check engine BMW X5 4.4I 2000 User Guide

76n
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval Display Blue The engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds. Red When you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
Comes on while driving and the mes-
sage "COOLANT TEMPERATURE" ap-
pears in the Check-Control
*: the engine
is overheated. Shut off the engine im-
mediately and allow it to cool down.
390de007
Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. It is not un-
usual for the needle to rise as far as the
edge of the red zone in response to
high outside temperatures or severe
operating conditions.
Checking coolant level: refer to
page 140.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.
Green lamps The number of illuminated lamps
decreases as the time for your next
maintenance visit approaches. Yellow lamp This field appears together with
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION.
Maintenance is due. Please contact
your BMW center for an appointment. Red lamp The maintenance deadline has been
passed. 390us008

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
77n
Check Control Graphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed with icons from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check low beams.
2 Add washer fluid (goes out after ap-
prox. 1 minute).
3 Door open.
4 Tailgate open.
5 Check brake and tail lamps.
A defective center brake lamp is indi-
cated by the upper symbol.
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a vi-
sual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON and
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK. 390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions when the
ignition key is turned to position 2. The
alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status report symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities: 390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol 1. Simultaneous defects will be
displayed consecutively. These status
messages remain in the display until the
defects are corrected. They cannot be
deleted by pressing the CHECK
button 3:
>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 76
and 140.
>STOP! ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to page 22.

78n
Check Control >CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
approximately the minimum level.
Top up the brake fluid at the next op-
portunity. Refer to page 141. Have
the cause of the brake fluid loss diag-
nosed and corrected by your BMW
center.
>SELFLEVEL. SUSP. INACT
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 125.
>SPEED LIMIT
*
You will see this message if the pro-
grammed speed limit has been ex-
ceeded.Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
when the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 2. The warning symbols remain
after the message disappears. You can
call up the messages again for display
by pressing the CHECK button.
>TRUNKLID OPEN
This message appears only at the
start of a trip.
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a mini-
mal defined road speed has been
exceeded.
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition to this message, an indi-
cator lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustical signal is
sounded.
>WASHER FLUID LOW
The fluid level is too low; top up at
the next opportunity. Refer to
page 136.
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil as soon as possible.
Refer to page 137.>OUTSIDE TEMP. +23 7 (Ð5 6)
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.5 7
(+3 6) and below. Refer also to
page 74.
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault. Refer to pages 157
and 158 or consult an authorized
BMW center.
>CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHTS
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to
page 155 or consult an authorized
BMW center.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
79n
Check Control >TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 68.
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake linings inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 123.
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top up at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 140.
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
There is a fault in the engine's elec-
tronic control system. When braking,
higher brake application pressure
may be necessary and brake pedal
travel may be significantly longer.
Have the fault checked by your
authorized BMW center.
Displays after completion of trip All of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
key is turned to position 0.
The following displays will appear when
appropriate:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil at the next opportunity
(next stop for fuel). Refer to
page 137.
These displays appear when you open
the driver's door after parking the vehi-
cle. A supplementary gong is also
heard.
Status reports remain available for a
period of approx. three minutes after
the display goes out and the key is
removed from the ignition. Press the
CHECK button 3. If there were multiple
reports, press the CHECK button re-
peatedly to view them all in sequence.
To check the Check Control Press the CHECK button 3 with the
ignition key in position 2: CHECK
CONTROL OK appears in the display.
No malfunctions are present in the
monitored systems. Onboard computer
*
You will find a description of the
onboard computer in the Owner's
Manual for the Radio and Information
System or the Owner's Manual for the
onboard monitor.
You can have the Check Control
and onboard computer messages
displayed in a different language.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
81n
Onboard computer To cancel the display If the button in the turn-signal lever is
pressed briefly while the average speed
is displayed, the onboard computer
display can be masked out. To restart calculations If you continue to press the button in
the turn signal lever, the average values
which were just displayed for fuel con-
sumption and speed will be recalcu-
lated from that point. The engine must
be running for this calculation.
Onboard computer with
alphanumeric display
*
If your vehicle has Check Control with
alphanumeric display, the system's
onboard computer is described in the
Owner's Manual for the Radio and
Information System or the Owner's
Manual for the onboard monitor.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
117n
Driving your BMW X5 Your BMW is right at home on all roads
and byways Ð even where the pavement
ends. It combines permanent four-
wheel drive with the agility of a typical
passenger car. On bad roads When you are driving on bad roads,
there are a few points which you should
strictly heed Ñ for your own safety, for
that of your passengers, and for the
safekeeping of the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle
before you begin driving. Do not take
risks with the vehicle under any cir-
cumstances.
>Always adapt vehicle speed to road
conditions Ð the steeper and more
uneven the road surface is, the
slower the vehicle's speed should be.
>You can operate your vehicle on up-
hill and downhill gradients with a
maximum slope of 50 %. If you intend
to drive on either an uphill or downhill
gradient of this steepness, check to
be sure in advance that the engine oil
and coolant levels are both near the
"max" mark. Refer to page 137
and 140.
When driving down steep slopes, use
the Hill Descent Control (HDC). Refer
to page 84. Starting from a full stop is possible on
uphill gradients of up to 32 %.
The permitted side tilt is also 50 %.
>While driving, watch carefully for ob-
stacles such as rocks or holes. Try to
avoid these obstacles whenever pos-
sible.
>On hill crests and bumpy roads, for
example, be careful to prevent the
body from "bottoming" (contact be-
tween the body and the ground).
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
Ð 8 inches (200 mm) with up to four
passengers
Ð 7 inches (180 mm) fully loaded.
>Do not drive in water that is deeper
than 20 inches (50 cm). If you must
drive through water up to that depth,
drive at a walking speed and do not
stop.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake ap-
plications will help to dry the brakes,
thus preventing a reduction in brak-
ing performance caused by the mois-
ture.
Back onto the paved road In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a "beauty
treatment" for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:
>Clean accumulations of dirt from the
body and check the undercarriage for
damage.
>Clean mud, snow, ice and other ma-
terials from the wheels and tires.
Check the tires for damage.
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects.
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed. Be
sure that following traffic is not en-
dangered by this.
>For cleaning the parking brake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph
(40 km/h) and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards (200 meters), pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.

