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002 Vehicie identification and 
VlN Decoder 
Vehicle identification  Number (VIN), decoding 
Some of the  information  in this  manual  applies only to cars  of a parlicuiar model  year or range 
of  vears.  For 
examole. 1999  refers to the  1999  model vear but does  not necessarilv  malch the 
caiendsr year in which  the car was  manufactured  or sold. To be sure of the  model year of a 
particular car, 
checic the  Vehicle  ldentification Number (VIN) on the car. 
The  VIN is  a unique sequence  of 17  characters assigned by  BMW lo identify each individual 
car.  When  decoded,  the VIN tells the  country and year  of manufacture; make,  model and serial 
number: assembly 
plant and some  equipment specifications. 
The  BMW  VIN is  on a plate  mounted  on top  of the dashboard,  on the driver's side where the 
number  can be seen through the windshield,  The 10th  character is the  model year code.  The 
letters 
I. 0, Q and U are  not used  for model  year designation. Examples: X for 1999, Y for 2000, 
1 for 2001,2 for 2002,  etc. The  table below  explains some of the codes  in the  VIN  for 1997 
through  2002 BMW 
E39 5 Series BMWs covered  by this manual. 
Sample 
VIN: ~~Iz~o~w~B~w~ 13 8 9 1 lposition 1 2 3 zi 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-17 
VIN 
position  Description  Decoding  information 
1-3 Countrv of WBA B 
I J 1 znan~+q ;BT BMW Molorsporl. Gmon, ~;nch Gerrn;!n, 
Linc 525 (2UU1 - 2003) 528 (2000-2003. 530; 540 i 
5 
1 
Manual belts with dual airbags Manual  belts with advanced  airbaos 
Series 
Body 
type 
i engine lype . .. 
D 5251 (2001 - 2002), 528i (1997 - 2000) E MS. 530i, 540i (1997 - 1998) J 5251 Wagon 
M 528i (1999 - 2000) N  5401 Sedan  (1999 - 2003) 540i wagon  (2001) 
P 528i wagon  (1999 - 2000) R 540i waaon 12002 - 20031 
6,4 Aulomatic 5,3 Manual 
Vehicle  type  3.4.7 Passenger vehicle 
Checlr digit 
Model year  Restraint 
system 
1 0  Manual belts 
3  Manual belts  wilh driver 
& passenger airbags 4 
Manual belts with  advanced  passenger B driver airbags 
0 - 9 or X, calculated by NHTSA 
V 1997 W 1RRR 
Assembly  plant  A, F, K Munich, Germany 
B,  C, D, G  Dingolfing.  Germany E, J. P Reqensburq.  Germany . 
Serial number 
Sequential produclion number lor specific  vehicle    

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300-1 0 
/Suspension, Steering and Brakes - General 
The steering  system features variable power assist provided 
by  an  engine-driven hydraulic pump. 
Rack  and pinion  steering 
6-cylinder  models 
(525i, 5281, 5300 
Two types  of steering systems  are used in E39 models. 6- 
cylinder (525i, 5281, 530i) models  are equipped with  a steer- 
ing  rack system.  V-8 
(540i) models are equipped with  a re- 
circulating ball  and nut steering  gearbox. 
Rack-and-pinion steering 
Steering components  in 6-cylinder  models consist of a rack- 
and-pinion type  steering gear and connecting linltage to  the 
road wheels. 
The  steering  linkage connects  the rack-and-pinion unit 
through  tie rods to  the steering knucltles.  The tie rod ends al- 
low  the wheels  to pivot  and react to suspension travel. 
Recirculating  ball and nut steering 
V-8  models 
(540i) 
I 
Recirculating  ball and nut steering 
Recirculating ball  and nut steering  in V-8  models consists  of a 
steering box  with integrated hydraulic control valve and  con- 
necting linkage  to the road  wheels. 
Thesteering  linkageconnects the  steering gearbox through  a 
pitman arm to the wheels.  An idler arm  maintains correct  toe 
angle.  The tie rod allow the wheels to  pivot and react  to sus- 
pension  travel. 
E39 cars are  equipped with power disc brakes with  integral 
antilock brakes (ABS). The parking  bralte is a dual-drum  sys- 
tem integrated  with the rear brake rotors. 
Power  assist is provided by  a vacuum booster when  the en- 
gine  is running.  The brake pedal 
pushrod is connected direct- 
ly  to the  master  cylinder, so failure  of the  vacuum booster 
does  not normally result  in total 
bralte failure. 
Each  disc bralte  uses a caliper with  a single hydraulic cylin- 
der.  Brake pads in  the left front and right rear  contain wear 
sensors.  When brake  pads need  replacement,  the sensors  il- 
luminate a  light on the dashboard.    

