2001 BMW 540I SEDAN Owners Manual

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
185nLamps and bulbs
Side turn signal indicators
5 watt bulb
1 Use finger pressure against the rear
end of the lens (arrow) to press it for-
ward for removal.
2 Press gently on the bulb and turn it to the left to remove it.
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Front fog lamps
H8 bulb, 35 watt
The bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with
this precaution could lead to injury if the
bulb is accidentally damaged during re-
placement. <
1 Using a screwdriver, remove the mounting clip for the air grill (arrow)
and remove the grill by bringing it
toward the front.
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2 Loosen both screws (arrows).
3 Take off the cover panel next to the headlamp.
4 Turn the headlamp 90 3 to the left and
remove it by bringing it toward the
front.
5 Disconnect the plug.
6 Turn the lamp to the left and remove it.
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186nLamps and bulbs
Tail lamps – sedan
Rear lamp/side marker lamps: LEDs
Remaining bulbs: 21 watts
1 Turn signal indicator yellow
2 Rear lamp/side marker lamps red
3 Backup lamp white
4 Brake lamp red
5 Reflector red
Please contact your BMW center
if there is a defect in the rear
lamp/side marker lamp assembly. <
394us721
1 Use the upper handle to fold down
the side panel in the luggage com-
partment.
2 Turn the corresponding bulb holder to the left (arrow) and remove it.
3 Press the defective bulb gently and turn it to the left. Remove the bulb
and replace it.
4 Insert the bulb holder and turn to the right as far as possible.
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Tail lamps – sport wagon
Rear lamp/side marker lamps: LEDs
Remaining bulbs: 21 watts
1 Turn signal indicator yellow
2 Rear lamp/side marker lamps red
3 Backup lamp white
4 Brake lamps, reflector red
5 Reflector red
Please contact your BMW center
if there is a defect in the rear
lamp/side marker lamp assembly. <
392us722

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
187nLamps and bulbs
Lamps in the rear apron panel:
1 Open the cover in the side panel.
2 Turn the quick-release fastener and
remove the trim panel in front of the
bulb holder.
3 Open the quick-release fastener (arrow) and remove the bulb holder.
4 Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while turning it to the left to remove.
If a subwoofer
* is installed behind the
right-hand panel, unscrew the T-screw
and swing the subwoofer to the side.
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Lamps in the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate:
1 Open the trim panel in the luggage compartment lid/tailgate.
2 Open the quick-release fastener (arrow) and remove the lamp holder.
3 Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while turning it to the left to remove.
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Center (high-mount) brake lamp
21 watt bulb
1 Open the luggage compartment lid.
2 Unclip the cover panel (on the underside of the parcel tray) with
a screwdriver (arrow).
3 Turn the bulb holder to the left and remove.
4 Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while turning it to the left to remove.
sport wagon: LED strip in the tailgate.
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
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188nLamps and bulbs
License plate lamps
5 watt bulb
1 Insert a screwdriver into the slot and
press to the left (arrow); this disen-
gages the lamp.
2 Remove the lamp and replace the bulb.
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Interior lamps
Front
Interior lamp (10 watt bulb) with
reading lamps (10 watt bulbs)
1 Interior lamp: press the lamp out to the side with a screwdriver and re-
move the lens. Pull the bulb from the
contacts.
2 Reading lamp: gently press against the lamp while turning it to the left to
remove.
Indirect lighting
1 watt bulb
1 Unclip the lamp holder.
2 Remove the bulb.
Rear – sedan
Interior lamp (10 watt bulb) with
reading lamp (5 watt bulb)
1 Use a screwdriver on the upper recesses to pry out the lamp.
2 Interior lamp: push back the tab on the reflector and replace the bulb.
3 Reading lamp: gently press against the lamp while turning it to the left to
remove. Rear – sport wagon
Interior lamp: 5 watt bulbs
1 Use a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
from above.
2 Remove the lens.
3 Replace the bulb.
Interior lamp (10 watt bulb) with
reading lamp (6 watt bulb)
1 Using a screwdriver, press the lamp next to the button out to the side.
2 Remove the lens.
3 Replace the bulb.

