2000 BMW 540I SEDAN tow

100n
Automatic climate controlTips for pleasant drivingUse the automatic system, that is, press
AUTO button 4. Select an interior tem-
perature that is comfortable for you Ð
we recommend 727 (226). When the
outside temperature is above 417
(56), you can also use the air condi-
tioning system (12). This will dry the air
and prevent the window from fogging
(for example if people are wearing
damp clothes in the vehicle). Set the
outlets 2 so that the air flows past you
and is not directed straight at you. Set
the rotary dial between the outlets 2 for
the upper body to a central position.
This will provide cooler air, and help to
prevent fatigue during the journey.
Detailed setting options are described
for you in the following section.
You can make the settings of your
vehicle in such a manner that,
when you unlock the car with your indi-
vidualized remote control, your own
personalized setting for the automatic
climate control is initiated.<
Automatic air distribution
The AUTO program assumes
the adjustment of the air dis-
tribution and the air supply for you and
also adapts the temperature to external
influences (summer, winter) to meet
preferences you can specify. This pro-
gram maintains a comfortable in-car cli-
mate regardless of the season. Select
an interior temperature that is pleasant
for you Ð we recommend 727 (226).
The selected temperature and AUTO for
the air flow appear in the display 7. Re-
fer to the overview on page 98. Open
the ventilation outlets for the upper
body. Switch on the air conditioner in
warm weather. The maximum cooling
capacity is achieved when you set the
rotary dial 3 (refer to page 102) to cold.
Individual air distribution
You can cancel the AUTO pro-
gram by selecting specific dis-
tribution patterns to suit your
own individual requirements.
You can direct air to flow onto the win-
dows , toward the upper body ,
and into the footwell .
Temperature
You can make individual tem-
perature settings on the
driver's side or the front pas-
senger side. Your settings will be
shown in the display 9. The displayed
temperatures are reference values for
the interior temperature. We recom-
mend 727 (226) as a comfortable
setting, whether the air conditioner is
operating or not.When you start the ve-
hicle, the system ensures that the se-
lected temperature is achieved as
quickly as possible. It then maintains
this temperature, regardless of the sea-
son.
Set the rotary dial 3 (refer to "Draft-free
ventilation" on page 102) to a medium
position to provide somewhat cooler
air. This helps to promote driving with-
out fatigue. Make use of this means of
mixing air especially for making minor
adjustments for personal comfort.
You can set uncontrolled heater
output at up to 907 (326). Full
cooling output is available from the air
conditioner down to 607 (166).<

102n
Automatic climate control
If the windows should fog over in
the recirculated air mode, switch
the recirculated air mode off and in-
crease the air supply as required.<
Rear window defroster
When the rear window de-
froster is activated, the indica-
tor lamp comes on. The rear window
defroster switches off automatically.
Residual heat mode
The heat which is stored in
the engine is utilized for
heating the interior when the engine has
been switched off (while waiting at a
railroad crossing, for instance). In igni-
tion key position 1, you can alter the
settings of the automatic climate con-
trol. In ignition key position 0, the sys-
tem automatically directs heated air to
the windshield, side windows and foot-
wells.
This function may be activated
when the outside temperature is
below approx. 597 (156), the engine
is at operating temperature, and the
battery is adequately charged.<
Draft-free ventilationYou can adjust the blower controls for
the upper body area to select the opti-
mum airflow rates and directions for
your personal requirements:
Use rotary dial 1 to open and close the
airflow through an infinitely-variable
range. You can also use the levers 2 to
change the direction of the airflow.
Set the outlets so that the air flows past
you and does not flow directly on you.
Rotary dial 3 allows you to temper the
air flow from these outlets by adding
heat or cooling as desired:
Turn toward blue Ð colder
Turn toward red Ð warmer390de051
Rear passenger area ventilationRotary dial 1 opens the outlets in an in-
finitely-variable range. You can vary the
temperature of the air as it flows out us-
ing rotary dial 3 in the same manner as
for the front rotary dial.
You can change the direction of the air
flow with levers 2.390de354

106n
BMW Universal Transmitter
*
Programming1 Channel keys
2 Indicator lamp
3 Receiver for programming
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 105.<
1 Ignition key position 2.
2 For initial operation: Press and hold
the two outer keys (1) until the indica-
tor lamp (2) flashes. Release the keys.
The three channel keys are cleared.390de640
3 Hold the original hand-held transmit-
ter toward the receiver (3) a maximum
of 2 inches (5 cm) away.
4 Simultaneously press the transmitting
key of the original hand-held trans-
mitter (arrow 2) and the desired chan-
nel key of the BMW Universal Trans-
mitter (arrow 1). Release both keys as
soon as the indicator lamp flashes
rapidly.
5 To program other original hand-held
transmitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.
The corresponding channel key is now
programmed with the signal of the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter.380de712
Programming a hand-held
transmitter with change code
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 105.<
Consult the operating instructions for
the individual device when program-
ming the BMW Universal Transmitter.
Read and comply with the following
programming instructions for the use of
the BMW Universal Transmitter with a
change code system:
A second person simplifies pro-
gramming of the BMW Universal
Transmitter.<

