1998 BMW 740I wipers

68n
Indicator/Headlamp flasher Wiper/Washer system/Rain sensor1 High beam (blue indicator)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator)
3 Turn signal (green indicator accom-
panied by a rhythmic clicking sound
from the relay).
If the indicator lamp and the clicking
from the relay are both faster than nor-
mal, one of the turn indicators has
failed.To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond the
detent. It then returns to the center po-
sition when released.380de629
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent wipe
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Automatic windshield washer
6 Rotary dial for control of the interval
time or the sensitivity of the rain
sensor380us041
0 Wipers retractedThe wipers are partially hidden behind
the hood. To bring the wipers up into
their vertical position (important when
changing the blades, or folding up
when frost is expected):
With the control lever in position 1,
switch off the ignition when the wipers
are in the parked position.
Fold the wipers down onto the
windshield before you turn the ig-
nition key to position 1 or 2.<
For changing the wiper blades, refer to
page 162.1 Interval time or rain sensor
*
You can set the wipe interval to 4
stages with rotary dial 6.
In addition, the wipe interval automati-
cally adapts to variations in road speed.
Rain sensor:
When the rain sensor is activated, the
windshield wiper is controlled automati-
cally, depending on the degree of wet-
ness of the windshield (in both snow
and rain). You do not have to be con-
cerned with switching the windshield
wiper on or off or adjusting the wipe in-
terval between intermittent and full
wipe. Instead, you can concentrate fully

69n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Wiper/Washer systemon the traffic conditions. This is espe-
cially important under adverse weather
conditions.
To activate the rain sensor:
From ignition key position 1 and up,
move the lever to position 1. The wipers
travel once across the windshield, re-
gardless of the weather.
You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1. It is then only necessary to
activate the rain sensor from ignition
key position 1 and up. To do this
>turn rotary dial 7 briefly or
>use either the automatic windshield
washer 5 or the automatic intensive
washer 6.
To modify the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes.
If you do not, damage may occur if the
wipers switch on unintentionally.<
2 Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers switch automatically to intermittent
wipe (not on vehicles with rain sensor).3 Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers operate at normal speed (not on ve-
hicles with rain sensor).5 Automatic windshield washerThe system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you only pull the lever briefly, the sys-
tem sprays washer fluid onto the wind-
shield without activating the wipers.Headlamp washers
*
If they are on, the headlamps will also
be cleaned every fifth time you activate
the automatic windshield washer.Do not use the washers if there is
any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield, otherwise vi-
sion could be obscured. For this rea-
son, use an antifreeze agent. Refer to
page 142.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty, since this could cause
damage to the washer pump.<
Windshield washer jetsThe windshield washer jets and the
windshield in the wiper sweep area are
defrosted automatically when the igni-
tion key is in position 2.

150n
Caring for your carWashing your carYou can have your new BMW washed
in an automatic car wash. Car wash
systems that do not employ brushes are
preferable.
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the car.
To prevent spots, avoid washing when
the hood is still warm, or immediately
after and during exposure to strong
sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash, be
sure that:
>The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle
>No damage will occur on vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). If you are
uncertain, consult the manager of the
car wash
>The wheels and tires of your vehicle
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system
>The vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that ample water
is available for washing and rinsing.Vehicles with rain sensor
*:
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
from automatic car washes or insects,
for example, can cause malfunctions in
the function of the rain sensor.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not,
damage may occur if the wipers switch
on unintentionally.<
Parts of the car which are inaccessible
to the automatic washer - such as door
sills, door and hood edges, etc. -
should be cleaned by hand.
In the winter months, it is especially im-
portant to ensure that the car is washed
on a regular basis. Large quantities of
dirt and road salt are difficult to remove,
and they also cause damage to the ve-
hicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's sur-
face.
Inadequate distance and excessive
pressure can damage or weaken the
finish, making it more susceptible to
subsequent attack. In addition, mois-
ture could penetrate to vehicle compo-
nents, leading to long-term damage.<
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
>Do not clean by wiping with a dry
cloth (scratches). Never use abra-
sives or strong solvents to clean the
covers
>Remove dirt and contamination
(such as insects) by soaking with
BMW Car Shampoo and then rinsing
with plenty of water
>Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never
use a scraper.<
After washing the car, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them. Braking
efficiency might otherwise be reduced
by the moisture, and the brake rotors
could also be corroded.<

