fuel BMW 525I SPORT WAGON 2001 User Guide

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
37n
Electronic vehicle immobilizerThe key to security Your BMW is equipped with a passive
anti-theft system. This electronic immo-
bilization system is designed to reduce
the susceptibility of your vehicle to theft
by making it impossible to start the en-
gine using any means other than the
special keys furnished with the vehicle.
Your BMW center can cancel the elec-
tronic system authorization for individ-
ual keys (in the event of loss, for in-
stance). A deactivated key can no
longer be used to start the engine.463de042
How the electronics workAt the heart of this system is an elec-
tronic chip which is integrated into the
key. The lock mechanism itself is actu-
ally a dual-function device, simulta-
neously serving as a communications
interface designed to allow the security
system to maintain a continuous stream
of variable, vehicle-specific signals with
the electronic circuitry in the key. The
system will not release the ignition, fuel
injection and starter unless it recog-
nizes an "authorized" key.
Force applied to the key can dam-
age the integrated electronic cir-
cuitry. A damaged key can no longer be
used to start the engine.<

38n
Central locking system Opening and closing – from the outsideThe conceptThe central locking system is ready for
operation as soon as you close the front
doors. The system engages and re-
leases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid/tailgate
and rear window
*
>fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be
operated
>from outside via the driver's door lock
as well as via the remote control
>from inside via the central locking
system button.
The fuel filler door remains unlocked
when you activate the system from in-
side the vehicle (refer to page 42). The
anti-theft system is automatically armed
whenever you activate the central lock-
ing system from outside the vehicle.
The alarm system is also activated or
deactivated.
If looked from inside, the central locking
system unlocks automatically (only
those doors which were not locked
separately with the safety lock buttons)
in the event of an accident. Refer to
page 42. In addition, the hazard warn-
ing flashers and interior lamps come on.
With the keyOne turn of the key in the driver's door
lock unlocks the driver's door only.
Turning the key a second time unlocks
all of the remaining doors, the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate and the fuel
filler door.
You can have a signal set as an
acknowledgment message that
the vehicle is closed correctly.<390de627
Convenience operationYou can also operate the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof via the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Unlock" position and
hold it.
>To close: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Lock" position and
hold it.
Watch the closing process care-
fully and be sure that no one is
trapped by the closing motion. The win-
dows/sunroof stop moving immediately
when you release the key.< Manual operation (in the event of an electrical malfunc-
tion)
Turn the key all the way to the left or
right to unlock/lock the door.

40n
Opening and closing – from the outsideUnlocking and convenience
opening modeTo release: press button 1.
Press the button once to unlock the
driver's door only; press a second time
to unlock all remaining doors as well as
the luggage compartment/tailgate and
fuel filler door.
Convenience opening mode: press and
hold button 1. The windows and the
sliding/tilt sunroof are opened.463de025
To lock and securePress button 2.463de027
Deactivate the alarm system tilt
sensor and interior motion sensorAfter locking the vehicle press button 2
again.
For additional information: refer to
page 48.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press button 2.380us646463de027

42n
Opening and closing – from the insideYou can operate the central locking
system with this button when the
driver's door is closed. With this button,
only the doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate and rear window are
unlocked or locked. The anti-theft
system is not activated. Also, the fuel
filler door remains unlocked to allow
refueling.
The central locking system can be
locked automatically as soon as
you begin to drive if you desire. You
may also have this adjusted so that it is
specific to keys.< 390de016
If only the driver's door was un-
locked from the outside and you
press the button
>all other doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate and rear window
and the fuel filler door will be
>unlocked if the driver's door is open
>the driver's door will be locked again
when it is closed.<
To unlock and open the doors>Either unlock the doors together
with the button for the central locking
system and then pull the door handle
above the armrest or
>pull the release handle for each door
twice: the first pull unlocks the door,
and the second one opens it.
To engage locks>Use the central locking button to lock
all doors at once, or
>press the individual door lock buttons
down. As an added design feature to
prevent the driver from being inad-
vertently locked out of the vehicle,
the driver's door lock button will not
engage as long as the door is open.
When the vehicle is moving, do
not lock the doors with their lock
buttons since doors locked in this
manner would not open automatically in
the event of an accident.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this reason,
you should always remove the key and
take it with you to be sure that you will
be able to unlock the car from the out-
side at all times.<

84n
Tachometer Energy control Fuel gaugeNever allow the engine to operate with
the needle in the red overspeed zone of
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the engine-man-
agement system automatically inter-
rupts the fuel supply in this range; the
resulting effect resembles that associ-
ated with a sudden loss of power.390us004
Indicates current fuel consumption in
mpg (in liters per 100 km on Canadian
vehicles). This instrument shows
whether your current driving style is
conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the dis-
play goes to "Maximum" (zero on Cana-
dian models).390us005
When you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the indicator lamp stays on, there are
approx. >2.0
gal (8 liters) –
BMW 525i, BMW 530i
>2.5 gal (10 liters) – BMW 540i
remaining in the tank.
Tank capacity: refer to page 223.
Certain operating conditions (such
as those encountered in mountainous
areas) may cause the needle to fluctu-
ate slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.< 390us006

