BMW 540I SEDAN 2000 Owners Manual

191n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
BMW active seat
*
Safety belt tensioner
able, resulting in an improved flow of
blood to the vertebral discs and the
muscles in the area of the spinal
column. Vehicle occupants can experi-
ence less muscle cramping, back pain
in the spine's lumbar region and fatigue.
The active seat thus provides a signifi-
cant contribution to your driving com-
fort and safety.
The safety belt tensioner responds to
severe frontal collisions by tightening
the belts to ensure that occupants
remain firmly positioned in their seats.
A gas-pressure system retracts the
buckle assembly to tension the shoul-
der and lap belts within fractions of a
second. This reduces the tendency to
slide under the lap belt.
390de330

192n
DSP sound system
*
Interior rearview mirror with automatic dimmer
*
The DSP professional premium sound
system features a special amplifier
combined with Digital Sound Process-
ing (DSP) and integrated speakers to
surround you with crisp, true-to-life
sound reproduction.
The speaker system's subwoofers,
woofers, midrange speakers and tweet-
ers furnish you with an impressively full-
bodied listening experience. The indi-
vidual components are oriented so as
to produce the aural sensation that you
would experience facing the stage in a
concert hall. The system also automati-
cally adjusts the bass and treble set-
tings to compensate for changes in vol-
ume and vehicle speed.390de109
The interior rearview mirror with auto-
matic dimming feature reduces glare
from following traffic by adapting the in-
tensity of the reflected images to corre-
spond to levels of light registered by the
unit's sensors. The mirror reverts to its
undimmed setting as soon as the light
source disappears. One of these sen-
sors is mounted on the front of the mir-
ror housing and is designed to monitor
light levels in the area immediately for-
ward of the vehicle. The second sensor
is integrated within the mirror's glass.
The electronic control system operates
by comparing the respective levels of
luminous intensity in front of and behind
the car. The difference provides the ba-
sic parameter used to modulate an
electrical current and induce chemical
changes in a semisolid layer incorpo-
rated in the lens.390de113
The semisolid reacts chemically to this
electrical current, thus providing infi-
nitely-variable dimming of the mirror
(electrochromic technology).
As a result, it is no longer necessary
to dim the mirror manually, and the
driver can maintain full concentration on
traffic.

193n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Rain sensor
*
Depending on the degree of wetness
on the windshield, the rain sensor
controls the operation of the windshield
wipers.
Infrared light is carried along the
surface of the windshield in an optical
conductor in such a manner that it is
reflected completely when the wind-
shield is dry. The quantity of reflected
light is measured.
If the window is covered with beads of
water, the amount of light that is
reflected is decreased since the infra-
red light at the surface of the windshield
can then escape. The quantity of
reflected light is thus a means of
gauging the degree of wetness on the
windshield.390de133
When the system is set to the "Intermit-
tent" wiper speed, the wipers react
immediately Ð if water is splashed onto
the windshield by vehicles traveling
ahead of you, for example. As a result,
the rain sensor provides a contribution
to driving safety and comfort.

194n
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
*
Integrated rear suspension
The Tire Pressure Control system (RDC)
assumes the task of regular tire pres-
sure checks for you. The tire pressure is
monitored at all four wheels, even when
the vehicle is moving.
Behind the valve stem in every wheel,
there is an electronic chip which is
designed for severe-duty applications
and long service life. It contains a pres-
sure sensor, a transmitter and a battery.
The pressure is measured in extremely
short time intervals and then transmit-
ted by a radio signal. If an irregularity is
detected, the transmission rate is
increased.394de304
Near every wheel, there are antennas in
the body which receive the signals from
all four wheels. A central electronics
system evaluates the quadruple signals
and forwards any changes.
The RDC provides an important contri-
bution to driving safety.
The control arms on the patented inte-
grated aluminum rear axle assembly are
not mounted directly on the body. They
are mounted elastically on a chassis
sub-frame which is joined in turn with
elasticity to the vehicle body. The result-
ing double elastic suspension system
effectively absorbs the forces resulting
from bumps and road surface irregulari-
ties.
The compliance rates of the integrated
rear axle assembly's control arm mounts
have been precisely calibrated to help
provide supplementary adjustment in
the tracking angle of the rear wheels
(programmed self-steer effect). The ulti-
mate result is enhanced safety and con-
trol under all conditions.
The illustration shows the rear axle of the
sedan. With the lightweight, compact
rear axle of the sport wagon, the shock
absorbers are positioned at an angle.
390de114

195n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Level control system
*
Xenon lamps
*
The level control system for the rear
axle maintains constant ground clear-
ance of your vehicle, even when carry-
ing a load.
To achieve this, the vehicle is equipped
with air struts at the rear axle instead of
conventional shock absorbers and steel
suspension springs. With the help of
two sensors, an electronic control unit
calculates the height of the body at all
times and, if it is required, it allows air
which is generated in a compressor to
flow into the air springs.
As a result of the pressure increase in
the air springs, the level control system
ensures not only constant ride height,
but also ride comfort which is indepen-
dent of the load the vehicle is carrying.390de136
The xenon lamps light up the side and
front areas of the vehicle with signifi-
cantly more brightness and uniformity
then the traditional halogen lamps.
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc
replaces the filament in order to gener-
ate intense illumination. A gas mixture
in a quartz glass tube with metal vapor
is ignited by a high electric voltage. The
arc that is generated is then sustained
by a lower voltage. When the lamp is
turned on, a brief period is needed for
the full beam strength to build up. Maxi-
mum brightness is attained in approx.
15 seconds.390de134
Xenon lamps provide significantly-
improved visibility, especially during
adverse weather conditions and driving
situations (driving at night in heavy rain
or through road repair areas where
there are no lane markers, for instance).
Vehicles with xenon lamps
are
equipped with automatic headlamp
range control. As a result, the highway
is always optimally lighted, regardless
of load conditions, and drivers in on-
coming traffic are not blinded.
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-
bution to highway safety since other
highway users, or bicyclists and motor-
cyclists in the right lane, and pedestri-
ans are more easily detected.

196n

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
197n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Engine specifications198
Dimensions Ð sedan199
Dimensions Ð sport wagon200
Weights Ð sedan201
Weights Ð sport wagon202
Capacities203
Electrical system204
Drive belts204

198n
BMW 528i/sport wagon BMW 540i/sport wagon
Displacement
Number of cylinderscu in (cmm) 170.4 (2,793)
6268.4 (4,398)
8
Max. output
at engine speedhp
rpm193
5,500282
5,400
Maximum torque
at engine speedIb ft (Nm)
rpm206 (280)
3,500324 (440)
3,600
Compression ratio 10.2 10.0
Stroke
Borein (mm)
in (mm)3.31 (84.0)
3.31 (84.0)3.26 (82.7)
3.62 (92.0)
Fuel-injection system Digital electronic Engine-Management System
Engine specifications

199n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Dimensions Ð sedan
394us701
All dimensions are given in inches (mm).
Min. turning circle dia.: BMW 528i 37.1 ft (11.3 m), BMW 540i 37.4 ft (11.4 m)

200n
Dimensions Ð sport wagon
392us303
All dimensions are given in inches (mm).
Min. turning circle dia.: BMW 528i 37.1 ft (11.3 m), BMW 540i 37.4 ft (11.4 m)
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