1997 BMW 540i Front seat

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Body-General
SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES
A number of new or improved safety and security features are
incorporated in
E39 cars.
Safety cage
4 The body safety cage is a continuation of an established
BMW concept for passenger protection. Tubular impact
structures built into the body provide protection against pas-
senger injury during front or rear impacts.
Door locks and door handles
4 The door handles allow easy door opening, but are secure in
accidents.
Electrical components in the locks are fully encapsulated and
cannot be picked easily. The door handles, latches and
loclc
assemblies offer reliability and security against theft.
Door position and
loclc condition are detected by hall sensors.
Roof padding
In addition to the side and head protection airbags, there is
supplementary padding at the roof pillars and along the roof
above the doors. This is positioned to present energy absorb-
ing
surlaces to passengers thrown around by side impact
forces.
Seat belts
Each front seat belt assembly has a height-adjustable anchor
at the 8-pillar.
An automatic pyrotechnic (explosive charge) tensioner tight-
ens the front belt at the buckle upon impact, snugging up lap
and shoulder segments of the belt. The tensioners are de-
signed to automatically tension the belts by about
2 inches
(55 mm) in the event ofa collision.
A force limiter puts an upper limit on the amount of iorce each
belt can exert on the passenger.

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400-8
Body-General
Airbags
Front airbags, s~de a~rbags, pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
and the Battery Safety Terminal (BST) are integrated into the
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and its variants.
NOTE-
The BMW SRS system is called Multiple Restra~nt System
(MRS). Over the years,
E39 cars were equipped with MRS,
MRS
11, MRS 111. Each version offers varied features and im-
provements over the previous system.
< As many as 8 airbags may be installed in E39 cars, depend-
ing on model and MRS version.
The front
airbags operate without sodium azide propellant,
widely considered an irritant when an
airbag is deployed.
Starting with
1999 models. "smart"front passenger and driver
airbags were installed. These are of the dual-threshold, dual
stage design, including a
sensorto help prevent the unneces-
sary deployment of the passenger side
airbag if the seat is un-
occupied.
MRS control Depend~ng on options chosen, one airbag may be installed in module each door of the sedan and Sport Wagon models, protecting
passengers against
s~de impacts.
Head Protection System (ITS)
airbags strelch diagonally
across the tops of the front doors.
Airbag deployment automatically triggers fuel shutoff, turns
on the hazard and interior lights, and unlocks the doors.
- -
WARNING -
Airbags are inflated by an explosive device. Handled im-
properly or without adequate safeguards,
airbag units can
be very dangerous. Special precautions must be observed
prior to any worlc at or near any of the airbags. See
721 Air-
bag System (SRS).
Always disconnect the battery and cover the negative
(-) battery terminal with an insulator before starting di-
agnostic, troubleshooting or service work on cars fitted
with SRS, and before doing any welding on the
car.

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400-9
Body-General
Battery safety terminal
(BST)
4 Starting with 1999 models (9198 production and later), a py-
rotechnic (explosive charge) device automatically discon-
nects the battery positive terminal during impacts. Key
features,
like power windows and door locks, remain opera-
tional.
Security
Electronic immobilization (EWS)
Ignition key transponder signal All
E39 vehicles incorporate an electronic immobilization sys-
tem known as EWS. This svstem uses a wireless comrnuni-
cation link between a transponder chip in the ignition key and
the ring antenna surrounding the ignition switch. The EWS
control module blocks the starting of the vehicle unless the
correct coded ignition key is used.
NOTE-
Electronic immobilization is sometimes referred to as the
driveaway protection system.
Antitheft alarm (DWA)
This is adealer-installed option for which the E39 vehicles are
factory-wired. When armed, the system monitors door
loci(
contacts and trunk and engine hood locks and sounds a siren
if it detects tampering.
E39 interiors have a unique character, with a combination
of
sporty features and innovativedesign. All body versions were
made in a wide choice of interior and exterior colors. New col-
ors with matching leather or leatherette upholstery were intro-
duced for each model year.
Driving
comfort is enhanced by power steering, tilt steering
wheel, height-adjustable front seats, and electrically adjust-
able and heated rear-view mirrors. Inside the car there are
reading lights at four seating positions.

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Fenders, Ensine HOO~I
Hood release cable and spring pins,
adjusting
Before adjusting hood pins, be sure the hood is aligned even-
ly to fenders and front panel.
- Malte sure bowden cable, which connects both hood loclts
together, is seated in lock guide on both left and right loclts.
4 Loosen hood spring pin bolts (A) and retaining hoolt bolts (B)
at hood on left and right sides only enough to allow move-
ment.
- Lower (but do not fully latch) hood several times so pins on
hood center themselves in lower loclts.
NOTE-
Do not let hood lock with latch bolts loose
- Tighten hood spring pin bolts and latch bolts when alignment
is correct.
- Remove one bolt at a time from each side, clean and coat
with
LoctiteB 270 or equivalent, and reinstall. Repeat pro-
cess on all other bolts.
- Adjust rubber stop buffers above headlight assemblies. See
Hood, aligning.
- Test hood for correct closure and opening. If hood does not
spring open, lengthen spring pins.
- To lengthen spring pin, loosen locltnut (arrow) with wrench
inserted through spring, then turn pin counterclocltwise.

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WARNING -
E39 cars are fitted with side-impact airbags in the front doors
and optional side impact
airbags in the rear doors. When
servicing doors, always disconnect the negative
(-) battery
terminal. See
721 Airbag System (SRS) for cautions and
procedures relating to the
airbag system.
Door trim panel, removing and installing
Disconnect negative (-) battery cable.
CAUTION--
Prior to disconnecting the battem read the batfew discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and warn-
ings.
Q Open door, and remove screw (arrow) located
in air
duct.
< Pry out seat memory switch and disconnect wiring harness.

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513-3
Interior ~rirnl
The console between the two front seats starts behind the shifler housing. It houses the parking brake handle, optional
telephone and oddments storage tray. The rear portion of the
console houses the ashtray and covers the emergency brake
cable ends.
NOTE-
The accompanying photos illustrate a model with automatic
transmission. Manual transmission models are similar.
Center console, removing and installing
4 Remove shift knob by pulling straight up (arrow).
Gently pry shift bezel
harness (arrow). up
out of console and disconnect wiring
Models equipped with automatic transmission remove neu-
tral safety switch fasteners (arrows) and remove bezel with
switch.

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51 3-4
/Interior Trim
Carefully pry cup holder (arrow) out of console,
4 Pry air vent down to release locking clips and remove.
< Remove screws (arrows) at base of front seat armrest and
slide armrest forward to remove.
4 Remove console glove box (A).
Remove rear trim panel fasteners (B).

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Interior ~riml
4 Remove fastener (arrow) beneath trim cap.
Working from top carefully pull trim panel away from
A-pil-
lar and pull up to remove.
- Installation is reverse of removal.
If necessary replace defective or broken mounting clips.
Door post trim panel (B-pillar), removing and installing
4 Remove seat belt fastener (arrow) from seat frame.
- Remove front and rear door sill trim panels.
- Pull front and rear rubber door seal away from trim panel.
4 Carefully pull bottom of lower trim panel away from door post
to release clips.
Pull trim lower panel straight down (arrow) to remove.