check engine BMW 325XI SEDAN 2005 Owners Manual

Contents

9

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags54
Transporting children safely57
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory61

Driving:

Ignition lock63
Starting the engine63
Switching off the engine65
Parking brake65
Manual transmission66
Sequential manual gearbox
SMG*67
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*71
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher74
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*75
Cruise control*77

Everything under control:

Odometer79
Tachometer79
Energy control79
Fuel gauge80
Engine coolant temperature
gauge80
Service interval display81
Check Control81
Clock82
Computer*83

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)*85
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)86
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) –
325xi88
Hill Descent Control (HDC)*90
Flat Tire Monitor*91
Brake force display92

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams93
Instrument lighting94
High beams/Standing lamps94
Fog lamps*95
Interior lamps95

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Air conditioning96
Automatic climate control*100

Interior conveniences:

Premium sound system*105
Glove compartment105
Storage compartments106
Cellular phone*107
Ashtray, front*108
Ashtray, rear*108
Socket109

Loading and transporting:

Ski bag*110
Cargo area111
Cargo loading113
Roof-mounted luggage
rack*116

Controls and features

17
1Fuel gauge80
2Indicator lamp for turn signals20
3Speedometer
4Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21
5Tachometer and Energy Control 79,
79
6Engine coolant temperature
gauge80
7Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21
8Control button for

>

Time82

>

Service interval display81

>

Outside temperature display83
9Selector lever and program display
for automatic transmission/sequen-
tial manual gearbox19, 67, 73
10 Display for

>

Trip odometer/Odometer79

>

Clock82

>

Service interval81

>

Computer82
11 Check Control81
12 Trip odometer, reset to zero79
13 Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21

Instrument cluster

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

18

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by

●

are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent 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 in the
following section.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current

●

The battery is no longer being
charged. Indicates a defective
alternator drive belt or a problem with
the alternator's charge circuit. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and seri-
ous engine damage. If the drive belt is
defective, increased steering effort is
also required.

<

Engine oil pressure

●

Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine.
Check the engine oil level and top off as
required. If the oil level is correct:
please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.

<

Brake warning lamp

●

If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. Before driv-
ing further, be sure to comply with the
instructions on pages 122 and 135.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Flat Tire Monitor

●

In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: there is a flat tire.
Reduce speed and carefully come to a
stop. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers.
For additional information: refer to
page 91

Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously

The brake warning lamp comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS

●

and
DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC, DSC and
ADB-X/DBC control system has
failed. Continue driving cau-
tiously and defensively. Avoid
full brake applications. Please have the
system checked by your BMW center
as soon as possible.
Additional information beginning on
page 86
CBC, ABS, DSC and
ADB-X/DBC indicator and warn-
ing lamps for Canadian models.

Red: an important reminder

Brake warning lamp

●

Comes on when the parking
brake is engaged – an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off. For additional information: refer to
page 65

19
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts

●

Comes on together with an
acoustic signal until the safety
belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 48
Airbags

●

Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 54

Orange: consult the nearest BMW
center

Automatic tranmission/sequen-
tial manual gearbox
The respective transmission has
responded to a malfunction by reverting
to operation in its emergency default
program. Please consult the nearest
BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
pages 67, 71

Yellow: check as soon as possible

Engine oil level
If the lamp comes on during
normal vehicle operation: the
engine oil level has fallen to the abso-
lute minimum; refill as soon as possible.
Do not drive more than approx.
30 miles/50 km before refilling.
For additional information: refer to
page 132
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been switched off: add engine
oil at the earliest opportunity – next time
you stop to refuel.
For additional information: refer to
page 132
Brake pads

●

Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 122
Flat Tire Monitor

●

The Flat Tire Monitor is malfunc-
tioning or out of order. Please
have the system inspected at your
BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 91

Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

●

Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off with the
button; DTC is operational.
Please contact the nearest BMW center
in case of a malfunction.
Additional information beginning on
page 86
325xi:
DSC has been switched off manually or
there is a system malfunction.
ADB-X is operational. If the indidator
lamp fails to go out when you press the
DSC button again, this indicates a sys-
tem malfunction affecting both DSC
and ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
For additional information: refer to
page 88

Indicator and warning lamps
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

20
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
and brake warning lamp

●

The indicator lamps remain on:
DSC/DTC have been switched
off with the button or are faulty.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center.
Additional information beginning on
page 86
325xi:
DSC and ADB-X system malfunction.
There is no provision for switching off
ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
DSC indicator and brake warn-
ing lamps for Canadian models.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

●

Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking efficiency
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system repaired at your BMW
center as soon as possible.
Additional information beginning on
page 121

Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Add washer fluid
The washer fluid level is too low.
Top off the fluid at the earliest
opportunity.
For additional information: refer to
page 132
CHECK GAS CAP*

●

This indicator lamp comes on
when the gas cap is loose or
missing.
Close the gas cap tightly: refer to
page 24
SERVICE ENGINE SOON

●

If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information: refer to
page 138
Service Engine Soon
indicator lamp for Canadian
models.