120n
Antilock Brake System (ABS) should adapt road speed to the road
conditions.
On road surfaces that have a loose sur-
face layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel, deep sand or snow,
for example), braking distances may be
longer than with locked wheels.This is
also true if snow chains are mounted.
However, ABS continues to provide en-
hanced vehicle stability and steering re-
sponse under these conditions. Information for your safety Not even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. ABS alone cannot prevent
accidents when the brakes are applied
without an adequate safety distance
between vehicles, if the vehicle is
driven with excessive speed, or if aqua-
planing occurs. Responsibility for these
types of situations remains in the hands
(and at the feet) of the driver. You
should never allow the added safety of
ABS to lull you into a false sense of
security, or mislead you into taking
increased risks that could affect your
own safety and that of others.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<
Cornering Brake Control (CBC) CBC is an advanced engineering de-
sign of the ABS. When braking during
cornering with high lateral accelera-
tion, or when braking during a lane
change, vehicle stability is further im-
proved and the steering response is
enhanced. Electronic Brake Force Distribu-
tion (EBV) EBV governs brake application pres-
sure at the rear wheels to achieve sta-
ble brake response.
If the EBV fails (refer to the next
page), avoid full or "panic" brake
applications. Full or panic brake appli-
cations can result in overbraking at the
rear axle, and braking stability is no
longer ensured.<
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

If you apply the brakes rapidly, this sys-
tem automatically produces the maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus
helps to achieve the shortest possible
braking distance during "panic stops."
All of the benefits of the ABS system
are exploited under these circum-
stances.
Do not reduce the pressure on the
brake pedal for the duration of the
brake application. When the brake
pedal is released, the DBC is deacti-
vated.
In the event of a malfunction,
the yellow warning lamp comes
on. Have the system checked
and repaired at your BMW cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Refer to the "Information for your
safety" covering the ABS system.
This information also applies in general
for DBC.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
121n
Antilock Brake System (ABS) In the event of a fault
If the brake warning lamp
comes on red together with the
yellow indicator lamps for ABS
and DSC (refer to pages 22
and 24), ABS, CBC, DSC, DBC,
EBV and HDC have failed. You
may continue driving, but drive
defensively and with extra cau-
tion. Avoid full brake applications be-
cause the vehicle could become unsta-
ble and go out of control.
Have the system checked by the near-
est BMW center.
If all all three warning lamps come on
yellow:
ABS, CBC, DSC, DBC and HDC have
failed. The effect of the EBV Brake
Force Distribution at the rear wheels,
which achieves stable brake response,
is largely preserved. Optimum brake
force and braking stability are no longer
assured. Continue to drive; drive cau-
tiously and defensively and avoid full
brake applications.
Have the system checked by your
authorized BMW center as soon as
possible.
Following an interruption in bat-
tery power, the ABS, CBC, DSC,
DBC and HDC systems are no longer
available. After you drive for only a few
yards or meters or if you turn the steer-
ing wheel from stop to stop while the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is
running, the functions are activated
again and the three warning lamps will
go out.<
Warning lamps for Canadian
models.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
137n
Engine oil Checking oil level 1 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 carefully 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. 530us100
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine. 460de189
Adding engine oil Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
However, do not wait until the oil level
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 au-
tomatic transmission, the transfer box,
the differential, and the power steering
system.< 530us101

140n
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling
system when the engine is hot. If
you attempt to do so, escaping coolant
can cause burns.
To avoid the possibility of damage later
on, never use anything other than fac-
tory-approved, nitrite and amino-free
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. Your authorized BMW center
is familiar with the factory specifica-
tions.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. You should always
store them in their original container
and in a location which is inaccessible
to children.
Extended-duty antifreeze with corro-
sion inhibitor contains the flammable
substance ethyleneÐglycol. For this rea-
son, do not spill antifreeze with corro-
sion inhibitor on hot engine parts. It
could ignite and cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of extended-duty antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor.<
Checking coolant level Correct coolant level when the engine
is cold approx. 68 7/20 6:
Unscrew the cap from the expansion
tank.
The coolant level is correct when the
end of the red float is aligned with the
upper edge of the filler opening (refer to
the arrow in the illustration), or max.
0.8 in (2 cm) higher, i. e. up to the mark
on the float (see also the schematic
diagramm next to the cap). 530us102
Adding coolant Wait until the engine cools before re-
moving the cap from the expansion
tank. The needle of the coolant gauge
in the instrument cluster must be lo-
cated in the blue zone. If it is not, there
is a danger of scalding.
1 Start by turning the cap counter-
clockwise. Pause to allow any accu-
mulated pressure to escape, then
open the cap.
2 If the coolant is low, slowly add
coolant until the correct level is
reached Ñ do not overfill.
The coolant is a mixture of water and
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. Always maintain the pre-
scribed all-season 50:50 mixture ratio
for year-round protection against inter-
nal corrosion. No other additives are re-
quired.
Replace the coolant every four years.