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
87n
Check Control>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 85
and 16 7.
>STOP!ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to page 22.
>CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
roughly minimum level. Top up the
brake fluid at the next opportunity.
Refer to page 168. Have the source
of the brake fluid loss diagnosed and
corrected by your BMW center.
>TIRE DEFECT
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
Refer to page 104.
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 148.
>SPEED LIMIT
*
Display if the programmed speed
limit has been exceeded.Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
when the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 2. The warning symbols remain
after the message disappears. You can
display the messages again by pressing
the CHECK button 3:
>TRUNKLID OPEN
Message appears only when the
vehicle is initially set in motion.
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a mini-
mal defined road speed has been ex-
ceeded.
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition to this message, a
warning lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustical signal
sounds.
>WASHER FLUID LOW
Too low; top up fluid at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 164.
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
The oil level is at the absolute mini-
mum, and therefore engine oil should
be added as soon as possible. Refer
to page 165. Until then, do not drive
more than approx. 30 miles (50 km)>CHECK FILLER CAP
Check that the filler cap is closed
correctly, refer to page 28. A loose or
missing cap will activate the message
"CHECK FILLER CAP" in the Check
Control
* or the Service Engine Soon
lamp.
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +207 (–56)
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.57
(+36) and below. Refer also to
page 83.
>SET TIRE PRESSURE
*
The RDC has imported the current in-
flation pressure in the tires as the tar-
get values which the system will
monitor. Refer to page 103.
>CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
*
Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure to specifications at the earli-
est opportunity (next stop for fuel).
Refer to page 104.
>TIRECONTROL INACTIVE
*
A temporary interference of the RDC
or a system fault. Refer to page 104.
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical cir-
cuit has a fault. Refer to pages 186
and 196 or consult a BMW center.

88n
Check Control>CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHT
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to
pages 183 and 196 or consult your
BMW center.
>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest BMW
center. Refer to pages 74, 77.
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 146.
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top up at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 167.
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
*
The electronics allow for continued
driving with reduced engine output or
rpms.
Please have the system inspected by
your BMW center.
Displays after completion of tripAll of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
key is turned to position 0.
One of the following displays may ap-
pear:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil at the next opportunity
(next stop for fuel). Refer to page 16 5.
Display appears when you open the
driver's door after parking the vehicle.
A supplementary gong is also heard.
Status reports remain available for a
period of approx. three minutes after
the display goes out and the key is re-
moved from the ignition. Press the
CHECK button. If there were multiple
reports, press the CHECK button re-
peatedly to view them all in sequence.
To check the Check ControlPress the CHECK button 3 with the
ignition key in position 2:
CHECK CONTROL OK appears in the
display.
No malfunctions are present in the
monitored systems.
You can have the Check Control
messages displayed in a different
language.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
89n
ComputerMode selectionFrom ignition key position 1 and up, you
can call up information from the com-
puter using the button in the turn signal
lever. By pressing the button briefly in
the direction of the steering column,
you can call up a new function for dis-
play.
The displays appear in the following
order: outside temperature, average
fuel consumption, cruising range, aver-
age speed.
Starting with ignition key position 1, the
last active setting is displayed.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.390de336
Outside temperature and
average fuel consumptionYou can change the units of measure
(7/6) for the outside temperature dis-
play by
1 pressing and holding the trip odome-
ter reset button (in ignition key posi-
tion 1)
2 and then turning the ignition key to 0.
Refer also to page 83.390us126
Cruising range and
average speed The computer bases its calculations
of the cruising range on the previous
driving style and conditions.
The computer ignores any time spent
with the vehicle stationary and the
engine off in its average speed calcula-
tions.390us703

90n
ComputerCancel displayIf the button in the turn signal lever is
pressed briefly while the average speed
is displayed, the computer display can
be hidden.
To restart calculationsIf you continue to press the button in
the turn signal lever, the average values
which were just displayed for fuel con-
sumption and speed will be recalcu-
lated from that point (the engine must
be running for this).

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
91n
Multi-Information Display (MID)
*
Central displayThe MID serves as the central display
and operation for the following onboard
systems:
>Digital clock (e. g. time display, date)
>Audio systems (radio, cassette, CD)
>Computer ( e.g. fuel consumption,
cruising range)
>Cellular phone ( e.g. dialing)
You will find explanations and notes
for operating the digital clock and the
computer on the following pages.
Please refer to the separate Owner's
Manual for operating the audio
systems, the cellular phone and the
onboard monitor.
Any unrealistic numerical entries
will not be accepted.
All stored data will be lost if the power
supply is interrupted. Time display,
switch-on times for independent
heating and ventilation, distance and
cruise control speed limit may have to
be reset once the power supply has
been re-established.<
1 Function button for audio systems
2 Function button for the cellular
phone
*
3 Indicator lamp for independent
ventilation
*
>remains on if switch-on time is
active
>flashes while operating
4 Function button for the digital clock
and computer
5 Indicator display for the various
computer systems390us705
6 Display for the entry and display but-
tons. Depending on the operating
mode, the functions and alternatives
which can be selected at the buttons
are displayed here
7 Entry and display buttons for operat-
ing the various computer systems