winter tires BMW 540I SEDAN 2003 Owners Manual

Contents

Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures132
Driving notes133
Antilock Brake System133
Brake system134

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure135
Tire condition135
Tire replacement136
Wheel and tire
combinations137
Special characteristics of winter
tires138
Snow chains138

Under the hood:

Hood139
Engine compartment
essentials140
Washer fluids141
Engine oil142
Coolant144
Brake fluid145

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System146

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications147
California Proposition
65 Warning147
OBD interface socket148

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit152
Windshield wiper blades152
Lamps and bulbs153
Changing a wheel158
Battery162
Fuses162

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting164
Towing the vehicle165

138n
Special characteristics of winter tires Snow chains
*
Choosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for operation under
inclement winter driving conditions.
While all-season tires (M+S designa-
tion) provide better winter traction than
summer tires with the load ratings H, V,
W, Y and ZR, they generally do not
achieve the performance of winter tires.
In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install radial tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels if you elect to mount winter
tires.Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire inflation
pressureWinter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in (4 mm), and should thus
be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the wheels/tires.BMW narrow-link snow chains
are
approved exclusively for use in combi-
nation with winter tires on the rear
wheels only. Comply with all manufac-
turer's safety precautions when
mounting the chains. Do not exceed a
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) while
driving with mounted snow chains.
It is not possible to mount snow
chains on tires with 17-inch
wheels.<

Everything from A to Z
183n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Service Interval
Display84, 146
Shiftlock72, 75
Shoulder support51
Side airbags59
Side Impact Head Protection
System59
Side lamps
bulb replacement154t
Side turn signal indicators
bulb replacement155t
Sitting safely48
with airbags48
with safety belt48
Ski bag122
Ski bag in the sport
wagon124
Sliding/tilt sunroof46
manual operation47
with glass moonroof47
Snow chains138
Socket for attaching
electrical appliances120
Spare tire159t
Speaker119
Special characteristics of
winter tires138
Special oil143t
Speed96
Speed limit93
Speed, average88, 96
Speedometer15, 16, 17 sport wagon
cargo area125
compartments in the cargo
area126
cover in the cargo
area126
folding down the rear
backrest125
lashing eyes128
load-securing
devices128
opening the rear
window40
partition net125
rear window wiper, blade
replacement152t
releasing the tailgate after
an electrical
malfunction39
roll-up cover125
securing a load128
ski bag124
tail lamp assembly, bulb
replacement156t
Standing lamps104
Starting assistance164t
Starting problems69t
Starting the engine69
Steering wheel
heating56
lock68
memory setting54 Steering wheel with
multifunction buttons22
Steptronic75
Stopwatch91
for additional information
refer to the "Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer"
Storage compartments118
in the cargo area126
Summer tires137
Sun blinds114
Sunroof46
Switching off the engine70
Switch-on times for parked-
car ventilation92
Symbols8
T
Tachometer83
Tail lamps156
bulb replacement156t
Tailgate
manual operation39
manual release39
opening from the
inside40
opening from the
outside39
Technical
modifications9, 147
Telephone preparation119 Temperature display82, 88
Temperature gauge84
Temperature
layering108, 113
Tether strap62
Third brake lamp157
Through-loading
system121
Tilt alarm sensor42, 43
avoiding unintentional
alarms44
deactivate35
Tilt function, passenger-side
mirror55
Time
calling up90
changing90
of arrival, estimated95
Timer90
for additional information
refer to the "Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer"
Tire
change158t
damage135t
inflation pressure26, 135
pressure
monitoring101, 135
replacement136
tread135
Tire inflation pressure26

Everything from A to ZTire Pressure Monitor
(RDC)101
Tire Quality Grading137
Tools152t
Torque170
Tow fittings165t
Towing the vehicle165t
Track171
Traction control system,
refer to ASC+T/DSC
Transmission71, 72, 75
Transmitter key32
Transporting children
safely62
Tread depth, tires135
Trip odometer82
Trunk lid
refer to luggage
compartment lid38
Trunk, refer to luggage
compartment42
Turn signal indicator78
bulb replacement154t
Turning circle171 U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQR)137
Universal Transmitter115
Use antifreeze,
radiator144t Used batteries,
disposal162t
Used oils, disposal143t
V
Vacuum cleaner, attach120
Valve caps161
Vehicle Memory67
Vent outlets108, 113
Ventilation106, 108, 113
draft-free108, 113
in the rear108
Viscosity ratings, oils143 W

Warm feet Ð cool
head108, 113
Warning and indicator
lamps19
Warning lamps19t
Warning messages85t
Warning triangle23
Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian
models)146
Washer system78
Water on the roads133
Weights173
Wheel and tire
combinations137
Wheel change158t Wheelbase171
Width of vehicle171
Windshield wipers78
blade replacement152t
Winter tires138
Wiper blade
replacement152t
Wiper system78
Work in the engine
compartment139t
X
Xenon lamps154

To ensure that you always have conve-
nient access to all essential information
when you stop for fuel, we recommend
that you take the time to fill out the
adjoining chart by entering the data that
apply to your vehicle.
Consult the index for individual specifi-
cations.
Fuel Please enter your preferred fuel here. Engine oil The space between the two marks on
the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Designation
QualityTire inflation pressures
Summer tires Winter tires
Front Rear Front Rear
Up to 4 persons
5 persons or 4 plus luggage
Refueling