BMW 540I SEDAN 2003 Owners Manual

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Digital clock in the MID
*
Reminder signalYou can program a reminder signal
(Memo) to be heard every hour, so that
you are sure not to miss a news broad-
cast, for example.
Press the left side of the button.
Press:
MEMO OFF appears in the display for
entry and query buttons, and the tone
symbol will appear in the upper right of
the display.
A signal is then heard 15 seconds
before each hour.
StopwatchPress the left side of the button.
Press.
Display shows:
To start the stopwatch function:
Press the right side of the button.
To take an intermediate time reading:
Press.
Press:
The stopwatch display can be seen
counting up; the stopwatch continues
to run.
To halt the stopwatch:
Press the right side of the button.
The stopwatch is halted when the
ignition key is turned back to 0,
but starts to run again when the ignition
key is turned to 1.<

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Digital clock in the MID
*
Enter the switch-on times for the
parked-car ventilation
*
You can enter two different activation
times.
The ventilation will shut off automati-
cally after 30 minutes.
To use the parked-car ventilation
system, please refer to the infor-
mation provided starting on page 114.<
Press the left side of the button.
Press on the left or right.
Display shows:
Press the right side of the button:
Display flashes, e. g. TIMER 1.
To enter the time:
Press on the left or right, or hold the
button down.
To confirm the entry:
Press the right side of the button.
The activated time is marked with an
asterisk.
The activation times remain stored until
new entries are made.
You can change switch-on times that
have already been memorized by
making a new time entry as described
above.
When the switch-on time is active, the
LED comes on in the MID. During actual
operation of the ventilation, the LED
flashes. The LED goes out when the
system is switched off.
To activate/deactivate the time:
Press twice.Directly switching the parked-car
ventilation
* on and off
The parked-car ventilation func-
tion is only available in ignition key
position 1.<
Press the left side of the button.
Press.
Or
Press.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Computer in the MID
*
Only make entries when the
vehicle is standing still to avoid
endangering yourself or other road
users.<
Computer calculations begin at the
start of the journey.
Information can also be accessed for
display by remote control, refer to
page 97.
Speed limitSpeed limit entry:
You can enter the road speed at which
you wish to hear and see a reminder
signal: a signal will sound, the word
LIMIT will flash, and for a moment, the
speed limit warning stored in the
memory will appear on the instrument
cluster as an alphanumeric display
*,
along with the Check Control.
The speed limit reminder is only
repeated if the vehicle has in the
meantime been driven at least 3 mph
(approx. 5 km/h) slower.
Press the right side of the button.
Press.
Press the right side of the button.
Display shows:
Enter the limit by pressing the function
buttons.
To correct an entry:
Press the left side of the button and
repeat the entry.
To store the entry:
Press the right side of the button.

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Computer in the MID
*
To adopt the current speed as the
speed limit:
Press the right side of the button.
Press.
Press twice at right.
Deactivating the speed limit:
Press the right side of the button.
Press.
The LIMIT display goes out, but the
stored value is not lost and can be
reactivated by pressing the LIMIT
button.
Distance to destinationThe remaining distance to the destina-
tion will be displayed on the screen.
This is of course only possible if you
entered the entire distance before
starting the journey.
Enter:
Press the right side of the button.
Press the left side of the button.
Press the right side of the button.
Display shows:
You can enter the distance by pressing
the function buttons.
To correct an entry:
Press the left side of the button and
repeat the entry.
To store the entry:
Press the right side of the button.
To recall stored value:
Press the right side of the button.
Press the left side of the button.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Computer in the MID
*
Estimated time of arrivalWhen you have entered the distance
from your destination, you can obtain
an estimated time of arrival display
which is continuously updated by the
computer as your average driving
period varies.
Press the right side of the button.
Press the right side of the button:
The estimated time of arrival is
displayed.
Cruising rangeThe distance which the vehicle should
cover on the remaining fuel in the tank
is displayed.
Press the right side of the button.
Press:
The display shows the estimated
cruising range.
Always refuel when the range falls
below 30 miles (50 km), as other-
wise the engine or the catalytic
converter could be damaged.<
The computer will only register fuel
amounts over 1.8 gal (6 liters).
Fuel consumptionYou can have the average fuel
consumption displayed for two different
distances, for example a complete
journey and part of the journey.
To start the calculation, select the func-
tion with the engine running:
Press the right side of the button.
Press on the left or right:
The display will show the average fuel
consumption.
To restart the fuel consumption
calculation:
Press on the left or right.
Press the right side of the button.

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Computer in the MID
*
SpeedYou can call up a display of the
vehicle's average speed.
To start the calculation, select the func-
tion with the engine running:
Press the right side of the button.
Press:
The display shows the average speed.
To recalculate the speed:
Press the right side of the button.
Extended immobilizer functionYou can enter a code that will prevent
the engine from being started unless
the code is entered.
If you do not have access to the code,
the emergency deactivation procedure
will have to be carried out, refer to the
next page.
Entering and activating the code:
Press the right side of the button.
Press the left side of the button.
Display shows:
Enter the code with the function
buttons.
To correct an entry:
Press the left side of the button and
repeat the entry.
To store the entry:
Press the right side of the button.
Turn the ignition key to position 0.
To deactivate the code:
When you are asked to enter the code
(ignition key in position 1 or 2):
>Enter the code with the function
buttons.
Press the right side of the button.
After the code has been entered cor-
rectly and confirmed with the SET
button, the time display appears.

