1998 BMW 740I ECU

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced co\
ntrol and
security when you drive it. We therefore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yoursel\
f with the
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your ne\
w car. It
contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in gaini\
ng maximum
use and satisfaction from the unique range of technical features on your\
BMW. The
manual also contains information on care and maintenance designed to enh\
ance
operating safety and contribute to maintaining the value of your BMW thr\
oughout an
extended service life.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicl\
e. It
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with im\
portant
operating, safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information Bookle\
t
(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models)\
. We
recommend that you read this publication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:

>

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

>

Limited Warranty Rust Perforation

>

Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty

>

Federal Emissions Performance Warranty

>

California Emission Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and\
Warranty In-
formation Booklet (US models) or in the Warranty and Service Guide Boo\
klet (Cana-
dian models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

Contents

Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)23
Hazard warning flashers24
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling25
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure26

Locks and security systems:

Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Door locks – outside32
Radio remote control33
Door locks – inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Luggage compartment39
Alarm system40
Electric power windows42
Security glass43
Sliding/Tilt sunroof44

Adjustments:

Seats46
Steering wheel49
Mirrors50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory51
Car Memory, Key Memory53

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts54
Airbags55
Child restraints57
Child restraint installation58
Child-safety locks58

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock59
Starting engine59
Switching off engine60Parking brake61
Automatic transmission62
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor68
Rear window defroster70
Cruise control70

Everything under control:

Odometer, outside temperature
display72
Tachometer72
Energy control73
Fuel gauge73
Temperature gauge74
Service Interval Display74
Check Control 75
Multi-Information Display
(MID)78
Digital clock79
Onboard computer84

Technology for safety and
convenience:

Park Distance Control PDC90
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic Sta-
bility Control (DSC)92
Electronic Damper Control
(EDC)93
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)94

28n
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Door locks – outside32
Radio remote control33
Door locks – inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Luggage compartment39
Alarm system40
Electric power windows42
Security glass43
Sliding/Tilt sunroof44
Adjustments:
Seats46
Steering wheel49
Mirrors50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory51
Car Memory, Key Memory53
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts54
Airbags55
Child restraints57
Child restraint installation58
Child-safety locks58
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock59
Starting engine59
Switching off engine60

30n
KeysKey with radio remote control1 Master key with transmitter for radio
remote control.
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as your wallet. This key is not in-
tended for continuous use.
3 Door and ignition key
The locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid and glove compartment can-
not be operated with this key – this is
useful for valet parking, for instance.380us012
Replacement keysReplacement keys are available exclu-
sively through your authorized BMW
center. Your BMW center is obligated to
ensure that a person requesting a key is
authorized to do so since the keys be-
long to a security system (refer to "Elec-
tronic vehicle immobilizer" on page 31).

31n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Electronic vehicle immobilizerThe key to securityYour BMW is equipped with a passive
anti–theft system. This electronic immo-
bilization system is designed to reduce
the susceptibility of your vehicle to theft
by making it impossible to start the en-
gine using any means other than the
special keys furnished with the vehicle.
Your BMW center can cancel the elec-
tronic system authorization for individ-
ual keys (for instance, in the event of
loss). A deactivated key can no longer
be used to start the engine.390de015
How the electronics workAt the heart of this system is an elec-
tronic chip which is integrated into the
key. The lock mechanism itself is actu-
ally a dual-function device, simulta-
neously serving as a communications
interface designed to allow the security
system to maintain a continuous stream
of variable, vehicle-specific signals with
the electronic circuitry in the key. The
system will not release the ignition, fuel
injection and starter unless it recog-
nizes an "authorized" key.
Force applied to the key can dam-
age the integrated electronic cir-
cuitry. A damaged key can no longer be
used to start the engine.<

33n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Radio remote controlThe remote control makes opening and
locking the doors of your vehicle very
convenient. Furthermore, it provides
three additional functions which can
only be executed by means of the re-
mote control:
>Switching on the interior lamps and il-
luminating the exterior door handles.
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle, when
parked in an underground garage, for
instance
>To open luggage compartment lid
The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly, regardless of whether
the lid was previously locked or un-
locked
>Panic Mode
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
The anti-theft system is also deacti-
vated/activated simultaneously with
the unlocking or locking of the vehicle,
and the alarm system is disarmed/
armed.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the inte-
rior lamps and the exterior door handle
illumination are switched on.
Master keysKeys with a transmitter for remote con-
trol are master keys. Refer to page 30.
Since children might be able to
lock the doors from the inside,
take the vehicle's keys with you so that
the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.<
Every transmission is indicated by a
light signal. If the signal no longer lights
up when a button is pressed and lock-
ing with the remote control no longer
functions:
Change the battery. Refer to page 168.380us644
Unlocking and convenience
opening modeTo release: Press button 1.
Press the button once to unlock the
driver's door only; press a second time
to unlock all remaining doors as well as
the luggage compartment and fuel filler
door.
Convenience opening mode: Press and
hold button 1. The electric power win-
dows and the sliding/tilt sunroof are
opened.
If you desire, you can have this
feature set so that it is related to
specific keys.< 380us645

34n
Radio remote controlTo lock and securePress button 2.380us646
The interior lamps and illuminated
exterior door handles switch on;
the tilt sensor alarm system
switches offTo switch on the interior lamps and illu-
minating the exterior door handles:
After locking the car, press button 2.
With this function – keeping the range
of the remote control in mind – you can
"search for" your car (in a large parking
lot, for instance).
To deactivate the tilt sensor alarm
system:
Press button 2 again briefly after the
system is locked.
This also deactivates the interior motion
sensor of the alarm system (refer to
page 41).380us646
Opening the luggage compart-
ment lid - Panic ModeTo open the luggage compartment:
Press button 3.
Before beginning a trip, be sure
that the luggage compartment lid
was not opened unintentionally.<
Panic Mode: By pressing and holding
button 3 for 2 to 5 seconds, you can
trigger the alarm system if there is an
impending danger if the system has
been armed.
The alarm is deactivated by pressing
button 1.380us648

37n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Luggage compartment lidThe lockOnly the master key (refer to page 30)
fits in the lock of the luggage compart-
ment.380de649
Secure separatelyTurn the master key to the right past the
resistance point and then pull it out in
the horizontal position.
This locks the luggage compartment lid
and disconnects it from the central
locking system. This feature can be
used to prevent unauthorized access to
the luggage compartment when you
surrender the door and ignition key (re-
fer to page 30) for valet parking, for in-
stance.380de650
Manual operation(in the event of electrical failure)
Turn the master key to the left in the
luggage compartment lock clear to the
stop – the luggage compartment lid will
open.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.