oil BMW 535I SEDAN 2009 E60 Owner's Manual
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Page 8 of 294

Notes
6
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts 
and accessories approved by BMW. 
When you purchase accessories tested and 
approved by BMW and Genuine BMW Parts, 
you simultaneously acquire the assurance that 
they have been thoroughly tested by BMW to 
ensure optimum performance when installed 
on your vehicle. 
BMW warrants these parts to be free from 
defects in material and workmanship. 
BMW will not accept any liability for damage 
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW. 
BMW cannot test every product made by other 
manufacturers to verify if it can be used on a 
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation or its occupants. 
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and 
other products approved by BMW, together 
with professional advice on using these items, 
are available from all BMW centers. 
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, radios, 
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspension 
components, brake dust shields, telephones, 
including operation of any mobile phone from 
within the vehicle without using an externally 
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment 
such as CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or the 
like may cause extensive damage to the vehicle, 
compromise its safety, interfere with the vehi-
cle's electrical system, or affect the validity of 
the BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW 
center for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of 
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive 
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
California Proposition 65 Warning
California law requires us to issue the following 
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects or other 
reproductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash 
your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water.< 
Page 232 of 294

Wheels and tires
230 with correspondingly trained personnel. If this 
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety 
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend that you use 
retreaded tires, as driving safety may be 
impaired. The causes for this include the possi-
bly different tire casing structures and the often 
wide variations in their age, which can result in a 
limited service life.<
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only 
wheel and tire combinations that BMW 
has tested and approved for your particular 
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and 
tires with identical official size ratings could 
actually have different dimensions than the 
approved units – these differences could lead to 
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are 
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability, 
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving 
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects 
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. Following 
tire damage, have the original wheel and tire 
combination remounted on the vehicle as soon 
as possible.
Wheels with electronics for 
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When mounting new tires or converting from 
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use 
wheels with TPM electronics, otherwise the 
Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire, refer to page97. Your BMW center will be 
happy to advise you on this subject.
Recommended tire brands
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW 
depending on the tire size. You can recognize 
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on 
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with 
the most demanding standards for safety and 
vehicle response.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires, or changing from 
s u m m e r  t o  w i n t e r  t i r e s  o r  v i c e  v e r s a ,  u s e  r u n - f l a t  
tires for your own safety. In addition, no spare 
tire is available in case of a flat tire. Your BMW 
center will be glad to advise you.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold 
winter driving conditions. Although all-season 
M+S tires provide better winter traction than 
summer tires, they generally fail to provide the 
same levels of cold-weather performance as 
winter tires.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise 
tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with 
as little exposure to light as possible. Always 
protect tires against all contact with oil, grease  
Page 235 of 294

Mobility
 233Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Engine compartment
1Filler spout for engine oil, refer to Adding 
engine oil
2Starting-aid terminal, refer to page254
3Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp 
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to 
page70
4Expansion tank for coolant, refer to 
page235 
Page 236 of 294

Under the hood
234
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level check.
The condition for the most accurate indication 
of the oil level possible is measurement with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. following 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6 miles/10 km. 
You can display the oil level on the Control Dis-
play while driving or when stopped on a level 
surface with the engine running.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Info sources" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Service Info" is 
selected and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Service requirements" is 
selected and press the controller.6.Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Turn the controller until "Engine 
oil level" is selected and press the control-
ler. The oil level is displayed.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measurement available: Updating 
engine oil level measurement...":
The engine oil level is measured. This pro-
cess can take approx. 1 minute when 
stopped on a level surface with the engine 
running and approx. 5 minutes while driv-
ing.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the 
measurement of the oil level can take up to 
30 minutes.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart 
of engine oil.": 
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/liter of 
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer also 
to Adding engine oil below. Add at least 
0.5 US quart/liter of oil; otherwise, the oil 
level check cannot reliably display the new 
oil level.
If the oil level displayed is below minimum, 
add engine oil immediately. Failure to do so 
may lead to engine damage.
>"Engine oil level too high"
*:
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may 
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Please observe recalculated service inter-
val for engine oil":
Do not add engine oil. Before continuing to 
drive, note the recalculated remaining mile-
age until the next oil change service, refer to 
Service requirements on page82. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible. 
Page 237 of 294

