Page 55 of 80

Visual Entry Aid (E38/E53)
Purpose of the System
The E38 (>99 MY) and E53 is equipped with the “Visual Entry Aid” lighting system which
enhances operator convenience and safety. All interior door handles are supplemented with
soft glow lighting for ease of locating the interior door handles. When activated, the exteri-
or door lighting illuminates providing a subtle underglow for the exterior door handles on
the E38 and exterior rear view mirrors on the E53.
• The interior door handle lighting(including later E53) is provided by slim profile LEDs
and controlled directly by the LCM III.
• The exterior door handle lightingis provided by halogen bulb light sources in each
door and fiber optic tubing. The light sources are controlled by a Visual Entry Aid Control
Module which activates the lights simultaneously when the GM III activates the vehicle
interior lights.
System Components
Interior Door Handle Lighting: The light-
ing is provided by orange glow light strips
illuminated by LED’s.
• The light strips are part of the door han-
dle shell and are not replaceable.
• The LED’s are individually replaceable.
The LED’s are connected to the KL 58g interior panel lighting circuit. KL 58g is an output
pulse width modulated control signal from the LCM III. The duty cycle changes when the
LCM III detects a change in the voltage drop at the light dimmer input signal.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Replacement LED
“Orange Glow”
Light Strip
615200121.eps
Page 56 of 80
Exterior Door Handle Lighting: The Visual
Entry Aid Control Module is located in the elec-
trical carrier forward of the glovebox.
To control the system, the Visual Entry Aid con-
trol module requires:
• KL 30
• KL 15
• KL 31
• Interior Light control signal (GM Output)
The GM controls the soft on/off feature of the vehicle interior lights by a pulse width mod-
ulated control signal. This signal is also an input to the Visual Entry Aid control module
which requests simultaneously control (soft on/off) each exterior door light source.
Light Source Modules: Mounted in each door
are the light source modules.
The light source modules are made up of the
housing, halogen bulb and reflector. The reflec-
tor holds the bulb and focus the bulbs light into
the housing.
The bulbs are are available for individual replace-
ment.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
CONTROL MODULE
615200123.eps 615200124.eps 615200130.jpg
Page 57 of 80

Fiber Optic Light Conductor Cable:The fiber optic cables carry the light to their respec-
tive light output modules at each exterior door handle.
Installation Note:The bending radius of the fiber optic cable should be less than 20mm
when installing.
Light Output Modules: The exterior door handle frames have an additional mount to
accept the light output module.
The light output modules carry the light from the conductor cables to the exterior door han-
dle recess as well as casting a soft exterior light on the outside floor area.
Principle of Operation
Lights ON:
The exterior visual entry aid lighting is activated “on” when the vehicle interior
lights are activated “on” automatically by the GM.
Lights OFF:
Immediately after KL 15 recognition (immediate off - no soft off function). Soft
off after a short delay once all doors are closed.
After a maximum of 20 seconds “on” time, the control module switches exterior visual entry
aid lighting off regardless of interior light status.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
615200131.eps
Page 65 of 80

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
Page 69 of 80

Rear Window Roller Sunblind Operation
The roller sunblind is activated by momentarily pressing and releasing (one touch) the sun-
blind rocker switch in the SZM. The SZM activates the motor in the appropriate direction.
The SZM switches the motor off when the motor amperage increases indicating the blind
has reached the end of its intended travel.
Fault Monitoring: The SZM continually monitors the motor drive amperage loads to deter-
mine jamming or blockages. If current values exceed preset values, the motor is switched
off immediately.
Faults are stored in the SZM for opens or shorts in the motor or motor’s wiring circuit. The
SZM also provides diagnostic requests to monitor the switch input status via the DISplus/
MoDiC.
69
Central Body Electronics ZKE III
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System Components: Inputs - Processing - Outputs
Page 72 of 80

Servotronic (E38 only)
Purpose of the System
The servotronic steering system is based on a conventional power assisted steering sys-
tem. An additional electro-hydraulic solenoid and oil passageways are added to the con-
ventional worn and roller type steering box. The GM monitors the vehicle’s road speed and
regulates an electro-hydraulic solenoid. The servotronic steering system provides the fol-
lowing:
• A light steering effort at low speeds and while parking.
• Increased steering effort as road speed increases.
The "Direct Hydraulic Reaction" provided by the system allows the frictional forces between
the front wheels and road surface to be transmitted to the driver. This allows the driver to
make a better judgment in regard to the driving conditions.
This principle of direct hydraulic reaction can be used with the servotronic system because
of the spool valves that are already used with the worm and roller steering box.
Refer to ST056 Chassis Dynamics for further “mechanical” details of Servotronic.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Page 75 of 80

General Functions of ZKE III
Consumer Cut Off
The Consumer Cut Off function interrupts battery voltage to circuits preventing inadvertent
battery drain if one of these consumers were to remain activated. Circuits controlled by
consumer cut off will be switched off as the GM enters into the sleep mode.
For example, the interior lights are connected to the consumer cut out circuit (KL 30) and
can remain on if one of the control switches are left on. The consumer cut off will deacti-
vate KL 30 to the interior lighting after 16 minutes (or with the DISplus/MoDIC).
The following circuits are con-
trolled by consumer cut off:
• Map/Reading Lights
• Glove Box/Luggage Compart-
ment Lights
• Transmission Range Indicator
Light
• Overload Protection Relay for
- Power Seat Motors
- Steering Column Motors
Overload Protection
The seat and steering column motors receive
operating power through the consumer cutoff/
overload protection relay module. The consumer
cutoff signal from the GM signals the relay to
maintain operating power to the consumers.
If the relay module detects an increase in amper-
age (overload) the relay will open. The relay mod-
ule (K-72) is located in the electrical carrier
behind the glove box. The relay is reset by
switching the ignition “off” for 16 minutes, dis-
connecting the relay or the DISplus/ MoDIC.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
E38 Shown
Overload
Protection Relay
Module
Page 76 of 80

Sleep Mode
To lower the constant battery draw when the vehicle is parked, the complete ZKE system
will go into the “Sleep Mode” 16 minutes after the ignition has been switched off and no
further ZKE function is active.
For example, the approximate E39 (528i) Battery draw is:
• Ignition switch off = approx 750 mA.
• One minute after = approx. 560 mA.
• After 16 minutes (sleep mode) = approx. 18 mA.
All modules in the ZKE system will go into the sleep mode. The P-Bus remains active, how-
ever no data transfer takes place until a wake-up request is received. The general module,
door modules or keyless remote module can wake the system up and put the ZKE back
on line. The K-Bus is active (high) in the sleep mode.
Sleep Mode Criteria:
KL R, KL 15 OFF and no further function activated for 16 minutes.
Wake Up Criteria:
KL R or 15 “ON” or a change in one of the signals listed below.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
SIGNAL ACTIVITY ORIGINATING
MODULE
K-BUS High General Module
Door jamb switches (possibility of 4) Low “
Trunk lid lock cylinder microswitch High “
Trunk lid pushbutton microswitch Low “
Interior Trunk lid pushbutton microswitch Low “
Central locking button Low “
Hood microswitch Low “
Trunk Lid microswitch Low “
Interior light switch Low “
FIS sensor Low “
Tilt Alarm sensor Low “
FBZV operational signal High FBZV Module
Driver’s door lock microswitch - (lock) High PM-FT/SB
“ “ “ “ - (unlock) High “
Passenger door lock microswitch - (lock) High PM-BT
“ “ “ “ - (unlock) High “