2001 BMW 540I SEDAN remote control

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. <

38n
Central locking system Opening and closing – from the outsideThe conceptThe central locking system is ready for
operation as soon as you close the front
doors. The system engages and re-
leases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid/tailgate
and rear window
*
>fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be
operated
>from outside via the driver's door lock
as well as via the remote control
>from inside via the central locking
system button.
The fuel filler door remains unlocked
when you activate the system from in-
side the vehicle (refer to page 42). The
anti-theft system is automatically armed
whenever you activate the central lock-
ing system from outside the vehicle.
The alarm system is also activated or
deactivated.
If looked from inside, the central locking
system unlocks automatically (only
those doors which were not locked
separately with the safety lock buttons)
in the event of an accident. Refer to
page 42. In addition, the hazard warn-
ing flashers and interior lamps come on.
With the keyOne turn of the key in the driver's door
lock unlocks the driver's door only.
Turning the key a second time unlocks
all of the remaining doors, the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate and the fuel
filler door.
You can have a signal set as an
acknowledgment message that
the vehicle is closed correctly.<390de627
Convenience operationYou can also operate the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof via the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Unlock" position and
hold it.
>To close: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Lock" position and
hold it.
Watch the closing process care-
fully and be sure that no one is
trapped by the closing motion. The win-
dows/sunroof stop moving immediately
when you release the key.< Manual operation (in the event of an electrical malfunc-
tion)
Turn the key all the way to the left or
right to unlock/lock the door.

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
41n
Opening and closing – from the outsideTo open the luggage
compartment lid/tailgatePress button 3.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate
opens slightly, regardless of whether it
was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure
that the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate has not been opened uninten-
tionally.< Panic modeBy pressing and holding button 3 for
two to five seconds, you can trigger the
alarm system if there is an impending
danger (the system must be armed).
The alarm is deactivated by pressing
button 1.463de026
External systemsExternal systems or devices may cause
local interference in the functions of the
remote control.
If this should occur, you can unlock and
lock the vehicle via the door lock with a
master key.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units
comply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the
following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to
these devices could void the
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
47n
Alarm systemThe conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid/tailgate is
opened.
>To movement inside the vehicle
(interior motion sensor).
>To variations in the vehicle tilt sensor
such as occur during attempts to
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle.
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds.
>The hazard warning flashers are
activated for approx. five minutes.
>The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
To arm and disarm the
alarm systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
with the key or the remote control, the
alarm system is also simultaneously
armed or disarmed.
The interior motion sensor is activated
approx. 30 seconds after you have fin-
ished locking the car.
The system indicates that it has been
correctly armed by switching on the
hazard flashers for a single cycle and by
emitting an acoustical signal.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
arming and disarming.<
When the system is armed, you can still
gain access to the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate by pressing button 3
on the remote control (refer to page 41).
When you close the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, it locks again.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes during
arming: door(s), the hood or luggage
compartment lid/tailgate are not
completely closed. Even if you do not
close the alerted area, the system
begins to monitor the remaining ar-
eas, and the indicator lamp flashes
continuously after 10 seconds. How-
ever, the interior motion sensor is not
activated.
>If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since
the system was armed.390de020

48n
Alarm system>If the indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is
disarmed: an attempted entry has
been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time to prevent a false alarm from being
triggered (in garages with elevator
ramps, for instance), or when the
vehicle is transported by trailer or train:
Lock the vehicle (arm the alarm system)
twice in succession: press button 2 on
the remote control transmitter twice
(refer to page 40), or turn the key in the
door lock to the right (lock) twice in
succession (refer to page 38).
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated for as long as the
system remains armed.
Interior motion sensorThe illustration depicts the transmitter
and receiver of the interior motion
sensor.
In order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate
the interior motion sensor (refer to the
previous column) if you intend to leave
the windows or sliding/tilt sunroof
open.390de153