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Need help with location of the fuse boxs and overview of fuse positions for 528i?

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368K views 42 replies 16 participants last post by  happywolf3758  
M
#1 ·
I am wondering where I can find the fuse box on my 528i and if anyone could post an overview of where all the fuses are supposed to be located?

I don't have a service manual and need to find out if have blown fuses or not. (Also so that I can put fuses in the correct places).

Thank you for any help!
 
E
#7 ·
... and under the carpet at the front of the right front seat.

You REALLY should break down and buy the E39 Bentley Service Manual, esp if you plan to do any electrical troubleshooting at all! This model is not simple!
 
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#10 ·
Look in the compartment at the top of the glovebox, where one of the fuse panels sits. There's a card that pulls out with a little thumb tab. That's the diagram of the fuses in that panel. For the trunk panel, pull back the battery cover on the right-hand side of the trunk. It has the diagram for the fuses in there. As for the one under the passenger side carpet in front of the seat, I'll have to check that one out myself.
 
#12 ·
cn90 said:
Locations
Click to expand...
Hi Cam,
I always wondered where ALL the fuses & fusible links were located. Thanks.

I did a quick search and then created a bestlink with this info:
(Keywords used were "E39" "fusebox" "fuse box" "fusible link")

- Where to find E39 fuse boxes (1) (WDS) & how to find the front passenger seat undercarpet fuse panel (1)

Every time I look anything up, MORE QUESTIONS pop up:
Q1: Do we have high-current "fusible links" in other places in the E39?
Q2: Are any individual devices individually fused in the E39?
 
#19 · (Edited)
Looking at my trunk fusebox caused more questions than it answered!

Here is the sticker on the inside of the battery door:

Note: Yellow circles are the fuses in my 2002 BMW 525i:
Image

And, here is a picture of what it's trying to represent:

Note: Yellow lines are the fuses in my 2002 BMW 525i:
Image


Some questions that arise:
Q: What is the "on board monitor"?
Q: I don't have a CD changer in the trunk (I have the single-CD BMW Business CD player in the dash); so why the 30-amp fuse in position 56?
Q: I don't have a 'telephone' (but I do have the wiring); so why the 10 amp fuse in position 57?
Q: What are the purposes of the three relays above the fuse box?

Image
 

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#21 ·
bluebee said:
Looking at my trunk fusebox caused more questions than it answered! ...

Some questions that arise:
Q: What is the "on board monitor"?
Q: I don't have a CD changer in the trunk (I have the single-CD BMW Business CD player in the dash); so why the 30-amp fuse in position 56?
Q: I don't have a 'telephone' (but I do have the wiring); so why the 10 amp fuse in position 57?
Q: What are the purposes of the three relays above the fuse box?
...
Click to expand...
1. The onBoard monitor would be the 4:3 Nav screen or 16:? (wide) Nav screen (if so equipped).

2. If you have the "pre-wired for CD" button in your trunk...that would be the reason for for having the 30 amp fuse #56 already installed (just as you would have the wiring pre installed)...but you also have a radio installed...thus, it too, requires the 30 amp Fuse #56...so it will be installed for that component as well.

3 pre-wired buttons in my Touring can be seen along the LEFT side of the rear cargo side panel
Image


the 2 pre=wired buttons are located on the left side of the trunk near the AUDIO component fold down door in this image of an e39 sedan below:
Image

3. Again, if you have the phone's "pre-installed" button in the trunk...that is why you have fuse #57 installed as well as the "wiring" for the defunct/obsolete analog cell phone. :)

Image

4. I'll pass on this one because if memory serves me right...I think you've found this information out already. :)
 
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#20 ·
#23 · (Edited)
For the record, yesterday QSilver7 posted a nice glovebox fuse finder diagram:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > e39 still running with key out!

Image

Image


Likewise, cn90 did a great job of showing the fuses under the passenger seat over here:
- DIY: Troubleshooting S.A.S. and How to Replace the Famous Fuse # 107!

