2001 BMW 525i 721 airbag system

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YOU are now in Volume I
I
Foreword ................... .. ........................................................................\
.......... v
Index
........................ .. ................................................................ rear of manual
General, 001 General Warnings and Cautions 002 Vehicle Identification and VIN Decoder
Maintenance OiO 020 Maintenance
Engine
100 Engine-General 110 Engine Removal and Installation
113 Cylinder Head Removal and
Installation
116 Cyiinder Head and Valvetrain 117 Camshaft Timing Chain
119 Lubrication System
200 Transmission-General
2 Transmission 210 clutch 230 ManualTransmission
I20 Ignition System
121 Battery, Starter, Alternator
130 Fuel Injection
160 Fuel Tank and Fuel Pump 170 Radiator and Cooling System
180 Exhaust System
240 Automatic Transmission
250 Gearshift Linkage 260 Driveshaft
Suspension, 300 Suspension, Steering and 330 Rear Suspension
Brakes-General 331 Final Drive
Steering and No Front Suspension 340 Brakes
320 Steering and Wheel Alignment
400 Body-General
410 Fenders, Engine Hood 411 Doors
412 Trunk Lid, Tailgate
510 Exterior Trim, Bumpers 512 Door Windows
Equipment 513 Interior Trim
7
Equipment and 720 seat Belts
Accessories 721 Airbag System (SRS)
OBD On-Board Diagnostics
. ............ ..
515 Central Lociting and
Anti-Theft
520 Seats 540 Sunroof
.................................................................... Foreword .............................. .. v
Index ................... .. ................................................................ rear of manual
Electrical
6 system
600 Electrical System-General 620 Instruments
610 Electrical Comoonent Locations 630 Liohts
611 wipers and washers 612 Switches eati in^ and Air Conditioning
Radio
. ........... ........ .........................
Electrical Wiring Diagrams

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Steering and Wheel Alignment
Steering system warnings and cautions
WARNING -
The BMW airbag system is complex. Special precautions
must be observed when servicing the system. Serious in-
jury may result if system service is attempted by persons
unfamiliar with the BMW
airbag system and its approved
service procedures. BMW specifies that all inspection and
service should be
peiformed by an authorized BMW deal-
e,:
The BMW E39 is equipped with an airbag mounted in
the steering wheel. The
airbag is an explosive device
and should be treated with extreme caution. Always fol-
low the
airbag removal procedure as outlined in 721
Airbag System (SRS).
BMW airbags are equipped with a bacli-up power sup-
ply inside the
airbag control module. A 5 second wait-
ing period should be observed after the battery cable
has been disconnected. This will allow the reserve
power supply to discharge.
Do not reuse self-locking nuts. They are designed to
be used only once and may fail if reused. Always re-
place them with new locliing nuts.
* Do not install bolts and nuts coated with undercoating
wax, as correct tightening torque cannot be assured.
Always clean the threads with solvent before installa-
tion, or install new parts.
Do not attempt to weld or straighten any steering com-
ponents. Always replace damagedparts.
CAUTION--
- Some E39 models are equipped with aluminum suspen.
sion components. The following cautions apply:
Due to the chemical and corrosion characteristics of
aluminum, do not bring into contact with battery acid.
Do not clean with wire brushes with brass or iron bris-
tles. Only use brushes with stainless steel bristles.
Do
not expose to flying sparks from grindinghutting op-
erations.
Do not subject to steel welding splashes.
* Do not expose to temperatures over 80% (176°F).
even for short periods. Temperatures in painting iacili-
ties are not a problem.

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320-8
Steering and Wheel Alignment
4 MFL steering wheel: Loosen 2 airbag mounting fasteners
(Torx T27 or T30) located at rear of steering wheel (arrow).
4 Sport steering wheel:
Insert screwdriver through opening in rear of steering
wheel and push against spring tension to release
airbag.
Repeat procedure on other side of steering wheel.
- Carefully lift airbag from steering wheel and disconnect elec-
trical harnesses from
back side of unit. Refer to component
illustrations above. Also see
721 Airbag System (SRS).
Improper handling of the airbag could cause serious injury.
Store the
airbag with the horn pad facing up. If stored facing
down, accidental deployment couldpropel it violently into the
Avoid damaging the variety of convenience switches, such
as radio and cruise controls, installed in the steering wheel of
4 Remove steering wheel center bolt (arrow).

