2001 BMW 540I SEDAN Owners Manual

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
129nSki bag*
Designed for safe, convenient transport
of up to 4 pairs of standard skis or up to
2 snowboards.
The length of the ski bag and the addi-
tional space provided in the luggage
compartment make it possible to carry
skis with a length of up to 6.8 ft
(2.1 0 meters). Because of the tapered
shape of the bag, the ski bag can only
accommodate two pairs of skis with a
length of 6.8 ft (2.1 0 meters).
Removing the center armrest
(Not for vehicles with the through-load-
ing system and for the sport wagon.
Refer to page 131.)
1 Fold the center armrest completely outward.
2 Loosen the trim from the upper Velcro® fastener and place it on the
armrest.
3 Grasp the front of the armrest with one hand, then use your other hand
to reach down behind the armrest
and pull up sharply (arrow).
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Installing the center armrest
Guide the armrest into position from
above, then apply pressure until you
hear it snap into position.
When removing and installing the
center armrest, be sure that the
seat covers are not damaged by the
side pins. <

130nSki bag*
Loading
1 Press the release button (arrow 1) to
unlock the cover panel in the luggage
compartment.
2 Press the detent levers (arrows 2) in- ward and fold the cover to the front.
3 Extend the ski bag between the front seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to the inside of the bag,
and can also be left open to promote
drying.
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4 Use the magnetic retainers to attach the cover panel to the upper surface
(metal surface below rear tray) of the
luggage compartment.
To store the ski bag, perform the above
steps in reverse sequence.
An unsecured ski bag could lead
to loss of vehicle control and in
case of an accident to personal injury. <
380de069
Secure the bag's contents by
tightening down the attached
strap at the buckle. <
Please ensure that the skis are clean
before loading them into the bag. Take
care to avoid damage from sharp edges.
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Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
131nSki bag*
With through-loading system
1 Fold the center armrest outward.
Loosen the trim from the upper
Velcro® fastener and place it on the
armrest.
2 Press button 1 downward and swing the cover forward.
3 Press knob 2: the cover in the luggage compartment is unlocked.
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In the sport wagon
1 Fold the center armrest outward. Loosen the trim from the upper
Velcro® fastener and place it on the
armrest.
2 Press button 1 downward and swing the cover forward.
3 Press button 2: the cover in the lug- gage compartment is unlocked.
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132nLuggage compartment – sport wagon
Fold down the rear backrests
Reach into the recess and pull upward
(arrow).
The rear backrest is divided into two
sections, one-third and two-thirds of
the seat respectively. You can fold ei-
ther section of the backrest down sepa-
rately in order to increase luggage com-
partment capacity.
When you close the backrest, be
sure that the catch engages se-
curely. The red warning indicator disap-
pears in the recess when the retainer is
locked.
The center safety belt can be retracted
only when the larger backrest is en-
gaged. <
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Roll-up cover
Pull the roll-up cover out and hook it
into the rear bracket.
The cover will support light objects
such as items of clothing.
Do not place heavy or bulky
objects on the roll-up cover,
otherwise, they could endanger occu-
pants while braking hard, during eva-
sive maneuvers, or in an accident, for
example.
Do not allow the cover to snap back,
since this could damage it. <
For storing the case, refer to the next
page.
392de162
Partition net
Pull out the partition net by the strap
and hold the bar firmly in the other
hand. Then grasp the bar on both sides,
pull it up and engage it in the holders. It
is easiest to do this from the back seat. Do not allow the partition net to
snap back. Doing so could pose a
risk of injury and the partition net could
be damaged. <
When the rear backrests are folded
down, you can store the case in front of
the rear seats, pull the partition net out
from there and insert it in the front hold-
ers (refer to the next page).
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Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
133nLuggage compartment – sport wagon
Removing the roll-up cover and
partition net
1 Press on the buttons (arrow 1) to re-
lease the case on both sides.
2 Holding the case straight, pull out to the rear (arrow 2).
Installation
Simply slide the case forward in the two
side holders until it engages.
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Storage
There are holders for the case in front
of the rear seats.
Guide the case in from the side as
shown in the illustration. The strap of
the partition net must be directed up-
ward, while the end of the roll-up cover
must be laid around and under the case
to the rear.
You can pull the partition net out and
insert it in the holders above it in the
upper roof area.
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Side covers
Open the side covers by pressing the
button.
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134nLuggage compartment – sport wagon
Floor compartment
To open: press the handle in the recess
and fold the cover upward on the han-
dle (large arrow).
You can lock the cover with a master
key.
The dividers in the compartment can be
rearranged. If you remove the divider
and turn the divider retainer to the left
and remove it, you have a level storage
compartment.
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Fold up the floor panel
Lift up the black retainer on the lower
side of the panel and hook it into the
upper frame of the tailgate cutout.
Before you fold the floor panel down,
return the retainer to its original posi-
tion.
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Fold up the spare tire cover
Lift up the cover and hook it into the red
retainer on the floor panel (arrow).
Before you fold the cover down, return
the retainer to its original position.
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Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
135nLuggage compartment – sport wagon
Raise the cargo floor
For access to the compartment under
the floor or to the spare tire, etc.:
>Raise the cargo floor and secure it
with the support rod (arrow).
> Open the quick-release fasteners on
the spare tire cover.
392de175

136nCargo loading
Stowing cargo
When transporting loads in your BMW:
>Position heavy loads as far forward
as possible – directly behind the
backrests or the luggage compart-
ment partition panel – and at the bot-
tom (the illustration shows the sport
wagon).
> Cover sharp edges and corners
> Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest.
> Pull out the partition net
* (refer to
page 132) and ensure that carried
items cannot pass through the parti-
tion net.
> For very heavy loads when the rear
seat is not occupied, secure each
safety belt in the opposite buckle.
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Securing the load
>Secure smaller, light pieces with the
retaining straps or a luggage net
*, or
use elastic straps (refer to page 46).
> For large, heavy pieces, visit your
BMW center for load-securing de-
vices
*. Lashing eyes are provided at
the corners of the luggage compart-
ment for attaching these load-secur-
ing devices (the illustration shows the
sport wagon).
> Comply with the information en-
closed with the load-securing de-
vices.
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Always position and secure the
load correctly, otherwise it can
endanger the passengers during brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight and the permissible axle
loads (refer to page 221). If you do, the
operating safety of the vehicle is no
longer ensured and you are in violation
of the law.
Do not carry hard or heavy objects
unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment. If you do so, they may be pro-
jected through the air during braking
and evasive maneuvers, thus endan-
gering vehicle occupants. <