153n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Caring for your carWindow careWater and dirt-repelling windshield (re-
fer also to page 191).
The effectiveness of the coating is not
impaired by the wax used in car washes
or by windshield-washer additives.
Depending on the frequency of use of
the windshield wipers as well as on en-
vironmental factors, the coating of the
windshield is subject to natural wear.
As a result, the beneficial characteris-
tics of the coating gradually diminish.
After approx. 12,400 to 15,500 miles
(approx. 20,000 to 25,000 km), the
windshield begins to resemble more
and more a standard windshield.
The coating can be renewed by your
BMW center.
You can use window and glass cleaner
to clean interior window surfaces and
mirrors without streaking. Never use
polishing pastes or abrasive (quartz)
cleansers on mirror lenses.
Break-resistant security glassThe glass used for the side windows is
designed to provide resistance to
breakage and protection against van-
dalism. These break-resistant windows
contain several layers of a transparent
plastic film which is sandwiched be-
tween the inner and outer glass panes.
There is also one additional plastic film
on the inside of the glass pane (facing
the passenger compartment). This film
prevents shards of glass from spread-
ing into the passenger compartment if
the window is shattered.
Please observe the following pre-
cautions pertaining to this film
when caring for the interior glass sur-
faces:
>The film is not scratch-resistant. For
this reason, do not touch the glass
with sharp objects which could dam-
age the film
>Clean the glass with clean water. If
necessary, you may also use regular
household window cleaners. Wipe
the cleaner off immediately.
Do not use window cleaners contain-
ing solvents or abrasives. These
cleaners can mar the film
>Do not apply any self-adhering de-
cals, adhesive labels or other stickers
with tape to the inner window surface
>Do not apply colored films to the in-
side surfaces of the side windows
>If the windows are fogged or iced
over in cold or humid climates, do not
use an ice scraper or ice-removing
sprays to clean them. Start the en-
gine and refer to the instructions for
defrosting the door windows.<

162n
The onboard tool kit is located in the
luggage compartment lid.
Loosen the wingnut to open.
394de080
1 To fold the wiper away from
windshield:
Switch on the ignition.
Move the wiper lever to position 1
(intermittent wipe).
Switch the ignition off again when the
wipers are stationary in the intermit-
tent cycle – they will then move to a
roughly vertical position
2 Fold the wiper arm completely out
3 Position the wiper blade at an angle
and pull the release spring (arrow)
4 Fold the wiper blade down and un-
hook it toward the windshield
5 Pull the wiper blade past the wiper
arm toward the top
6 Insert a new wiper blade and apply
pressure until you hear it engage.380de097
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW.<
Fold the wipers back down onto
the windshield before you turn the
ignition to position 1 or 2.<
Onboard tool kit Windshield wiper blades

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

Everything from A to ZStarting assistance179
Starting the engine59
Steering130
Steering lock59
Steering wheel adjustment,
automatic49
Steering wheel lock59
Steering wheel memory51
Steering wheel, heated106
Steptronic65
Stopping the vehicle60
Storage facilities113
Sun visors51
Symbols4,173TTachometer72
Tail lamps166
Tail lamps,
bulb replacement166
Tank capacity197
Technical modifications
6,157
Telephone
Refer to Car telephone 131
Telephone hookup113
Temperature adjustment 103
Temperature display, engine
coolant74
Temperature display,
outside temperature72
Third brake lamp166Tilt alarm41
Tire code134
Tire damage132
Tire failure170
Tire inflation pressure 26, 132
Tire Pressure Control
(RDC)94
Tire replacement133
Tire tread132
Tires, specifications136
Tools162
Topping up the windshield/
washer fluid reservoir142
Torque194
Towing eyes180
Towing the vehicle180
Tow-starting180
Track circle195
Transmission62,65
Tread depth, tires132
Trip odometer72
Trunk lid, refer to luggage
compartment lid37
Turn signal22,68
Turn signals, bulb
replacement165,166
Turning circle195
UUniversal Remote
Control108
Used batteries175
VVanity mirrors51
Vehicle battery173
Vehicle identification148
Vehicle Identification
Number148
Vehicle storage156
Ventilation outlet,
ventilation100
Ventilation, draft-free104
Voice input23WWarning lamp "Please fasten
safety belts"21
Warning lamps20
Warnings75
Washer system68
Washing your car150
Water on the roads
Flooding123
Waxing, finish152
Weights196
Wheel lug wrench171
Wheel rims134
Wheelbase195
Wheels and tires134,136
Width195
Windows, convenience
operating mode32
Windows, radio remote
control33
Windows,demisting102Windshield washer
Reservoir capacity197
Windshield washer nozzle
adjustment142
Windshield wiper blades,
replacing162
Windshield wipers68
Windshield, defrosting69
Winter operation128
Winter tires135
Wiper blades, replacing162
Wipers68
Work in the engine
compartment137
XXenon lamps96,164,190