belt BMW 740I 1998 Owners Manual

Contents

Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)23
Hazard warning flashers24
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling25
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure26

Locks and security systems:

Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Door locks – outside32
Radio remote control33
Door locks – inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Luggage compartment39
Alarm system40
Electric power windows42
Security glass43
Sliding/Tilt sunroof44

Adjustments:

Seats46
Steering wheel49
Mirrors50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory51
Car Memory, Key Memory53

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts54
Airbags55
Child restraints57
Child restraint installation58
Child-safety locks58

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock59
Starting engine59
Switching off engine60Parking brake61
Automatic transmission62
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor68
Rear window defroster70
Cruise control70

Everything under control:

Odometer, outside temperature
display72
Tachometer72
Energy control73
Fuel gauge73
Temperature gauge74
Service Interval Display74
Check Control 75
Multi-Information Display
(MID)78
Digital clock79
Onboard computer84

Technology for safety and
convenience:

Park Distance Control PDC90
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic Sta-
bility Control (DSC)92
Electronic Damper Control
(EDC)93
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)94

Contents

Owner service procedures
Advanced technology
Technical data

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit162
Windshield wiper blades162
Lamps and bulbs163
Remote control168
Changing tires170
Battery173
Fuses176

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door178
Sliding/Tilt sunroof178

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting179
Towing the vehicle180Airbags184
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)184
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic Sta-
bility Control (DSC)185
Radio reception186
BMW Active Seat186
Safety belt tensioner187
DSP sound system187
Interior rearview mirror with auto-
matic dimming feature188
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)189
Xenon lamps190
Water and dirt repelling
windshield191Engine specifications194
Dimensions195
Weights196
Capacities197
Electrical system198
Drive belts198

19n

RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data

Instrument cluster

1 Fuel gauge with lamp for fuel
reserve range73
2 Turn signal indicators22
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for high beam
headlamps22
5 Tachometer and
Energy Control72, 73
6 Coolant temperature gauge74
7 Indicator and warning lamps for

>

Parking brake21

>

Hydraulic brake system/Dynamic
Brake Control (DBC)

*
20, 21

>

ABS21

>

Airbag21

>

Please fasten safety belts21

>

Cruise control22
8 Check button75
9 Program display for automatic
transmission64, 67
10 Outside temperature display7211 Indicator lamp for Automatic
Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)

*
21
12 Trip odometer72
13 Check Control display75
14 Odometer72
15 Service Interval Display74, 149
16 Reset button for trip odometer72
17 Indicator and warning lamps for

>

Fog lamps22

>

Battery charge current20

>

Engine oil pressure20

>

Check Engine lamp21
You can display the outside tem-
perature and distance driven in
different units of measurement.

<

20n

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Many of the systems of your BMW mon-
itor themselves automatically, both dur-
ing engine starts and while you are driv-
ing. Indicator and warning lamps that
are identified by "

l

" are tested for
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.

Red: Stop immediately

Battery charge current

l

The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator ribbed V-belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
ribbed V-belt is defective, increased
steering effort is also required.

<


Engine oil pressure

l

Comes on while the engine is
running and the "Stop! ENGINE
OILPRESS" message appears in the
Check Control:
Stop vehicle and switch off engine im-
mediately. Check level of oil in engine,
top up as required. If oil level is correct:
Please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.

<



Brake hydraulic system

l

The brake fluid level is too low.
Before driving further, be sure to
read the notes on pages 128 and 147.
Also comes on with the message
"Check brake pads" in the Check Con-
trol.



Brake hydraulic system warning
lamp for Canadian models.

21n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Indicator and warning lamps

Red: An important reminder

Parking brake
Comes on when you engage the
parking brake.
For additional information: Refer to
page 61.
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts

*

l

An acoustic signal and message
in the Check Control for 4 to
8 seconds. The acoustic signal ends af-
ter the safety belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: Refer to page 54.
Airbags

l

Please have the system
checked by your authorized
BMW center as soon as possible.
For additional information: Refer to
page 55.

Yellow: Check as soon as
possible

Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

*
l

Fault in the DBC System. Con-
ventional braking efficiency is
available without limitations.
For additional information: Refer to
page 127.
Warning lamp, Dynamic Brake
Control (DBC)

*
for Canadian
models.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)

l

The ABS system has been de-
activated because of a system
fault. Conventional braking efficiency is
available without limitations. Please
have the system inspected by your au-
thorized BMW center.
For additional information: Refer to
page 125.
ABS warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)

*
l

The ASC+T/DSC has been switched off
or has been deactivated because of a
malfunction. In the event of a malfunc-
tion, have the system checked by your
authorized BMW center. For additional
information: Refer to page 92.

Check Engine lamp

l

If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems. Al-
though the vehicle remains operational,
you should have the systems checked
by your BMW center at the earliest pos-
sible opportunity.
For additional information: Refer to
OBD connector on page 158.