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
189nLamps and bulbs
Footwell lamps
5 watt bulb
1 Use a screwdriver to press the lens
out to the side.
2 Replace the bulb.
Glove compartment lamp
5 watt bulb
1 Apply a screwdriver to the recess to pry the lamp out.
2 Remove the reflector.
3 Replace the bulb.
Luggage compartment lamps –
sedan
Lamp on the underside of the rear
parcel tray: halogen lamp, 10 watt
Lamp in the luggage compartment lid:
10 watt bulb
1 Apply a screwdriver to the recess to pry the lamp out.
2 Remove the reflector.
3 Replace the bulb.
Luggage compartment lamps –
sport wagon
Headliner lamps: 10 watt bulbs
1 Use a screwdriver to push the lens to the side.
2 Replace the bulbs.
Lamps on the apron of the tailgate:
10 watt bulb
1 Use a screwdriver to pry out the lamp at the upper edge.
2 Remove the reflector.
3 Replace the bulb.

190nChanging a wheel
Safety measures in the event of a
flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat,
surface. Switch on the hazard warning
flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and
engage the steering lock. Shift into 1st
or reverse (selector lever in Park with
automatic transmission) and engage
the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area (behind a guardrail,
for instance).
If necessary, set up your warning trian-
gle or portable hazard warning lamp on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface which is not slippery. Avoid
jacking the vehicle on a soft or slippery
support surface (snow, ice, loose
gravel, etc.), since it could slide side-
ways.Position the jack on a firm support
surface.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. If this is done,
the jack might not be able to reach its
full support capacity because of the
limited height.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack – risk of fatal injury. <
What you will need
In order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
> Car jack
sedan: fold back the luggage com-
partment floor mat for access, then
unscrew the wingnut to release the
jack (arrow).
sport wagon: raise the floor panel
and spare tire cover (refer to
page 134).
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back
down. Fold the handle back and in-
sert it in its holder
> Wedge (wheel chock)
Located next to the jack. Loosen the
wing nut to remove it
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Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
191nChanging a wheel
>Spare tire and adapter* for removing
the lug bolt cover
* (refer to the next
column)
Both are next to the jack. Remove the
adapter or the plastic cover. Unscrew
the wing nut (arrow) by hand and re-
move the wheel
> Lug wrench and screwdriver
In the onboard tool kit under the lug-
gage compartment lid (refer to
page 182).
sport wagon: the lug wrench is next
to the spare tire.
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Procedure
1 Read carefully and comply with the safety precautions on the previous
page.
2 Secure the vehicle against rolling: Place the wedge against the rear
surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If
the vehicle is parked on a down-
ward slope, place the wedge se-
curely in front of the tire. If the
wheel must be changed on a sur-
face with a more severe slope, take
additional precautions to secure the
vehicle from rolling.
3 Wheels with full wheel covers
*:
Reach into the ventilation openings
and pull the cover off. 4 Wheels with adapter
*: position the
lug bolt adapter on the lug bolt
cover. Then apply the lug wrench
and turn it to the left (refer to the
illustration).
5 Wheels with hub cover
*: pry the
hub cover off with the screwdriver
in the slot.
6 Loosen the lug bolts g-turn.
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192nChanging a wheel
7 Position the jack at the jacking point
closest to the flat tire so that the
jack base is vertically below the
jacking point and the entire surface
of the head of the jack will move
into the square recess of the jacking
point (refer to the illustration detail)
when the jack is cranked.
8 Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are changing is raised off the
ground.
9 Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the wheel.
10 Remove accumulations of mud or
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub. Clean the lug
bolts.
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11 Position the spare wheel. Secure the wheel by turning at least two lug
bolts into opposite bolt holes.
12 Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all the bolts securely.
13 Lower the jack and remove it from beneath the vehicle.
14 Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
15 Wheels with full wheel covers: Place the wheel cover with the valve
opening over the valve (arrow). Use
both hands to press the cover se-
curely onto the rim.
For this light-weight wheel, use
only the full wheel cover installed
by the factory. Other wheel covers may
not fit securely. <
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16 Wheels with hub covers:
Position the hub cover and press it
on tightly.
17 If equipped with lug bolt covers: Align the arrow on the cover with
the line in the wheel and press the
cover into place.
18 Check and correct the air pressure at the earliest opportunity.
For vehicles with Tire Pressure
Control (RDC)
*:
After mounting the spare tire or cor-
recting the inflation pressure, reacti-
vate the system. Refer to page 103.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing tires only. Do not
attempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any load of any kind.
To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench [torque specification
72 lb-ft (100 Nm)] at the earliest
opportunity. <