2000 BMW 540I SEDAN climate control

11n

Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams94
Instrument lighting94
High beams/Parking lamps95
Fog lamps95
Interior lamps96
Reading lamps96

Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:

Automatic climate control98
Seat heating 103
Steering wheel heating 103
Roller sun blind 104
Independent ventilation
system 104

Cabin convenience:

BMW Universal Transmitter 105
Glove compartment108
Storage facilities108
Cellular phone 109
Beverage holder 109
Ashtray, front110
Cigarette lighter 110
Ashtray, rear111

Loading and transporting cargo:

Through-loading system 112
Ski bag 113
sport wagon:
Luggage compartment 116
Roll-up cover 116
Separation net 116
Storage areas in the luggage
compartment 118
Cargo loading120
Roof-mounted luggage rack121

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 system 132
Cellular phone 133
Radio reception133

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure134
Tire condition134
Tire replacement135
Tire rotation136
Wheel and tire
combinations137
Winter tires138
Snow chains 139
Approved wheel and tire
specifications 140

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
33n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams94
Instrument lighting94
High beams/Parking lamps95
Fog lamps95
Interior lamps96
Reading lamps96
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Automatic climate control98
Seat heating103
Steering wheel heating103
Roller sun blind104
Independent ventilation
system104
Cabin convenience:
BMW Universal Transmitter105
Glove compartment108
Storage facilities108
Cellular phone109
Beverage holder 109
Ashtray, front110
Cigarette lighter110
Ashtray, rear111Loading and transporting cargo:
Through-loading system112
Ski bag113
sport wagon:
Luggage compartment116
Roll-up cover116
Separation net116
Storage areas in the luggage
compartment118
Cargo loading120
Roof-mounted luggage rack121

43n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateClosing Ð sport wagonYou can pull the tailgate down by plac-
ing both hands in the handle recesses
(arrows).
To close the tailgate, merely press it
down gently. The closing process will
then be carried out automatically.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the tailgate is clear
when it is closed, as with all closing
procedures.< 392de160
When the tailgate of the sport
wagon is opened, the clearance
from the ground to the upper edge is
more than 6.5 feet (two meters). Please
keep this in mind when opening the tail-
gate (in a garage, for example).<
Operate the vehicle only when the
luggage compartment lid/tailgate
is completely closed. Otherwise,
exhaust fumes could penetrate the
interior of the vehicle. Should it be
absolutely necessary to operate the
vehicle with the luggage compartment
lid/tailgate open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Increase the airflow of the automatic
climate control to a high level. Refer
to page 101.<

98n
390us365Automatic climate control

99n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Automatic climate control1 Air flow directed toward the
windshield and side windows
2 Air flow for the upper body
The side rotary dials provide
infinitely-variable regulation of
the air supply, while the levers
change the airflow direction.
The center rotary dial controls the
temperature of the air as it
flows out102
3 Front footwell ventilation
4 Rear footwell ventilation
5 Air flow for the upper body in the
rear seat102
6 Automatic air distribution100
7 Individual air distribution100
8 Temperature control Ð
left-hand side100
9 Display for temperature and
air supply100, 10110 Temperature control Ð
right-hand side100
11 To defrost windshield and door
windows101
12 Air conditioner101
13 Automatic recirculated air control
AUC101
14 Rear window defroster79, 102
15 Air supply101
16 Residual heat mode102
17 Air grill for interior temperature
sensor Ð please keep clear and
unobstructed

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).<

101n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Automatic climate controlAir supply
In the "AUTO" program, the air
flow is controlled automati-
cally. AUTO will appear in the display
(refer to the overview on page 98). Use
"+" and "-" to vary the air flow. When
your setting is displayed by bars, the
automatic air flow is switched off. Auto-
matic air distribution maintains its set-
ting. You can reactivate the automatic
air flow by pressing the "AUTO" button.
When you press "Ð " during operation at
minimum blower speed all displays are
canceled: The fan, heating and air con-
ditioner are switched off. The outside
air supply is closed. By pressing any
button of the automatic climate control
(except the "REST" button 16), you can
switch the system back on.
To defrost windshield and door
windows
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and the side windows.
Air conditioner
The air is cooled and dehu-
midified and Ð depending on
the temperature setting Ð warmed again
when the air conditioner system is
switched on. Depending on the
weather, the windshield may fog over
briefly when the engine is started.
Use the button to switch off the air con-
ditioner at outside temperatures below
approx. +417 (+56). This will help to
prevent the windows from fogging up.
If the windows fog over after switching
the air conditioner off, switch it back on.
Condensation forms in the air con-
ditioner system during operation,
which then exits under the vehicle.
Traces of condensed water of this kind
are thus normal.<
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)
You can respond to unpleas-
ant external odors by tempo-
rarily stopping the flow of outside air.
The system then recirculates the air
currently within the vehicle. Press the
button repeatedly to run through the
following control sequence:
>Indicator lamps off: Outside air flow
operational.
>Left-hand indicator lamp on Ð AUC
mode: The system recognizes pollut-
ants in the outside air and blocks the
flow of air when necessary. The sys-
tem then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Depending on the air quality, the au-
tomatic system then switches back
and forth between outside air supply
and recirculation of the air within the
vehicle.
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: The
flow of external air into the vehicle is
permanently blocked. The system
then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
If you have a multifunction steering
wheel with the recirculated-air button
(refer to page 25), you can also use it to
switch between "Off" and the recircu-
lated-air mode or AUC and the recircu-
lated-air mode.

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