2001 BMW 540I SEDAN window

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

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview

17n
1 Parking lamps/Low beams105
2

>

Turn signal78

>

Parking lamps106

>

High beams106

>

Headlamp flasher78

>

Computer89
3 Fog lamps106
4 Wiper/Washer system78
5 Central locking system38
6 Hazard warning flashers27
7 Rear window defroster80
8 Horn25, 26
9 Adjusting the steering wheel56

Cockpit

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

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.

40n
Opening and closing – from the outsideUnlocking and convenience
opening modeTo release: press button 1.
Press the button once to unlock the
driver's door only; press a second time
to unlock all remaining doors as well as
the luggage compartment/tailgate and
fuel filler door.
Convenience opening mode: press and
hold button 1. The windows and the
sliding/tilt sunroof are opened.463de025
To lock and securePress button 2.463de027
Deactivate the alarm system tilt
sensor and interior motion sensorAfter locking the vehicle press button 2
again.
For additional information: refer to
page 48.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press button 2.380us646463de027

42n
Opening and closing – from the insideYou can operate the central locking
system with this button when the
driver's door is closed. With this button,
only the doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate and rear window are
unlocked or locked. The anti-theft
system is not activated. Also, the fuel
filler door remains unlocked to allow
refueling.
The central locking system can be
locked automatically as soon as
you begin to drive if you desire. You
may also have this adjusted so that it is
specific to keys.< 390de016
If only the driver's door was un-
locked from the outside and you
press the button
>all other doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate and rear window
and the fuel filler door will be
>unlocked if the driver's door is open
>the driver's door will be locked again
when it is closed.<
To unlock and open the doors>Either unlock the doors together
with the button for the central locking
system and then pull the door handle
above the armrest or
>pull the release handle for each door
twice: the first pull unlocks the door,
and the second one opens it.
To engage locks>Use the central locking button to lock
all doors at once, or
>press the individual door lock buttons
down. As an added design feature to
prevent the driver from being inad-
vertently locked out of the vehicle,
the driver's door lock button will not
engage as long as the door is open.
When the vehicle is moving, do
not lock the doors with their lock
buttons since doors locked in this
manner would not open automatically in
the event of an accident.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this reason,
you should always remove the key and
take it with you to be sure that you will
be able to unlock the car from the out-
side at all times.<

44n
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateOpening from inside the carYou can use this button to open the
luggage compartment lid/tailgate when
the vehicle is stationary (not possible, if
the luggage compartment lid/tailgate
has been locked separately).
When the tailgate of the sport
wagon is opened, the clearance
from the ground to the upper edge is
more than 6.6 ft (two meters). Please
keep this in mind when opening the tail-
gate (in a garage, for example).<
For additional details concerning the
luggage compartment, please refer to
"Luggage compartment – sport wagon"
beginning on page 132.390de652
Rear window – sport wagonSmall items can be loaded or unloaded
quickly if the rear window is opened
separately.
Press the button (arrow): the rear win-
dow opens slightly. It can now be tilted
up.
Push the window down to close it.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear win-
dow could be damaged.< 392de159
Closing – sedanThe handle recess (arrow) next to the
lock mechanism is designed to assist
you in closing the luggage compart-
ment lid.394de128

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
45n
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateClosing – sport wagonYou can pull the tailgate down by
placing both hands in the handle
recesses (arrows).
To close the tailgate, merely press it
down gently. The closing process will
then be carried out automatically.392de160
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the luggage com-
partment lid/tailgate is clear when it is
closed, as with all closing procedures.
Operate the vehicle only when the
luggage compartment lid/tailgate is
completely closed. Otherwise, exhaust
fumes could penetrate the interior of
the vehicle. Should it be absolutely
necessary to operate the vehicle with
the luggage compartment lid/tailgate
open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof.
>Increase the air supply for the air
conditioner or automatic climate
control to a high level. Refer to
page 108 or 114.<