Keyless Entry - Selective Unlocking Malfunctions

GROUP 66
Remote Control Systems

Bulletin Number
66 02 96

Woodcliff Lake, NJ
May 1997
Product Engineering

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN SHOULD ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL SERVICE ADVISORS IMMEDIATELY.

This Service Information bulletin supersedes S.I. 66 02 96 dated August 1996 which should be removed and discarded from your S.I. binder.

SUBJECT:
Remote Selective Unlocking Malfunctions

MODEL:
5 Series (E39), 7 Series (E38) - produced prior to April 1997

Situation:
Under certain circumstances, the selective unlocking function of the remote transmitter (master key) may malfunction in the following manner:

- The first press of the unlock button unlocks the driver's door.

- The second press of the unlock button fails to unlock the other three doors.

- Approximately one second after the second press of the unlock button, the two front windows drop by approximately 2 inches (window lift motors run downward for approximately 400 ms.).

- The remaining three doors can then be unlocked with a third press of the unlock button.

Cause:
A timing problem in the General Module (Software Versions 1.2 through 1.5) can initiate (and then quickly discontinue) the Comfort Opening Feature, temporarily blocking the unlocking of the other doors and dropping the two front windows slightly.

This malfunction only occurs if the second press of the unlock button occurs almost exactly 1.5 seconds after the first press. If the second press of the unlock button occurs outside a narrow window of time (approximately 1.3 to 1.7 seconds after the first press), the above-described malfunction does not occur.

Correction:
On a customer complaint basis only, proceed as follows:

1. Using the DIS Tester, determine the software version of the General Module

2. If the software version of the General Module is 1.1 through 1.5, replace the General Module with one of Software Version 1.6 or higher (P/N 61 35 8 37 688).

3. Initialize all (up to four) Remote Transmitters (Master Keys) to the replacement GM.

Both (or all) transmitters must be initialized.

Important:
Whenever a customer schedules an appointment for any work which could possibly result in the replacement of a General Module, the customer should be advised to bring all Remote Transmitters (Master Keys) in with the vehicle.

This will avoid the necessity of a second visit to the workshop to initialize the transmitters.

To initialize the Remote Transceivers, proceed as follows:

Using the DIS Tester, select "Body", "Body Electrical Systems", "Locking and Security Systems"

Select "Test Schedule"

Select "3 Service Functions"

Select "3 Initialization"

Follow the displayed procedure exactly!





Parts Information:

Note:
The Hardware and Software Versions are marked on the exterior of the General Module (e.g., "HW 1.6 SW 1.6").





Warranty Information:
Parts and Labor are reimbursable under the terms of the BMW New Car Limited Warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles.