2001 BMW 525I SPORT WAGON brake

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
Overview
Controls and features Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical dataIndex
Advanced technology
139
n
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure 140
Driving notes 141
Catalytic converter 142
Antilock Brake System (ABS) 143
Disc brakes 144
Brake system 146
Winter operation 146
Power steering 148
Level control system 148
Cellular phone 149
Radio reception 149
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure 150
Tire condition 150
Tire replacement 151
Tire rotation 152
Wheel and tire combinations 153
Winter tires 154
Snow chains 155
Approved wheel and tire specifications 156 Under the hood:
Hood
159
Engine compartment 160
Washer fluids 164
Washer nozzles 164
Engine oil 165
Coolant 167
Brake fluid 168
Vehicle Identification Number 169
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance System 170
Caring for your car 171
Airbags 176
Vehicle storage 176
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications 177
California Proposition 65 Warning 177
OBD interface socket 178

140nBreak-in procedure
To ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you ob-
serve the following.
Engine and differential
Up 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 525i, 530i: 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.
Tires
Due 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 system
Approximately 300 miles (500 km) must
elapse before the brake pads and ro-
tors 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 – when
towing, for instance – substantially
higher levels of pedal force will be
required to brake the vehicle. <
Clutch
The clutch will also begin to function
optimally after about 300 miles
(500 km). Engage the gears carefully
during the break-in period.

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Overview
141nDriving notes
Brakes:
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.
Aquaplaning:
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires
and road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as aquaplaning or hydro-
planing. It is characterized by a partial
or complete loss of contact between
the tires and the road surface. The ulti-
mate results are loss of steering and
braking control.
Driving through water:
Do not drive through water more than
1 ft (30 cm) deep. Drive only at walking
speed. Driving at a faster speed could
cause damage to the engine, the elec-
trical system and the transmission.Rear parcel tray:
Do not use the rear parcel tray to store
heavy or bulky objects. They could
pose a danger to the occupants during
braking, evasive maneuvers, or in an
accident.
Clothes hooks:
Hang items of clothing from the hooks
so that they will not obstruct the driver's
vision. Do not hang any heavy objects
on the hooks, as otherwise passengers
could be injured, e.g. during any hard
braking or evasive maneuvers, or dur-
ing an accident. <

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Car care
Controls
Overview
143nAntilock Brake System (ABS)
The concept
ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking un-
der braking. The reason: locked wheels
are dangerous, because the vehicle
cannot be steered when the front
wheels slip, and loss of traction at the
rear wheels can cause the rear end to
break into an uncontrolled skid.
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability.
> To help retain steering and maneu-
vering capability on all types of road
surface (asphalt, concrete, dirt,
moisture, snow and ice).
With ABS, the shortest possible braking
distances are achieved under most
conditions (on straight-aways and in
curves, with different road surfaces).
Braking with ABS
The system becomes operative once
the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deacti-
vated whenever the vehicle's speed
drops back below approx. 4 mph
(6 km/h). This means that the wheels
can lock in the final phase of a brake
application – a factor of no significance
in actual use.
The ABS system works best in situa-
tions requiring maximum pressure on
the pedal (full braking). Since the vehi-
cle maintains steering responsiveness,
you can nevertheless avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
The ABS closed-loop control circuit cy-
cles in fractions of a second. A pulsing
of the brake pedal, combined with the
sounds associated with the hydraulic
controls, tells you that the brake system
is within its maximum limit range and
reminds you that you should adapt your
vehicle's speed to road conditions. On road surfaces which have a loose
layer on a firm base (on gravel or snow,
for instance), the braking distances with
ABS may be longer than with the
wheels locked. This also applies to
driving with snow chains. However,
ABS continues to provide enhanced
vehicle stability and steering response
under these conditions.

144nAntilock Brake System (ABS) Disc brakes
Information for your safety
Not even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. The consequences of brake
applications with inadequate safety
clearances between vehicles, exces-
sive speed or if aquaplaning occurs are
always the responsibility of the driver.
You should never allow the added
safety margin of ABS to mislead you
into taking risks of any kind.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only. <
In the event of a fault
The ABS warning lamp in the in-
strument cluster comes on, refer
to page 23. The brake system
then reverts to conventional op-
eration as on vehicles without
ABS. However, have the brake
system checked by your BMW center
as soon as possible. To prevent unde-
tected defects and cumulative faults
from adversely affecting the brake sys-
tem, refer any problems to your BMW
center at the earliest opportunity.
Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure which
must be exerted by the pads during
brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect which even extended
application will fail to cure.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
approved for your specific vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed. <

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Overview
145nDisc brakes
Driving notes
When driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is effective to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles (kilometers). Watch traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The
heat which is generated by the brake
applications helps to dry the brake
pads and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate,
peaking when the wheels remain on the
verge of locking without actually doing
so. ABS maintains this state automati-
cally. If the ABS fails, you should revert
to the staggered braking technique
described below (refer to page 147).
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake applica-
tions is required. This avoids excessive
strain on the brakes and possible im-
pairment of the braking effect.
The braking effect of the engine can be
further increased by downshifting, into
first gear, if necessary. In the manual
mode of the automatic transmission,
you can also downshift into first gear.
Refer to page 76. Should engine braking prove inade-
quate, you should still avoid extended,
continuous braking. Instead of main-
taining low to moderate pressure over
an extended period of time, you should
decelerate by applying more substantial
pressure to the brake pedal (watch for
following traffic!), then releasing the
pedal, then repeating the application.
This staggered braking technique
allows the brakes to cool in the intervals
between active braking phases,
preventing overheating and ensuring
that full braking capacity remains avail-
able at all times.
Do not coast with the clutch de-
pressed or with the transmission
or selector lever in Neutral. Do not
coast with the engine shut off. The
engine provides no braking effect when
the clutch is depressed or the transmis-
sion is in neutral, and there is no
power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator, clutch and
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment. <
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)*
If you apply the brakes rapidly, this
system automatically produces the
maximum braking force boost and thus
helps to achieve the shortest possible
braking distance during "panic stops."
All of the benefits of the ABS system
are exploited under these circum-
stances.
Do not reduce the pressure on the
brake pedal for the duration of the
brake application. When the brake
pedal is released, the DBC is deacti-
vated.
In the event of a malfunction, the yellow
warning lamp comes on. Conventional
braking efficiency is available without
limitations.
Have the system checked and repaired
at your BMW center as soon as possi-
ble.
For "Information for your safety"
covering the ABS system, refer to
page 144. This information also gener-
ally applies for DBC. <

146nBrake system Winter operation
Brake fluid level
The warning lamp for the brake
hydraulic system comes on, or
the "CHECK BRAKE FLUID"
message appears in the Check
Control.
The brake fluid level is too low in the
reservoir (refer to page 168).
If the brake fluid level is too low and
brake pedal travel has become notice-
ably longer, there may be a defect in
one of the brake system's hydraulic
circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW
center. Higher brake application
pressure may be necessary under these
conditions, and brake pedal travel may
be significantly longer. Please remem-
ber to adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. <
The warning lamp comes on together
with the "CHECK BRAKE PADS" mes-
sage in the Check Control.
Brake pads
The warning lamp for the brake
pads comes on, or the "CHECK
BRAKE LININGS" message
appears in the Check Control:
The brake pads have reached their
minimum pad thickness. Proceed to the
nearest BMW center as soon as possi-
ble to have the pads replaced.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
approved for your specific vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed. <
The onset of winter is often accompa-
nied by rapid changes in weather.
Adaptations in driving style should be
accompanied by preparations on the
vehicle itself to ensure that your vehicle
operation through the winter remains
safe and trouble-free.
Coolant
Ensure that the coolant mixture con-
tains the year-round ratio of 50: 50 of
water and antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor.
This mixture provides protection
against freezing down to approx. -34 7
(-37 6). Replace the coolant every four
years.
Locks
BMW door lock deicer can be used to
free the locks if they are frozen. This
deicer also contains lubricant.
After using deicer, treatment with BMW
lock barrel grease is recommended.

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147nWinter operation
Rubber seals and components
In order to prevent the weather-strip-
ping from freezing, apply BMW rubber
treatment or silicone spray to the seals
on the doors, hood and luggage com-
partment lid/tailgate.
A full range of car-care products is
available from your BMW center. <
Snow chains
BMW snow chains* can be mounted on
both summer and winter tires. Mount
them in pairs on the rear wheels only
and comply with the manufacturer's
safety precautions. Do not exceed a
maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
For maximum traction, we recommend
that you manually deactivate the
ASC+T/DSC
* when driving with snow
chains mounted. Refer to page 102.
Starting off
We recommend that you use the
manual control switch to deactivate
ASC+T/ DSC
* when starting off in deep
snow or when rocking the car to free it
(refer to page 102).
Driving on low-traction road
surfaces
Use smooth, gentle pressure to control
the accelerator pedal. Avoid excessive
engine speeds and shift to the next
higher gear at an early point. Adapt
your speed and driving style when ap-
proaching grades or slopes. Maintain
an adequate distance between yourself
and the vehicle ahead.
Brakes
Winter road conditions substantially
reduce the amount of traction available
between the tires and the road surface.
The resulting increases in braking dis-
tance are considerable and should be
kept in mind at all times.
ABS is intended to prevent the wheels
from locking during brake applications,
thus helping to maintain vehicle stability
and steering response. If the ABS does not respond in a critical
braking situation and the wheels lock:
reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
until the wheels just start to roll again
while still maintaining enough force to
continue braking.
Following that, increase pedal pressure
again. Reduce the pressure as the
wheels lock, then reapply pressure.
Repeat this procedure.
This type of staggered braking will
reduce the braking distance, and the
vehicle still remains responsive to
steering.
You can then attempt to steer around
hazards after you have reduced pres-
sure on the brake pedal.
Do not shift down on slick road
surfaces. Doing so could cause
the rear wheels to lose traction and
skid, which could result in the loss of
vehicle control. <
Depress the clutch during hard
braking on road surfaces which
provide only poor or uneven traction. <