1998 BMW 528i ECT

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Body shell
Exterior and aerodynamics
Crash behavlor -frontal impact
-side impact
Body
-rear impact Structural body components -rigidity
-rollover -strength -vibrations -acoustics
Bumpers compartment lid -bendable Seets,.steerlng system .dents -vibrations bars -vibration patterns
Fenders -aerodvnamic
With its traditional styling features, such as the ltidney grille.
circular headlights behind a glass cover (for reasons of
streamlining), and the
"kiclt" in the rear most roof pillar (C-pil-
lar), the E39 can be immediately recognized as a BMW.
The BMW 5 Series chassis is a unibody design constructed of
high strength steel. Attaching parts, such as the front fenders,
rear quarter panels, doors,
trunk lid and hood are also con-
structed of
steel.
Computer aided design (CAD) techniques have been used in
refining the
E39 body to reduce vehicle weight while retaining
strength and increasing torsional rigidity. For good handling
purposes, the more rigid the structure the more precisely the
suspension can operate.
Wind resistance
Windows bonded flush to the body and the guided flow of
cooling air into the engine compartment provide the
carwith a
good coefficient of drag (Cd).
E39 cars have been designed
for balanced aerodynamics but not necessarily an extremely
low Cd. See table below.
Windshield wipers are designed for effectiveness at speeds
up to and beyond 200
ltph (124 mph).
Coefficient of aerodynamic drag (Cd)
6-cylinder sedan 0.30
V-8 sedan 0.31
6-cylinder Sport Wagon 0.31
V-8 Sport Wagon 0.33
Fenders
The exterior panels are corrosion-resistant zinc coated (gal-
vanized) steel. The front fenders are bolted on. For front fend-
er replacement information, see
410 Fenders, Engine
Hood.

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400-4
I Bodv-General
Bumpers
The front and rear bumpers are clad in high quality
deform-
able plastic and, at solid barrier impact speeds of 4 kph (2.5
mph), provide protection with virtually no damage to the
bumper
orthe vehicle. In addition to hydraulic dampeners.
which absorb the initial impact energy, these bumpers are
backed by compressible tubes. These deform in a controlled
manner at impact speeds greaterthan that
forwhich bumpers
and hydraulic dampeners are designed. This helps avoid ex-
pensive damage to the body at impact speeds up to 14 kph (9
mph).
The E39 Sport Wagon was introduced to the US market in
911 998 (model year 1999). It shares many components with
the E39 sedan and is identical to it from the B-pillar forward.
US
marltet 5 Series Sport Wagons are available in two vari-
ants:
6-cylinder
(5251, 528i) powered by the 2.8 liter M52 TU en-
gine (1 999) or the 2.5 liter M54 engine (2000 and later)
* V-8 (540i) powered by the 4.4 liter M62 TU engine
The wheelbase of the Sport Wagon is the same as the sedan.
Howeverthe body is 30
mm (1.2 in) longer and 10 mm (0.4 in)
higher.
The Sport Wagon rear suspension was redesigned to elimi-
nates the upper rear spring strut mounting on the E39 sedan.
The use of separate coil springs and
shoclc absorbers results
in a flat, wide floor in the cargo area. See
300 Suspension,
Steering and Brakes-General.
The self-leveling air spring suspension system (electronic
height control or EHC) is standard on Sport Wagon V-8 mod-
els and optional on 6-cylinder models.
Sport Wagon cargo capacities are shown below.
Sport Wagon load capacities
Cargo capacity
Rear seat up 909 liters (32.1 cu ft)
Rear seat folded down I809 liters (63.9 cu ft)
Load limit
Cargo compartment
460 Kg (1014 lb)
Roof
I00 Kg (220 lb)

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400-5
Body-General
Tailgate
The E39 Sporl Wagon tailgate is large with a low sill for easy
cargo loading. The tailgate opens to an angle of
88" mea-
sured from the rear roof pillar (D-pillar) and to a height of
2029
mm (79.8 in) measured from the ground to the upper edge of
the raised tailgate.
The rear window is bonded to a load bearing frame and can
be opened separately from the main tailgate. Tailgatesupport
gas springs are recessed into cavities in the roof.
Tailgate lock system
A mechanical tailgate lock cylinder is not used; the tailgate is
opened by the unlock pad above the license plate, the remote
tailgate switch located in the drivers kick panel, or via
FZV
(Iteyless entry) control.
4 An emergency release mechanism is incorporated into the
latch assembly to open the hatch from the vehicle interior if a
malfunction occurs.
The tailgate lock assembly includes an automatic soft close
(SCA) feature. The electrical operation of SCA is a function of
central body electronics
(ZKE Ill). The SCA actuator is locat-
ed in the rear cowl panel below the tailgate. The actuator is
controlled by a load relay in the General Module. A locking
cam is mounted on an eccentric that is driven by the actuator.
4 The SCA cam always turns in the same direction to open or
close the tailgate. The cam turns
180" to open or to close.
When the cam turns in the up direction the notch in the cam
SCA actuator pushes on a lever on the back of the latch in the tailgate. This
mechanically unlocks the latch. The tailgate is raised up and
can be opened.

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.
I Body-General 1
Rear wiper system
The rear wiper assembly on the E39 Sport Wagon is a self-
contained unit. The control electronics are integrated into the
gear drive that is part of the motor assembly. The control elec-
tronics contain two hall sensors, one
forthe park position and
one
forthe end stop or to signal reverse direction of the wiper
motor.
-
Wiperlwasher
stalk switch
/ 4 - 3
502400100
4 The rear wiper is controlled through the stalk switch on the
steering column. The switch includes the following functions:
Intermittent rear window wiping
Programmed rear window wiping interval
Operation of rear window washer
The wiper system automatically controls the following safety
and convenience features:
* Wiper interrupted when rear glass is opened
Wiper interrupted if wiper arm is blocked
Continuous wiping when vehicle is shifled into reverse
Antenna and sound system
4 There are two diversity FM antenna amplifiers:
FMI amplifier located in the rear window frame
FM2 / FZV amplifier located in the lefl D-pillar
The radio amplifier and CD changer are behind the side
ac-
cess panels in the cargo compartment:
CD changer on lefl side
Sound system subwoofer on right side
The subwoofer has a hold down knob and is mounted on a
hinge. It can be swung out to access
the batteryand fuse pan-
el by unscrewing the knob.

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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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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.