steering BMW 740I 1998 Owner's Guide

141n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Engine compartment – BMW 750iL1 Brake fluid reservoir147
2 Power steering fluid reservoir/
Level control system148
3 Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting179
4 Engine oil filler neck143
5 Coolant expansion tank146
6 Engine oil dipstick143
7 Reservoir for headlamp
and windshield washer system142
8 Fuse box176

143n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Engine oilChecking the engine oil1 Park the vehicle on a level surface
2 Shut the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3 After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material
4 Push the dipstick all the way into the
guide tube and pull it out again
5 The oil level should be in between the
two graduations on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions.380de076
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill to be-
yond the upper mark on the dipstick.
Excess oil will damage the engine.460de189
Adding engine oilWait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
However, do not wait until the oil drops
below the lower mark.
BMW engines are designed to op-
erate without oil additives. The
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This is also true for the
automatic transmission, the differential
and the power steering system.< 380de077

148n
Oil for power steering/Level control system
*
Vehicle Identification Number
Power steeringWith the engine off, unscrew the reser-
voir cap and remove the cap with dip-
stick. Then push the dipstick into the
reservoir again.
The fluid level should be in between the
marks on the dipstick.
Screw the reservoir cap back on.
Contact your BMW center if the fluid is
low, as only ATF may be used and spe-
cial knowledge is required for topping
up.380de078
Power steering/Level control
system
*
With the engine shut off, loosen the
knurled nut and remove the reservoir
cap.
With the vehicle empty, the fluid level
should be barely 0.2 in (5 mm) above
the screen bottom.
Correct the fluid level if required. Al-
ways use Pentosin CHF 11S.
Position the reservoir cap and tighten
the knurled nut. Make sure the cover is
properly seated.380de079
In the engine compartment, stamped on
the right-hand strut dome (arrow) and
on the upper edge of the instrument
panel on the left side.380de074

156n
Airbags Vehicle storage1 Front airbags for driver and
front passenger
2 Side impact head protection system
(front and rear
*)
3 Side airbags (front and rear
*)
Important safety notices
Do not attempt to remove the gas
generators of the airbag restraint
system from the vehicle. Have testing
and service procedures performed by
specially-qualified technicians only. In
the event of a malfunction, deactivation,
or triggered actuation (as a response to
an accident) of the airbag restraint sys-
tem, consult your authorized BMW cen-
ter for repairs or service operations.
380de643
Modifications may not be made on ei-
ther the wiring or the individual compo-
nents in the airbag system. These in-
clude the padded steering wheel hub,
the instrument panel, the side trim pan-
els of the front or rear doors and the
roof pillars or the sides of the headliner.
Never apply adhesive materials to these
components or cover or modify them in
any way. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel.
To ensure compliance with official
safety regulations, entrust disposal of
airbag generators to an authorized
BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.< Consult your BMW center regarding the
required special procedures if you in-
tend to store the vehicle for longer than
three months.

169n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Remote control4 Release button 1, LED 3 will flash
slowly for a maximum of 10 seconds
5 The central locking system activates
and releases all lock mechanisms in
rapid succession to indicate that the
initialization procedure has been
successfully completed.
If the LED does not flash or the central
locking system fails to respond, you
must repeat the initialization procedure.
If you possess additional transmitters
for your vehicle (up to a maximum
of four units), you must now initialize
these as well. Be sure that no more
than 30 seconds is allowed to elapse
between the individual initialization pro-
cedures. Do not actuate the steering
lock during this time.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your authorized BMW
center, who can also provide you with
replacement transmitters.To prevent unauthorized use of the
transmitter, surrender only the
door and ignition key or the spare key
(refer to page 30) for valet parking).<

170n
Changing tires
Safety measures in the event of a
flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, sur-
face.
Switch on the hazard flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and en-
gage the steering lock. Make sure that
the selector lever is in Park, and engage
the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
car and well away from your immediate
working area (for instance, behind a
guardrail).
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and
regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface which is not slippery. Avoid
jacking the car on a soft or slippery sup-
port surface (snow, ice, loose gravel,
etc.), since it could slide sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. If this is done,
the jack might not be able to reach its
full support capacity because of the
limited height. Do not lie under the vehi-
cle or start the engine when the vehicle
is supported by the jack - risk of fatal
injury.<
What you will needIn order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
>Car jack
Fold the right-hand trim panel of the
luggage compartment down using
the handle at the top.
Loosen the wing nut (arrow 1).
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back down.
Fold the handle back and insert it in
its holder.
>Wedge (wheel chock)
Next to the battery, under the jack.
Remove the jack and loosen the wing
nut (arrow 2).380de639

173n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
BatteryInstallation location, BMW 740i/LThe battery is located behind the right-
side trim panel in the luggage compart-
ment.
Grasp the handle in the upper panel
and fold it down.380de671
Installation location, BMW 750iLTwo batteries are installed in the BMW
750iL. They are located in the luggage
compartment behind the right side trim
panel.
To check the charge condition or
for removal or installation, please
consult your BMW center.< 380de654
SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on
your car battery. To avoid injury, please
observe the corresponding precautions
whenever you work with or near the
battery.
Please read the following infor-
mation before working with the
battery.
Wear eye protection. Do not al-
low particles containing battery
acid or lead to come into con-
tact with your eyes, your skin, or your
clothing.
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and
protective gloves. Do not tip the
battery. Battery acid can leak from the
ventilation openings.
Be sure that children keep well
away from batteries and battery
acid.
Never allow sparks or open
flame, and do not smoke in the
vicinity of the battery.
Avoid sparks from electrical cables or
electrical equipment. Turn the key to po-
sition 0 in the steering lock when the
battery is disconnected or connected.

