width BMW 545I SEDAN 2004 E60 Owner's Manual

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37Reference
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Mobility
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle con-
trol could lead to an accident.
On the front passenger side as well, do not
tilt the backrest too far toward the rear
while driving. Failure to observe this pre-
caution can prevent the belt from providing
effective protection against injury, as the
passenger could slide under the belt in an
accident.
Make sure that the footwell behind the
driver's and front passenger's seat is empty
and unobstructed. If you fail to do so, any
persons or objects behind the seat could
be injured or damaged by a rearward
movement of the seat.<
Please observe the information on damage
to safety belts provided on page 41 and the
information on the active head restraints on
page 40.
Seat adjustment
To ensure that the safety systems
continue to provide optimized protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions on page 36.<
1Forward/backward
2Height
3Angle
4Backrest
Comfort seat* adjustment
In addition to the electric power seat func-
tions, several other adjustment options are
available with the comfort seat:
1Backrest width
By adjusting the backrest width, you
can increase or reduce lateral support
2Shoulder support
You can use the adjustable upper back-
rest for supplementary support in the
shoulder region. This provides a
relaxed driving position and helps
relieve stress on the shoulder muscles
Make corrections in the forward/
backward adjustment of the seat
to ensure that the safety belt still fits
firmly against your body. If you do not
do this, the protection provided by the
safety belt may be reduced.<
3Thigh support
Adjust the thigh support until the ideal
support is provided for the thigh
4Lumbar support, see below
Sports seat* adjustment
In addition to the seat cushion, on the
sports seat you can adjust the thigh sup-
port 3, see above.
Easy entry/exit*
The backrest width automatically moves as
high up and far forward as possible to ease
driver entry and exit before then returning
to the standard or stored memory setting.
This automatic feature is governed by the
driver's door and the ignition lock.

Things to remember when driving
106
Things to remember when driving
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle continues to
provide optimized economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we
request that you devote careful attention to
the following section.
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
You should attempt to vary both vehicle
and engine speeds. Until the break-in
period has been completed, you should
also refrain from exceeding an engine
speed of 4,500 rpm or a driving speed of
100 mph/160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode during
these initial miles.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine and vehicle speeds
can be gradually increased.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures should the engine or differen-
tial need to be replaced at a later point.
Sequential manual transmission
SMG
Do not use the acceleration assistant dur-
ing the break-in period.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. Therefore, drive reservedly
during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve opti-
mized contact and wear patterns between
brake pads and rotors.
Clutch
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of
approx. 300 miles/500 km. During this
break-in period, engage the clutch gently.
General driving notes
High temperatures
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari-
ous sections of the exhaust system, and
never apply undercoating to them. When
driving, standing at idle and while parking
take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead
to a fire, and with it the risk of serious prop-
erty damage as well as personal injury.<
Parking the vehicle
Condensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water under the vehicle are thus normal.
Before driving into the car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to
page 42, as otherwise they could be dam-
aged due to the width of the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires and
road surface.This phenomenon is referred
to as hydroplaning, and is characterized by
a partial or complete loss of contact
between the tires and the road surface, ulti-
mately undermining your ability to steer
and brake the vehicle.<

Wheels and tires
172
545i
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of
the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.
Tire size
Speed letter
Q = up to 100 mph160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/hW = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age
The date of manufacture of the tires is
marked on the tires themselves:
DOT ... 3603 means that the tire was made
in the 36th week of 2003.
BMW recommends that you replace all
tires after 6 years at the latest, indepen-
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 Y
225/50 R 17 94 Q,T,H M+S32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 95 V M+S29/200 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Front: 245/35 R 19 89 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/30 R 19 92 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page 200.
e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Radial type
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)205/60 R1591W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3602

Mobility
173Reference
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dently of the fact that tires can reach an age
of 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 g) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A Ð the
highest Ð B, and C, representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
RSC Ð Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, refer to page 175.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for treadwear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Tire tread
The tread depth should not drop below
0.12 in/3 mm, although, for example, Euro-
pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below 0.12 in/3 mm there is an
increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,

Reference 203
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 54
Ð indicator lamp 56
Ð interlock 49
Ð selector lever interlock 55
Ð shiftlock 55
Ð sport program 55
Ð starting the engine 50
Ð towing 193
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air distribution
and volume 91
"Autostore" on the
radio 136
"AUTO" with automatic
climate control 93
Average fuel
consumption 70
Ð setting the units 74
Average speed 70
"Avoid ferries" for
navigation 121
"Avoid freeways / tolls" for
navigation 121
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 33
"Avoid tollroads" for
navigation 121
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 200
"A - Z" 154
B
Backrests, refer to
Seats 36
Backrest width
adjustment 37
Backup lamps, refer to
Reverse gear 51
Ð replacing the bulbs 186
"Balance", audio
system 132
Balance, refer to Tone
control 131
"Bass", audio system 132
Bass, refer to Tone
control 131
Battery 188
Ð in the remote control 26
Ð jump-starting 192Belts, refer to Safety
belts 36, 40
Beverage holders 99
Black ice, refer to Ice
warning 65
Blocking sections of a route
for navigation 125
Blower, refer to Air
volume 91
BMW Assist 161
Ð enabling 161
Ð services offered 162
"BMW Info" 163
BMW Maintenance
System 181
"BMW Service
settings" 161
Bore, refer to Engine
data 198
Bottle holder, refer to
Beverage holders 99
Brake Assistant, refer to
DBC Dynamic Braking
Control 79
Brake fluid 180
Ð indicator lamp 180
Ð level 180
Ð replacing 180
Brake force display 82
Brake hydraulic
systems 180
Brake lamps, replacing the
bulbs 186
Brake pads 107
Ð breaking-in
procedure 106
Brake pedal, refer to
Brakes 107
Brake rotors 107
Brakes 107
Ð ABS 77
Ð brake fluid 180
Ð breaking-in
procedure 106
Ð handbrake 50Brake system 106
Ð brake-fluid level 180
Ð brake pads 107
Ð breaking-in
procedure 106
Ð disc brakes 107
Ð indicator lamp 13, 107
Breakdown services, refer
to Roadside
Assistance 191
Break-in procedures 106
Ð brakes 106
Ð clutch 106
Ð differential 106
Ð engine 106
Brightness on the Control
Display 73
Bulbs and lamps
Ð replacing the bulbs 184
Buttons on steering
wheel 11
C
California Proposition
65 Warning 183
"Call" 154
Call
Ð accepting 153
Ð display accepted 154
Ð ending 154
Ð in absence 154
Ð starting 153
Calling
Ð from phone book 154
Ð from the Top 8 list 154
Ð redialing 154
Calling up traffic
information 126
"Call sender" 156
"Call Sirius" 138
Can holder, refer to
Beverage holders 99
Capacities 201
Car battery, refer to
Battery 188
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure

Everything from A to Z
214 TeleService 161
Ð enabling 161
Ð services offered 162
Temperature display
Ð ice warning 65
Ð outside temperature 65
Ð setting the units 74
"Terminate services" 165
"Text language" 74
The BMW Maintenance
System 181
Tightening torque, refer to
Tightening lug bolts 188
Tilt function, passenger-
side mirror 39
"Time" 74
"Time 1" for independent
ventilation 95
"Time 2" for independent
ventilation 95
Timer, refer to Preselecting
switch-on time 95
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 80
Tire Quality Grading 173
Tires
Ð age 172
Ð changing 174
Ð condition 173
Ð damage 174
Ð flat 187
Ð inflation pressure 170
Ð pressure monitoring 80
Ð replacing 187
Ð run-flat 175
Ð size 172
Ð tread 173
Ð wear indicators 174
Tone control 131
Tone on locking/
unlocking 28
Tools, refer to Onboard tool
kit 184
"Top 8" for portable
phone 155
Torque 198
Ð lug bolts 188
Touch tone dialing 156
Tow fitting 193Towing
Ð with automatic
transmission 193
Ð with sequential manual
transmission SMG 193
Towing eye 193
Tow sockets for tow
fitting 194
Tracks
Ð random play
sequence 142, 146
Ð sample scan 142, 145
Track width, refer to
Dimensions 199
Traction Control System,
refer to DSC 78
Transmission
Ð automatic transmission
with Steptronic 54
Ð manual transmission 51
Ð Sequential manual
transmission SMG 51
Transporting children
safely 45
Transport securing device,
refer to Securing the
load 109
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 173
"Treble", audio
systems 132
"Trip computer" 72
Trip computer 71
Trip-distance counter, refer
to Trip odometer 65
"Triple turn signal
activation" 56
Trip odometer 65
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid 31
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 199
Turn signal indicators 56
Ð replacing the bulbs 185
U
Underbody protection,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochureUniform Tire Quality
Grading 173
"Units" 74
Units
Ð average fuel
consumption 74
Ð temperature 74
Universal garage-door
opener, refer to
Integrated universal
remote control 96
Universal remote
control 96
Unlock code 152
Unlocking
Ð engine hood 177
Ð from inside 30
Ð from outside 27
"Update services" 165
V
Valve stem seal caps 188
Vehicle
Ð battery 188
Ð care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Ð dimensions 199
Ð loading 108
Ð parking 50
Ð washing, refer to Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Ð weights 200
Vehicle jack 187
Vehicle position 115
"Vehicle settings" 38
Ventilation 94
Ð draft-free 94
Ð front 94
Ð rear 94
Ventilation while parked 94
"Vent settings" 92
Vents of the automatic
climate control 90
Voice command system 20
Voice instructions for
navigation system 124
Ð muting 125
Ð repeating 125
Ð switching on/off 124
Ð volume 125

Reference 215
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Voice phone book 158
Volume 130
Ð audio sources 130
Ð portable phone 152
Ð speed-dependent 132
Ð voice instructions 125
Volume of the luggage
compartment 200
W
Warning and indicator
lamps 13
Warning messages, refer to
Check Control 68
Warning triangle 191
Washer fluid 57
Ð content of the
reservoir 58
Ð reservoir of the cleaning
systems 58
Water on the road,
floods 107
Waveband 134
"WB" 130, 137
Wear indicators in the
tires 174
Weights 200
Wheelbase, refer to
Dimensions 199
Wheel changes 187
Wheels and tires 170
"Where to go?" 164
Width, refer to
Dimensions 199
Windows 33
Ð convenience opening 28
Ð convenience operation 29
Ð safety switch 34
Windshield washer
system 57
Ð washer fluid 57
Ð washer nozzles 57
Windshield wipers 57
Ð blade replacement 184
Winter tires 175
Ð speed limit selection 72
Ð storage 175
Wiper blade
replacement 184
Wiper system 57"With freeways" for
navigation 121
Wordmatch principle for
navigation 122
Working in the engine
compartment 177
Wrenches/screwdrivers,
refer to Onboard tool
kit 184X
Xenon lamps 185
Ð replacing the bulbs 185