Image


And JimLev kindly showed fuses F100 to F106 which are just above the battery positive terminal:
- Do I have the correct location for the E39 battery safety terminal explosive charge?

Image


Similarly, SleekBMW kindly showed how to find Fuse #75 & Fuse #76 behind the glovebox:
- Auxiliary Fan write up
SleekBMW said:
This is a pic of fuse 75 and 76 lookin lying down above into your glove compartment from the passenger side foot well. That panel needs to be pulled BACK towards the passenger side seat with SLIGHT pressure to the floor and should come out. THE AREA THAT 75 and 76 are in is circled. you will reach in there, and grab the fuse and push UP towards the sky and it will come out.
Click to expand...
Image
 

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#24 · (Edited)
I looked at my 2002 525i glovebox today to find fuses #1 to #45:
Image

Image


IN ROOF PANEL OF GLOVEBOX:
1 = 30A, Windscreen wiper
2 = 30A, Headlight cleaning system, Windscreen washer system
3 = 15A, Horn
4 = 20A, Passenger comp/trunk lighting, Windscreen washer system
5 = 20A, Sliding tilt/roof
6 = 30A, Outside mirror adjustment, Central locking system, Window lift
7 = 30A, Cigarette lighter
8 = (empty)
9 = 15A, Air conditioner, Heated washer jets
10 = 30A, Passenger seat adjustment
11 = 7.5A, Servotronic
12 = 5A, Immobilizer
13 = 30A, Driver seat adjustment, Steering column adjustment
14 = 5A, Engine control
15 = 7.5A, Diagnosis plug, Engine control
16 = 5A, Light module
17 = 10A, ABS, Automatic stability control
18 = 5A, Instrument cluster
19 = 5A, (empty) Electronic damper control
20 = 7.5A, Air conditioner, Heated rear window, Heater, Tyre pressure control system
21 = 5A, Anti-glare inside mirror, Driver seat adjustment, Garage door opener
22 = 25A, Fuel pump
23 = 7.5A, (empty) Heater, Rear centre arm rest
24 = 5A, Instrument cluster, Shifting gate illumination, Tyre pressure control system
25 = 7.5A, Multi-information display, Radio
27 = 30A, Central locking system, Window lift
28 = 15A, (empty) Transmission control, diesel
29 = 30A, Central locking system, Outside mirror adjustment
29 = 30A, Window lift
30 = 25A, ABS
31 = 10A, ABS, Automatic stability control
31 = 10A, Fuel pump
32 = 25A, Active seat, Electric seat heating, Roller sun blind
34 = 10A, Heated steering wheel (empty)
35 = 5A, (empty) Rear A/C blower
36 = (empty)
37 = 5A, Immobilizer
38 = 5A, Horn, Shifting gate illumination
39 = 7.5A, Charging socket, Courtesy mirror illumination
40 = 5A, Airbag, Instrument cluster
41 = 5A, Brake light, Light module
42 = 5A, Airbag
43 = 5A, (Telephone), (On-board monitor), Radio, (Rear Washer) (Rear washer pump)
44 = 5A, Multi-function steering wheel, MID, Radio, (Telephone)
45 = 7.5A, Roller sun blind

IN TRUNK BATTERY COMPARTMENT:
46 = (empty)
47 = 20A, (empty) Additional heater, independent heater
48 = 5A, Anti-theft alarm system
49 = 30A, (empty) Air suspension
50 = 7.5A, (empty) Air suspension
51 = 30A, (empty) Rear cigarette lighter
52 = 30A, (empty) Cigarette lighter (AUS)
53 = 7.5A, Central locking system
54 = 25A, (empty) M5 Fuel pump
55 = 20A, (empty) Rear washer, Rear washer pump
56 = 30A, (On-board monitor), (CD changer), Radio, (Navigation system)
57 = 10A, (Telephone)
58 = 10A, (On-board monitor), (Telephone), Radio, (Navigation system)
59 = 20A, (empty) Trailer socket
60 = 50A, (empty) Elecronic damper control
61 = (empty)
62 = (empty)
63 = (empty)
64 = (empty)
65 = (empty)
66 = 40A, heated rear window

