light BMW 540I SEDAN 2000 User Guide

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For maximum safety, please comply
with the following instructions when ad-
justing a seat:
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 frontal im-
pact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal injury.
In addition, the safety belt's restraint ef-
fectiveness 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 (only driver's side)
2 Forward/Back adjustment
3 Cushion height
4 Backrest angle
5 Head restraint height
Adjust the tilt angle of the head restraint
by rotating it.
Comply with the adjustment
instructions in the preceding
column. Failure to do so could result in
diminished personal safety.< 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.
The 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
always remain able to grasp the entire
periphery of the steering wheel without
straightening your arms.Lumbar support
*
Refer to the BMW comfort seat on the
next page.
Seat adjustment Electric power seats

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
BMW sports seat
*
BMW active seat*
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.
The 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
always remain able to grasp the entire
periphery of the steering wheel without
straightening your arms.
Head restraintsTo adjust the angle of the front head
restraints: Adjust by tilting the head
restraint.
To adjust the height of the rear head
restraints: Adjust by pulling or applying
pressure.
Head restraints reduce the risk of
spinal injury in the event of an
accident. Adjust the head restraint so
that its center is approximately level
with your ears.
Leave the center-rear head restraint in
the fully-lowered position at all times,
since pulling it out limits its function.< 39mde051
Active changes in the seat's surface
help to avoid muscle cramps, pain in
the spine's lumbar region and fatigue.
To activate the seat, press the button
(arrow).
For additional details concerning the
BMW active seat, please refer to the
chapter describing "Advanced technol-
ogy" on page 190.390de629

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Mirrors
The mirror on the passenger's
side features a lens with a more
convex surface than the mirror installed
on the driver's side. When estimating
the distance between yourself and
other traffic, bear in mind that the ob-
jects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. This means that esti-
mations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as pre-
cise.<
Electric heatersBoth mirrors are heated automatically
with the ignition key in position 2.
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce glare from vehicles behind
you after dark, tilt the mirror by moving
the small lever.Lighted vanity mirrorFold down the sun visor and slide the
cover panel to the side as required.
The mirror lamps operate in ignition key
positions 1 and 2.Sun visorsThese can be folded down toward the
windshield or swiveled out against the
side windows.390de030
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature
*
By responding to the effects of ambient
light and the glare from following traffic,
this mirror automatically dims through
an infinitely-variable range.
The mirror automatically reverts to its
clear, undimmed setting whenever you
select "Reverse."
For proper functioning of the mirror, be
sure that the two photocells are unob-
structed and clean. One of the photo-
cells (arrow) is positioned in the mirror's
glass, while the other is slightly offset
on the opposite side of the mirror.
For an explanation of the electro-chro-
mic technology used in this mirror, refer
to page 192.390de031

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
AirbagsIndicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the
operational status of the airbag
system in ignition key posi-
tions 1 and 2.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting up
again.
A system malfunction could prevent the
system from responding to an impact
occurring within its normal response
range.
Please have your authorized BMW cen-
ter inspect and repair the system as
soon as possible.
Sitting correctly with airbags
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for the air-
bags. If you do not, the airbags may not
be able to provide their maximum pro-
tection. All passengers in the vehicle
should be aware of and comply with
this information:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide extra pro-
tection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags will not be triggered
in the event of a minor accident, a vehi-
cle roll-over, or collisions from the rear.
In these instances, the safety belt pro-
vides optimal protection.
Airbags are located under cover panels
in the steering wheel, in the dashboard,
in the side trim panels in the front and
rear*, and in the windshield pillars and
the sides of the headliner.
Adjust your seat to a position that pro-
vides maximum distance between you
and the steering wheel, the instrument
panel and the door while still allowing
comfortable and safe access to all
vehicle controls.
To avoid sustaining hand and arm inju-
ries: Always grasp the steering wheel
on the rim with the hands at the 9 and
3 o'clock positions: Do not place your
hands on the center pad.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant.
Do not use the cover panel above the
passenger-side airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way.
Do not install a rear-facing child re-
straint system in the front passenger
seat of this car.
Children under 13 years of age and
children less than 5 feet (150 cm) tall
should ride only in the rear seat.
Infants or small children should never
be held on the lap of a passenger.
If your car is equipped with side airbags
in the rear passenger area, be sure that
child restraints are mounted correctly
and provided with the greatest-possible
distance between the airbags in the
side trim panels. Do not allow children
to lean out of the child's seat in the di-
rection of the side trim panels. If they
do so, serious injuries can occur if the
airbag is triggered.<

