window BMW 540I SEDAN 2003 Owners Manual

Contents

© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 818
US English IX/2002
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
Ð bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.
Notes
Overview
Controls and features

About this Owner's Manual8
Symbols used8
The individual vehicle8
Status at time of printing9
For your own safety9
Symbol on vehicle parts10
Service and Warranty10
Reporting safety defects10Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps19
Steering wheel with multifunction
buttons22
Warning triangle23
First-aid kit23
Refueling24
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure26

Locks and security systems:

Keys32
Central locking system32
Opening and closing Ð via the
door lock33
Opening and closing Ð via the
remote control34
Opening and closing Ð from the
inside37
Luggage compartment lid/
Tailgate38
Rear window40
Luggage compartment42
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Sliding/tilt sunroof46

Adjustments:

Sitting safely48
Seats48
Manually-adjusted seat49
Electric power seats50
Head restraints52
BMW active seat52
Safety belts53
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory54
Seat heating55
Adjusting steering wheel56
Steering wheel heating56
Mirrors57

Contents

14n
1 Parking lamps/Low beams103
2

>

Turn signal indicators78

>

Standing lamps104

>

High beams104

>

Headlamp flasher78

>

Computer883 Fog lamps104
4 Washer/Wiper system78
5 Central locking system32
6 Hazard warning flashers7 Rear window defroster107, 112
8 Horn, the entire surface
9 Adjusting the steering wheel56

Cockpit
390de788

32n
Keys Central locking system1 Master keys with remote control unit
determine the functions of the Key
Memory, refer to page 67.
You can mark individual keys for sub-
sequent identification by applying the
colored decals that you received
when accepting delivery of your
vehicle
There is an extended-life battery
in every master key that is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master
key that is not in regular use, you
should use that key approx. once every
year while driving for an extended
period. This will charge the battery.
Refer also to page 34.< 463de023
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet. This key is not
intended for continuous use
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 recom-
mended for valet parking, for
instance.
The conceptThe central locking system is ready for
operation as soon as you close the front
doors. The system engages and
releases 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 button.
Activation from inside does not lock the
fuel filler door (refer to page 37). Activa-
tion from outside simultaneously acti-
vates the anti-theft system. The alarm
system is also armed or disarmed.
When you use the central locking
system to lock the doors from inside
the vehicle, it will automatically disen-
gage the locks if an accident occurs,
except on doors that have been locked
individually using the lock buttons, refer
to page 37. The accident response rou-
tine also includes automatic activation
of the hazard warning flashers and the
interior lamps.

33n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the door lockUsing 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 a signal set to con-
firm that the vehicle's locks have
engaged securely.< 390de723
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
closing process stops immediately
when you release the key.< Manual operationin the event of an electrical malfunction
Turn the key to the extreme left or right
to unlock/lock the driver's door.

35n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlTo unlockPress button.
Press the button once to unlock the
driver's door and the fuel filler door
only; press a second time to unlock all
remaining doors as well as the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate.Convenience opening modePress and hold button to open the elec-
tric power windows and sliding/tilt sun-
roof.
To lock and securePress button.
Vehicles without armored glass:
do not lock the vehicle if anyone
will be remaining inside, as it would
then be impossible for the occupant(s)
to disengage the locks from the
inside.< To deactivate the tilt alarm sensor
and interior motion sensorPress button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to
page 43.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press button.
To open the luggage
compartment lid/tailgatePress button.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate
will open 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 modeProvided that the alarm system is
armed, you can respond to imminent
danger by holding down the button for
between two and five seconds.
To cancel alarm
Press button.