Engine electronics

●

There is a fault in the electronic
engine-management system.
You can continue to drive with reduced
engine output or engine speed. Please
have the system inspected at your
BMW center.
Add coolant
The coolant level is too low. Add
coolant at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information: refer to
page 134

Green: for your information

Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signals
are on.
Rapid flashing indicates a system mal-
function.
For additional information: refer to
page 74
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated: ready for oper-
ation via the buttons in the steering
wheel.
For additional information: refer to
page 77

Indicator and warning lamps

25
Close the gas cap carefully after
refueling until a click is heard.
While closing, be sure not to squeeze
the strap which is fastened to the cap.
A loose or missing cap will activate the
CHECK GAS CAP* lamp.<
Fuel tank capacity>Approx. 16.6 gal./63 liters, of which
>approx. 2.1 gal./8 liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive to the last drop of
fuel. This can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
Fuel specificationsThe engine uses lead-free gasoline
only.
Required fuel:
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI.
AKI = Anti Knock Index
Never use leaded fuel, as it would
cause permanent and irreversible
damage to the oxygen sensor and the
catalytic converter.<
Tire inflation pressureChecking tire pressuresTire pressures in psi/kilopascal are
shown on the driver's door post and are
visible when the door is open.
Only check the tire inflation pressures
of cold tires. This means after driving a
maximum of 1.25 miles/2 km or after
the vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. Warm tires have higher infla-
tion pressures.
In the following tire inflation pressure
table, all pressures are specified in the
standard units of pressure, psi and kilo-
pascal, and apply to cold tires, i.e. tires
at ambient temperature.
Refueling
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

79 Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the left button in
the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the left button with the ignition
key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerDo not operate the engine with the nee-
dle in the red overspeed zone of the
gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted when you approach this
sector.
Energy controlIndicates the current fuel consumption
in mpg – in liters/100 km on Canadian
models. You can check your current
driving style to see whether it is condu-
cive to economy and minimum exhaust
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the dis-
play goes to Maximum – zero on Cana-
dian models.
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80
Fuel gaugeOnce the indicator lamp stays on con-
tinuously, there are still approx.
2 gallons/8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Fuel tank capacity approx.
16.6 gallons/63 liters
Certain operating conditions, such as
those encountered in mountainous
areas, may cause the needle to fluctu-
ate slightly.
Fill the fuel tank before it is com-
pletely empty. Driving to the last
drop of fuel can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an
operation check.
Engine coolant temperature gaugeBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating temperature. The
needle may rise as far as the edge of
the red sector in normal operation.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the lamp comes on during normal
vehicle operation: the engine has over-
heated. Switch off the engine immedi-
ately and allow it to cool down.
To check coolant level, refer to
page 134.

81
Service interval displayRemaining distance to serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OIL SERVICE or
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers
in Canada – before the next scheduled
service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a "–" in front of
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the
distance shown on the display. Please
contact your BMW center for an
appointment.
Check ControlWhen the ignition key is in position 2,
the following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols until
the conditions have been corrected.
1Check the low beams and high
beams, as well as the parking lamps
2Door open
3Tailgate open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door, after
having turned the ignition key to posi-
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal
for a few seconds to remind you that
the lamps have not been switched off.
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91
Flat Tire Monitor*The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor
keeps track of pressure levels in all four
tires. The system alerts you whenever
the inflation pressure of a tire falls sig-
nificantly below the pressure of another
tire.
The system actually detects pressure
loss by monitoring differences in the
relative speeds of the four wheels. It
interprets variations outside specified
limits as severe pressure loss, and then
responds by generating a warning.Functional requirementsIn order for the Flat Tire Monitor to learn
the correct tire inflation pressure,
please do the following:
1. Check the tire inflation pressures in
all tires
2. Compare them with the tire inflation
pressure table on page 26 and cor-
rect them, if necessary
3. Initialize the system.
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot pro-
vide you with advance warning of
sudden and severe tire damage caused
by external factors and does not detect
the balanced and very gradual pressure
loss that takes place in all four tires
over an extended period of time.<
On the other hand, the following situa-
tions can lead to a delayed detection of
pressure loss and even to the system
not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery
roads
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral
acceleration
>When driving with snow chains, false
warnings and undetected pressure
losses may occur
>When driving with a space-saver
spare tire, the Flat Tire Monitor can-
not function.
Initializing the system
Each time you correct the pres-
sure in a tire, or change a wheel or
tire, reinitialize the system immediately
afterwards. This requires a bit of driv-
ing.<
1. Before driving off, start the engine
but do not start driving
2. Press the button as long as you need
to until the yellow indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up for a
few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat
Tire Monitor can detect a flat tire and
issue a warning.
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