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Computer in the MID
*
After three incorrect code entries, or
three attempts to start the engine
without a code entry, the alarm will
sound for 30 seconds on vehicles
equipped with an alarm system.
Deactivating the alarm in an emer-
gency:
If you have forgotten the code, proceed
as follows:
1. Disconnect the battery, wait approx.
2 minutes, then reconnect it. Note
that on vehicles with an alarm
system, the alarm will sound
2. Turn the ignition key to position 1:
The time display will count down for
the next ten minutes
3. After ten minutes, start the engine.
If the code becomes available
again in the meantime, it can be
entered during the waiting period after
pressing the CODE button.<
Remote controlThe button on the turn signal indicator
lever can be used to select the com-
puter data which are to be displayed.
To do this, press
>the button on the lever until PROG 1
shows on the display
>the MID buttons in the order in which
you wish the information to be
displayed.
Each time an entry is stored, the
program number appears on the
display.
To terminate the selection procedure:
Press the right side of the button.390de700
To have all the available information
displayed, press
>the button on the lever until the
display shows PROG 1
>the SET button.
To obtain individual items of informa-
tion, press the button briefly as often as
necessary.

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The conceptPDC provides extra safety and conve-
nience during parking maneuvers by
providing an acoustic signal to indicate
the distance between your front and
rear bumpers and the nearest object.
To do this, four ultrasonic sensors in
the front and rear bumpers each mea-
sure the distance to the nearest object.
The monitoring range of the front sen-
sors and two rear sensors at the ends
of the rear bumper extends outward
roughly 2 ft (60 cm), while the rear
bumper's two centrally located sensors
detect objects at distances of up to
approx. 5 ft (1.50 meters).Automatic functionThe system starts to operate automati-
cally approx. one second after you
select reverse or move the selector
lever into the "R" position with the igni-
tion key in position 2.
Manual activationPress the button, the indicator lamp
lights up.
When you subsequently drive a dis-
tance of more than approx. 160 ft
(50 meters) or exceed a speed of
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h), the system
switches off and the indicator lamp
goes out. Reactivate the system as
required.390us727
Acoustic signalsThe distance from an obstacle is indi-
cated in front with a higher intermittent
tone, at the rear with a lower intermit-
tent tone. As the distance between
vehicle and object decreases, the inter-
vals between the tones become
shorter. A continuous tone indicates the
presence of an object less than 1 ft
(30 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if you are
moving parallel to a wall.
If there is a malfunction of the system:
The indicator lamp flashes and a brief
continuous signal tone is heard
>if you activate PDC with the button
>when you first select reverse or move
the selector lever into the "R" posi-
tion after switching on the ignition
>if a malfunction occurs while the PDC
system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected at
your BMW center.
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*

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Park Distance Control (PDC)
*
ASC+T/DSC
*
PDC does not remove the driver's
personal responsibility for evalu-
ating the distance between the vehicle
and any obstacles. Even with the sen-
sors, there is a blind spot in which
objects cannot be detected. This
applies especially in those cases where
the system approaches the physical
limits of ultrasonic measurement, as
occurs with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, and in the vicinity of thin or
wedge-shaped objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain an adequate distance of more
than 4 in (10 cm).<
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)
*
These systems contribute to additional
vehicle stability, especially during
acceleration and when cornering.
The DSC system enhances the benefits
of the ASC+T. In addition to optimizing
vehicle stability and traction during
acceleration or when starting from a
standstill, a further benefit is realized in
cornering. This, of course, is true only
within physically feasible limits.
The system activates automatically
each time you start the engine.

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ASC+T/DSC
*
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition.
Refer to page 21.
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
torque and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or if it comes on
during normal driving:
There is a system malfunction or the
system was deactivated with the
button. You can still drive the vehicle
normally without ASC+T/DSC.
Please consult your BMW center for
repairs.
To deactivate the systemPress the button, the indicator lamp
lights up and remains on continuously.
Depending on equipment options, the
button is marked with ASC or DSC.
With deactivated ASC+T/DSC you are
driving with conventional, unregulated
torque transfer.
In the following exceptional situations,
it may be effective to deactivate the
ASC+T/DSC for a brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.390us728
To reactivate the systemPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with ASC+T/DSC.
An appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
Do not use the extra safety margins fur-
nished by these systems as an excuse
for taking unnecessary risks.< Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
*
DBC is an integral component of the
DSC system.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the
brake pedal by automatically braking
the vehicle with maximum boost to
achieve the shortest possible braking
distances during "panic stops." This
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure exerted
against the brake pedal until the
braking maneuver has been completed.
DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.