ignition BMW 540I SEDAN 2000 Service Manual

110n
Ashtray, front Cigarette lighter
*
To openPress briefly in the direction indicated
by the arrow.
To extinguish a cigarette, tap off the ash
and gently press the tip into the funnel.390de061
To emptyOpen the lid and press down (arrow):
You can now pull the ashtray upward
for removal.
On vehicles equipped for non-
smokers, the insert is removed in
the same way.390de062
Press the cover panel for access
(arrow), then push the lighter down.
Remove as soon as the lighter jumps
back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette
lighter by the knob only. Holding
or touching it in other areas could result
in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains opera-
tional when the ignition key has been
removed. Therefore, do not leave unsu-
pervised children in the vehicle.< 390de364

112n
Through-loading system
*
The backrest of the rear seat is divided
into two portions, one-third and two-
thirds of the seat respectively. For stor-
ing longer objects, you can fold down
either side individually.
To open:
Reach into the recess and pull forward
(arrow 1).
When you close the backrest, be sure
that the catch engages securely. The
red slide (arrow 2) must go underneath.394de117
The central belt has an additional small
buckle.
>If you connect the two belt sections,
you can use the central belt as any
normal 3-point belt
>It is easier to fold the rear seat back-
rest up and down if you unbuckle the
belt (arrow).394de303
With a master key, you can lock each
backrest in the rear seat.
This also prevents access to the lug-
gage compartment from the interior of
the vehicle when you turn over the door
and ignition key 3 to someone else
(refer to page 34), for valet parking for
instance.394de118

184n
Towing the vehicle
The towed vehicle should always
be the lighter of the two vehicles.
If this is not the case, it is no longer
possible to control vehicle response.<
Tow-startingIt is not possible to start the engine of
vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission by towing or pushing.
For instructions on jump starting, refer
to page 182.
Never attempt to use your vehicle to
push another car, since damage to the
energy-absorbing bumpers could
result.
Towing a vehicle with automatic
transmission1 Place the selector lever in position N
2 Towing speed:
Max. 45 mph (70 km/h)
3 Towing distance:
Max. 95 miles (150 km)
4 Leave the ignition key at position 1 to
ensure that the brake lamps, turn sig-
nals, horn and windshield wipers re-
main operative, and to prevent the
steering lock detent from engaging.
5 Switch on the hazard-warning system
(observe country-specific regula-
tions).
Find some means of identifying the ve-
hicle in tow, for instance, place a sign
or warning triangle in the rear window.
Make sure that the ignition key
remains in position 1 even when
the electrical system has failed to pre-
vent the steering lock from engaging.
The steering and brakes are without
power assist when the engine is off.
This means that increased effort is
required for steering and braking.<
Towing with a commercial
tow truck>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Use a wheel lift or flat bed carrier
>Please comply with applicable towing
laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.<380us124

188n
Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the physical forces acting upon
the vehicle. If, as the result of a frontal
collision, vehicle deceleration is
reached at which the protection of the
safety belts alone is no longer ade-
quate, the gas generators of the driver-
side and passenger-side airbags are ig-
nited simultaneously. However, the
passenger-side airbag is only triggered
if an additional sensor has recognized
that the passenger seat is occupied.
In the event of a side collision, the head
protection and side airbags in the front
and rear
* are triggered if necessary.
390de319
The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of a
few milliseconds. In this process they
tear through the rated breaking points
of the upholstered covers or press them
out.
Because the inflation process must be
virtually instantaneous, it is necessarily
accompanied by a certain amount of
ignition and inflation noise. The gas
which the system employs to inflate the
airbag is not dangerous. Smoke
appears as the gas dissipates.
The entire process is completed within
fractions of a second.On vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion, Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC) uses a number of factors to cal-
culate the gear which provides the
maximum efficiency. In this process it
monitors your personal driving style, the
situation in which you are driving, the
condition of the road and the traffic
conditions.
ATC recognizes your personal driving
style from the positions and movements
of the accelerator pedal, deceleration
when braking and lateral acceleration
through curves. Four different shift
characteristics Ð from comfort-oriented
to performance-oriented Ð are available
for selection by ATC.
390de334
ATC
Airbags ATC
*

204n
Electrical system Drive beltsBattery 12 V, 90 AhSpark plugsNGK BKR 6 EQUP
Bosch FGR 7 DQP
(not released at this time)
This spark ignition system meets all
requirements of the Canadian Interfer-
ence-Causing Equipment Regulations
(ICES-2).BMW 528i:
Water pump Ð Alternator Ð
Power steering
V-belt 6 K x 1555
A/C compressor
V-belt 5 K x 906
BMW 540i:
Water pump Ð Alternator Ð
Power steering
V-belt 7 K x 1635
A/C compressor
V-belt 5 K x 1004You can obtain Original BMW
Parts and Accessories, as well as
professional advice from your autho-
rized BMW center.<

Everything from A to Z

G
Gasoline29
Gasoline gauge83
Glove compartment108
Gross weight201

H
Handbrake23, 69
Handsfree system109
Hazard warning system27
Hazard warning triangle27
Head restraint53
Headlamp cleaning78
Headlamp covers,
care155, 167
Headlamp flasher77
Headlamp washer
system148
Heated seats103
Heated steering wheel103
Heating and ventilation98
Heating while stopped102
Heavy loads120
Height199
Height adjustment
Seats52
Steering wheel54
HiFi system192
High beams24
Bulb replacement167
High Performance Synthetic
Oils150Hood release143
Horn25, 26
Hydraulic Brake Assistant,
refer to DBC24, 129

I
Ice warning82
Identification number of the
vehicle153
Identification, tires137
Ignition key35
Ignition lock67
Independent ventilation104
Indicator77
Indicator lamps22
Inflation pressure30, 134
Monitoring92, 194
INSPECTION84
Instrument cluster18, 20
Instrument lighting94
Instrument panel20
Instrument panel switch77
Instruments18
Integrated rear axle194
Intensive automatic cleaning
unit78
Intensive cleaning
system148
Interaxle tire rotation136
Interference indicators85
Interference with
car phones133Interior lamps96
Remote control38
Interior mirror55
automatic dimming
feature55
Interior motion sensor46
Deactivation46
Interior rearview mirror
with automatic dimming
feature55, 192
Interlock67
Intermittent wiper switch77

J
Jack173
Jump-starting182

K
Key Memory58
Keys35
Kickdown72, 75

L
Lashing eye44, 120
Leather care159
Length199
Level control
system24, 132, 195
Light switch94
Light-alloy wheels138, 140
Lighter110Lights-on warning94
Load-securing devices120
Locking and unlocking the
doors36, 37
Low beams94
Bulb replacement167
Low beams, bulb
replacement167
Low-fuel warning lamp83
Lug bolts174
Lug wrench174
Luggage compartment
Capacity201
Lamps96
Net44
Luggage compartment lid/
Tailgate44
Emergency actuation41
Opening separately41
Remote control39
Luggage space44
Luggage straps44
Lumbar support51

M
M Multifunction steering
wheel (MFL)26
M+S tires138
Magic Eye177
Maintenance84, 154