2002 BMW 525I SPORT WAGON maintenance

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced security and
control when you drive it. Therefore we have one request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new BMW. The
manual contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in obtaining
maximum satisfaction from your BMW's unique array of advanced technical
features. It also contains information on vehicle maintenance designed to enhance
operating safety while simultaneously helping you to maintain your BMW's value
throughout an extended service life.
For more detailed information refer to the supplemental manuals.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important
operating, safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information Booklet
(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models).
We recommend that you read this publication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:
Ð New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Ð Limited Rust Perforation Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
Ð California Emission Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or in the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

Foreword

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

Contents

Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data

Under the hood:

Hood137
Engine compartment
essentials138
Washer fluids139
Engine oil140
Coolant142
Brake fluid143

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System144

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications145
California Proposition
65 Warning145
OBD interface socket146

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit150
Windshield wiper blades150
Lamps and bulbs151
Changing a wheel156
Battery160
Fuses160

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting162
Towing the vehicle163Engine specifications168
Dimensions169
Weights171
Capacities173

7n

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Index

Everything from A to Z176

8n
Notes on the Owner's Manual We have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you are looking for a brief
initial summary of the essentials, please
turn to the first chapter.
We hope that the detailed table of
contents on the preceding pages will
stimulate your interest and encourage
you to explore the remainder of the
manual.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at
some time in the future, please
remember to hand over the Owner's
Manual to the new owner; it is part of
the vehicle.
If you have any questions, your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.
Symbols used

Indicates precautions that must
be followed precisely in order to
avoid the possibility of personal injury
and serious damage to the vehicle.

<


Contains information that will
assist you in gaining the optimum
benefit from your vehicle and enable
you to care more effectively for your
vehicle.

<


Refers to measures that can be
taken to help protect the environ-
ment.

<



<

Marks the end of a specific item of
information.

*
Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras.

t

Identifies index entries that refer
to owner service procedures or topics
on vehicle maintenance.
Identifies systems or components,
which can either be activated or
adapted to suit an individual driver's
requirements ("Vehicle Memory", "Key
Memory"). Refer to page 64.
Remember that activation and adjust-
ments on some of these systems can
only be performed at your BMW
center.

<



Notes
Symbols

9n

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

The individual vehicle

On buying your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same group.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
which you might not have chosen for
your vehicle. You can easily identify any
differences with the aid of the asterisk

*



used to identify all optional equipment
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment which
is not described in this Owner's Manual
(car radio or telephone, for instance),
Supplementary Owner's Manuals are
enclosed. We ask you to read these
manuals as well.

Status at time of printing

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development designed to
ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, it is possible that the features
described in this Owner's Manual could
differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely
ruled out. We therefore request your
understanding for the fact that we are
unable to recognize any legal claims
based on the data, illustrations or
descriptions in this manual.

The individual vehicle
Status at time of printing

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

11n

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

The following applies only to vehicles owned and operated in the US.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of
North America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000 .
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your dealer or BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.