Page 838 of 1002

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
.-
l~runk Lid, Tailgate
Starting at top, pull down (arrow) on trim cover. Carefully re-
move wiring harness support clip from trim cover.
NOTE-
Tailgate window trim cover and weather stripping shown in
place.
Insert BMW special tool 51 2
153 into body cavity below
hinge.
WARNING-
Tlie tailgate is ve!y heavy and will close without both pressu-
rized liftinq struts installed. Properly support
tailgafe prior to r
1 removal of the lifting struts.
- Working at hinge end of strut, remove strut retaining clip and
remove strut from mounting pin.
Slide BMW special tool 51 2 152 over strut until end of tool is
aligned with strut pin
(arrow).
Press down on outer end of special tool to release inner
strut mount.
Remove special tool with strut.
When installing strut make sure ball cup is pointing straight
down.
Rema~nder of installation 1s reverse of removal.
Tailgate gas strut, removing and installing
- Open tailgate and support.
Remove tailgate hinge trim panel fasteners
(A).
Page 839 of 1002

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Trunk Lid, Tailgate
Starting at top, pull down (arrow) on trim cover. Carefully re-
move wiring harness support clip from trim cover.
Install protective plate
(BMW special tool 51 2 153) between
roof panel and hinges.
WARNING -
The tailgate is very heavy and will close without both pressu-
rized lifting
struts installed. Properly support tailgate prior to
removal of the lifting struts.
Worlting at left side:
Remove gas strut retaining clip and pin (arrow).
4 Insert BMW special tool 51 2 151 over strut.
NOTE-
BMW special tool 51 2 151 must be chamfered in area (A).
Press tool down to release inner end of gas strut.
Push strut forward and toward center of vehicle to remove.
- When installing strut make sure ball cup is pointing straight
down.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Tailgate, removing and installing
- Remove radio antenna amplifier. See 650 Radio.
- Disconnect outer end of window and tailgate gas struts. See
Rear window gas strut, removing and installing and Tail-
gate gas strut, removing and installing.
WARNING-
The tailgate is very heaq and will close without both pressu-
rized lifling struts installed. Properly support tailgate prior to
removal of the lifling struts.
- Remove trim panel from tailgate.
Page 843 of 1002

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Trunk Lid, ~ail~atel
4 Loosen lower tailgate lock fasteners (arrows) so that tailgate
lock can center itself.
CAUTION-
The lower section of tailgate lock must not scrape against
the upper section.
The eccentric pin on the lower section of the tailgate
loclc rotates
when being locked from upper section of
tailgate lock.
- Disconnect tailgate latch actuator motor by squeeze locking
tabs on electrical harness connector and disconnecting.
CAUTION-
Eccentric pin in lower section of trunk lid lock must be at
lower dead center.
After disconnecting plug connector from actuator mo-
tor, tailgate is opened by electric
unloclcing fixture of up-
per section of tailgate loclc.
. For this reason, the cable connections to the upper
section of the tailgate loclc must remain connected.
Othe~tise the tailgate can only be opened by the emer-
gency handle. Eccentric pin of lower section of tailgate
loclc remains at bottom dead center point after unlock-
ing.
Tailgate alignment, height adjustment
4 Loosen left and right tailgate hinge fasteners (arrows) to al-
low tailgate to be adjusted.
CAUTION-
. When the hinge screws for the tailgate are released, the
position of the overall assembly changes with respect to
the body.
The position of the rear window frame to the tailgate re-
mains unchanged.
- Close tailgate carefully and check gap dimensions. See Tail-
gate alignment specifications below.
- Tighten hinge screws when gap dimensions are correct.
Page 853 of 1002
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
-.- -
Exterior Trim, Bumpers
Outside mirror glass with automatic dip control,
replacing
4 Slide locking pin (arrow) right to release glass (A).
- If equipped with heated mirrors: remove heating element har-
ness connectors from
back of mirror glass.
4 Install mirror glass by placing glass on lugs (arrows) and turn
loclting pin until glass is locked in place.
Outside mirror housing, removing and
installing
- Remove mirror glass as described above.
4 Compress plastic retainers (arrows)
NOTE-
The front mirror housing is retained by either three or four
clips, depending on model.
Page 864 of 1002
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Exterior Trim, Bumpers 1
Radiator grill, removing and installing
- Open hood
4 Carefully pry out tab on lefl or right side of grill trim ring (A),
as well as tabs on bottom.
- Push grill out through opening. Be careful of hood lever on
passengers side of grill.
- Once grill is removed, pry remaining tabs (B) to separate in-
ner grill from chrome trim ring.
- Before installation, assemble chrome trim ring and grill insert
securely. Replace components
if tabs or catches are brolten
or missing.
- Install grill and trim ring in appropriate location in hood. Press
on trim ring until grill snaps into place.
Headlight housing trim panel, removing
and installing
4 Open hood
- Remove spray nozzle of vehicles equipped with headlight
cleaning systems. See
611 Wipers and Washers.
Release inner tab (arrow) support.
Swing trim out to release outer hook
point. from fender mounting
Installation is reverse of removal
Page 867 of 1002

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
51 2-3
Door Windows
Window switches
4 The push type window switch provides the GM Ill with a cod-
ed ground signal. Holding a switch at the first detent provides
a single ground signal on one wire requesting the GM
Ill to
open the window. When released, the ground signal is re-
moved and the window motor stops.
- Momentarily pushing the switch to the second detent and re-
leasing provides an additional ground signal on the second
wire requesting "one touch mode". The GM
Ill lowers the win-
dow automatically until it reaches the end position. Each win-
dow has four positions, two each for the standard mode of
operation and two for the one-touch mode. All window oper-
ation signals are digital inputs to the door modules and GM
111.
- The switch functions in the same manner for window closing
but the ground signal sequence is reversed.
4 Window switch positions.
1. Off
2. Open
3. One touch open
4. Close
5. One touch close
Rear window child lockout switch
4 The rear window child lockout switch (arrow) is incorporated
in the driver's window switch block in
leit front door arm rest.
When activated, it provides a constant ground signal to the
GM
Ill, preventing the windows from being operated from the
rear door switches.
- The lockout switch ground signal is overridden by the GM Ill
if a passive safety system (MRS) crash signal is received.
Page 882 of 1002
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
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).
Page 885 of 1002

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
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.