UNDER PASSENGER SIDE CABIN AIR FILTER:
? =
? =
? =
? =
? =

BEHIND GLOVEBOX (look from underneath):
? =
75 = 50A, Auxiliary fan
76 = 40A, Heater blower
? =

ABOVE BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106

UNDER PASSENGER SEAT:
? =
107 = 50A, SAS airpump Special Fuse: BMW PN 6113836590
108 =
109 =
110 =
111 = ignition switch?
112 =
113 =
114 = ignition switch?
? =
 

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#25 · (Edited)
Are these the seven fuse locations in the typical E39?

  • F1 to F45 <= in the glovebox
  • F46 to F66 <= above the battery
  • F? to F? <= in the ebox under the passenger side cabin air filter housing (four fuses?)
  • F75 to F76 <= behind the glovebox
  • F77 to F99 <= ?
  • F100 to F106 <= aft of the battery positive terminal
  • F107 to F114 <= under passenger side front seat carpet
Given that rough estimate of the fuses, would someone kindly tell me where the fuse number and description is for these four? fuses in the ebox under the passenger cabin air filter housing?
 

Attachments

#26 ·
bluebee said:
Are these the seven fuse locations in the typical E39?
Click to expand...
Thanks to a pointer by JimLev, I belatedly realized Bentley, Volume Two, pages 610-29 to 610-37 shows the 88 fuse spots (F1-F5, F1-F114 inclusive) in the 6 fuse locations listed below (spots F67 to F74 & F77 to F99 don't exist & F1 to F5 exist in two different locations):

  • Fuse panel 1: F1 to F45 <= in the glove compartment top panel (45 fuse spots)
  • Fuse panel 2: F46 to F66 <= directly above the battery (21 fuse spots)
  • Fuse panel 3: F1 to F5 <= at the back of the ebox under the passenger side cabin air filter housing (5 fuse spots)
  • Fuse panel 4: F107 to F114 <= under passenger side front seat carpet (8 fuse spots)
  • Fuse panel 5: F100 to F106 <= above the battery positive terminal (7 fuse spots)
  • Fuse panel 6: F75 to F76 <= behind the glove compartment (2 fuse spots)
Image

JimLev said:
The fuse functions are in Bentleys, but depending on the year and model you have they don't always match the Bentleys description, see page 610-34.
This is fuse panel 3 for F1 to F5
According to Bentleys:
F1 open (no fuse)
F2 30 Amps, Fuel injectors, Engine control module
F3 20 Amps, Cam sensors, MAF, Crank Sensor, Thermostat
F4 30 Amps, Heated O2 sensors, Tranny control module
F5 30 Amps, Unloader relay, power to coils

Here is what my 2000 540/6 really has. (might be more that below, this is what I could trace out)
F1 30 Amps, MAF, Cam sensor #1, DME, T-Stat, Evap emission valve
F2 30 Amps, Fuel injectors, Both Vanos solenoids, Cam sensor #2, Secondary air injection pump electrical valve.
F3 30 Amps, Cam sensors, MAF, Crank Sensor, Heated O2 sensors.
F4 30 Amps, DME
F5 30 Amps, Unloader relay, power to coils
Click to expand...
 
#27 · (Edited)
#28 ·
For the cross-linked record, today cn90 put a nice closeup picture of the airbox fuses in this thread:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Immediate need!

cn90 said:
This is from E46 M3, but it looks virtually identical to E39.

Again, it is from E46 M3, so read it with a "grain of salt":

PICTURE 1:

Image


PICTURE 2:

Image


Fuse 1 - 30A - DME, Injectors, SMG Hydraulic unit
Fuse 2 - 30A - DME, Idle control valve, Fuel tank ventilation valve, Fuel pump
Fuse 3 - 20A - E-box fan, Transmission RPM sensor, Camshaft positioning sensors, Mass airflow sensor, Fuel pump relay, Secondary air pump relay, A/C Compressor relay, Fuel tank leakage diagnostic module, SMG selector lever
Fuse 4 - 30A - Oxygen sensors and oxygen sensor heater circuits.
Fuse 5 - 30A - Fuel injector relay....
Click to expand...
 
