BMW 540I SEDAN 2000 Owner's Guide

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Tire inflation pressuresport
wagonTires
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi
(kilopascal) with cold tires
(cold = ambient temperature)
528i225/60 R 15 96 H M+S
30 (210) 35 (240) 36 (250) 44 (300) 225/60 R 15 96 W
225/55 R 16 95 W
235/45 R 17 94 W/Y
225/60 R 15 96 Q M+S
33 (230) 38 (260) 39 (270) 46 (320)
225/55 R 16 95 Q M+S
235/45 R 17 94 Q M+S
540i225/55 R 16 95 H M+S
30 (210) 35 (240) 36 (250) 44 (300)
225/55 R 16 95 W
235/45 R 17 94 W/Y
225/55 R 16 95 Q M+S
33 (230) 38 (260) 39 (270) 46 (320)
235/45 R 17 94 Q M+S

32n
Locks and security systems:
Keys34
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer35
Central locking system36
Opening and closing
Ð from the outside36
With the key36
Opening and closing
Ð from the inside40
Luggage compartment lid/
Tailgate41
Luggage compartment44
Alarm system45
Electric power windows47
Sliding/Tilt sunroof48
Adjustments:
Seats50
Steering wheel54
Mirrors54
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory56
Car Memory, Key Memory58
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts59
Airbags60
Child restraints64
Child seat security66
Child-safety locks66Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock67
Starting the engine68
Switching off the engine69
Parking brake69
Manual transmission70
Automatic transmission71
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic74
Indicator/Headlamp flasher77
Wiper/Washer system77
Rear window defroster79
Cruise control80
Everything under control:
Odometer, outside temperature
display82
Tachometer83
Energy control83
Fuel gauge83
Temperature gauge84
Service Interval Display84
Check Control85
Onboard computer88
Technology for safety and
convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)90
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)91
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)92

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams94
Instrument lighting94
High beams/Parking lamps95
Fog lamps95
Interior lamps96
Reading lamps96
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Automatic climate control98
Seat heating103
Steering wheel heating103
Roller sun blind104
Independent ventilation
system104
Cabin convenience:
BMW Universal Transmitter105
Glove compartment108
Storage facilities108
Cellular phone109
Beverage holder 109
Ashtray, front110
Cigarette lighter110
Ashtray, rear111Loading and transporting cargo:
Through-loading system112
Ski bag113
sport wagon:
Luggage compartment116
Roll-up cover116
Separation net116
Storage areas in the luggage
compartment118
Cargo loading120
Roof-mounted luggage rack121

34n
Keys1 The master keys with remote control
determine the functions of the Key
Memory. Refer to page 58.
There is an extended-life battery
in every master key that is
charged automatically in the steering
lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master
key that is otherwise not used, use that
key approximately once every year
while driving for an extended period to
charge the battery. Refer also to
page 37.<
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place
such as in your wallet. This key is not
intended for continuous use.463de023
3 Door and ignition key
The locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, rear backrest and
glove compartment cannot be oper-
ated with this key. This is useful for
valet parking, for instance.
Replacement keysReplacement keys are available exclu-
sively through your authorized BMW
center. Your BMW center is obligated to
ensure that a person requesting a key is
authorized to do so since the keys
belong to a security system (refer to
"Electronic vehicle immobilizer" on
page 35).
If possible, take all of the master
keys that belong to the vehicle
with you when you pick up your re-
placement key.
Whenever you receive a new replace-
ment key, turn that key to position 2 in
the ignition lock once (ignition switched
on) and then back. This allows the elec-
tronic vehicle immobilizer to "learn" the
new key.<

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
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.<

36n
Central locking system Opening and closing Ð 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 buttons.
The fuel filler door remains unlocked
when you activate the system from in-
side the vehicle (refer to page 40). 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 40. 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 an acknowledgment
message set to confirm that the
vehicle has been secured correctly (not
released at this time).<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 failure)
Turn the key all the way to the left or
right to unlock/lock the door.

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Opening and closing Ð from the outsideWith the remote controlThe remote control makes opening and
locking the doors of your vehicle very
convenient. Furthermore, it provides
three additional functions which you
can only execute via the remote control:
>To switch on interior lamps:
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle, when
parked in an underground garage, for
instance.
>To open the luggage compartment:
The luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate will open slightly, regardless of
whether it was previously locked or
unlocked.
>Panic Mode:
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the anti-
theft system is simultaneously deacti-
vated, the alarm system is disarmed
and the interior lamps are switched on.
Locking the vehicle activates the anti-
theft and alarm systems and switches
the interior lamps off.
You can have an acknowledgment
message set to confirm that the
vehicle has been secured correctly (not
released at this time).<
Master keysKeys with a transmitter for remote con-
trol are master keys. Refer to page 34.
Since children might be able to
lock the doors from the inside,
take the vehicle's keys with you so that
the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.< 390us604
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion since the battery in the key is
charged automatically in the steering
lock as you drive.
If it is no longer possible to unlock the
vehicle via the remote control, the bat-
tery is discharged. Use this key while
driving for an extended period in order
to charge the battery. Refer also to
page 34.
To prevent unauthorized use of the re-
mote control, surrender only the door
and ignition key 3 or the spare key 2
(refer to page 34) when leaving the ve-
hicle for valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You
can also obtain replacement keys
there.<

38n
Opening and closing Ð from the outside Unlocking 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 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 tilt sensor alarm
system and interior motion sensorAfter locking the vehicle press button 2
again.
For additional information: Refer to
page 46.To switch on the interior lampsAfter locking the car, press button 2.380us646463de027

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Opening and closing Ð from the outsideTo open the luggage
compartment lid/tailgatePress button 3.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate
opens slightly, regardless of whether it
was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure
that the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate has not been opened uninten-
tionally.< Panic ModeBy pressing and holding button 3 for
two to five seconds, you can trigger the
alarm system if there is an impending
danger (the system must be armed).
The alarm is deactivated by pressing
button 1.463de026
External systemsExternal systems or devices may cause
local interference in the functions of the
remote control.
If this should occur, you can unlock and
lock the vehicle via the door lock with a
master key.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the fol-
lowing:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to
these devices could void the
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<

40n
Opening and closing Ð 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 sys-
tem is not activated. Also, the fuel filler
door remains unlocked to allow refuel-
ing.
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 un-
locked 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 sys-
tem 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.
Doors locked from outside can be
opened from inside by first press-
ing the button and then pulling a re-
lease handle twice.<
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 man-
ner 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 outside
at all times.<