2001 BMW 525I SPORT WAGON ignition

Contents

Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps22
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL) 25
Sports steering wheel26
Hazard warning flashers27
Warning triangle 27
First-aid kit 27
Refueling28
Fuel specifications29
Tire inflation pressure29

Locks and security systems:

Keys36
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer37
Opening and closing –
from the outside38
With the key38
With the remote control39
Opening and closing –
from the inside42
Luggage compartment lid/
Tailgate43
Rear window43
Luggage compartment46
Alarm system47
Electric power windows49
Sliding/Tilt sunroof50

Adjustments:

Seats52
Steering wheel56
Mirrors56
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory58
Car Memory, Key Memory60

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts61
Airbags62
Transporting children safely66

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock68
Starting the engine68
Switching off the engine69
Parking brake70
Manual transmission70
Automatic transmission72
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic75
Indicator/Headlamp flasher78
Wiper/Washer system78
Rear window defroster80
Cruise control81

Everything under control:

Odometer, outside temperature
display83
Tachometer84
Energy control84
Fuel gauge84
Coolant temperature gauge85
Service Interval Display85
Check Control86
Computer89
Multi-information display
(MID)91
Digital clock in the MID92
Computer in the MID95

34n
Locks and security systems:
Keys 36
Electronic vehicle immobilizer 37
Central locking system 38
Opening and closing –
from the outside 38
With the key 38
With the remote control 38
Opening and closing – from the inside 42
Luggage compartment lid/ Tailgate 43
Rear window 44
Luggage compartment 46
Alarm system 47
Electric power windows 49
Sliding/Tilt sunroof 50
Adjustments:
Seats 52
Steering wheel 56
Mirrors 56
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory 58
Car Memory, Key Memory 60
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts 61
Airbags 62
Transporting children safely 66Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock
68
Starting the engine 68
Switching off the engine 69
Parking brake 70
Manual transmission 70
Automatic transmission 72
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 75
Indicator/Headlamp flasher 78
Wiper/Washer system 78
Rear window defroster 80
Cruise control 81
Everything under control:
Odometer, outside temperature display 83
Tachometer 84
Energy control 84
Fuel gauge 84
Coolant temperature gauge 85
Service Interval Display 85
Check Control 86
Computer 89
Multi-information display (MID) 91
Digital clock in the MID 92
Computer in the MID 95

36nKeys
1 The master keys with remote control
determine the functions of the Key
Memory. Refer to page 60.
There is an extended-life battery
in every master key that is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master
key that is otherwise not used, use that
key approximately once every year
while driving for an extended period to
charge the battery. Refer also to
page 39.<
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place such as in your wallet. This key is not
intended for continuous use.
463de023
3 Door and ignition keyThe locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, rear backrest and
glove compartment cannot be oper-
ated with this key. This is useful for
valet parking, for instance.Replacement keys
Replacement keys are available exclu-
sively through your authorized BMW
center. Your BMW center is obligated
to ensure that a person requesting a
key is authorized to do so since the
keys belong to a security system (refer
to "Electronic vehicle immobilizer" on
page 37).
If possible, take all of the master
keys that belong to the vehicle
with you when you pick up your re-
placement key.
Whenever you receive a new replace-
ment key, turn that key to position 2 in
the ignition lock once (ignition switched
on) and then back. This allows the elec-
tronic vehicle immobilizer to "learn" the
new key. <