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400-1 0 
Body-General 
Seats 
4 Anatomically correct seats are constructed  from polyure- 
10 way seat  adjustment  thane foam 
containing areas or "zones"  of different firmness. 
They  offer good  lateral support  without constricting the occu- 
pant. 
The  seats have a passive internal ventilation system:  Cylin- 
drical cavities within  the cushions and backrests generate a 
pumping  effect as the ride motions cause  occupant motion. 
This 
helps remove moisture and feeds  fresh air into  the seats. 
Other features  of the  seating system: 
The  seat  bases have steel springs  for added  support  and 
strength. 
The  seat  control  switches are along  the outside edge  of 
the 
seat. 
Heated seats  are an option  in all models 
In  cars  equipped  with seat position memory,  three different 
seat confiaurations  can be memorized by the  seat control 
module(s): Seat memory  coordinates  with outside  mirror 
memory.  These functions are  controlled by the seat  mem- 
ory 
module(s). 
* For security reasons,  the release lever  to fold  the rear seat 
backrest forward is  installed in the  trunk. 
Sport  Wagon models: Rear seat 
baclts are split 60140, with 
the center armrest on  the left seat back. 
The  center armrest  incorporates  a non adjustable  head- 
rest. When folded down,  the armrest  opens out with 
cup- 
holders and a storage  compartment. See 520 Seats for 
more  details. 
instruments and controls 
Everything  in the interior  passengercompartment  essential to 
the  driver  is logically grouped and easy to reach. All  instru- 
ments  and controls have  been arranged  ergonomically and 
are fully  integrated  into the overall design  of the  vehicle. 
Tilt-telescopic steering wheel  has 
30 mm (1.2 in) of vertical 
and  longitudinal  adjustment. 
Multifunction  steering wheel contains two 
ltey pads con- 
taining  controls  for the sound  system, telephone and 
cruise control. 
Padded  dashboard  houses the instrument cluster  and the 
ventilation  and heating  system.    

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400-12 
I Body-General 
HEATING AND AIR ~ONDITIONING 
(I H KA) 
4 The integrated heating  and air conditioning (IHKA) system 
uses  an extra  large, infinitely  variable radial blower  motor for 
good distribution  of air.  Fresh air enters through the  grille 
be. 
low the engine hood and into the passenger compartment via 
the dashboard and 
footwell vents. 
- Repair information  for the  heating  and air conditioning 
system  is covered 
in 640 Heating and Air Conditioning.    

