Page 38 of 80

The  siren  has  four  wires  connecting  it  to  the  system;  KL  30,  KL  31,  activate  siren  signal
(SIRENE) and the arm/disarm signal (STDWA).
The  arm/disarm  output  signal  from  the  GM  is  provided  to  the  Tilt  sensor,  FIS/UIS  sensor
and the siren. The arm/disarm signal is a switched ground that signals the components of
an armed/disarmed status.
The activate siren signal to the siren is high whether DWA is armed or disarmed. If a mon-
itored input activates the alarm, the high signal to the siren is switched to a 50% duty cycle
at the GM. The control circuitry in the siren activates the siren driver. 
If the DWA is armed and the battery is disconnected the siren recognizes the normally high
“SIRENE” signal as suddenly going low, the siren is activated.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
SIRENE
STDWA
97 MY E38 Shown 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 40 of 80

Principle of Operation
DWA Arming/Disarming
• The DWA is armed every time the vehicle is locked from the outside with the door lock
cylinder or FZV key. 
• The  DWA  LED  flashes  as  an  acknowledgment  along  with  the  exterior  lights  and  a
momentary chirp from the siren.
• The GM monitors all required input signals for closed status (door closed, luggage com-
partment  closed,  etc.)  The  inputs  must  be  in  a  closed  status  for  a  minimum  of  3  sec-
onds  for  the  GM  to  include  them  as  an  activation  component.  If  after  3  seconds  any
input signal not in the closed status is excluded (this is acknowledged by the DWA LED)
preventing false alarm activations. The hood switch can be “lifted” to the service posi-
tion to test the alarm with the hood open.
• If the DWA is armed a second time within 10 seconds, the tilt sensor and interior pro-
tection  sensor  are  excluded  as  alarm  activation  components.  This  function  is  useful  if
the vehicle is transported on a train or flat bed truck to prevent false alarm activations.
• While armed, the trunk can be opened with out the alarm being triggered as follows:
- If opened with the trunk remote button via the FZV, the GM prevents the alarm from
activating. (This feature is customizable under the Car Memory function).
- If  opened  with  the  key  at  the  trunk  lock  cylinder  the  trunk  key  position  switch  sig-
nals the GM and in the same manner prevents the alarm from activating.
In either case, when the trunk is returned to the closed position, it is no longer con-
sidered as an activation signal. 
Panic Mode Operation: When the trunk button is pressed and held, the GM is signaled
to activate the siren for the Panic Mode. The panic mode is function with either an armed
or disarmed DWA system.
Emergency Disarming: Emergency disarming occurs automatically if a key is used to turn
the ignition switch on and the EWS accepts it. The EWS signals the GM to unlock the doors
and deactivate the DWA.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 41 of 80

Alarm Indication
When the alarm is triggered, the siren will sound for 30 seconds. At the same time the low
beam headlights (high beams on Xenon equipped vehicles) and four way flashers for 5 min-
utes. The GM signals the LCM via the bus system to flash the lights.
Following  an  alarm  activation,  the  system  will  reset  and  activate  again  if  further  tampering
occurs.
DWA LED Status:
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41
Central Body Electronics ZKE III
DWA STATUS DWA LED CONDITION
Disarmed OFF
Armed Continual slow flash
Armed with one or more monitored Rapid flash for 10 seconds,
inputs not in closed position then continual slow flash.
(ie: trunk not fully closed, etc)
Alarm activated Rapid flash for 5 minutes,
then continual slow flash.
Rearmed in less then 10 seconds. ON for 1 second
Disarmed after activated alarm Rapid flash for 10 seconds, 
then OFF. 
         
        
        
     
        
        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 “