2001 BMW 540I SEDAN turn signal

86n
Check ControlGraphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed symbolically from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check headlamps
2 Add washer fluid
(goes out after approx. 1 minute)
3 Door open
4 Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
open
5 Check brake and tail lamps.
A defective center tail lamp is indica-
ted by the upper symbol
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a vi-
sual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON and
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK.390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions when the
ignition key is turned to position 2. The
alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status report symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities:390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol 1. Simultaneous defects will be
displayed consecutively. These status
reports remain in the display until the
defects are corrected. It is not possible
to delete them by pressing the CHECK
button 3:

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
87n
Check Control>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 85
and 16 7.
>STOP!ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. 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 168. Have the source
of the brake fluid loss diagnosed and
corrected by your BMW center.
>TIRE DEFECT
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
Refer to page 104.
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 148.
>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 mini-
mal 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 164.
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
The oil level is at the absolute mini-
mum, and therefore engine oil should
be added as soon as possible. Refer
to page 165. Until then, do not drive
more than approx. 30 miles (50 km)>CHECK FILLER CAP
Check that the filler cap is closed
correctly, refer to page 28. A loose or
missing cap will activate the message
"CHECK FILLER CAP" in the Check
Control
* or the Service Engine Soon
lamp.
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +207 (–56)
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.57
(+36) and below. Refer also to
page 83.
>SET TIRE PRESSURE
*
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 103.
>CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
*
Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure to specifications at the earli-
est opportunity (next stop for fuel).
Refer to page 104.
>TIRECONTROL INACTIVE
*
A temporary interference of the RDC
or a system fault. Refer to page 104.
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical cir-
cuit has a fault. Refer to pages 186
and 196 or consult a BMW center.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
89n
ComputerMode selectionFrom ignition key position 1 and up, you
can call up information from the com-
puter 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 dis-
play.
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 vehicle's
equipment.390de336
Outside temperature and
average fuel consumptionYou can change the units of measure
(7/6) 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 83.390us126
Cruising range and
average speed The computer bases its calculations
of the cruising range on the previous
driving style and conditions.
The computer ignores any time spent
with the vehicle stationary and the
engine off in its average speed calcula-
tions.390us703

90n
ComputerCancel displayIf the button in the turn signal lever is
pressed briefly while the average speed
is displayed, the computer display can
be hidden.
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).

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
93n
Digital clock in the MID
*
Reminder signalYou can program a reminder signal
(Memo) to be heard every hour, so that
you are sure not to miss a news
broadcast .
Press the left side of the button.
Press.
MEMO OFF appears in the display for
entry and query buttons, and the tone
symbol will appear in the upper right of
the display.
A signal is then heard 15 seconds be-
fore each hour.
TimerPress the left side of the button.
Press.
Display shows:
To start the stopwatch function:
Press the right side of the button.
To take an intermediate time reading:
Press.
Press.
The stopwatch display can be seen
counting up; the stopwatch continues
to run.
To halt the stopwatch:
Press the right side of the button.
The stopwatch is halted when the
ignition switch is turned back to 0,
but starts to run again when the ignition
key is turned to 1.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
99n
Computer in the MID
*
After three incorrect code inputs, or
three attempts to start the engine with-
out a code input, the alarm will sound
for 30 seconds on vehicles fitted with
an alarm.
Deactivating the alarm in an
emergency:
If you have forgotten the code, proceed
as follows:
1 Disconnect the battery, wait approx.
2 minutes, then reconnect it. Note
that on vehicles with an alarm, this
will sound.
2 Set the ignition key to position 1:
The time display will count down for
the next ten minutes.
3 After ten minutes, start the engine.
If the code becomes available
again in the meantime, it can be
input during the waiting period after
pressing the CODE button.<
Remote controlThe button on the turn signal indicator
lever can be used to select the items of
computer information which are to be
displayed.
To do this, press
>the button on the lever until PROG 1
shows on the display
>the MID buttons in the order in which
you wish the information to be dis-
played.
Each time an entry is stored, the pro-
gram number appears on the display.
To terminate the selection procedure:
Press the right side of the button.390de336
To have all the available information
displayed, press
>the button on the lever until the dis-
play shows PROG 1
>the SET button.
To obtain individual items of informa-
tion, press the button in briefly as often
as necessary.

100n
The conceptThe PDC assists you when you are
parking. A signal warns you of the real
distance to an obstacle. To do this, four
ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear
bumpers measure the distance to the
nearest object. The monitoring range
for the front and both rear corner sen-
sors extends approx. 2 ft (60 cm) be-
yond the bumper. The range for the
center rear sensors extends approx. 5 ft
(1.50 meters).Automatic operationThe system starts to operate automati-
cally approx. one second after you se-
lect reverse or move the selector lever
into the "R" position with the ignition
key in position 2.
Turn on manuallyPress the button (arrow), the indicator
lamp comes on.
After driving more than approx. 160 ft
(50 meters) or exceeding approx.
20 mph (30 km/h), the system switches
off and has to be switched back on
when you want to use it again.390us713
Acoustic signalsThe distance to an object is indicated
by a high beeping sound in the front
and a low beeping sound in the back.
As the distance between vehicle and
object decreases, the intervals between
the tones become shorter. A continu-
ous tone indicates the presence of an
object less than 1 ft (30 cm) away.
The warning signal will be canceled af-
ter approx. 3 seconds if the distance to
the obstruction remains constant during
this time (if you are moving parallel to a
wall, for instance).
Malfunction in the PDC system:
The indicator lamp flashes and a brief
continuous signal tone is heard
>when the PDC system is actived via
the button
>when you first select reverse or move
the selector lever into the "R" posi-
tion after switching on the ignition
>when there is a malfunction while the
PDC system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected by
your BMW center.
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*

106n
High beams/Parking lamps
Fog lamps Interior lamps
1 High beam (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher
(blue indicator lamp)
3 Parking lamps Parking lamp, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can
illuminate your vehicle on either side
for parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0, push
the lever in the appropriate direction.
The lever engages in the turn signal
position.390de335
Front fog lamps
A green indicator lamp comes
on in the instrument cluster to
indicate that the front fog lamps
are on.
If the high beam is switched on, the fog
lamps go out.
390us037
The interior lamps operate automati-
cally.Switching interior lamps on
and offPress the button (arrow).
If you want the interior lamps to remain
off at all times, press and hold the
button for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to
normal operation.
The luggage compartment lamps in
the sport wagon function in the same
manner.390de638