2000 BMW 540I SEDAN engine

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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

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.<

88n
Onboard computerMode selectionFrom ignition key position 1 and up, you
can call up information from the on-
board computer using the button in the
turn signal lever. By pressing the button
briefly in the direction of the steering
column, you can call up a new function
for display.
The displays appear in the following
order: Outside temperature, average
fuel consumption, cruising range, aver-
age speed.
Starting with ignition key position 1, the
last active setting is displayed.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual car's
equipment.390de336
Outside temperature and
average fuel consumptionYou can change the units of measure
(6/7) for the outside temperature dis-
play by
1 pressing and holding the trip odome-
ter reset button (in ignition key posi-
tion 1)
2 and then turning the ignition key to 0.
Refer also to page 82.390us126
Operating range and
average speed The computer bases its calculations of
the cruising range on the rate of fuel
consumption in the period immediately
preceding your data request.
The computer ignores any time spent
with the vehicle stationary and the
engine off in its average speed calcula-
tions.390us703

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Onboard computerCancel displayIf the button in the turn-signal lever is
pressed briefly while the average speed
is displayed, the onboard computer dis-
play can be masked out.To restart calculationsIf you continue to press the button in
the turn signal lever, the average values
which were just displayed for fuel con-
sumption and speed will be recalcu-
lated from that point (the engine must
be running for this).
Onboard computer with
alphanumeric display
*
If your vehicle has Check Control with
alphanumeric display, the system's on-
board computer is described in the
"Radio and information systems"
Owner's Manual.

91n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
ASC+T/DSC
*
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)
*
These systems contribute to additional
vehicle stability, especially during ac-
celeration and when cornering.
The DSC system enhances the benefits
of the ASC+T. In addition to optimizing
vehicle stability and traction during ac-
celeration or when starting from a
standstill, a further benefit is realized in
cornering. This, of course, is true only
within physically feasible limits.
The system activates automatically
each time you start the engine.390de359
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly af-
ter you switch on the ignition.
Refer to page 24.
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque in response to monitored vehicle
operating conditions.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or if it comes on
during normal driving:
If the system has not been deactivated,
there is a system malfunction. The vehi-
cle remains operational, but without
ASC+T/DSC. Consult your authorized
BMW center for repair.
To deactivate the systemPress the button. The indicator lamp
will come on.
Depending on equipment options, the
button is marked with ASC or DSC.
With deactivated ASC+T/DSC you are
driving with conventional, unregulated
torque transfer.
We recommend that you deactivate the
system for increased traction:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
Refer also to page 131.To reactivate the systemPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be re-
pealed, even with ASC+T/DSC.
Any consequences arising from traction
loss due to excessive vehicle speed re-
main the responsibility of the driver. We
therefore urge you to avoid using the
additional safety margin of the system
as an excuse for taking risks.<
For additional details concerning
ASC+T/DSC, please refer to the chap-
ter describing "Advanced technology"
on page 189.

92n
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
*
The concept RDC monitors the tire pressures at all
four wheels, even when the vehicle is
moving. The system provides an alert
whenever the inflation pressure drops
significantly below the specified pres-
sure in one or more tires.
In order for the system to "learn" the
correct tire inflation pressure, check the
inflation pressure in all tires. Refer to
the table of "Tire inflation pressures"
beginning on page 29 and make any
necessary corrections. Then activate
the system.
This indicator lamp in the in-
strument cluster or the Check
Control will inform you if the tire
pressure is not correct.
Activate the system1 Turn the ignition key to position 2 (do
not start the engine).
2 Press and hold the button (arrow) un-
til the yellow indicator lamp in the in-
strument cluster comes on for a few
seconds or the message "SET TIRE
PRESSURE" appears in the Check
Control.
3 After you have driven for a few min-
utes, the RDC will import the current
inflation pressure in the tires as the
target values which the system will
monitor.
You will only have to repeat this proce-
dure if the tire inflation pressure must
be corrected. Otherwise, the RDC func-
tions automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2, and thus operates
whenever the vehicle is driven.390de320
Loss of tire pressureIf, after a certain period of time, the air
pressure has gone down significantly
(which is normal for any tire), the yellow
indicator lamp comes on or the mes-
sage "CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" ap-
pears in the Check Control.
This alerts you that you should have the
tires inflated to the specified pressures
as soon as possible.
If you are prompted to check the
tire pressure shortly after a cor-
rection has been made, this indicates
that the corrected values were not ac-
curate. Please check the inflation pres-
sure again and make corrections ac-
cording to the inflation pressure table.<