
Vehicle Memory: The owner is provided with a list of available system functions that can
be customized to their liking. Prior to delivery, the DISplus or MoDiC is used to encode the
owner’s chosen selections into the appropriate control modules.  
These  choices  become  a  permanent  function  of  the  control  module  and  can  only  be
changed by re-encoding with the DISplus or MoDiC at a BMW Center.
This  feature  has  been  available  for  some  time  via  the  ZCS  Conversion  Feature  but  has
never been fully utilized or officially presented to the vehicle owner as a feature of their vehi-
cle. 
Key Memory: This feature provides the added convenience of identifying users of the vehi-
cle  whenever  a  lock  or  unlocked  signal  is  generated  via  the  individual  FZV  keys.  A  maxi-
mum of four FZV keys can be used with the Key Memory feature.  
Each of the four keys generate a unique key identification signal (key number) that is trans-
mitted  simultaneously  with  the  lock/unlock  signals  to  the  General  Module. Key Memory
does not respond to Lock/Unlock requests from the drivers door lock.
Mostof the key memory functions require the vehicle be configured using the “KEY MEM-
ORY”  function  of  the  DIS  or  MoDiC.  However,  there  are  a  few  features  that  store  settings
automatically without configuration such as IHKA blower speed and temp setting. The key
ID signal alerts the GM to communicate with select control systems over the K Bus to store
(when locked) or reset (when unlocked) certain driver adjustable settings.
There are features that function as both a Car & Key Memory feature. 
Example;  the  Automatic  Seat  Adjustment  feature  is  encoded  as  a  Car  Memory  Function
with the following possibilities:
• When unlocking,
• When opening a door after unlocking
• Or not active at all.
If active, the seat positions are stored and reactivated by the Key Memory function for indi-
vidual users of the car.
Notes: _______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III 

System Components
Interior  Sensor  FIS  (up  to  99  MY): The  interior  sensor  is  mounted  in  the  center  of  the
headliner panel. Due to the design of the vehicles interior, the sensor is uni-directional and
must be installed in the proper direction to ensure proper operation of the system.
When the alarm system is armed, the sensor emits electromagnetic waves at a frequency
of  2.45  GHz.  As  long  as  nothing  is  moving  in  the  vehicle,  the  waves  as  bounced  back  to
the sensor at the same frequency. The sensor monitors these bounced back waves as an
indication that nothing is disturbed within the vehicle.
If  a  foreign  object  enters  the  vehicle,  the  frequency  of  the  bounced  back  signal  changes.
The sensor monitors the changed frequency and triggers the alarm.
Every  time  the  DWA  system  is  armed,  the
sensor  adapts  to  what  ever  objects  might  be
stationary in the interior. 
This  allows  packages  or  objects  to  be  left
inside  the  car  without  effecting  the  operation
of  the  system.  The  sensitivity  of  the  sensor  is
set so that the moving object must be at least
as  large  as  a  bumble  bee.  This  prevents  a
false  alarm  from  occurring  from  small  insects
that might be caught in the vehicle.
The FIS is switched OFF when the vehicle is locked two times within ten seconds. The LED
will flash one time for confirmation. This allows the sensor to be switched OFF to avoid false
alarms when the windows are left open for venting.
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615200103.eps615200104.eps 

Interior Sensor UIS (after 99 MY):Similar to the FIS, the UIS monitors the vehicle interi-
or for motion. The UIS uses ultrasonic sound wavs instead of microwaves (less suceptable
to magnetic interference). The UIS is a combined transmitter and receiver.
The interior sensor is mounted in the center of the headliner panel. Due to the design of the
vehicles  interior,  the  sensor  is  uni-directional  and  must  be  installed  in  the  proper  direction
to ensure proper operation of the system (trim cover ensures directional installation).
Every  time  the  DWA  system  is  armed  (signal  STDWA),  the  sensor  adapts  to  what  ever
objects  might  be  stationary  in  the  interior.  The  sensor  emits  ultra  sonic  waves  in  a  pro-
grammed timed cycle. It receives echos of the emitted waves.  
The UIS amplifies the received sound wave signals and compares them with the transmit-
ted  waves.  The  UIS  also  checks  the  incoming  echos  for  background  hiss  (wind  noise
through a partially open window) and adapts for this.
• If the echos are consistently similar, no movement is detected.
• If  the  echos  are  altered,  (inconsistent),  the  UIS  determines  motion  in  the  interior  com-
partment. 
If motion is detected, the UIS changes to a constant cycle and the echo is compared again.
If the inconsistency is still present the UIS sends the activate siren signal (INRS) to the GM.
The UIS is switched OFF when the vehicle is locked two times within ten seconds. The LED
will flash one time for confirmation. This allows the sensor to be switched OFF to avoid false
alarms when the windows are left open for venting.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
615200105.eps 

