charging BMW 740I 1998 Owners Manual

20n

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Many of the systems of your BMW mon-
itor themselves automatically, both dur-
ing engine starts and while you are driv-
ing. Indicator and warning lamps that
are identified by "

l

" are tested for
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.

Red: Stop immediately

Battery charge current

l

The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator ribbed V-belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
ribbed V-belt is defective, increased
steering effort is also required.

<


Engine oil pressure

l

Comes on while the engine is
running and the "Stop! ENGINE
OILPRESS" message appears in the
Check Control:
Stop vehicle and switch off engine im-
mediately. Check level of oil in engine,
top up as required. If oil level is correct:
Please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.

<



Brake hydraulic system

l

The brake fluid level is too low.
Before driving further, be sure to
read the notes on pages 128 and 147.
Also comes on with the message
"Check brake pads" in the Check Con-
trol.



Brake hydraulic system warning
lamp for Canadian models.

174n
BatteryDo not short circuit the battery termi-
nals. This creates a risk of personal in-
jury from high-voltage sparks.
A highly-explosive gas is
generated when the battery is
charged.
If you happen to get acid in
your eyes, rinse thoroughly for
15 minutes with clear water.
Consult a physician immediately. If you
get acid spray on your skin or clothing,
rinse with plenty of water. If electrolyte
is accidentally ingested, consult a phy-
sician immediately.
In order to protect the battery
case from ultraviolet radiation,
do not place it in direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze. Store
the battery in areas where temperature
remains above freezing.Car careThe battery is completely maintenance-
free, that is, the original electrolyte will
normally last for the service life of the
battery.
Charge condition – BMW 740i/LYou can read the charge condition of
the battery with the "Magic Eye" (a hy-
drometer) (not released at this time):
>Green: Adequate charge
>Black: Not charged adequately. The
battery must be recharged. Please
contact your BMW center
>Yellow: Replace the battery.380de655
Charging the batteryCharge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is off. Charge the bat-
tery using the supplementary positive
terminal and ground (terminal) in the en-
gine compartment (refer to "Jump-start-
ing" on page 179).
On the BMW 750iL, there is an auto-
matic switch between the two batteries
during charging.
Before performing any work on
the electrical system, disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal. If
you do not, short circuits can create the
risk of fire or personal injury.
If a jump start is necessary, connect the
cables only to the auxiliary terminal for
jump starting and a ground in the en-
gine compartment in order to avoid
damage to the batteries (refer to
"Jump-starting" on page 179).<

Everything from A to ZAABS125
Accessories6
Activated-charcoal filter105
Active seat48
Adaptive Transmission
Control (ATC)63
Adding engine oil143
Adding washer fluid142
Adjust the backrest46
Adjusting steering wheel49
Air distribution102
Air flow103
Air jets100
Air pressure132
Airbags55
Alarm system40
Deactivating in an
emergency41
Antenna diversity186
Antifreeze146
Antifreeze, radiator128, 146
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)125
Anti-theft alarm system
32,40
Approved gross vehicle
weight196
Aquaplaning123,132
Armrest111
ASC+T (Automatic Stability
Control plus Traction)92Ashtray114
AUC (Automatic recirculated-
air control)103
Audio System78
Automatic car washes150
Automatic climate
control100
Automatic climate control,
removing window
condensation102
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)103
Automatic Soft-Close
feature38
Automatic Stability Control
plus Traction (ASC+T)92
Automatic steering wheel
adjustment49
Automatic transmission62
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Automatic windshield
washer69
Average fuel consumption 85
Average speed86
Axle loads196
BBackup lamps, bulb
replacement166
Battery173,198
Battery capacity198Battery change, radio remote
control168
Battery charge current20
Battery, discharged179
Battery, removal and
installation175
Belts54
Beverage holders113
Blower103
Body-cavity protectant151
Brake faults128
Brake fluid147
Brake hydraulic system20
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement166
Brakes126
Break-in procedure122
Break-resistant security
glass, care153
Bulb replacement163
CCar jack170
Car Memory53
Car radio reception131, 186
Car telephone113
Car wash150
Care, exterior152
Care, interior154
Caring for the vehicle
finish152
Caring for your car150Catalytic converter124
Cellular phone131
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp166
Central locking system32
Central locking system,
button36
Changing a wheel170
Charge indicator lamp20
Charging the battery174
Check Control75
CHECK key75
Checking the engine oil143
Checking tire pressure26
Child restraints57
Childproof door locks58
Cigarette lighter115
Clock,
refer to Digital clock79
Code88
Refer to the Radio Owner's
Manuel
Codes, tires134
Coin tray113
Cold start60
Comfort seats47
Connecting a car vacuum
cleaner115
Consumption display73
Contour seat48

Repairs
Index
Overview
Controls
Car care
Technology
Data
Owner service procedures from A to Z207 n
A
Adding brake fluid 147
Adding engine coolant 146
Adding engine oil 143
Adding fluid, power steering 148
Air pressure 26
B
Backup lamps, bulb
replacement 166
Battery change, radio remote control 168
Battery, checking charge condition 174
Battery, discharged 179
Brake lamps, bulb replacement 166
Brakes, brake faults 128
Bulb replacement 163
C
Changing a wheel 170
Charging the battery 174
Check Control 75
Checking the engine oil 143
Checking tire pressure 26
D
Defrosting, windows102
Difficult steering 130
Doors, manual operation 32
E
Electrical accessories,
failure 176
Electrical fault fuel filler door 178
Sliding/Tilt sunroof 178
Emergency release Doors 32
Fuel filler door 178
Luggage compartment
lid 37
Sliding/Tilt sunroof 178
Engine oil specifications 144
F
Failure messages75
Filling the windshield washer fluid reservoir 142
First-aid kit 24
Fittings, tow-starting and towing 180
Fog lamp,
replace the bulb 165
Footwell lamps, bulb replacement 167 Fuel filler door,
manual release after
electrical fault 178
Fuses, replacing 176
G
Glove compartment lamp,
bulb replacement 167
H
Hazard warning flashers 24
Hazard warning triangle 24
High beam headlamps, bulb replacement 164,165
Hood release 137
I
Indicator lamps 20
Interior lamps, bulb replacement 167
Interior motion sensor, deactivation 41
J
Jump starting 179
L
License plate lamps, bulb
replacement 166
Low beam headlamps, bulb
replacement 164 Luggage compartment
lamps, bulb
replacement 167
Luggage compartment lid, emergency release 37
M
Maintenance74,149
Malfunction displays 75
N
New transmitter, radio re-
mote control 168
O
Oil level check 143
Oil specifications 144
Onboard tool kit 162
P
Power steering,
adding fluid 148
Pressure, tires 26
R
Radio remote control,
battery change 168
Radio remote control, new transmitter 168
Rear lamp assembly 166
Removing condensation, windows 102