2001 BMW 525i Lights

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121-8
/Battery, Starter, Alternator
NOTE-
Automatic transmission cars: ambershifier LED willgo out at
consumer cut-off.
4 Attach closed-circuit current measurement adaptor
(BMW special tool
61 2 300):
Connect red clamp (marked A -BATT (+)) to positive bat-
tery terminal.
Connect
black clamp (marked B -CHASSIS) to chassis
ground point.
NOTE-
Green LED will light up to indicate correct installation of
closed-circuit current measurement
adaotor.
< Connect blaclc clamp (marked B - BATT (-)) to negative bat-
tery terminal. Green
LED light will go out.
NOTE-
Any electrical overloading will be indicated at this point by
lighting the red
LED. If the red LED lights up, check the adap-
tor connections.
< Set multimeter (A) to 10 amp measuring range and connect
it to adaptor.
NOTE -
Set multimeter to record average readings.
Ifpossible, turn offpowersaving features of multimeter
which prevent a long term (overnight) test by automatically
powering down
meter.
- Disconnect battery ground strap (B) at chassis mounting
point.
- Measure closed-circuit current using multimeter.
- Typical average closed-circuit current for E39 vehicles is
40 mA. Readings over 50 mA must be further investigated.

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- -
/Battery, Starter, Alternator -- - -. - --I
< Check for battery voltage at alternator terminal 30 (B+) (ar-
row):
Pull back rubber insulating cover at terminal 30 at rear of
alternator.
Connect voltmeter between terminal 30 and ground and
check for battery voltage.
If voltage is not present, check
wiring for faults.
NOTE-
On V-8 engines, access to the rear of the alternator is limited.
Check for battery voltage between the jump start post on the
left cylinder head and ground.
r Disconnect harness connector from alternator. Turn ianition
on and check for battery voltage between terminal
lgand
ground. If voltage is not present, check wiring and fuses for
faults.
Reconnect connector to alternator.
Locate the blue wire coming from terminal
61E of the alter-
nator connector. Carefully connect the positive
(+) test lead
to the wire using a piercing test lead end.
Turn ignition key on and check for voltage. Voltage should be
less than 1.5 VDC and charge indicator lamp should light.
- Making sure all test equipment and tools are clear, start en-
gine. Voltage should increase to
8.0 VDC or higher. The
charge indicator light should go out.
If voltage does not increase and system is not charging,
the fault is in alternator.
- If voltage does not increase, but system is charging, inter- - roaate svstem for faults usina an appropriate BMW scan - .. . tool and'reset fault memory.
- If a load tester is not available, a quick alternator output test
can be done by running engine at about 2000 rpm and turn-
- -
ing on electrical loads (fans, lights, rear window defroster, -
- and wipers). With all accessories on, battery voltage should
be above 12.6
V.

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-
Fuel Injection
of diagnostic time and to help avoid incorrect component re-
placement and possible damage to system components.
NOTE-
* Professional diagnostic scan tools available at the time of
this printing include the BMW factory tools and a small
number of aftermarket BMW-specific tools. The
CS2000
from Baum Tools Unlimited, the Retriever from Assenma-
chef Specialty Tools, and the MT2500 from Snap-on are
three examples.
In addition to the BMW-specific professional line of scan
tools, there are inexpensive generic OBD
I1 scan tool soft-
ware programs and
handheld units available. Although
these tools have limited capabilities as compared to the
dedicated tools, they are powerful diagnostic tools.
For the
DIY owner, simple aftermarltet DTC readeris avail-
able through
http://www.pealteresearch.com. This tool is
capable of checlting for
DTCs as well as turning off the il-
luminated
MIL and resetting the service indicator lights.
Tools and test equipment
If the equipment required to do the job is unavailable, it is rec-
ommended that these repairs be left to an authorized
BMW
dealer or other qualified BMW repair facility.
4 Low current test light ("noid")
(Tool No. Baum 11 15a)

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Radiator and Cooling System
Remove rubber trim strip between top of shroud and radiator.
Using 32 mm wrench
(BMW special tool 11 5 040) on fan
clutch nut (arrow), turn wrench in a clockwise direction
(working from front of car) while counterholding pulley with
BMW special tool
11 5 030. Spin fan off coolant pump.
NOTE-
The radiator cooling fan nut (32 mm wrench) has left-hand
threads.
Unclip AUC (air quality) sensor from shroud,
M54 engine: Disconnect auxiliary coolant pump from base of
fan shroud.
Lift fan and shroud together out of engine compartment.
To replace fan clutch, remove fan mounting bolts and sepa-
rate viscous clutch from fan.
Installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening
torques
Clutch nut to pump
Without
BMW tool 11 5 040 40 Nm (29 ft-lb)
With BMW tool 11 5 040 30 Nm
(22 ft-lb)
Fan to viscous clutch 10 Nm (89 in-lb)
Electric cooling fan, removing and
installing
The electric cooling fan is mounted behind the front bumper,
in front of the
A/C condenser.
- Remove front bumper. See 510 Exterior Trim, Bumpers.
- Remove left and right headlights. See 630 Lights,
- Where applicable, detach horizontal air ducts behind front
bumper and fold to side.
- Disconnect fan electrical connector on right side of radiator
shroud and lay aside.
- Detach wire loom from air duct in front of cooling fan
- Pry out expansion rivets holding air duct. Slide air duct down-
ward to remove.

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--.
- - Manual Transmission
- V-8 engine: Remove heat shield from left front axle support.
< V-8 engine: Remove engine speed reference sensor from
transmission.
- Where applicable, remove brackets for transmission under-
body protection (adjacent to transmission).
4 Support transmission with transmission jack.
- Where applicable, remove reinforcing cross brace from
below driveshaft at transmission.
- Disconnect harness connector from back-up light switch
on transmission.
- Free harnesses for oxygen sensors and back-up lights
from crossmember and transmission.
Remove transmission crossmember: Remove transmission mount bolts
(A).
Remove transmission crossmember bolts (B)
Where applicable, remove bolts (C).
NOTE-
5-speed transmission shown in illustration. Crossmember
assembly for 6-speed transmission is similar.
Disconnect driveshaft from transmission and hang to one
side. See
260 Driveshaft.
I CAUTION- I
Do not damage constant velocity joint orprotective boot at
rear differential.
- 6-cylinder engine: Remove stabilizer bar links and swivel sta-
bilizer bar
u~wards.

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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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400-8
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.