Tilt Sensor (Liquid Type - E38/E39 to 97 MY): The Tilt Sensor consists of a conductive
liquid chamber, a processor board and metal probes (located in the luggage compartment).
The probes are submersed in the liquid and produce a resistance value dependent on the
tilt of the sensor (angle of vehicle). This resistance value becomes the static point when the
DWA System is armed.
If the vehicle is jacked-up or lifted,
the  angle  of  the  liquid  changes
producing  a  change  in  the  resis-
tance  value.  The  sensor  recog-
nizes  this  change  and  signals  the
GM to activate the DWA alarm.
The  resets  at  the  new  angle.  This
allows  the  DWA  to  remain  armed
and  re-activate  the  alarm  if  the
vehicle is moved again.
As with the interior sensor, the tilt sensor is also switched OFF when the vehicle is locked
two times within ten seconds. The LED will flash one time for confirmation. This allows the
sensor to be switched OFF for transportation purposes.
Tilt  Sensor  (Electronic  Type  from  98  MY): Located  in  the  luggage  comparment  area,
the tilt sensor is an electronic sensing device with the sole purpose of monitoring the vehi-
cle's parked angle when DWA is armed.
The  sensor  requires  three  signal  wires  to  func-
tion:
•  KL 30 - Constant battery voltage
•  Signal "STDWA"; switched ground input sig-
nal  provided  by  the  GM  indicating  DWA
armed/disarmed status. 
The tilt sensor is used as a splice location for  
the STDWA signal to the Siren and UIS int-  
erior protection sensor. 
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625200107.eps 

•  Signal "NG"; switched ground output signal provided to the GM. The signal is used for
two purposes,
1. As  a  momentary  acknowledgment  that  the  tilt  sensor  received  STDWA  and  is  cur-
rently monitoring the vehicle angle.
2. If the tilt sensor detects a change in the vehicle's angle when DWA is armed, signal
NG is switched to inform the GM to activate the siren. 
When  the  tilt  sensor  receives  the  STDWA  signal  from  the  GM  it  memorizes  the  vehicle's
parked  angle.  The  angle  of  the  vehicle  is  monitored  by  the  solid  state  electronics.  Once
armed,  if  the  angle  changes,  the  tilt  sensor  provides  a  switched  ground  signal  to  the  GM
to activate DWA.  
As with the interior sensor, the tilt sensor is also switched OFF when the vehicle is locked
two times within ten seconds. The LED will flash one time for confirmation. This allows the
sensor to be switched OFF for transportation purposes.
Glass Breakage Sensors (Early E38 - before FIS Sensor): The door windows (includ-
ing  the  rear  quarter  glass  wire  loop)  are  monitored  by  inductive  sensors  mounted  on  the
inside of the door behind the trim panel. A closed window is recognized by a magnetic plate
on the glass lining up with the sensor. 
If the glass is broken, the plate falls away and the signal from the sensor changes and the
GM will activate the alarm.
Alarm  Siren: The  alarm  siren  is  mounted  in  the  rear  wheel  well,  behind  the  inner  wheel
housing cover (early E38 used an alarm horn). The E53 alarm siren is located in the left side
of the engine compartment.
The  siren  contains  electronic  circuitry  for  producing  the  warn-
ing tone when the alarm is triggered. The siren also contains a
rechargeable battery that is used to power the siren when the
alarm is triggered.  
The rechargeable battery will allow the siren to sound if it or the
vehicle’s  battery  is  disconnected.  The  siren  battery  is
recharged, from the vehicle’s battery, when the alarm is not in
the armed state.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
625200108.eps 

