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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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721-6
I Airbag System (SRS)
MRS
The MRS control module contains the electronic crash sensor
for frontal impact. Sensors mounted on the driver and
pas-
sengerfloor are used for side impacts. The MRS control mod-
ule
is located between the front seat under the center
console.
MRS airbag system
diagram
1. Driver's side airbag
2. Passenger's side airbag
3. Right side impact sensor
4. Seat occupancy sensor pad
5. Right side impact airbag
6. SBE control module (analog to
digital converter)
7. Passenger pyrotechnic seat belt
tensioner and seat belt
mi-
croswitch (Hall sensor MRS Ill)
8. MRS control module
9. Driver pyrotechnic seat belt ten-
sioner and seat belt microswitch
(Hall sensor MRS
Ill)
10. Left side impact airbag
11. Left side impact sensor

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721 -8
(Airbag System (SRS)
4 Remove electrical harness connector from crash sensor (A).
Remove sensor retaining screws (6) and remove sensor.
Note direction of sensor before removing.
- Installation is reverse of removal,
NOTE -
Arrow on sensor must point to door sill.
Driver airbag, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery and cover nega-
tive terminal with insulating material.
WARNING-
After disconnecting the batter)! wait 5 seconds before begin-
ning work on
airbag components.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the batter)! read the battery discon-
nection cautionsgiven
in001 General Warnings and Cau-
tions.
4 Multifunction (MFL) steering wheel:
. Working behind steering wheel, completely loosen Torx
screws
(T30) while holding airbag in place.
Support
airbag unit to prevent it from falling out.

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721 -9
Airbaq System ~SRS)~
4 Sport steering wheel:
Insert screwdriver through opening in rear of steering
wheel and push against spring tension to release
airbag
unit lock.
Repeat procedure on other side of steering wheel.
Lift off
airbag unit and detach electrical harness connec-
tors.
WARNING-
Store the removedairbag unit with the horn pad facing up.
If stored facing down, accidental deployment could propel
it violently into the air, causing injury.
Once an
airbag is removed, the car must not be driven.
Do not connect the battery with the
airbag disconnect-
ed. A fault code will be stored, setting off the
airbag in-
dicator light Special tools are needed to reset the fault
memory
Once the
airbag unit is installed and all other service
procedures have been completed, start the engine and
check that the
airbag indicator light goes out. If the in-
dicator light stays on, the
airbag system will not func-
tion as designed. Have the system diagnosed and
repaired by an authorized
BMW dealer.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
MFL steering wheel: Torque airbag using specification list-
ed below.
- Sport steering wheel: Press airbag unit mounting pins into
spring
loclts in steering wheel until they snap in firmly.
CAUTION--
Do notpinch airbag harness in center of steering wheel when
installino
airbaa.
Tightening torque
Airbao to steerino wheel IMFL) 8 Nm (71 in-lb)
Passenger airbag, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery and cover nega-
tive terminal with insulating material.
--
WARNING -
After disconnecting the batteg wait 5 seconds before begin-
nina work on airbaa components.
Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery discon-
nection cautionsgiven in001 General Warnings and
Cau-

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OBD On-Board Diagnostics
I I
General ........................... OBD-1 Diaqnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) . . OBD-9
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD I!) ..... OBD-I
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
........ OBD-2
Scan tools and scan tool display.
........ OBD-3
Diagnostic monitors
.................. OED-4
Drive cycle
......................... OED-6
Readiness codes
.................... OBD-6
Diagnostic trouble codes
(DTCs) ........ OBD-7
-
Automatic transmission diagnostic
trouble codes
....................... OBD-9
Engine diagnostic trouble
codes: M52 engine.
................. OED-13
Engine diagnostic trouble
codes: M54 engine.
................. OBD-17
Engine diagnostic trouble
codes: M62 engine.
................. OBD-24
This chapter outlines the fundamentals and equipment
requirements of On-Board Diagnostics
I1 (OBD 11) standards
as they apply to BMW vehicles. Also covered here is a listing
of BMW and OBD
I1 diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS (QBD !I)
OBD II standards were developed by the SAE (Society of
Automotive Engineers) and CARB (California Air Resources
Board).
OED I1 is the second generation of on-board self-
diagnostic equipment requirements. These standards were
originally mandated for California vehicles. Since
1996 they
have been applied
toall passengervehicles sold in the United
States.
On-board diagnostic capabilities are incorporated into the
hardware and soflwareof the enginecontrol module
(ECM) to
monitor virtually every component that can affect vehicle
emissions. The
OED I1 system works to ensure that
emissions remain as clean as possible over the life of the
vehicle.
Each emission-influencing component is checked by a
diagnostic routine (called a monitor) to verify that it is
functioning properly.
If a problem or malfunction is detected,
the
diagnostic executive built into the OBD I1 system
illuminates a malfunction indicator light (MIL) on the
instrument panel.
The OBD
I1 system also stores diagnostic trouble codes
(DTCs) about the detected malfunction in the ECM so that a
repair technician can accurately find and fix the problem.

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OED-2
On-Board Diagnostics
Specialized OED II scan tool equipment is needed to access
the fault memory and
OED I1 data.
The extra hardware needed to operate the OED
I1 system
consists mainly of the following:
* Additional oxygen sensors downstream of the catalytic
converters.
Fuel tank pressure sensor and device to pressurize
fuel
storage system.
Several engine and performance monitoring devices
Standardized 16-pin
OED II connector under the
dashboard.
Upgraded components for the federally required reliability
mandate.
Malfunction indicator light (MIL)
OED II software illuminates the malfunction indicator light
(MIL) when emission levels exceed 1.5 times Federal
standards.
4 For E34 cars covered by this manual, three different MIL
symbols were used, depending on year and model.
MIL illuminates under the following conditions:
Engine management system fault detected for
two
consecutive OED iI drive cycles. See Drive cycle in this
repair group.
- Catalyst damaging fault detected.
Component malfunction causes emissions to exceed 1.5
times OED
II standards.
Manufacturer-defined specifications exceeded. Implausible input signal.
Misfire
faults.
Leak in evaporative system,
Oxygen sensors observe no purge
flow from purge valve 1
evaporative system.
ECM fails to enter closed-loop operation within specified
time.
ECM or automatic transmission control
module (TCM) in
"limp home" mode.
ignition key ON before cranking (bulb
check function).
OED
II fault memory (including the MIL) can only be reset
using a special scan tool. Removing the connector from the
ECM or disconnecting the battery does not erase the fault
memory.