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
37n
Electronic vehicle immobilizerThe key to security Your BMW is equipped with a passive
anti-theft system. This electronic immo-
bilization system is designed to reduce
the susceptibility of your vehicle to theft
by making it impossible to start the en-
gine using any means other than the
special keys furnished with the vehicle.
Your BMW center can cancel the elec-
tronic system authorization for individ-
ual keys (in the event of loss, for in-
stance). A deactivated key can no
longer be used to start the engine.463de042
How the electronics workAt the heart of this system is an elec-
tronic chip which is integrated into the
key. The lock mechanism itself is actu-
ally a dual-function device, simulta-
neously serving as a communications
interface designed to allow the security
system to maintain a continuous stream
of variable, vehicle-specific signals with
the electronic circuitry in the key. The
system will not release the ignition, fuel
injection and starter unless it recog-
nizes an "authorized" key.
Force applied to the key can dam-
age the integrated electronic cir-
cuitry. A damaged key can no longer be
used to start the engine.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
39n
Opening and closing – from the outsideWith the remote controlThe remote control makes opening and
locking the doors of your vehicle very
convenient. Furthermore, it provides
three additional functions which you
can only execute via the remote control:
>To switch on interior lamps, refer to
page 40
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle, when
parked in an underground garage, for
instance.
>To open the luggage compartment/
tailgate, refer to page 41
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate
will open slightly, regardless of
whether it was previously locked or
unlocked.
>Panic mode
In case of danger, you can trigger the
alarm.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the anti-
theft system is simultaneously deacti-
vated, the alarm system is disarmed
and the interior lamps are switched on.
Locking the vehicle activates the anti-
theft and alarm systems and switches
the interior lamps off.
You can have a signal set as an
acknowledgment message that
the vehicle is closed correctly.<
Master keysKeys with a transmitter for remote
control are master keys. Refer to
page 36.
Since children might be able to
lock the doors from the inside,
take the vehicle's keys with you so that
the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.< 390us604
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion, since the battery in the key is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
If it is no longer possible to unlock the
vehicle via the remote control, the
battery is discharged. Use this key
while driving for an extended period in
order to charge the battery. Refer also
to page 36.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the door
and ignition key 3 or the spare key 2
(refer to page 36) when leaving the
vehicle for valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You
can also obtain replacement keys
there.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
43n
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateLock – sedan onlyOnly the master keys (refer to page 36)
fit in the lock of the luggage compart-
ment lid.Opening separatelyTurn the master key to the left in the
luggage compartment lock clear to the
stop – the luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.394de624
Secure separatelyTurn the master key to the right past the
resistance point and then pull it out in
the horizontal position.
This locks the luggage compartment lid
and disconnects it from the central
locking system. This feature can be
used to prevent unauthorized access to
the luggage compartment when you
hand over the door and ignition key
(refer to page 36) for valet parking, for
instance.394de064
To open from the outsidePress the button (arrow): the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate opens slightly.Manual operation(in the event of an electrical malfunc-
tion)
sedan:
Turn the master key to the left in the
luggage compartment lock clear to the
stop – the luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.
sport wagon:
Refer to page 199.394de009

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
49n
Electric power windowsOpen and close windowsFrom ignition key position 1:
>Depress the rocker switch until you
feel resistance:
The window continues moving for as
long as you maintain pressure on the
switch.
>Press the rocker switch beyond the
resistance point:
The window moves automatically.
Press the switch a second time to
stop the window.390de055
After the ignition has been switched off:
>You can still operate the windows as
long as neither of the front doors has
been opened. To open the window,
press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point.
Remove the key from the ignition
when you leave the vehicle, so
that children cannot operate the power
windows and possibly injure them-
selves.<
For the convenience mode via the door
lock or the remote control, refer to
pages 38 or 40.Safety featureA contact strip is integrated into the
inner side of each of the upper window
frame sections. If pressure is exerted
against this contact strip while a
window is being raised, the system
will respond by stopping the window
and then retracting it a small distance.
Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the closing
path of the window is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Otherwise, an
object might not touch the contact strip
in some situations (very thin objects, for
instance).
You can override this safety feature by
pressing the switch beyond the resis-
tance point and holding it.
Because the power windows are sealed
at high pressure to prevent wind noise
when closed, a powerful motor is
required for efficient closing. When
closing the windows, always be sure
that they are not obstructed in any way.
Unsupervised use of these systems can
result in serious personal injury.
Remove the ignition key to deactivate
the electric power windows whenever
you leave the car. Never leave the keys
in the vehicle with unsupervised chil-
dren.
Never place anything that could
obstruct the driver's vision on or next
to the windows.<

50n
Electric power windows Sliding/Tilt sunroof
*
Safety switchWith the safety switch, you can prevent
the rear windows from being opened or
closed via the switch in the rear pas-
senger area (by children, for example).
Press the safety switch whenever
children are riding in the rear of
the vehicle. Careless use of the power
windows can lead to injury.< 390de131
To prevent injuries, exercise care
when closing the sliding/tilt sun-
roof and keep it in your field of vision
until it is shut.
Before leaving the car, switch off the
electric sunroof mechanism by taking
out the ignition key. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle with ac-
cess to vehicle keys. Use of the key can
result in starting of the engine and op-
eration of vehicle systems such as
power sunroof, etc. Unsupervised use
of these systems can result in serious
personal injury.<
You can avoid pressure or drafts in the
passenger compartment when the sun-
roof is open or lifted by keeping the air
vents in the instrument panel open and
increasing the air supply as required.
Refer to pages 108 or 114.
If the sunroof is completely open, air
disturbances may be caused in the ve-
hicle when you are driving at higher
speeds. Close the roof as far as is nec-
essary until this natural phenomenon
ceases.
For the convenience mode via the door
lock or the remote control, refer to
page 38 or 40.
Lifting – opening – closingFrom ignition key position 1, press the
switch or slide it to the desired direction
until you feel resistance.
When lifting, the headliner retracts
several inches.
If the sliding/tilt sunroof is up, then
the headliner cannot be closed.<
After the ignition has been switched off,
you can still operate the sliding/tilt sun-
roof as long as neither of the front
doors has been opened.390de636