28n
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Door locks – outside32
Radio remote control33
Door locks – inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Luggage compartment39
Alarm system40
Electric power windows42
Security glass43
Sliding/Tilt sunroof44
Adjustments:
Seats46
Steering wheel49
Mirrors50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory51
Car Memory, Key Memory53
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts54
Airbags55
Child restraints57
Child restraint installation58
Child-safety locks58
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock59
Starting engine59
Switching off engine60

46n
Seat adjustment Electric power seatsFor maximum safety when adjusting the
seat position, please observe the fol-
lowing:
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident.
Wear the safety belt firmly against your
body at all times. In the event of a fron-
tal impact, a loose lap belt could slide
over your hips, leading to abdominal in-
jury. In addition, the safety belt's re-
straint effectiveness is reduced if the
belt is worn loosely.
Never ride with the backrest reclined to
an extreme horizontal angle (especially
important for front passengers to re-
member). Keep the backrest relatively
upright to minimize the risk of "sliding
under" the safety belt and sustaining in-
jury in an accident.
Do not slide the seats to the rear when
the vehicle is at an extreme angle (on
garage ramps or steep slopes, for in-
stance), to prevent the shoulder strap's
automatic height adjustment mecha-
nism from disengaging.<
1 Tilt angle
2 Forward - backward adjustment
3 Cushion height
4 Backrest angle
5 Head restraint height
Adjust the head restraint manually by
tilting it in the desired direction.
Head restraints reduce the risk of
spinal injury in the event of an ac-
cident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its cen-
ter is approximately at the height of the
ear.
For maximum safety, read carefully and
comply with the adjustment instructions
presented here.< 380de023
Correct sitting postureTo reduce strain on the spinal column,
sit all the way back in the seat and rest
your back fully against the backrest.
Ideal sitting posture is achieved with
your head extending from your spine in
a straight line.
For long-distance driving, you may wish
to increase the backrest tilt-angle
slightly to reduce muscular tension.
Please remember that you should al-
ways remain able to grasp the entire
periphery of the steering wheel without
straightening your arms.Lumbar supportRefer to the BMW comfort seat in the
following column.

47n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
BMW comfort seat
*
This seat allows you to make additional
adjustments for
1 Lumbar support
2 Shoulder supportLumbar supportYou can adjust the backrest's contour
for additional support in the curvature
of your spine's lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column re-
ceive supplementary support to help
you maintain a relaxed, upright posture.
>Press front/rear of switch:
Increase/decrease curvature.
>Press the upper/lower end of the
switch:
Increase the upper/lower curvature.380de024
Shoulder supportPress the rocker switch: The support
angle of the upper backrest section is
adjusted.
You can use the adjustable upper back-
rest for supplementary support in the
shoulder region. This provides a relaxed
driving position and helps relieve stress
on the shoulder muscles.
To obtain an optimal seating posture,
we recommend:
Driver's side and front passenger's
side:
1 Adjust the upper backrest section
to its extreme rear position
2 Adjust to the optimal seat position as
described on page 46
3 Bring the upper backrest section for-
ward until your shoulders enjoy firm
support.380de064
Front passenger's seat adjusted for re-
laxed traveling:
1 Adjust the upper backrest section to
its extreme rear position
2 Increase the seat cushion tilt
3 Tilt the backrest more
4 Bring the upper backrest section
forward.
Make corrections in the forward-
backward adjustment of the seat
to ensure that the safety belt still fits
firmly against your body. If you do not
do this, the protection provided by the
safety belt may be reduced.<
When you are adjusting the seat, select
a position in which you remain as far
from the instrument panel as possible.

48n
BMW contour seat
* BMW active seat
* Rear power seat
*
In addition to the adjustments offered
by the electric power seat, there are ad-
justments for thigh support, shoulder
support and lumbar support.Thigh supportPress the switch (arrow) to make ad-
justments.Shoulder supportRefer to BMW comfort seat on the pre-
vious page.Lumbar supportRefer to BMW comfort seat on page 47.380de066
Actively changing the surface of the
seat helps to prevent muscle tension,
back pain in the lumbar region, and
symptoms of fatigue.
To activate this feature, press the but-
ton (arrow).
For more details, please refer to the
section headed "Advanced technol-
ogy" on page 186.380de627
1 Backrest angle
2 Head restraint height
3 Lumbar support
The head restraint extends automati-
cally whenever a passenger fastens the
safety belt at one of the rear seating po-
sitions.
Correct head restraint height with
switch 2.
For information on the lumbar support,
refer to the BMW comfort seat on
page 47.380de025

54n
Safety beltsFasten your safety belt before starting
off.
To fasten: Make sure you hear the catch
engage in the belt buckle.
To release: Press the red button in the
buckle. Hold the belt and guide it back
into its reel.
The shoulder belt anchor automatically
adjusts to continue providing an opti-
mum fit when you move the seat for-
ward or back.380de033
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for wearing
safety belts. If you do not, the safety
belts may not be able to provide their
maximum protection. All passengers in
the vehicle should be aware of and
comply with this information:
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a pas-
senger's lap.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it
firmly across the hips and shoulder. Do
not allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects in your pockets. Never
route the belt across your neck, do not
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that
the belt does not become caught or
jammed.
Wear the safety belt as firmly as possi-
ble against your body at all times. For
this reason, avoid wearing bulky cloth-
ing which will prevent proper belt fit.
Pull the safety belt across your shoul-
ders frequently to re-tension it. In the
event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over your hips, leading
to abdominal injury. In addition, the
safety belt's restraint effectiveness is
reduced if the belt is worn loosely.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips,
where it will not exert pressure against
the abdominal area.<
For securing child restraints, refer to the
next page.
For care instructions, refer to page 154.
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or damaged in any other
way, have the belt system, including the
safety belt tensioner replaced by an au-
thorized BMW center. Have the safety
belt anchorages checked also.< Child restraint systems
*
Never install a rear-facing child re-
straint device on the front passen-
ger seat. Otherwise, injuries could oc-
cur when the airbag is triggered in the
event of an accident. Children should
always ride in the rear.
Do not attempt to modify child restraint
systems. If you do this, the protection
provided by these systems could be im-
paired.<