tailgate BMW 540I SEDAN 2000 Owners Manual

Contents

Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps22
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)25
Hazard warning flashers27
Warning triangle 27
First-aid kit 27
Refueling28
Fuel specifications29
Tire inflation pressure29

Locks and security systems:

Keys34
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer35
Central locking system36
Opening and closing Ð from the
outside36
With the key 36
Opening and closing Ð from the
inside40
Luggage compartment lid/
Tailgate41
Luggage compartment44
Alarm system45
Electric power windows47
Sliding/Tilt sunroof 48

Adjustments:

Seats 50
Steering wheel 54
Mirrors54
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory56
Car Memory, Key Memory58

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts59
Airbags60
Child restraints 64
Child seat security66
Child-safety locks66

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock67
Starting the engine68
Switching off the engine69
Parking brake69
Manual transmission70
Automatic transmission 71
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic 74
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

Contents

Operation, care and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Advanced technology

Under the hood:

Hood143
Engine compartment 144
Washer fluids148
Washer nozzles148
Engine oil149
Coolant151
Brake fluid152
Vehicle Identification
Number153

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System154
Caring for your car155
Airbags160
Vehicle storage160

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications161
OBD connector162

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit166
Wiper blades166
Lamps and bulbs167
Changing tires173
Battery176
Fuses178

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door180
Sliding/Tilt sunroof180
Tailgate181

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting182
Towing the vehicle183Airbags188
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC) 188
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) 189
Radio reception190
BMW active seat 190
Safety belt tensioner191
DSP sound system 192
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer 192
Rain sensor 193
Tire Pressure Control (RDC) 194
Integrated rear suspension194
Level control system 195
Xenon lamps 195

27n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Hazard warning flashers Warning triangle
*
First-aid kit
*
The button flashes rhythmically when
the hazard warning flashers are on.
To help you locate the switch in an
emergency, the button is also illumi-
nated whenever the car's headlamps
are on.390de039
The hazard warning triangle is quickly
available, stored in the onboard tool kit
mounted on the inside of the luggage
compartment lid (tailgate).
To open the container, loosen the wing
screw.
Comply with legal requirements
which cover the availability of a
hazard warning triangle in the car.< 394de053
The first-aid kit is located under the
front passenger's seat.
To remove: Lift the release lever on the
front (arrow) and pull the first-aid kit for-
ward out of its support.
To store: Position the back of the kit
into the support, then push back until
the lever engages.
Some of the articles in the first-aid
kit may be used within a limited
time only. For this reason, check the
expiration dates of each of the items
regularly, and replace any whose expi-
ration dates have passed. You can
acquire replacements in any drugstore
or pharmacy.
Comply with legal requirements which
cover availability of a first-aid kit in your
vehicle.< 390de086

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

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.<

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.

39n
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.<

41n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateLocks Ð sedan onlyOnly the master keys (refer to page 34)
fit in the lock of the luggage compart-
ment lid.Opening separatelyTurn the master key to the left in the
luggage compartment lock clear to the
stop Ð the luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.394de624
Secure separatelyTurn the master key to the right past the
resistance point and then pull it out in
the horizontal position.
This locks the luggage compartment
lid/tailgate and disconnects it from the
central locking system. This feature can
be used to prevent unauthorized
access to the luggage compartment
when you surrender the door and igni-
tion key (refer to page 34) for valet park-
ing, for instance.394de064
To open from outsidePress the button (arrow): The luggage
compartment lid/tailgate opens slightly.Manual operation(in the event of an electrical failure)
sedan:
Turn the master key to the left in the
luggage compartment lock clear to the
stop Ð the luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.
sport wagon:
Refer to page 181.394de009

42n
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateOpening from inside the carProvided the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate has not been locked separately,
you can use this button to open it when
the vehicle is stationary.390de324
Rear window Ð sport wagonSmall items can be loaded or unloaded
quickly if the rear window is opened
separately.
Press the button (arrow): The rear win-
dow opens slightly. It can now be tilted
up.
Push the window down to close it.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear win-
dow could be damaged.< 392de159
Closing Ð sedanThe handle recess (arrow) next to the
lock mechanism is designed to assist
you in closing the luggage compart-
ment lid.394de128