181n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Towing the vehicle
The towed vehicle should always
be the lighter of the two vehicles.
If this is not the case, it is no longer
possible to control vehicle response.<
Tow-startingIt is not possible to start the engine of
vehicles equipped with automatic trans-
mission by towing or pushing.
For instructions on jump starting, refer
to page 179.
Never attempt to use your vehicle to
push another car, as damage to the
energy-absorbing bumpers could
result.
Towing a vehicle with automatic
transmission1 Place selector lever in position N
2 Towing speed:
Max. 45 mph (70 km/h)
3 Towing distance:
Max. 95 miles (150 km)
4 Leave the ignition key at position 1 to
ensure that the brake lamps, turn sig-
nals, horn and windshield wipers re-
main operative, and to prevent the
steering lock detent from engaging
5 Switch on the hazard-warning system
(observe country-specific regula-
tions).
Find some means of identifying the ve-
hicle in tow, for instance, place a sign
or warning triangle in the rear window.
Make sure that the ignition key re-
mains in position 1 even when the
electrical system has failed to prevent
the steering lock from engaging.
The steering and brakes are without
power assist when the engine is off.
This means that increased effort is re-
quired for steering and braking.<
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Use a wheel lift or flat bed equipment
>Please comply with applicable towing
laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.< 380us124

185n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
In order to take driving conditions into
account, ATC registers corners and
both uphill and downhill gradients. For
example, if you maintain speed through
a curve, the transmission does not up-
shift.
On uphill gradients, it shifts only when
the engine speed increases in order to
make more efficient use of power re-
serves. On downhill gradients ATC
downshifts when the speed of the vehi-
cles increases causing the driver to
step on the brakes.
With respect to road conditions, ATC
monitors the friction between the tires
and the road. The system responds to
slippery road surfaces (snow and ice)
by activating the winter program.
Second gear is used when moving
away from a standstill, upshifts occur
sooner, and on descents downshifting
does not occur in spite of the applica-
tion of brakes. This enables you to
"feel" the road as you drive and pro-
duces greater dynamic stability. If the
friction between the tires and the road
is adequate, the normal system is again
activated. The system also leaves the
winter program when you shift from
drive position "D" to "S," "3" or "2," or if
the ASC+T/DSC
* is deactivated.By recognizing traffic conditions, ATC
can retain maximum driving comfort.
For instance, the system recognizes
stop-and-go traffic and then proceeds
only in second gear until it encounters
higher starting loads.
Of course the selector lever can still be
used to select specific gear ratios. Per-
formance-oriented driving is enabled by
shifting from drive position "D" to "S,"
"3" or "2." Positions "3" and "2" each
limit upshifts to the next gear. Position
"2" is best for driving on steep mountain
slopes with a heavy load.Precision sensors monitor the number
of revolutions of the wheels. When
equipped with DSC, they also monitor
steering angle, lateral acceleration,
brake pressure and the movement of
the vehicle around its vertical axis.
If differences in the wheel speeds oc-
cur, the system counteracts the danger
of wheelspin by reducing torque. If nec-
essary, the system also responds with
additional applications of the brakes at
the rear wheels.
If the system detects an instability in the
vehicle's condition, the braking action
can also be directed to the front wheels
by the DSC in order to stabilize the ve-
hicle.
You may need some time to become
accustomed to this system intervention.
However, it helps provide optimum pro-
pulsive force and driving stability.
The braking intervention may be ac-
companied by a certain degree of
noise.
ATC ASC+T/DSC
*

198n
Electrical system Drive beltsBatteryBMW 740i/L: 12 V, 110 Ah
BMW 750iL: 12 V, 55 Ah
12 V, 110 AhSpark plugsNGK BKR 6 EQUP or
Bosch FGR 7 DQP
This spark ignition system meets all re-
quirements of the Canadian Interfer-
ence-Causing Equipment Regulations.BMW 740i/L
Water pump – AC generator -
power steering
V-belt 7 K x 1635
A/C compressor
V-belt 5 K x 1004
BMW 750iL
AC generator – power steering
V-belt 7 K x 1045
Coolant pump – air conditioner
compressor
V-belt 6 K x 1190
You can obtain Original BMW
Parts and Accessories, as well as
professional advice from your autho-
rized BMW center.<