120n
Cargo loading Stowing cargoWhen transporting loads in your BMW:
>Position heavy loads as far forward
as possible Ð directly behind the
backrests or the luggage compart-
ment partition panel Ð and at the bot-
tom (the illustration shows the sport
wagon)
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest
>Pull out the separation net
* (refer to
page 116) and ensure that carried
items cannot pass through the sepa-
ration net
>For very heavy loads when the rear
seat is not occupied, secure each
safety belt in the opposite buckle.
392de177
Securing the load >Secure smaller, light pieces with the
retaining straps or a luggage net
*, or
use elastic straps (refer to page 44)
>For large, heavy pieces, visit your
BMW center for load-securing de-
vices
*. Lashing eyes are provided at
the corners of the luggage compart-
ment for attaching these load-secur-
ing devices (the illustration shows the
sport wagon)
>Comply with the information en-
closed with the load-securing de-
vices.
392de178
Always position and secure the
load correctly, otherwise it can
endanger the passengers during brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight and the permissible axle
loads (refer to page 201). If you do, the
operating safety of the vehicle is no
longer ensured and you are in violation
of the law.
Do not carry hard or heavy objects
unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment. If you do so, they may be pro-
jected through the air during braking
and evasive maneuvers, thus endanger-
ing vehicle occupants.<

124n
Break-in procedureTo ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you ob-
serve the following:Engine and differentialUp to 1,200 miles (2,000 km):
Drive at varying engine speeds and road
speeds, but do not exceed 4,500 rpm
and the following road speeds during
this initial period:
BMW 528i: 100 mph (160 km/h)
BMW 540i: 106 mph (170 km/h)
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the
kickdown point.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles
(2,000 km), engine and vehicle speeds
can gradually be increased.
You should also comply with these
break-in procedures if the engine or dif-
ferential is replaced later in the course
of the vehicle service life.
TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
an initial break-in period has elapsed
for this reason, drive with extra care
during the initial 200 miles (300 km).
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
When the vehicle is operated on
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water may form between the tire and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as aquaplaning, or hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<
Brake systemApproximately 300 miles (500 km) must
elapse before the brake pads and rotors
achieve the optimal pad-surface and
wear patterns required for trouble-free
operation and long service life later on.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill (at a traffic
signal, for instance), provided that traf-
fic conditions allow you to do so. To
avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure
from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on
when the parking brake is applied.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
car with the engine shut off Ð when
towing, for instance Ð substantially
higher levels of pedal force will be
required to brake the vehicle.<

126n
Catalytic converterThe catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions, and is designed for
use with unleaded fuel only.
Even minute quantities of lead would be
enough to permanently damage both
the catalytic converter and the system
oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty
>Tow-start the vehicle only when the
engine is cold, since unburned fuel
may otherwise reach the catalytic
converter. It is better to start the vehi-
cle with an outside starting aid>Avoid other situations in which the
fuel is not burned, or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never let the engine run with any of
the spark plug cables disconnected.Be sure to comply with the in-
structions above to prevent un-
burned fuel from reaching the catalytic
converter. Otherwise there is danger of
overheating and damage to the cata-
lytic converter.
Extreme temperatures occur at the cat-
alytic converter on this and every cata-
lyst-equipped vehicle. Heat shields are
installed adjacent to some sections of
the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle, and parking the vehi-
cle, take care to avoid contact between
the exhaust system and flammable ma-
terials (grass, hay, leaves, etc.). Such
contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
personal injury and property damage.<

134n
Information for your safety The factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the car and have been se-
lected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your car.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety which depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures Ð in-
cluding the spare tire Ð regularly,
at least every two weeks and before be-
ginning a longer trip. If this is not done,
incorrect tire pressures can cause driv-
ing instability and tire damage, ulti-
mately resulting in accidents.<
Tire tread Ð tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base indicate that the legally-
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively moder-
ate speeds and with only small amounts
of water on the road.390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. The
ultimate result can assume the form of a
sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect,
as can variations in normal vehicle re-
sponse, such as a pronounced ten-
dency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately re-
ducing your speed and carefully pro-
ceeding to the nearest BMW center or
professional tire center, or having the
vehicle towed in to have it and its tires
inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition

149n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Engine oilChecking oil level1 Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2 Shut the engine off after it has
reached normal operating
temperature.
3 After approx. 5 minutes, pull the
dipstick out and wipe it off with a
clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or
similar material.
4 Push the dipstick 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.390de076
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
To add oilWait 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
manual transmission, the automatic
transmission, the differential, and the
power steering system.< 390de077