Mobility
 235Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Adding engine oil
Do not add 1 US quart/liter of oil until a corre-
sponding message is shown on the Control Dis-
play.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km, 
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has 
caused cancer in laboratory testing. 
For this reason, any skin areas that come into 
contact with oil should be thoroughly washed 
with soap and water.
K e e p  o i l ,  g r e a s e  e t c .  o u t  o f  r e a c h  o f  c h i l d r e n  a n d  
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or 
at a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical 
significance for the operation and service life of 
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use 
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives, as these may 
result in engine damage.<
Only use approved BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oil.
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is 
unavailable, you can add small quantities of 
other synthetic oils between oil changes. Only 
use oils of the specification API SM or higher.Your BMW center will be happy to answer 
detailed questions on BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic 
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at 
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at 
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Viscosity grades
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and 
is specified in SAE grades.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on 
the climatic conditions in the region in which 
you normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the 0W-40, 0W-
30, 5W-40 and 5W-30 SAE grades.<
These oils can be used for driving at all outside 
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system 
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant 
can cause burns.<
Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a 
coolant additive. Not all commercially available 
additives are suitable for your BMW. Ask your 
BMW center for suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise 
engine damage may result. The additives 
present a health hazard; observe the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has 
cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank counter-
clockwise to allow any accumulated pres-
sure to escape, then continue turning to 
open. 
Page 239 of 294

Mobility
 237Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Maintenance
BMW maintenance system
The BMW maintenance system supports the 
preservation of the traffic and operating safety 
of your BMW. The ultimate objective is to 
ensure economical maintenance by providing 
the ideal service for your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell 
your BMW, a complete dealer service history 
will prove to be an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current and future service 
requirements. By letting you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirements, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can set the Control Display to show 
remaining distances and times of selected 
maintenance intervals and legally mandated 
deadlines, refer to page82:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads, separate for the front and rear
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending 
on local regulations
Service data in remote control
Your vehicle stores the information required 
maintenance continuously in the remote con-
trol during driving. After accessing the data 
stored in the remote control, your BMW Service 
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of 
service procedures for your own individual vehi-
cle. You should therefore hand over the remote 
control you last used to drive to the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor when you take your vehicle in for 
service.
Make sure the date is set correctly, refer 
to page88, otherwise the effectiveness 
of CBS Condition Based Service is not 
ensured.<
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and 
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet 
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center. 
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.< 
Page 241 of 294

Mobility
 239Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Care
Car-care products
Regular cleaning and care make a significant 
contribution to retaining your BMW's value.
For the cleaning and care of your vehicle, BMW 
recommends using only products that BMW 
has approved for this purpose.
Your BMW center will be glad to advise you 
about products and services for the cleaning 
and care of your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materi-
als tested, laboratory tested, and tested in 
actual use. They offer optimum care and pro-
tection for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol 
or solvents; they can damage your vehi-
cle.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances 
that are dangerous or pose health risks. 
You should therefore heed the warnings and 
hazard indications on the packaging. Open the 
doors or windows on your vehicle whenever 
cleaning the interior. Make sure there is suffi-
cient ventilation in enclosed spaces. Use only 
products that are formulated for vehicle clean-
ing.<
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially 
important to ensure that the vehicle is 
washed on a regular basis. Otherwise, signifi-
cant soiling and road salt can cause damage to 
the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry them. Failure to do so 
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and 
also to corrosion of the brake rotors.<
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.Before driving into the car wash, make sure that 
it is suitable for your BMW. Pay attention to the 
following points:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to 
page261.
>If necessary, fold in the outside rearview 
mirrors, refer to page55.
>Maximum permissible tire width.
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
>Deactivate rain sensor to prevent unwanted 
wiper activation.
>Deactivate rear window wiper
* and protect 
it from damage. Take appropriate protec-
tive measures; inquiring with the car wash 
operator as needed.
>Remove additional add-on parts, e.g. spoil-
ers or phone antennas, if they could be 
damaged.
Automatic transmission
Before driving into the car wash, make sure the 
vehicle is able to roll by making sure to:
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock, even with comfort access.
2.Shift into transmission position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Switch off the engine.
5.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock 
so that the vehicle can roll.
Steam cleaners/high-pressure 
cleaning jets
When using steam jets or high-pressure 
washers, ensure that you maintain suffi-
cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed 
a temperature of 1407/606. 
Insufficient distance or excessive pressure or 
temperature can damage parts of the vehicle or 
can result in water penetration. Follow the oper-
ating instructions for the high-pressure clean-
ing jets.< 
Page 242 of 294

