is stored.
Window anti-trap protection
4 A rubber pressure guard is located at the top edge of each
door frame. It consists of two contact strips that close when
subjected to pressure. When the contact strip closes (for ex-
ample, a hand is trapped between the top of the window and
the door frame), an anti-trap signal is sent to the GM
Ill. The
window immediately (within
10 milliseconds) reverses direc-
tion. This feature does not require
initialization.
The E39 pressure sensor finger guard has a resistance of 3
Kw and it is monitored for open circuits. When pressed, the
monitored resistance changes to
< 1 Kw. if anti-trap protection
becomes faulty the one touch window closing will not func-
tion.
Window anti-trap protection is
only active in the one touch
and convenience close modes of operation. If the window
switch is pulled and held, anti-trap protection will not function.
The anti-trap contact strip has a resistance of
1.2 K Ohm and
it is monitored for open circuits. Faults with the anti-trap sys-
tem will cancel the one touch feature requiring the window
switch be held to close the window.

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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 5-4
I Central Locking and Anti-Theft
Driver's door lock
The
lock/unlock signals are sent as input to the door module
from two microswitches on the lockcylinder. The driver's door
module carries out the locking
/ unlocking functions of the
driver's door through its final stage control.
The signal to lock the remaining doors, trunk or tailgate and
fuel flap is sent over the P-Bus to the GM and the passenger
door module. Activation of the passengers door
loclt is carried
out by the passenger door module. The rear doors, trunlt or
tailgate and fuel flap are
locked by the f~nal stage in the GM.
When
locked from the outside, all doors are set to the double
lock position and the GM will not carry out any unlock com-
mands from the central
loclc button or remote trunk release
button.
Selective unlocking
When unlocking with the key or the remote transmitter, the
first unloclcrequestwill only unlock the driver'sdoor. A second
unlock request will unlock the remaining doors, trunk or tail-
gate and fuel flap.
Trunk locking
I
The vehicle can be locked/unlocked from the trunlc loclc cylin-
der. The GM locks the trunk or tailgate, rear doors and fuel fill-
er. The locking command is passed over the P-Bus to the
respective door modules to lock the driver's and passengers
doors.
Locking the trunk and removing the key in the
hor~zontal posi-
tion will set the valet lock and prevent opening of the trunlt
with the central locking system.
Central locking switch
-
< The central locking master control switch (arrow) is located
in the center console behind the shifter.
The central locking button will only single
loclt the doors
and trunk. The filler flap remains unloclted for refueling pur-
poses.
If a door is opened from inside while centrally locked, the
remaining doors remain locked.
The open door can be relocked, when closed, by manually
locking or pressing the central locking button twice. This
synchronizes the door
locks.

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Central Locking and Anti-Theft
DWA alarm
The DWA alarm system is
armedldisarmed when thevehicle
is locked / unlocked from either the door or trunk.
Convenience closing
I opening
The windows and sun roof can be closed or opened by hold-
ing the key in the
loclc I unlock position.
Crash sensor
The crash sensor is located in the left front
kick panel. It func-
tions by unlocking all doors in the event of an accident.
NOTE-
Continuous and repeated locliing / unlocking may cause
timedarrest of
the locliing system. When activated, the timed
arrest lasts for two minutes. The timed arrest does not affect
the crash sensor
unlocliing the doors in case of an accident.
Door locks
The driver's door lock location is the only point outside of the
vehicle where the ltey can mechanically control all of the cen-
tral locking system functions.
4 Door key positions for electrical / manual loclting and
unlocking are:
1. Manual unlock
2. Unlock, DWA disarmed, convenience open
(hold until activated)
3. Neutral position
4. Lock, DWA armed, convenience closing
(hold until activated)
5. Manual lock
The door lock actuators are sealed. self contained units with
no replaceable parts. The
actuators use Hall effect sensors in
place of pin contacts and microswitches to provide DOOR
OPEN
I DOOR CLOSED status signal. Each door lock button
only affects the actuator it controls. There is no effect on the
other doors.
An automatic locking feature activates door locks when a
road speed signal of 4 mph is detected via the K-Bus. The fac-
tory default coding for this feature is OFF, but can be coded
ON for individual users with the Key Memoryfunction. See
Car Memory
1 Key Memory later in this section.