#29 ·
For the record, while researching this thread just now:
- Do we have a good description of how the BMW E39 Secondary Air System (SAS/SAP) works

... I ran into this excellent cn90 thread showing some of the best pictures ever of the under-seat fusebox in the 528i:
- DIY: Troubleshooting S.A.S. and How to Replace the Famous Fuse # 107!

Here are some of cn90's excellent fuse-related pictures from that thread:

cn90 said:
...
* Fuse #107: 50A Special Fuse: BMW PN 61138365901 ($4.00); Napa PN 782-1144 ($4.00). The BMW Fuse is covered in black and you cannot check it with your naked eyes (need Voltmeter or Ohmmeter to check). The Napa Fuse is see-through: within a glance you can see the fuse is good or not. I prefer the Napa Fuse. See pic:

Image

...
- In the case of the S.A.S. Air Pump, the 30-87 circuit is controlled by the Fuse # 107, which itself is under the passenger's seat, thanks to the BMW engineers who designed this car with beer and bratwurst!!! In any other car, replacing this fuse is not hard because it is usually located under the hood. In the E39, Fuse 107 is a bit tricky to get too, but not too bad.
...
- Before getting to Fuse #107 under the passenger seat, check the S.A.S. Relay and its connector first!!! The Main Fuse Box is under the passenger side Cabin Filter. Remove the Passenger Cabin Filter Housing.

- Using Allen keys, open the Plastic Cover and you will see the setup below with all the main relays and some fuses here. To check the S.A.S. Relay, remove it & check for continuity between 30 and 87a, it should be 0 Ohm. Now apply 12V to 85 and 86, 30 and 87 (not 87a) is now connected.

- Now check the Relay Connector, take note of the relay pinout, then copy it to a piece of paper because when reading relay upside down, it is very very easy to get all the connector terminals mixed up! By copying the terminals numbers (basically mirror image of the relay) to a piece of paper, you eliminate error! Over the years, I have learned this the hard way, so trust me with this copying to a piece of paper. There should be 12V to #30 terminal all the time. See pic:

Image


PROCEDURE TO REPLACE FUSE #107 UNDER PASSENGER SEAT:
Now that you have determined that there is no power to terminal #30 in the Relay Connector itself, time to check and replace the 50A Special Fuse.

1. The Trim piece: using flat screw driver pry it up, it is held by 3 White clips.

Image


2. The Seat is held by four (4) Torx #50 bolts, remove them but no need to take the seat out of the car.

Image


3. The Vertical Trim piece: undo the bottom part only to allow the carpet to be folded back.

4. Note how the carpet fits (the front carpet piece slides under the rear piece).

5. Fold the carpet back and place a brick on it to hold it there to free your hand. You will see a Styrofoam insulation piece. In order to remove the Styrofoam in its entirety, you have to remove the plastic tunnel (HVAC Tunnel), which is more work! I bypassed this step: I leave the plastic tunnel alone but break the styrofoam at where it meets the plastic tunnel b/c it is a only a piece of insulation, nothing fancy about it.

- Use a short piece of wood to prop the seat up about 12".

Image


6. Now you see the Electrical Distribution Center, remove the white plastic covers to expose the Red (+) connections. Ground (Brown Cables) is just to the Left of this distribution box.

7. Fuse Block has a total of 8 fuses. Fuse #107 is on the far Left. See picture:

Image


8. To test the Fuse, use a Voltmeter (not Ohmmeter for now).

9. Note the Large Red Feed Cable side, it feeds power to the electrical block where it branches out. So probing on that side must read 12V or so. Now probe the other side of the fuse, it should read 12V as well, if it reads 0 volts, the fuse is bad.

