BMW 540I SEDAN 2003 Owners Manual

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic climate control
*
Tips for pleasant drivingUse the automatic system, that is,
press AUTO button 6. Select an interior
temperature that you find comfortable.
Detailed setting options are described
for you in the following section.
Your BMW center can program
the settings of your vehicle in such
a manner that, when you unlock the
vehicle with your individualized key,
your own personalized setting for the
automatic climate control is initiated.< Automatic air distribution
The AUTO program
assumes the adjustment of
the air distribution and the air supply for
you and also adapts the temperature to
external influences (summer, winter) to
meet preferences you can specify.
Individual air distribution
You can cancel the AUTO
program by selecting
specific distribution patterns
to suit your own individual
requirements. While the
AUTO program is then deactivated, the
automatic airflow control remains in
operation. The system directs air to the
windows , the upper body and
into the footwells . You can reacti-
vate the automatic air distribution mode
by selecting the AUTO button.
Temperature
You can make individual
temperature settings on the
driver's side or the front
passenger side. Your selection appears
in display 7. The numbers that appear
in the display are reference figures for
interior temperature. We recommend a
setting of 72 7 (22 6) for a congenial
interior climate, even when the air con-
ditioner is in operation. When you start
the vehicle, the system ensures that the
selected temperature is achieved as
quickly as possible. It then maintains
this temperature, regardless of the
season.
Air supply
AUTO appears in
display 9, while the AUTO
program automatically controls the flow
of incoming air, refer to overview on
page 109. You can use "+" and "Ð" to
vary the airflow. When your setting is
displayed by bars, the automatic airflow
is switched off. Automatic air distribu-
tion maintains its setting. You can reac-
tivate the automatic airflow by pressing
the AUTO button.
When you press "Ð " during operation at
minimum blower speed all displays are
canceled: the blower, heating and air
conditioner are switched off. The out-
side air supply is deactivated. By
pressing any button of the automatic
climate control (except the MAX
button 16), you can switch the system
back on.
To defrost windows and remove
condensation
This program quickly
removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and the side
windows.

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Automatic climate control
*
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and
dehumidified and Ð
depending on the temperature setting Ð
warmed again when the air conditioning
is switched on. Depending on the
weather, the windshield may fog over
briefly when the engine is started. You
can reduce condensation forming on
the windows by switching on the air
conditioning.
Condensation forms in the air
conditioning system during opera-
tion, which then exits under the vehicle.
Traces of condensed water of this kind
are thus normal.<
Maximum cooling
With the engine running
this program provides
maximum cooling at outside tempera-
tures above approx. 41 7 (5 6).
60 7 (16 6) appears in the tempera-
ture display 9, and the system reverts to
the recirculated-air mode while simulta-
neously providing maximum airflow
through the vent outlets only. That is
why you need to keep these open if you
select this program.
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)
You can respond to
unpleasant external odors
by temporarily stopping the flow of out-
side air. The system then recirculates
the air currently within the vehicle.
Press the button repeatedly to run
through the following control sequence:
>Indicator lamps off: outside airflow
operational
>Left-hand indicator lamp on Ð AUC
mode: the system recognizes pollut-
ants in the outside air and blocks the
flow of air when necessary. The
system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle.
Depending on the air quality, the
automatic system then switches back
and forth between outside air supply
and recirculation of the air within the
vehicle
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: the
flow of external air into the vehicle is
permanently blocked. The system
then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
If you have a multifunction steering
wheel with the recirculated-air button
(refer to page 22), you can also use it to
switch between "Off" and the recircu-
lated-air mode or AUC and the recircu-
lated-air mode.
If the windows should fog over in
the recirculated-air mode, switch
the recirculated-air mode off and
increase the air supply as required.< Rear window defroster
When the rear window
defroster is activated, the
indicator lamp comes on. The rear
window defroster switches off automat-
ically.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic climate control
*
Residual heating mode
The heat which is stored in
the engine is utilized for
heating the interior when the engine
has been switched off (while waiting at
a railroad crossing, for instance).
In ignition key position 1, you can alter
the settings of the automatic climate
control. In ignition key position 0, the
system automatically directs heated air
to the windshield, side windows and
footwells.
This function is available for oper-
ation when the outside tempera-
ture is below approx. 59 7 (15 6),
with the engine warm from recent oper-
ation and an adequate charge in the
battery. The LED on the button will light
up when all conditions have been
met.<
Draft-free ventilationYou can adjust the vent outlets for the
upper body area completely for your
personal comfort:
1 Rotary dials for infinitely-variable
opening and closing of the vent out-
lets
2 Selector levers for airflow direction
3 Rotary dial allows you to control the
temperature of the airflow as desired:
>Turn toward blue Ð colder
>Turn toward red Ð warmer.390de685
Rear passenger area ventilation1 Rotary dial for infinitely-variable
opening and closing of the vent out-
lets
2 Selector levers for airflow direction
3 The rotary dial operates in the same
way as the front dial to adjust the
temperature of the emerging air.390de686

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Automatic climate control
*
Roller sun blind
*
Parked-car ventilation
*
Microfilter, activated-charcoal
filterThe microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air. The activated-
charcoal filter provides additional
protection by filtering gaseous pollut-
ants from the outside air. Your BMW
center replaces this combined filter as a
standard part of your scheduled main-
tenance. A substantial reduction in air-
flow indicates that the filter must be
replaced before scheduled mainte-
nance.
To operate, press the button briefly with
the ignition key in position 1 or 2.
Sun blinds for rear side windows
*
Use the strap to extract the blinds, then
hook them in the attachment provided.390us730
This system allows you to ventilate the
interior and lower its temperature using
the blower of the automatic climate
control.
The parked-car ventilation system is
operated via the Multi-Information Dis-
play (MID) Ð refer to page 92 Ð or the
onboard computer. Refer to the sepa-
rate Owner's Manual.
You can set two different times for the
system to start; it will remain active for
30 minutes. You can also turn it on and
off directly. Since the system uses a
substantial amount of electrical current,
you should not activate it twice in suc-
cession without allowing the battery to
be recharged in normal operation
between use.
The parked-car ventilation system is
available for timer-controlled operation
at outside temperatures above 60 7
(16 6) as well as for manual operation
at any temperature, provided that the
vehicle is stationary.
The air emerges via the vent outlets for
the upper body. Therefore, the vent
outlets must be open for the system to
operate.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
The conceptThe BMW Universal Transmitter
replaces up to three hand-held transmit-
ters to control different devices such as
a garage door opener, alarm systems or
a door locking system. The BMW Uni-
versal Transmitter recognizes and
"learns" the transmitted signal from each
of the original hand-held transmitters.
The signal of an original hand-held
transmitter can be programmed on one
of the three channel keys. Following
that, each of the devices can be actu-ated with the appropriately-programmed

channel key. The indicator lamp flashes
to confirm transmission of the signal.
Before you sell your vehicle, the pro-
grammed channel keys should be
cleared. Refer to page 117 for the
description of this process.
To prevent potential injuries or
damage during the programming
operation and before every remote trig-
gering of a programmed device using
the BMW Universal Transmitter, be sure
that there are no persons, animals or
objects within the range of movement
of the respective device. Also, comply
with the safety precautions of the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter.<
To Canadian residents:
During programming, your hand-
held transmitter may automatically stop
transmitting after two seconds. This
may not be long enough to program the
BMW Universal Transmitter. If you are
programming from one of these hand-
held transmitters, the Universal Trans-
mitter's lamp may begin to flash in a
series of double flashes. If this occurs,
continue to hold the key on the Uni-
versal Transmitter while you reactivate
your hand-held transmitter. You may
have to repeat this function several
times while programming.<
Before programming, read the
"User's information" section on
page 117.<
The original hand-held transmitter
If this symbol is depicted on the
packaging or in the user's
instructions for the original
hand-held transmitter, it may be
assumed that this original hand-held
transmitter is compatible with the BMW
Universal Transmitter.
Checking for the conversion codeIn order to determine whether the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter is equipped
with a conversion-code system, you
may either refer to the instructions for
the original hand-held transmitter or
program a channel key as described in
the left column on page 116 under
"Programming."
Following that, press and hold the pro-
grammed channel key of the BMW Uni-
versal Transmitter. If the indicator lamp
of the BMW Universal Transmitter
flashes rapidly for two seconds and
then stays on continuously, the original
hand-held transmitter is equipped with
a conversion-code system. If the con-
version-code system is available, pro-
gram the channel keys as described in
the right-hand column on page 116
under "Programming a hand-held trans-
mitter with change code."
If you have additional questions,
please consult your BMW center
or call 1-800-355-3515.<
BMW Universal Transmitter
*

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BMW Universal Transmitter
*
Programming1 Channel keys
2 Indicator lamp
3 Receiver for programming
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 115.<
1. Ignition key in position 2
2. For initial operation: press and hold
the two outer keys 1 until the indi-
cator lamp 2 flashes. Release the
keys. The three channel keys are
cleared390de640
3. Hold the original hand-held trans-
mitter at the receiver 3 a maximum of
2 in (5 cm) away
4. Simultaneously press the transmit-
ting key of the original hand-held
transmitter (arrow 2) and the desired
channel key of the BMW Universal
Transmitter (arrow 1). Release both
keys as soon as the indicator lamp
flashes rapidly
5. To program other original hand-held
transmitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.
The corresponding channel key is now
programmed with the signal of the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter.380de712
Programming a hand-held
transmitter with conversion code
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 115.<
Consult the operating instructions for
the individual device when program-
ming the BMW Universal Transmitter.
Read and comply with the following
programming instructions for the use of
the BMW Universal Transmitter with a
conversion-code system:
A second person simplifies pro-
gramming of the BMW Universal
Transmitter.<

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BMW Universal Transmitter
*
1. Program the BMW Universal Trans-
mitter as described above under
"Programming" on the previous page
2. Press and hold the programming key
on the receiver of the device for
about two seconds or until the pro-
gramming lamp on the device comes
on
3. Press the desired channel key of the
BMW Universal Transmitter three
times.
If you have additional questions,
please consult your BMW center.<
Clearing the channel keys
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 115.<
The memory of individual channel keys
cannot be deleted. However, the three
channel keys can be cleared together in
the following manner:
>Press and hold the two outer channel
keys of the BMW Universal Trans-
mitter until the indicator lamp flashes,
and then release the keys.
All of the channel keys are cleared.
User's informationDo not use this BMW Universal Trans-
mitter with any garage door opener that
lacks safety "stop" and "reverse" fea-
tures as required by federal safety stan-
dards (this includes any garage door
opener model manufactured before
April 1st, 1982).
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) This device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.

118n
Glove compartment Storage compartmentsTo openPull the handle and the lamp comes on.To closeFold the cover up.
To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, close the glove com-
partment immediately after use.< 390de738
To lockUse one of the master keys. A master
key is also required for unlocking.
For example, if you turn over only
your door and ignition keys for
valet parking (refer to page 32), access
to the glove compartment is not pos-
sible.< Rechargeable flashlight
*
Located on the left-hand side of the
glove compartment.
Features integral overload-protection,
so it can be left in its holder continu-
ously.
To avoid completely discharging
and possibly damaging the lamp,
always ensure that the flashlight is
switched off before inserting it in the
socket.<
The cover of the storage compartment
on the vertical surface of the center
console can be pushed open or closed
(illustration). If your vehicle is equipped
with a cassette holder
*, open each
cassette compartment by pressing on
the small button.
Storage compartment on the center
console between the front seats: to
open, reach into the recess at the front
and pull upward.
You will find a coin holder in the door
pocket on the driver's side.
You will find additional storage com-
partments in all of the doors as well as
on the backrests of the front seats.
390de739

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Cellular phone
*
Beverage holder
*
Ashtray, front
Hands-free systemOn vehicles with telephone prepara-
tion
*, the hands-free speaker is posi-
tioned in the headliner.
For further information on the cellular
phone, refer to the separate Owner's
Manual.
390de639
Two holders for canned drinks have
been provided in the front center con-
sole (illustration).
Press to open; fold back inward to
close.390us736
To emptyPress the edge of the lid (arrow):
The ashtray moves up and can be
removed.
On vehicles equipped with a non-
smoker's package, the insert is
removed in the same way.390de742

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Cigarette lighter
*
Ashtray, rear
Press the cover panel for access
(arrow), then push the lighter down.
You can remove the lighter from its
socket for use as soon as it snaps back
out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette
lighter by the knob only. Holding
or touching it in other areas could result
in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains opera-
tional when the ignition key has been
removed.
For this reason, do not leave unsuper-
vised children in the vehicle.< 390us737
Cigarette lighter socketThis socket is suitable for attaching
power supplies for flashlights, car
vacuum cleaners and other appliances
up to a rating of approx. 200 watts at
12 volts. Avoid damage to the socket
caused by inserting plugs of different
shapes or sizes.
Another socket is located in the cargo
area of the sport wagon in the middle of
the right-hand side panel.Non-smoker's equipment
packageOn vehicles with the non-smoker's
equipment package, the socket is con-
cealed by a cover.
For access to the socket: lift off the
cover.
To emptyPress the edge of the cover (arrow).
The ashtray moves up and can be
removed.390de744