
 
5n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)96
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic 
Stability Control (DSC)97
Level control system99
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)99
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams101
Instrument lighting102
High beams/Standing 
lamps102
Fog lamps102
Interior lamps103
Reading lamps103
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning104
Automatic climate control107
Roller sun blind112
Parked-car ventilation 
system112
 
Cabin convenience:
 
BMW Universal Transmitter113
Glove compartment116
Storage compartments116
Cellular phone117
Beverage holder117
Ashtray, front117
Cigarette lighter118
Ashtray, rear118
 
Loading and transporting 
cargo:
 
Through-loading system119
Ski bag120
sport wagon:
Luggage compartment123
Roll-up cover123
Partition net123
Storage areas in the luggage 
compartment124
Cargo loading126
Roof-mounted luggage rack127
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures130
Driving notes131
Antilock Brake System131
Brake system132
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressure133
Tire condition133
Tire replacement134
Wheel and tire 
combinations135
Special characteristics of winter 
tires136
Snow chains136 

 
10n
 
For your own safety
 
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels 
containing up to and including 
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with 
up to 2.8  % oxygen by weight (i.e. 15  % 
MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an equiva-
lent amount of co-solvent) will not void 
the applicable warranties covering 
defects in materials or workmanship. 
Field experience has indicated signifi-
cant differences in fuel quality (volatility, 
composition, additives, etc.) among 
gasolines offered for sale in the United 
States and Canada. The use of poor-
quality fuels may result in driveability, 
starting and stalling problems, espe-
cially under certain environmental 
conditions, such as high ambient 
temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems that you suspect could be related 
to the fuel you are using, we recom-
mend that you respond by switching to 
a recognized high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled 
maintenance.
Follow all applicable safety rules when 
you are handling gasoline.
 <
  
 
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine parts 
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested 
and approved by BMW and Original 
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire 
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure 
optimum performance when installed 
on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free 
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for 
damage resulting from installation of 
parts and accessories not approved by 
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from 
other manufacturers to confirm that it 
can be used on a BMW safely and 
without risk to either the vehicle, its 
operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories 
and other products approved by BMW, 
together with professional advice on 
using these items, are available from all 
BMW centers.
 
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, 
wheels, suspension components, brake 
dust shields, telephones (including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally-mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (for instance, CBs, 
walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar 
accessories) may cause extensive 
damage to the vehicle, compromise its 
safety, interfere with the vehicle's elec-
trical system, or affect the validity of the 
BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW 
center for additional information.
 
<
 
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
 
 
Symbol on vehicle parts
 
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this 
Owner's Manual for information on a 
particular part or assembly.
 
For your own safety 

 
22n
Steering wheel with multifunction buttonsThe controls integrated within the multi-
function steering wheel (MFL) and the 
sports steering wheel
* have been 
designed to allow you to operate a 
number of accessories both quickly and 
safely, without taking your eyes from 
the road:
>selected control functions for the 
radio along with CD, MD and 
cassette player
>recirculated-air control of the air 
conditioner system or the heated 
steering wheel
* (MFL only)
>the cruise control
>various phone functions
* and
>voice entry
*.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.< 
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
Extended pressure:
Activate/deactivate voice entry.
Switch between phone and radio, 
cassette, CD and MD.
Forward:
>Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: search function
>CD/MD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: stop track scan or fast 
forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind: functions as forward.
Volume
Cruise control: to select a stored 
setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate (+) 
or decelerate and store (Ð).
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.
Recirculated-air mode and automatic 
recirculated-air control (AUC) or heated 
steering wheel: activate/deactivate. 

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateClosing Ð 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.392de689
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage 
compartment lid/tailgate is clear when 
it is closed, observing the same precau-
tions as with all closing procedures.
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid/tailgate or 
rear window is completely closed. 
Otherwise, exhaust fumes could pene-
trate the interior of the vehicle. Should it 
be absolutely necessary to operate the 
vehicle with the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate or rear window 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 105 or 109.< 
Emergency release Ð sedan onlyThis lever releases the luggage 
compartment lid from the luggage 
compartment's interior.390de792 