10. To replace the 50A Fuse, it is held by 8-mm nuts and square washer. Use a small hook to hook it out. Remove the fuse and confirm that it is bad with an Ohmmeter: when a fuse is bad it reads infinity Ohms (open circuit).
* CAUTION: this circuit is always "hot" with 12V, even with key out of ignition! If you are not comfortable working with "hot" wire, then disconnect the red cable from the trunk battery. I did this whole thing with the battery connected, just pay attention not to touch any ground while removing the 8-mm and 10-mm nuts.

Image


11. The medium-sized red cable feeding separate electrical items in the car is held by a single 10-mm nut.

12. NOTE the torque for these nuts, basically tight and snug a bit:
* 8-mm nut: 8 Nm
* 10-mm nut: 15 Nm...
Click to expand...
 
R
#30 · (Edited)
Mr.Howie said:
I don't have a service manual

Thank you for any help!
Click to expand...
Here is a link to BMW's
1 dealer service manual - TIS
and
2 wiring diagrams - WDS

http://spaghetticoder.org/

And I noticed one of the other posts gave you a link to the owner's manual.

EDIT: and you have now seen there is LOTS of help here in this forum.

EDIT2: the Bentley manual can be useful too. But for wiring, I recommend WDS every time. Bentley often omitts circuit diagram changes that evolved over the E39 platform lifecycle.

Good luck
 
#31 ·
#32 ·
This information posted today on another thread may be useful:
ztom said:
Last night I worked on my car & I may have crossed wires on my O2 and this post (hopefully) shows the fuse I need to change since after the O2 was fixed, the fuel trim is running open loop. Thanks much, I think this is a valuable photo.

==

Also found this wiring diagram at..
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41222&page=2
..not sure if applies for e39 528, looks to be a valuable thread.

Image


..also contains this wire color cross reference, I think if hand-wiring an O2 sensor, not sure if correct..
Info compliments of Dale Burdette.

Added the O2 sensor wire colors to the following print.

-------------------------------X62xxx
Fuse 204 rt/ws = red/white---pin 1---Sensor ws = white
DME bn = brown---------------pin 2---Sensor ws = white
DME sw = black----------------pin 3---Sensor gy = gray
DMW ge = yellow--------------pin 4---Sensor sw = black

==

..also found this info at..
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524363&page=2

Originally Posted by JimLev View Post
The fuse functions are in Bentleys, but depending on the year and model you have they don't always match the Bentleys description, see page 610-34.
This is fuse panel 3 for F1 to F5
According to Bentleys:
F1 open (no fuse)
F2 30 Amps, Fuel injectors, Engine control module
F3 20 Amps, Cam sensors, MAF, Crank Sensor, Thermostat
F4 30 Amps, Heated O2 sensors, Tranny control module
F5 30 Amps, Unloader relay, power to coils

Here is what my 2000 540/6 really has. (might be more that below, this is what I could trace out)
F1 30 Amps, MAF, Cam sensor #1, DME, T-Stat, Evap emission valve
F2 30 Amps, Fuel injectors, Both Vanos solenoids, Cam sensor #2, Secondary air injection pump electrical valve.
F3 30 Amps, Cam sensors, MAF, Crank Sensor, Heated O2 sensors.
F4 30 Amps, DME
F5 30 Amps, Unloader relay, power to coils

update - There is a 20A fuse in F3 and that was blown, so not like either of above. Replaced, clear codes, fuel loop working again. The fuse box is hard to work with, poor design IMO. First need to bend long plastic tab and lift the bezel up just enough so it doesn't reclip, then I needed needle nose pliers to grab the bezel and wiggle the fuse module up and out. Then to get the bezel off there's good photos here:
http://blog.bavauto.com/5677/bmw-e46-3-series-engine-electronics-fuse-pack-in-underhood-e-box/

..but I slid it off by prying sideways underneath. Inspected but really didn't see the actual tab or mechanism keeping it from sliding.
Click to expand...
 
#33 ·
For the record, JimLev kindly posted a DME fuse picture in this thread just now:
JimLev said:
Here's the fuse block you are looking for.
If the fuse is blown I'd take the cover off the black plastic box above the valve cover just to make sure the wires aren't melted and possibly shorted out.
Click to expand...
Image
 
#34 · (Edited)
For the record, I reorganized the fuses for the E39 over here while debugging parasitic drain:
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > In progress: Step by step diagnostic DIY ... dead battery ... parasitic battery drain

For the record, DME ground wires and other ground wires are covered here:
> E39 (1997 - 2003) > Tighten your ground wire today

Great pictures of the underseat and glovebox fusebox wires are in these threads:
> E39 Electric Memory Seat Install Guide 'How to' PIC HEAVY
> DIY Retrofit Rear Electric Blind
> How to: OEM Front heated seat retrofit
> The fun I had fitting electric comfort seats
 

Attachments

#35 ·
See also:
- One user's attempt at locating and snapping a picture of every single fuse & relay in the BMW E39 (1) & the most often recommended method to diagnose overnight parasitic battery current drain including the FSU (1)
 
A
#36 · (Edited)
Is my issue related to the DME relay?

I have a strange problem with my car. I previously had warm start issues that were solved by replacing the crankshaft sensor. Everything has been fine for a few months.

I then had warm start issues again and my garage diagnosed the issues as a stuck throttle (error codes were showing this). I got this replaced with a used unit and the car drives much better and throttle response is very good. Unfortunately this has not solved the warm start issue as the error codes have now changed. If I start the engine when cold I have no issues. If I drive around and let the engine warm up then it will not start and even before I crank the engine the Transmission Failsafe Failure message comes up.

The errors from diagnostics are below:

110 - signal pedal travel sensor
112 - signal throttle sensor potentiometer
169 - Engine throttle output stage shutoff diag
171 - Plausibiilty system engine throttle
115 - Reference voltage 1 pedal travel
021 - Activation VANOS solenoid valve inlet
019 - Activation VANOS solenoid valve exhaust
053 - Activation idle speed control valve opening
027 - Activation idle speed control valve closing
217 - Signal CAN EGS
130 - Signal CAN ACS
068 - Activation solenoid valve

These errors automatically clear themselves after 5-10 minutes and the car will start again with no issues.
The car always starts fine straight away but if I wait for 30 seconds it fails every time. I then need to wait for 5-10 minutes and then the car will start again with no issues. I have no problems with idle or throttle response.

Thanks.
 
#38 · (Edited)
The aforementioned thread lists the fuses that are under the seat.
Notice some of them are the first fuse before the glovebox, where many fuses lie.
So, it you follow the trail as shown in this thread, you'll probably see the pattern you're looking for.
UNDER PASSENGER SEAT: (see more details in this thread & this thread)
F107 = 50A, SAS airpump Special Fuse: BMW PN 6113836590 (rdl says it's the secondary air relay fuse)
F108 = 50A, [QSilver7 says this is for the ABS/DSC control unit] (rdl says it's the "motor relay") (rdl clarifies that the F108 "motor relay" fuse supplies ASC or DSC) (rdl says his F108 is 50A)
F109 = 80A, [QSilver7 says this is for the DME (motor electronics)] (rdl says it fuses the Ebox EF1 and the DME relay in the ebox) (rdl says his F109 is 80A)
F110 = 80A, Power supply F1-F12 and F22-F26 (rdl says this fuses about 17 fuses, up to F45) found in the glovebox)
F111 = 50A, Data link connector/ Ignition switch (rdl confirms this is the ignition switch fuse)
F112 = 80A, Light control module (rdl confirms this is the LCM fuse)
F113 = 80A, Power supply F13 and F27-F30/ Light Module (rdl says it fuses the LCM and several fuses in glovebox plus in some cars a "closed-circuit current cutout relay" which then feeds a fuse in glovebox)
F114 = 50A, Data link connector/ Ignition switch (rdl confirms this is for the ignition switch and diagnostic plug)

Image
Attached Thumbnails
Click to expand...
 
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