Interior Lighting
Purpose of the System
The GM controls the interior lighting automatical-
ly  with  the  status  change  of  several  monitored
inputs.  The  lighting  can  also  be  manually  con-
trolled using the interior light switch.
In addition to the various time controls, the inte-
rior lights are also subject to the 16 minute shut
down of the GM (consumer protection).
Principle of Operation
The interior light switch is a push button switch that will carry out the opposite command
of the current status of the lights. (ie: if the interior lights are currently on, pushing the but-
ton will switch the lights off.)
• If the interior lights are switched “ON” by the button with the ignition switched ON, the
interior lights will remain on until they are switched off by the button.
• If the interior lights are switched “ON” when the ignition is switched OFF, the lights will
remain on for 16 minutes (consumer cutout).
• Pressing  the  interior  light  button  for  longer  than  three  seconds  will  switch  the  lights  to
continuous off. This feature is intended for workshop use.
Pressing the button again will
return the lights to the normal operational status.
•    Locking the vehicle from the outside will immediately switch off the interior lights.
The ON/OFF conditions for the interior lights in the automatic mode are as follows:
ON Conditions
• Door Open.
• Switching off ignition after exterior  
lights have been switched off.
• MRS Control Module crash input.
• Unlocking with FZV or pressing FZV
lock button when the vehicle is
already locked (interior search fution).
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
OFF Conditions
• All doors closed with ignition on.
• All doors closed with ignition off after 20  
seconds.
• 20 seconds after switching off ignition with 
lights off.
• 8 seconds after remote control activation.
• 16 minutes with door(s) open.
• When doors are locked. 

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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
System Components
- with Principle of Operation
Manual Operation:The manual adjustments of the seat, mirrors and steering column are
carried out with the respective switches as with the previous systems.
The  mirror  adjustment  switch  is  located  in  the  driver’s  switch  block.  The  mirror  operation
input is a digital signal that is processed by each respective module for mirror positioning.
Memory Storage: The parameters for storing memory positions are are as follows:
• With  the  transmission  range
selector  in  “P”  and  the  mirror
change over switched to the left,
switch  the  ignition  on  and  press
the “M” on the memory switch.
• The memory indicator lamp swi- 
tches on for 7 seconds.
• Press one of the three position 
switches (1, 2 or 3) within the 7  
second memory period.
• The current positions of the mir-
rors, seat and steering column 
are stored for recall.
The positions of the mirrors are stored in the respective door
modules based on the position of the feedback potentiome-
ters. The positions of the seat and steering column are stored
in the seat module, based on the ripple count.
Recalling a memory position setting is possible by either
pressing and holding the recall switch (1, 2 or 3) with KL 15
“ON” or tapping the recall button (1, 2 or 3) with:
• The driver’s door open and KL 15 “OFF”.
• KL R ON and KL 15 “OFF”. 
The recall movement can be interrupted at any time by touching any of the adjusting
switches.
E38/E39
E53 
615200133.tiff 

Comfort Seats (standard on E38 750iL, other models if equipped)
This  option  provides  additional  back  support  in  the
shoulder  area.  An  additional  adjustment  in  the  upper
backrest  allows  forward  “contour”  that  is  controlled  by
a rocker switch in the side panel.
When the ignition is on or off, the two way rocker switch
can be pushed until the desired setting is achieved (for-
ward/backward tilt). The motor drive operates the same
as the seat motors.
The  shoulder  support  adjustment  is  also  stored  in
memory for recall.    
Active Seat (E38 - if equipped)
Purpose of the System
Actively changing the surface of the seat helps to prevent muscle tension and fatigue par-
ticularly  on  long  trips  or  sitting  in  one  position  for  a  long  period  of  time.  The  seat  causes
weight  transfers  which  are  slight  and  imperceptible  enhancing  driving  comfort.  The  basic
seating position is not changed by this.
In the seat’s upholstery beneath the surface of the seat is a cushion of fluid on the left and
right. The fluid is slowly circulated back and forth between the cushions by a pump. 
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III