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Check for proper alignment of steering column marks (ar-
row) before removing steering wheel.
NOTE-
The steering column and steering wheel are match marked
at the factory
Remove lower steering column trim panel. See Steering col-
umn trim, removing
and replacing.
Working underneath steering column, disconnect electrical
harnesses (A) and
(B).
Remove steering wheel.
When reinstalling steering wheel:
Align steering wheel and column match
marks.
Align steering wheel to alignment pins located on steering
column switch block.
Install steering column center bolt. Do not over-torque.
Carefully install
airbag. See 721 Airbag System (SRS).
Tightening torques
Steering wheel to steering
shaft (M14) 63 Nm (47 ft-lb)
Airbag to steering wheel (MFL only) 8 Nm (6 ft-lb)

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Steering and Wheel ~li~nrnentl
Steering gearbox, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative (-) battery cable. See 020 Mainte-
nance.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the battew read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warnings.
- Remove airbag unit from steering wheel. See 721 Airbag
System (SRS).
WARNING -
Improper handling of the airbag could cause serious injury
Store the
airbag with the horn pad facing up. If stored lacing
down, accidental deployment couldpropel it violently info the
air, causing
injuv
- Remove steering wheel as described earlier.
- Drain power steering system reservoir.
- Raise front of car.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands beneath structural
chassis points. Do not place jack stands under suspension
Darts.
- Remove heat shield from left side of subframe.
- Remove fluid hoses from top of steering gearbox. Immedi-
ately plug all fluid openings.
Remove and discard
pitman arm self-loclting nut (arrow).

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L.. Steering and Wheel ~li~nrnentl ~
4 Mark A on steering gearbox shaft must be located in center
of
pitman arm slot.
- Adjust pitman arm as described later.
I 5"?~~5~"
I / < Gap A = 0.5 - 8.5 mm (0.02 - 0.33 in)
- Tighten pitman arm pinch bolt to specification.
' 1 Tightening torques
I u "steering Steering gearbox to subframe 62 Nm (46 ft-lb)
box Steering shaft universal joint to steering 19 Nm (14 It-lb)
gearbox (replace bolt)
- Install center tie rod to pitman arm using a new self locking
Pilrnan nut. arm
5nz3zn588 - Connect harness connector for Servotronic electro-hydraulic
regulator
if necessary.
- Connect fluid hoses to steering gearbox. Use new sealing
washers at couplings and make sure not to overtorque banjo
bolts.
Tightening torques Hydraulic lines to steering gearbox (banjo bolts)
MI0 12 Nm (9 ft-lb)
- M14 35 Nm (26 ft-lb)
. M16 40 Nm (30 ft-lb)
MI8 45 Nm (33 it-lb)
Center tie rod to pitrnan arm 65 Nm (48 it-lb)
(use new self-loclting nut)
- Reconnect negative (-) battery cable.
- lnstall airbag unit. See 721 Airbag System (SRS).
- Fill and bleed power steering system as described earlier.

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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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Doors
This repair group covers front and rear door repair informa-
tion. It includes removal and installation of front and rear
doors and trim panels.
For information on
airbag removal and installation, see 721
airbag.
For information on the power door windows and door glass
replacement, see
512 Door Windows.
For information on the power door
loclting system, see 515
Central Locking and Anti-Theft.
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
relatinq to the airbaq system.
Front or rear door, removing and installing
- Disconnect negative (-) battery cable.
Prior to disconnecting the battery, read the battery discon-
nection cautionsgiven in
001 General Cautions and warn-
ings.
Remove harness connector mounting bolt (arrow) at door
pillar.