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0 Steering lock engagedThis is the only position in which the
ignition key can be inserted and
removed.
After removing the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the left or right until
you hear the lock engage.
An acoustic warning sounds when you
fail to remove the ignition key after
opening the driver's door.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Do not move the selector lever from
position "P" until the engine is running
(ignition key position 2).
Your vehicle is equipped with an inter-
lock. Therefore, the ignition key cannot
be turned to position 0 and removed
until the selector lever is in position "P"
(Interlock).390de010
1 Steering lock disengagedYou will find that it is often easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to posi-
tion 1 when you move the steering
wheel slightly to help disengage the
lock.2 Ignition onAll electrical equipment and accesso-
ries are available for use.3 Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion:
Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. If you do not, a lock prevents
the engine from starting.<
Steering/Ignition lock

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Switching off the engine Parking brakeTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Never remove the ignition key
while the vehicle is rolling. The
steering locks, making it impossible to
steer the vehicle.
Always remove the ignition key and en-
gage the steering lock before leaving
the vehicle.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces, since placing the lever in 1st gear
or reverse may not provide adequate
resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in "Park."<
Vehicles with automatic transmission
*:
The vehicle must be stationary and the
selector lever in "Park" before you can
remove the ignition key.
To engageThe lever engages automatically and
the "PARK BRAKE" or "BRAKE" (in
Canada "P") indicator lamp comes on in
the instrument cluster in ignition key
position 2. Refer to pages 22 and 23.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the
button and lower the lever.
The parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked. It operates against the rear
wheels.390de042
If, in exceptional circumstances, it
should be necessary to engage
the parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling up the lever to apply mod-
erate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is applied.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces, since placing the lever in 1st gear
or reverse may not provide adequate
resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in "Park."<
To avoid corrosion, apply the parking
brake lightly from time to time when
coasting to a standstill (at a traffic sig-
nal, for instance), provided that it is safe
to do so.

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
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.
>2.1 gal (8 liters) Ð BMW 528i
>2.6 gal (10 liters) Ð BMW 540i
remaining in the tank.
Tank capacity: Refer to page 203.
Certain operating conditions (such as
those encountered in mountainous ar-
eas) may cause the needle to fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.< 390us006

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Check ControlGraphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed symbolically from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check lowbeam, highbeam and
parking lamps
2 Add washer fluid
(goes out after approx. 1 minute)
3 Door open
4 Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
open
5 Check brake and tail lamps.
A defective center tail lamp is indi-
cated by the upper symbol
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a vi-
sual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON and
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK.390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions when the
ignition key is turned to position 2. The
alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status report symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities:390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol (1). Simultaneous defects will
be displayed consecutively. These
status reports remain in the display until
the defects are corrected. It is not pos-
sible to delete them by pressing the
CHECK button (3):

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Check Control>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to pages 73, 76.
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 130.
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top up at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 151.
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
Fault in the Electronic Engine Power
Control (EML). When braking, higher
brake application pressure may be
necessary and brake pedal travel may
be significantly longer.
Have the fault checked by your
authorized 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 14 9.
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 pe-
riod 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.Onboard computerYou will find a description of the on-
board computer in the "Radio and Infor-
mation Systems" Owner's Manual.
You can have the Check Control
and onboard computer messages
displayed in a different language.<

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Parking lamps
(side marker lamps)
With the switch in this position,
vehicle lighting is illuminated on
both sides. For lighting on one
side for parking, see page 95.
Low beams/Xenon lamps
*
When the ignition is switched off
and the low beams are on, only
the parking lamps (side marker
lamps) remain on.
390de034
"Follow-me-home lighting:"
If you actuate the headlamp
flasher after you have parked the
vehicle and shut off the engine, the low
beams will remain on for a brief period.
You may also have this function deacti-
vated if you wish.<
Xenon lamps
*
For additional details, refer to page 168."LIGHTS ON" warning In ignition key position 0, a buzzer
sounds for a few seconds after the
driver's door is opened if the head-
lamps have not been switched off
.
On vehicles with alphanumeric Check
Control
*:
The reminder is given through the
Check Control.
Daytime-driving lamp
*
The headlamps are automatically
switched on for daylight driving at
ignition key position 2.
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity.390de036
Parking lamps/Low beamsInstrument lighting