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Interior Trim 
The E39 dashboard assembly includes the instrument clus- 
ter, passenger  side 
airbag, glove compartment, fuse  and re- 
lay panel, radio. IHKA  control panel oron-board monitor (if 
equipped  with GPS).  The dash  is made up  of an  upper  and 
lower sections.  The lower section  must be remove before the 
upper section  can be removed. 
Dashboard  removal is a complex operation. Read  the proce- 
dures through  before starting work. 
Lower dash panel  assembly, removing  and 
installing 
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from  battery and cover termi- 
nal  with 
insulating material. 
--7 
CAUTION- 
Prior to disconnecting  the battery, read the battery discon- 
nectioncautionsgiven atthe irontin001 General  Warnings 
and  Cautions. 
- Place steering  column in down and extended position. 
4 Remove left  side foot well panel fasteners (A and B). 
< Using a plastic  trim tool, gently  pry left and right steering col- 
umn trim  panels  (white arrow)  to remove and release snap 
clip  on column boot 
(black arrow). 
I 1 < Remove instrument cluster trim  panel fasteners  (arrows). 
Pull trim  panel out and  disconnect harnesses  for light 
switches. 
- Remove radio volume control  knob.    

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I Interior Trim 
Insert allen wrench  into slot approximately 1 mm  and turn 
through 
90". 
Disconnect  wiring harnesses from  radio. 
Remove  radio. 
4 Remove left  and right  locking clips (arrow) from glove com- 
partment  straps. 
4 Carefully pry left and  right dashboard trim  out to remove 
4 Remove right side lower dash support screws (A)    

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Central Locking  and Anii-Theft 
- If the starter engages,  the following  EWS inputs  are function- 
ing  normally: 
Ignition  key 
Code  function 
Transmission  range switch  or clutch position  switch 
Engine  speed sensor 
NO JE - 
If a vehicle key is lost  or stolen, the  electronic authorization 
for  that  key 
can be cancelled  using the BMW  scan and di- 
agnostic tools 
DISplus, GTl or MoDiC. 
Force  applied  to a ley can  damage  the electronic circuitry 
in the key A damaged ley will not  start  the engine. In that 
case,  a new  key should be purchased  and initialized 
by an 
authorized BMW dealer. 
EWS variations 
EWS  variations  used in E39 cars are shown  in E39 EWS ap- 
plications 
table below. 
E39 
EWS applications 
I I Ifling antenna  (surrounds ignition  switch) I 
System 
designation 
EWS 
II 
I I l~ransmitter I receiver module located in  right side steering column  cover I 
E39 production 
dates 
SOP 
- 311  997 
I I IEWS 111 (3.2) control  module incorporates  transmitter1 receiver moduie functions / 
Main components,  changes, improvements 
Key  with  EEPROM transponder 
Control  moduie located behind  glove compartment,  in electrical  component panel 
Control  module located  to left of  steering column, under dashboard 
K-Bus  input 
Transmitter 
I receiver module eliminated 
EWS 111 (3.2) 
Transmission range selection input from  automatic transmission  control module 
3 
11997 - 911997 
- EWS ill (3.3)  Clutch 
Hall-effect  switch (replaces  transmission  range switch input) 
911997 - 2002  EWS 111 (3.3) control 
module with iSN code burned  in (cannot  be overwritten during 
alignment) 
Control  module located  to left of  steering  column, under dashboard    

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721 -1 0 
/Airbag System (SRS) 
4 Pry up cover  from top of passenger  side airbag on dash- 
board. 
4 Remove airbag mounting  bolts (arrows) 
- Lift airbag and disconnect  electrical harness connector. Re- 
move 
airbag. 
WARNING- 
Store  the removed airbag unit  with the  soft pad  facing up. If 
stored  facing down,  accidental  deployment  could propel  it vi- 
olentlv into  the 
ail: causino inium 
- Installation is reverse of removal. Make sure wiring  harness 
is not  pinched  when  installing 
airbag unit in dashboard. 
Tightening torques 
- 
Passenger alr bag  to 10 NM (88 in-lb) 
dashboard (Me) 
Door mounted side-impact airbag, 
removing and installing 
- Disconnect negatlve (-) cable  from battery  and cover  nega- 
tive  terminal  with insulating  material. 
CAUTION- 
Prior to disconnecting  the battea read the battery discon- 
nection  cautions  given 
in 001 General  Warnings  and Cau- 
tions. 
- Remove inside door  panel as described  in 41 1 Doors