Care
240 When using high-pressure cleaning jets, 
do not remain in one place for a long time 
and be sure to maintain a distance of at least 
12 in/30 cm from sensors, e.g. Park Distance 
Control sensors or radar sensors.<
Hand washing
When washing the vehicle by hand, use plenty 
of water and car washing shampoo. Clean the 
vehicle with gentle pressure using a sponge or a 
washing brush.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-
tion to prevent unwanted wiper operation.<
Follow local guidelines for washing vehi-
cles by hand.<
Headlamps
Do not rub dry and never use abrasives or 
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Loosen dirt, e.g. insects, with shampoo or 
insect remover and wash away with plenty of 
water.
Use a window de-icer to remove accumulated 
ice and snow, not a scraper.
Windows
Use a glass cleaner to clean the inside and out-
side surfaces of the windows and the glass sur-
faces of the mirrors.
Do not use quartz-containing cleansers 
to clean glass surfaces of the mirrors.<
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to 
prevent streaking.
The presence of wax and sealant residues 
and dirt on the windows leads to streaking 
during wiper operation and results in premature 
wear on wiper blades as well as interference 
with the rain sensor.<
Caring for the vehicle finish
Regular care helps your vehicle retain its value 
and protects the paint from the long-term 
effects of aggressive substances.Regionally occurring environmental factors can 
affect and damage vehicle finish. It is therefore 
important to tailor the frequency and extent of 
your car care accordingly.
Immediately remove particularly aggressive 
substances such as spilled fuel, oil, grease, 
brake fluid, tree resin, or bird droppings; other-
wise, they may damage your paint.
Repairing paint damage
Repair stone damage or scratches imme-
diately, depending on the severity of the 
damage, to prevent the formation of rust.<
BMW recommends having paint damage pro-
fessionally repaired using Genuine BMW finish 
materials in accordance with factory guidelines.
Waxing
Sealant is required when w a t e r  n o  l o ng e r  b e a ds  
on the clean surface of the paint. Use only prod-
ucts that contain carnauba wax or synthetic wax 
to seal your finish.
Rubber gaskets
Treat only with water or a rubber care product.
To avoid noise or damage, do not use 
products that contain silicone to care for 
rubber gaskets.<
Chrome components
Particularly after exposure to road salt, thor-
oughly cleanse parts like the radiator grille, door 
handles, or window frames with plenty of water 
with shampoo added to it. For additional treat-
ment, use chrome polish.
Alloy wheels
Depending on your system, braking can gener-
ate dust, which settles on the light-alloy wheels. 
Remove this dust regularly with acid-free wheel 
cleaner.
Do not use aggressive, acid-containing, 
strongly alkaline, or coarse cleansers and 
do not use steam cleaners at temperatures 
greater than 1407/606; otherwise you may 
damage your vehicle.< 
Page 243 of 294

