2000 BMW 540I SEDAN light

83n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Tachometer Energy control Fuel gaugeNever allow the engine to operate with
the needle in the red overspeed zone of
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the engine-man-
agement system automatically inter-
rupts the fuel supply in this range; the
resulting effect resembles that associ-
ated with a sudden loss of power.390us004
Indicates current fuel consumption in
mpg (in liters per 100 km on Canadian
vehicles). This instrument shows
whether your current driving style is
conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the dis-
play goes to "Maximum" (zero on Cana-
dian models).390us005
When you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the indicator lamp stays on, there are
approx.
>2.1 gal (8 liters) Ð BMW 528i
>2.6 gal (10 liters) Ð BMW 540i
remaining in the tank.
Tank capacity: Refer to page 203.
Certain operating conditions (such as
those encountered in mountainous ar-
eas) may cause the needle to fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.< 390us006

85n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Check ControlGraphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed symbolically from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check lowbeam, highbeam and
parking lamps
2 Add washer fluid
(goes out after approx. 1 minute)
3 Door open
4 Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
open
5 Check brake and tail lamps.
A defective center tail 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 reports remain in the display until
the defects are corrected. It is not pos-
sible to delete them by pressing the
CHECK button (3):

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.<

94n
Parking lamps
(side marker lamps)
With the switch in this position,
vehicle lighting is illuminated on
both sides. For lighting on one
side for parking, see page 95.
Low beams/Xenon lamps
*
When the ignition is switched off
and the low beams are on, only
the parking lamps (side marker
lamps) remain on.
390de034
"Follow-me-home lighting:"
If you actuate the headlamp
flasher after you have parked the
vehicle and shut off the engine, the low
beams will remain on for a brief period.
You may also have this function deacti-
vated if you wish.<
Xenon lamps
*
For additional details, refer to page 168."LIGHTS ON" warning In ignition key position 0, a buzzer
sounds for a few seconds after the
driver's door is opened if the head-
lamps have not been switched off
.
On vehicles with alphanumeric Check
Control
*:
The reminder is given through the
Check Control.
Daytime-driving lamp
*
The headlamps are automatically
switched on for daylight driving at
ignition key position 2.
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity.390de036
Parking lamps/Low beamsInstrument lighting

103n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Automatic climate control Seat heating
*
Steering wheel heating
*
Microfilter, activated-charcoal
filterThe microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air. The activated-
charcoal filter provides additional
protection by filtering gaseous pollut-
ants from the outside air. Your BMW
center replaces this combined filter as a
standard part of your scheduled main-
tenance. A substantial reduction in air
flow indicates that the filter must be
replaced before scheduled mainte-
nance.The seat cushion and backrest can
be heated with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2.
You can call up different heating modes
by repeatedly pressing the keys.
The highest heating mode is on when
the three indicator lamps are lit; one
lamp is lit for lowest heating. Tempera-
ture regulation in each mode is with a
thermostat.
You can also switch the higher heating
modes off directly:
Press the key and hold it slightly longer.
390de356
To activate and cancel the steering
wheel heater, press the button (arrow)
with the ignition key in position 2.
The lamp within the button lights up
when the steering wheel heater is in op-
eration.
If you have a multifunction steering
wheel without steering wheel heating,
the button for the recirculated-air mode
is in this location (refer to page 25).390de630

108n
Glove compartment Storage facilitiesTo openPull the handle and the lamp comes on.To closeFold the cover up.To lockUse one of the master keys to lock the
vehicle. A master key is also required
for unlocking.
For example, if you turn over only
your door and ignition keys for va-
let parking (refer to page 34), access to
the glove compartment is not possi-
ble.< 390de060
To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, close the glove com-
partment immediately after use.<
Rechargeable flashlight
*
Located on the left-hand side of the
glove compartment.
Features integral overload-protection,
so it can be left in its holder continu-
ously.
Be sure that the flashlight is
switched off when it is inserted
into its holder. Failure to comply with
this precaution could lead to overcharg-
ing and damage.<
The cover of the storage compartment
on the vertical surface of the center
console can be pushed open or closed
(illustration). If your vehicle is equipped
with a cassette holder
*, open each cas-
sette compartment by pressing on the
small button.
Storage compartment on the center
console between the front seats: To
open, reach into the recess at the front
and pull upward.
You will find a coin holder in the door
pocket on the driver's side.
You will find additional storage com-
partments in all of the doors as well as
on the backrests of the front seats.
390de043

110n
Ashtray, front Cigarette lighter
*
To openPress briefly in the direction indicated
by the arrow.
To extinguish a cigarette, tap off the ash
and gently press the tip into the funnel.390de061
To emptyOpen the lid and press down (arrow):
You can now pull the ashtray upward
for removal.
On vehicles equipped for non-
smokers, the insert is removed in
the same way.390de062
Press the cover panel for access
(arrow), then push the lighter down.
Remove as soon as the lighter jumps
back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette
lighter by the knob only. Holding
or touching it in other areas could result
in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains opera-
tional when the ignition key has been
removed. Therefore, do not leave unsu-
pervised children in the vehicle.< 390de364

111n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Cigarette lighter
*
Ashtray, rear
Cigarette lighter socket Suitable for attaching power supplies
for flashlights, car vacuum cleaners,
etc., up to a rating of approx. 200 watts
at 12 volts. Avoid damage to the socket
caused by inserting plugs of different
shapes or sizes.Non-smoker's equipment
packageOn vehicles with the non-smoker's
equipment package, the socket is
concealed by a cover.
For access to the socket: Lift the cover
off.
To openPress the recess in the lid.To emptyPress the edge of the cover (arrow).
You can now pull the ashtray upward
for removal.390de063