71n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission
*
Before leaving the vehicle when 
the engine is running, shift the 
selector lever to the "Park" or "Neutral" 
position and apply the parking brake to 
prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Never leave the vehicle unattended 
with the engine running. An unattended 
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard. 
If you should accidentally select 
"Neutral" while traveling at high speed, 
remove your foot from the accelerator 
pedal immediately. Allow the engine 
speed to drop to idle before selecting 
the desired drive position. Damage 
could otherwise occur due to excessive 
engine speed.< 
P ParkSelect only when the vehicle is 
completely stopped. The transmission 
locks to prevent the rear wheels from 
turning.R ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is 
completely stopped.
N NeutralSelect only if your journey is interrupted 
for a longer period.D Drive 
(automatic shift program)This position is designed for driving 
under all normal operating conditions. 
All forward gears are available.4 Ð Sport ProgramThe Sport Program is designed for 
performance-oriented driving.
3 and 2 Ð shift limiterSelect this range when you wish to limit 
gear changes (on steep uphill or down-
hill slopes, for instance). The transmis-
sion shifts up only as far as the selected 
gear."Kickdown" In the "kickdown" mode, you achieve 
maximum performance.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
detent at the full-throttle position. 

81n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tachometer Energy control Fuel gaugeDo not operate the engine with the 
needle in the red overspeed zone of the 
gauge.
To protect the engine, the engine-
management system interrupts the fuel 
supply when you approach this sector.390us004
Indicates the current fuel consumption 
in mpg (in liters/100 km on Canadian 
vehicles). This allows you to see 
whether your current driving style is 
conducive to fuel economy with 
minimum exhaust emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the 
display goes to "Maximum" (zero on 
Canadian models).390us005
When you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator lamp comes on briefly to 
confirm that the system is operational. 
If the indicator lamp stays on, there are 
approx. 
>2.0 gal (8 liters) Ð 
BMW 525i, BMW 530i
>2.5 gal (10 liters) Ð BMW 540i
of fuel still in the tank.
Tank capacity: refer to page 173
Certain operating conditions (such as 
those encountered in mountainous 
areas) may cause the needle to fluc-
tuate slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving 
to the last drop of fuel can result in 
damage to the engine and/or catalytic 
converter.< 390us006 

104n
1 Airflow directed toward the 
windshield and side windows
2 Airflow for the upper body 
area106
3 Footwell ventilation 
4 Rear footwell ventilation 5 Airflow for the upper body area 
in the rear seat106
6 Temperature105
7 Air distribution  1058 Air supply105
9 Rear window defroster105
10 Cooling105
11 Recirculated-air mode105
Air conditioning 
390us742 

105n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Air conditioningTemperature
The numbers in the display 
panel are reference figures for 
general orientation. We 
recommend a setting of 70 7 
(22 6) for a congenial in-car climate. 
When you start the vehicle, this system 
adjusts the air to the selected tempera-
ture as quickly as possible, and then 
maintains that temperature constantly.
Air distribution 
You can direct the emerging 
air toward the windows  , 
toward your upper body   or 
into the footwell  . All inter-
mediate settings are also available. In 
the   setting, there is a low flow of air 
onto the windows to keep them free of 
condensation.
Air supply
You can control the emerging 
air's flow rate through an infi-
nitely-variable range. The 
heating and ventilation 
become more and more effective as the 
air supply settings are increased. In the 
"0" setting, the blower and climate 
control are switched off and the outside 
air supply is blocked. 
Rear window defroster 
The indicator lamp comes 
on to indicate that the rear 
window defroster is in operation. The 
rear window defroster switches off 
automatically.
Cooling
The air conditioning cools 
and dehumidifies the 
incoming air before reheating it to the 
selected temperature. Depending on 
the weather, the windshield may fog 
over briefly when the engine is started. 
You can reduce condensation forming 
on the windows by switching on the air 
conditioning.
Condensation forms in the air 
conditioning system during opera-
tion, which then exits under the vehicle. 
Traces of condensed water of this kind 
are thus normal.<
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to 
unpleasant odors in the 
surrounding environment by using this 
mode to temporarily suspend the flow 
of outside air into the vehicle's interior. 
The system then recirculates the air 
currently within the vehicle.
If your vehicle is equipped with a multi-
function steering wheel
 featuring a 
recirculated-air button then you can 
also select the recirculated-air mode 
from this location (refer to page 22).
If the windows should fog over in 
the recirculated-air mode, switch 
the recirculated-air mode off and 
increase the air supply as required.<