2000 BMW 540I SEDAN engine coolant

Contents

Operation, care and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Advanced technology

Under the hood:

Hood143
Engine compartment 144
Washer fluids148
Washer nozzles148
Engine oil149
Coolant151
Brake fluid152
Vehicle Identification
Number153

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System154
Caring for your car155
Airbags160
Vehicle storage160

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications161
OBD connector162

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit166
Wiper blades166
Lamps and bulbs167
Changing tires173
Battery176
Fuses178

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door180
Sliding/Tilt sunroof180
Tailgate181

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting182
Towing the vehicle183Airbags188
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC) 188
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) 189
Radio reception190
BMW active seat 190
Safety belt tensioner191
DSP sound system 192
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer 192
Rain sensor 193
Tire Pressure Control (RDC) 194
Integrated rear suspension194
Level control system 195
Xenon lamps 195

19n

RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data

Instrument cluster

There are two versions, depending on
the equipment on your vehicle
1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp for
fuel reserve 83
2 Indicator lamp for turn signals 24
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for high beams 24
5 Tachometer and
Energy Control 83
6 Engine coolant thermometer with
"Coolant temperature too high"
indicator 84
7 Indicator and warning lamps for:

>

Parking brake/Brake hydraulic
system, Dynamic Brake Control
(DBC)

*
22, 23

>

Antilock Brake System (ABS) 23

>

Brake pads 23

>

Tire Pressure Control (RDC)

*
23

>

Airbags 23

>

Automatic transmission

*
23

>

Please fasten safety belts 23

>

Cruise control 24
8 Selector lever and program display
for automatic transmission

*
71, 74
9 Service Interval Display 8410 Display for onboard computer
(operation via the turn signal lever,
refer to page 88):

>

Outside temperature

>

Average fuel consumption

>

Cruising range

>

Average speed
11 Indicator lamp for Automatic
Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)

*
24
12 Indicator lamp for level control
system

*
23
13 Odometer and trip odometer 82
14 Indicator for Check Control 85
15 Reset button for trip odometer 82
16 Indicator and warning lamps for:

>

Fog lamps 24

>

Battery charge current 22

>

Engine oil level/Engine oil
pressure 22, 23

>

Electronic Engine Power
Control (EML) 24

>

CHECK ENGINE lamp 24

21n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data

Instrument cluster

*
There are two versions, depending on
the equipment on your vehicle
1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp for
fuel reserve 83
2 Indicator lamp for turn signals 24
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for high beams 24
5 Tachometer and
Energy control 83
6 Engine coolant temperature
gauge 84
7 Indicator and warning lamps for:

>

Parking brake 23

>

Brake hydraulic system, Dynamic
Brake Control (DBC)

*
22, 23

>

Antilock Brake System (ABS) 23

>

Airbags 23

>

Please fasten safety belts 23

>

Cruise control 24
8 CHECK button 85
9 Selector lever and program display
for automatic transmission

*
71, 7410 Outside temperature display 82
11 Indicator lamp for Automatic
Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)

*
24
12 Trip odometer 82
13 Indicator for Check Control 85
14 Odometer 82
15 Service Interval Display 84
16 Reset button for trip odometer 82
17 Indicator and warning lamps for:

>

Fog lamps 24

>

Battery charge current 22

>

Engine oil pressure 22

>

CHECK ENGINE lamp 24

84n
Temperature gauge Service Interval DisplayBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
Comes on while driving: The engine is
overheated. Switch the engine off im-
mediately and allow it to cool down.390de007
Between the blue and red zonesNormal 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 151.
The precise layout varies according to
the individual model version.
Green lampsThe number of illuminated lamps de-
creases as the time for your next main-
tenance visit approaches.Yellow lampThis field appears together with
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION.
Maintenance is due. Please contact
your BMW center for an appointment.Red lampThe maintenance deadline has been
passed.390us702

86n
Check Control>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle and switch off the engine im-
mediately. Refer to pages 84
and 15 1.
>STOP! ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle and switch off the engine im-
mediately. Refer to page 22.
>CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
roughly minimum level. Top up the
brake fluid at the next opportunity.
Refer to page 152. Have the source
of the brake fluid loss diagnosed and
corrected by your BMW center.
>FLAT TIRE
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
Refer to page 93.
>LOAD LEVEL INACTIVE
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 132.
>SPEED LIMIT
*
Display if the programmed speed
limit has been exceeded.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
display the messages again by pressing
the CHECK button (3):
>TRUNKLID OPEN
Message appears only when the
vehicle is initially set in motion.
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a minimal
defined road speed has been ex-
ceeded.
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition to this message, a
warning lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustical signal
sounds.
>WASHER FLUID LOW
Too low; top up fluid at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 148.
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil as soon as possible.
Refer to page 149.
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +207 (Ð56)
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.57
(+36) and below. Refer also to
page 82.>TIRE PRESSURE SET
*
The RDC has imported the current in-
flation pressure in the tires as the tar-
get values which the system will
monitor.
Refer to page 92.
>CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
*
Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure to specifications at the earli-
est opportunity (next stop for fuel).
Refer to page 92.
>TIRE CHECK INACTIVE
*
A temporary interference of the RDC
or a system fault. Refer to page 93.
>CHECK BRAKE LAMPS
A lamp has failed or the electrical cir-
cuit has a fault. Refer to pages 169
and 170 or consult an authorized
BMW center.
>CHECK LOWBEAM LAMPS
CHECK SIDE LAMPS
CHECK REAR LAMPS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LAMP
CHECK HIGHBEAM LAMP
CHECK BACK UP LAMPS
Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to
page 167 or consult an authorized
BMW center.

87n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Check Control>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to pages 73, 76.
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 130.
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top up at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 151.
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
Fault in the Electronic Engine Power
Control (EML). 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 tripAll of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
key is turned to Position 0.
One of the following displays may ap-
pear:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil at the next opportunity
(next stop for fuel). Refer to page 14 9.
Display appears when you open the
driver's door after parking the vehicle.
A supplementary gong is also heard.
Status reports remain available for a pe-
riod of approx. three minutes after the
display goes out and the key is re-
moved from the ignition. Press the
CHECK button. If there were multiple
reports, press the CHECK button re-
peatedly to view them all in sequence.
To check the Check ControlPress 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 computerYou will find a description of the on-
board computer in the "Radio and Infor-
mation Systems" Owner's Manual.
You can have the Check Control
and onboard computer messages
displayed in a different language.<

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
123n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Under the hood:
Hood143
Engine compartment144
Washer fluids148
Washer nozzles148
Engine oil149
Coolant151
Brake fluid152
Vehicle Identification
Number153
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System154
Caring for your car155
Airbags160
Vehicle storage160
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications161
OBD connector162 Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure124
Driving notes125
Catalytic converter126
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)127
Disc brakes128
Brake system130
Winter operation130
Power steering132
Level control system132
Cellular phone133
Radio reception133
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure134
Tire condition134
Tire replacement135
Tire rotation136
Wheel and tire
combinations137
Winter tires138
Snow chains139
Approved wheel and tire
specifications140

145n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Engine compartment Ð BMW 528i1 Engine oil dipstick149
2 Reservoir for brake fluid (under the
housing of the microfilter)152
3 Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting182
4 Coolant expansion tank151
5 Engine oil filler neck149
6 Reservoir for intensive-cleaning
system
*
148
7 Reservoir for headlamp washer
* and
windshield washer system148