Mobility
 241Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Outside sensors
Sensors on the outside of the vehicle, such as 
Park Distance Control sensors or radar sensors, 
should be kept clean and free of ice to retain 
their full function.
Interior care
Upholstery materials/cloth-covered 
paneling
Clean regularly with a vacuum cleaner in order 
to remove surface dirt.
In the event of more serious soiling such as bev-
erage stains, use a soft sponge or a lint-free 
microfiber cloth in combination with suitable 
interior cleaners. Follow the instructions on the 
packaging.
Clean upholstery material over a large 
area extending out to the seams. Avoid 
intense friction.<
Open Velcro fasteners on pants or other 
items of clothing can cause damage to 
the seat covering. Make sure that the Velcro 
fasteners are closed.<
Leather/leather-covered paneling
The leather used by BMW is a high quality 
natural product. Slight patterns in the 
grain are part of the typical properties of a natu-
ral leather.
Dust and dirt from the road chafe in pores and 
folds and result in considerable wear and cause 
the leather surface to become prematurely brit-
tle. We therefore suggest that you clean the 
leather with a dust cloth or vacuum cleaner at 
regular intervals.<
Particularly with light-colored leather, make 
sure to clean it regularly since it has a greater 
tendency to become soiled.
Treat the leather twice a year with a leather 
lotion since dirt and grease harm the protective 
layer of the leather.
Carpets/luggage compartment
Carpeting, floor mats, and luggage compart-
ment rugs and paneling can be cleaned with a 
vacuum or in the event of more serious soiling, 
cleansed with an interior cleaner.
Floor mats and luggage compartment rugs can 
be removed for cleaning. When inserting into 
place, make sure that the seat rails do not pro-
trude over the floor mats; otherwise floor mats 
can be damaged.
Fluff on new floor mats is a result of the produc-
tion process and can be removed by repeated 
vacuuming.
Plastic components inside
Clean the glass cover of the instrument panel, 
imitation leather surfaces, lamp lenses, and 
matte components with water and, if necessary, 
a solvent-free plastic cleaner.
Fine wooden components
Use a damp cloth to clean fine wooden trim 
panels and components. Follow up by drying 
with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Do not use cleansers to clean the safety 
belts since this can destroy the web-
bing.<
Inside sensors
Clean inside sensors such as those of the high-
beam assistant using a lint-free cloth moist-
ened with glass cleaner.
Displays
Clean displays like the radio or the Control Dis-
play using a display-cleaning cloth or a soft, 
nonabrasive lint-free cloth.
Avoid using excessive pressure when 
cleaning displays; otherwise, you could 
damage them.<
Never use chemical-based cleansers or 
household scouring products. Keep all 
liquids away from the equipment. Otherwise  
Page 272 of 294

Everything from A to Z
270
Everything from A to Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display 
texts used to select 
individual functions and 
refers you to the page where 
these texts can be found.
A
ABS Antilock Brake 
System91
– indicator lamp94
ACC, refer to Active cruise 
control71
Accepted calls202
Accessories6
Accident, refer to Emergency 
request253
Acoustic signal, refer to Check 
Control84
Activated-charcoal filter for 
automatic climate 
control118
"Activation time" for parked 
car ventilation119
Active cruise control71
– indicator lamp75
– radar sensors75
– selecting distance73
– warning lamps75
Active front head restraints51
Active seat54
Active seat ventilation54
Active steering99
– warning lamp100
Adapter for spare key30
Adaptive brake assistant92
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to 
Brake force display100
Adaptive Head Light110
"Add digits" in mobile phone 
mode202Additives
– coolant235
– engine oil, refer to Approved 
engine oils235
"Address book" in 
navigation152
Address for navigation
– deleting153
– entering144,147
– selecting153
– storing152
– storing current position152
"Add to address book"152
"Add to destination 
list"147,149
Adjusting active backrest 
width49
Adjusting interior 
temperature115
Adjusting the tone during 
audio operation, refer to 
Tone control169
Adjusting thigh support48
"After door opened"50
"After unlocking"
50
Airbags100
– indicator/warning lamp102
– indicator lamp for front 
passenger airbags101
– sitting safely47
Air distribution
– automatic115
– manual116
Airing, refer to Ventilation118
Air recirculation
– AUC Automatic 
recirculated-air control117
– recirculated-air mode117
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode117
"Air recirculation on / off"57Air supply, automatic climate 
control114
Air volume116
AKI, refer to Fuel quality221
Alarm system39
– avoiding unintentional 
alarms40
– interior motion sensor40
– switching off alarm40
– switching off tilt alarm 
sensor and interior motion 
sensor40
– tilt alarm sensor40
"All channels"180
"All doors"33
Alloy wheels240
All-season tires, refer to 
Winter tires230
"All stations", requesting in 
radio mode172
All-wheel drive, refer to 
xDrive93
Alterations, technical, refer to 
For your own safety5
Altering stretch of road160
"AM", reception 
range168,172
Antenna for mobile phone194
Antifreeze
– coolant235
– washer fluid70
Anti-theft alarm system, refer 
to Alarm system39
Anti-theft system, refer to 
Central locking system32
Approved axle loads, refer to 
Weights263
Approved engine oils235
Approved gross vehicle 
weight, refer to Weights263
Armrest, refer to Center 
armrest, rear127