
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Subject Page
Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Power Distribution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Windshield Wiping/Washing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Optional Rain Sensor (AIC)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Central Locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Remote RF Keyless Entry  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Model Year 2000 FZV Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Car Memory / Key Memory  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Power Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Window Anti-Trap Detection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Sunroof  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Interior Lighting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Anti-Theft (DWA) System  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Tilt Sensor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Interior Protection (UIS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Alarm Siren  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Alarm Indication  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Seat Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Mirror Operation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Seat Operation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Steering Column Operation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
General Functions of ZKE III  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Diagnosis/Troubleshooting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Revised 6-96 

INTRODUCTION
The  Central  Body  Electronics  (ZKE  III)  equipped  on  the  X5  includes  the  following  sub-
systems under the total scope of its control:
• Windshield/tailgate wiping/washing,
including windshield rain sensor (AIC).
• Interior lighting
• Central locking
• Keyless entry
•  Tailgate release
The following is an overview of new or changed features found on the X5 ZKE III variant. 
• Passenger’s  door  module  is  now  incorporated  into  the  passenger’s  door  switchblock
module.
• Sunroof module (SHD)  located on the K bus.
• The Central Locking system uses a new style door lock actuator with hall effect sensors
similar to E46.
• The  GM  III  is  responsible  for  the  Key  Memory  feature.    It  provides  the  added
convenience  of  identifying  users  of  the  vehicle.   Whenever  the  vehicle  is  locked  or
unlocked  via  the  FZV  keyless  entry  system,  a  unique  key  identification  signal  (key
number) is transmitted to the General Module.
The  key  identification  signal  alerts  the  GM  to  communicate  with  other  control  systems
over the K Bus to store (when locked) or reset (when unlocked) certain driver adjustable
settings  for  the  driver  using  the  specific  key.    The  GM  also  resets  certain  driver
adjustable settings that it controls directly.
• Power windows/Sunroof
• DWA alarm system 
• Mirror - adjustment/memory/heating
• Seat adjustment/memory
• Steering column adjustment/memory
• Consumer cut-off/sleep mode
ZKE - 2 

REMOTE RF (KEYLESS) ENTRY
The  X5  keyless  entry  system’s  operation  is  carried  over  from  the  E38/E39.    However,  the
FZV key has undergone considerable redesign.
• The  remote  key  receiver  is  part  of
the  antenna  amplifier  and  is
installed  in  the  center  of  the  top
section of the tailgate.  
The  receiver  produces  a  digital
signal  based  on  the  transmitter
command  and  sends  it  to  the  GM
for processing.  
The GM then carries out all remote
lock  system,  window/sunroof
convenience  closing  features  and
DWA arming/disarming functions.
• The frequency at which the key transmits the radio signal to the antenna amplifier is 315
MHz.
• The  system  is  also  used  to  convey  the  key  identification  number  being  used  to
lock/unlock the vehicle.  This is a requirement of the Key Memory feature covered further
on in this manual.
GM III
ZKE - 23
 GM III   

MODEL YEAR 2000 FZV KEY
Visual Changes:
• New appearance with blue and white BMW roundel. 
• New button arrangement (larger buttons) with sequential operation (enhanced operating
convenience)
• Rechargeable battery replaces replaceable batteries.  Charged by EWS ring antenna.
• The key housing is encapsulated and can not be opened.
• The LED has been omitted.
• Key will be used in E46, E38 and E39 vehicles.
Features of the keyless entry system include:
• Up to 4 radio-control keys can be operated in conjunction with one vehicle.
•  Locking/unlocking  of  doors,  tailgate,
fuel filler lid.
• Selective  unlocking  of  driver’s  door  (as
with key in lock)
• Arming/dis-arming of DWA alarm system
(if equipped).
•  Remote unlocking of the tailgate only.
• Comfort  opening  of  windows  and
sunroof
• Interior lighting activation (search mode).
• Panic mode alarm activation..
• Automatic  correction  for  up  to  1000
erroneous activation signals.
• Low  transmitter  battery  fault  code
storage in the GM.
• An  EEPROM  is  used  to  store  the  key
data. 
• Keys  delivered  with  a  four  color  label
sheet  containing  four  different  colored
labels  for  each  of  the  four  possible  FZV
keys.
ZKE - 24TAILGATE OPENS 