37n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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
system is not activated. Also, the fuel
filler door remains unlocked to allow
refueling.
The central locking system can be
locked automatically as soon as
you begin to drive if you desire. You
may also have this function pro-
grammed into individual keys.< 390de691
If only the driver's door was
unlocked from the outside and
you press the button
>all other doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, rear window and
the fuel filler door will be unlocked 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
system 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.
To engage the locks>Use the central locking button to lock
all of the doors simultaneously,
or
>press down the individual door lock
buttons. 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, you
should not lock the doors with
their lock buttons since doors locked in
this manner would not open automati-
cally in the event of an accident.
Since passengers or animals remaining
in the vehicle 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.<

40n
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateTo open from the insideYou can use this button to open the
luggage compartment lid/tailgate when
the vehicle is stationary (not possible if
the tailgate has been locked sepa-
rately).
When the tailgate of the sport
wagon is opened, the clearance
from the ground to the upper edge is
more than 6.6 ft (two meters). Please
keep this in mind when opening the tail-
gate (in a garage, for example).<
For the roll-up covers and for additional
details concerning the luggage com-
partment, please refer to "Luggage
compartment" beginning on page 125.390de692
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
window opens slightly. It can now be
tilted up.
Push the window down to close it.
When loading sharp or pointed
objects in the area adjacent to the
rear window always wrap their edges in
soft material if there is any chance that
these objects could shift and rub
against the window while the vehicle is
underway. Failure to observe this pre-
caution can result in damage to the rear
window defroster's resistor elements.< 392de727
Closing Ð sedanThe handle recess (arrow) next to the
lock mechanism is designed to assist
you in closing the luggage compart-
ment lid.394de128

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateClosing Ð sport wagonYou can pull the tailgate down by
placing both hands in the handle
recesses (arrows).
To close the tailgate, merely press it
down gently. The closing process will
then be carried out automatically.392de689
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the luggage com-
partment lid/tailgate is clear when it is
closed, observing the same precautions
as with all closing procedures.
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid/tailgate or rear
window is completely closed. Other-
wise, exhaust fumes could penetrate
the interior of the vehicle. Should it be
absolutely necessary to operate the
vehicle with the luggage compartment
lid/tailgate or rear window open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Increase the air supply for the air
conditioner or automatic climate
control to a high level. Refer to
page 107 or 111.<
Emergency release Ð sedan onlyThis lever releases the luggage com-
partment lid from the luggage compart-
ment's interior.390de792

42n
Luggage compartment Alarm systemLuggage strapsUse the straps on the floor of the
luggage compartment to secure smaller
items of luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are
placed on the straps.
The lashing eyes at the corners of the
luggage compartment provide you
with a convenient means of attaching
luggage nets
* and flexible straps for
securing suitcases and luggage.
Refer also to "Cargo loading" on
page 128.
394de302
HangerOn the left-hand side of the luggage
compartment is a hanger for fastening
shopping bags, packages and similar
items.394de144
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds
>when a door, the hood, the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate or the rear
window is opened
>to movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>to variations in the vehicle's tilt angle
such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow
the vehicle
>to interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following
>an acoustic alarm for 30 seconds
>the hazard warning flashers, for
approx. five minutes
>the high beams flash on and off in the
same rhythm as the hazard warning
flashers.

44n
Alarm system Electric power windowsInterior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate
the interior motion sensor (refer to
"Avoiding unintentional alarms") if you
>leave children or animals in the
vehicle
>intend to leave the windows or
sliding/tilt sunroof open.
To open and close windowsFrom ignition key position 1:
>Depress the rocker switch until you
feel resistance:
The window continues moving for as
long as you maintain pressure on the
switch
>Press the rocker switch beyond the
pressure point:
The window moves automatically.
Press the switch a second time to
stop the window.390de055
After the ignition has been switched off:
>You can still operate the windows as
long as neither of the front doors has
been opened. To open the window,
press the switch beyond the pressure
point.
When leaving the vehicle, always
extract the ignition key from the
lock and remember to close the doors
to prevent children from operating the
power windows and injuring them-
selves, etc.<
For the convenience mode via the door
lock or the remote control, refer to
pages 33 or 35.Safety featureA contact strip is integrated into the
inner side of each of the upper window
frame sections. If pressure is exerted
against this contact strip while a
window is being raised, the system will
respond by stopping the window and
then retracting it a small distance.