Car Memory / Key Memory 
The Car/Key Memory feature provides the flexibility of allowing the owner to customize cer-
tain functions of select vehicle systems and automatically identifies users of the vehicle by
a key identification signal provided by the remote keyless entry system (FZV).
Car  &  Key  memory  is  marketed  as  a  combined  feature  but  is  actually  two  separate  func-
tions of the select vehicle control systems.
Car Memory: The owner is provided with a list of available system functions that can be
customized  to  their  liking.   Prior to delivery,  the  DIS  or  MoDiC  is  used  to  encode  the
owner’s chosen selections into the appropriate control modules.  
These  choices  become  a  permanent  function  of  the  control  module  and  can  only  be
changed by re-encoding with the DIS or MoDiC at a BMW Center.
This feature has been available for some time via the ZCS Conversion Feature but has never
been fully utilized or officially presented to the vehicle owner as a feature of their vehicle. 
Units DisplayChange (ºF/ ºC)
• DWA - Features
• FZV -  Features
• Automatic Seat 
Adjustment 
•  Method Selection
• Recirc
   Air Memory
• Daytime Running
Lights
•  Home Lights
UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY01
220km/hMPH1/min
x1000
40 6080100120
140
160
180
200
220
240
1
023
4
5
6
75030
20
15
1220 406080
100
120
1401
1
MoDiC
20 PIN
DIAGNOSTIC
CONNECTION
MoDiC
D-BUS
DIS
A
SEAT
MODULE
GMV
IHKA
LSZ
 
ZKE - 28
LCM III
GM III 

ZKE - 45
AUTOMATIC CONTROL FUNCTION
The  GM  provides  12  volts  (linear  application  providing  soft  on  feature)  to  the  interior  light-
ing circuit when the one of the following input signal statuses change:
•  Door contact hall sensor active (door opened)
•  An Unlock request from the driver's door key lock hall sensors are received.  This only
occurs if  the ignition switch is off.
•  An Unlock request is from the FZV keyless entry system is received via the K bus. This
only occurs if the ignition switch is off as well.
•  The ignition switch is switched off and the vehicle exterior lights (LCM III) have been on
for a minimum of  2 minutes prior.  This information is provided to the GM via the K bus.
•  Active crash signal from the MRS III control module.
• Lock  button  of  FZV  key  is  pressed  with  the  vehicle  is  already  locked  (interior  search
function).
The GM gradually reduces the full 12 volt power supply (linear reduction providing soft off)
until the lights are off when the following input signal statuses change:
•  Immediately after the ignition switch is turned to KL R with the driver's door hall sensor
door contact closed.
• When the vehicle is locked (single or double) with the door contacts closed. 
•  When  the  vehicle  door  contacts  are  closed.    The  lights  remain  on  for  20  seconds  and
then go to soft off.
•  After the interior search function is activated, the lights will automatically turn off (soft off)
after 8 seconds. 
•  After  16  minutes  with  a  door  contact  active  (open  door)  and  the  key  off,  the  lights  are
switched off (consumer cutoff function).
•  The component activation function of the DIS also has the ability to switch the lights. 
The Interior lighting output circuit of the GM is approximately 3.5 amps with all lights on. 

ZKE -54
DRIVER’S SEAT MEMORY (CAR Memory Influence)
The  PM-SM  can  be  encoded  to  recall  a  specific  seat  position  for  a  vehicle  user  when  the
GM  signals  the  SM  to  automatically  recall  stored  positions  separate  of  the  1-2-3  button
selections.
This feature is encoded through the car memory function and activated by the key memo-
ry  function.    The  PM-SM  will  monitor  the  seat  position  and  store  it  in  another  area  of  it's
memory when the vehicle is locked with the remote keyless entry system.  The GM sends
a request to memorize the seat position and store it for FZV key user 1,2,3 or 4.
If  another  user  of  the  vehicle  changes  the  seat  position  the  PM-SM  restores  the  memory
position the next time the specific key is used to unlock the vehicle.  
This  feature  can  be  further  modified  to  activate  the  position  recall  based  on  the  owner's
selected activation scenario, for example:  The owner can choose to :
•  Disable this feature,
•  Initiate memory recall  when the unlock signal is initially sent before a door is opened.
• Initiate memory recall when the unlock signal is sent but only when the driver's door is
opened.
See Car Memory Key Memory for additional information.
POWER SEAT DIAGNOSIS
The PM-SM communicates with the DIS or MoDiC via the K bus - instrument cluster gate-
way - to the P-bus.  The PM-SM monitors the seat motors and circuits as well as it's inter-
nal operation.  Any detected faults are stored in the PM-SM fault memory and are called up
when diagnosing the system with the Fault Symptom diagnostic plan. 
The  PM-SM  also  provides  status  display  to  the  DIS  of  its  input  and  output  control  signals
as well as component activation. 

62
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. 
Approximate X5 Battery draw:       • 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  not  active  in  the  sleep  mode,  however  the  GM  III  of  Remote  Entry
Module can put the K-Bus back on-line with a wake-up request.
SLEEP MODE CRITERIA: KL R, 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 signal states listed below.
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 “
Tailgate
Tailgate
Tailgate
Tailgate
UIS