2002 BMW M5 SEDAN Owners Manual

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Your 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 that is
not described in this Owner's Manual (a
car radio or telephone, for instance), we
have enclosed Supplementary Owner's
Manuals. 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.

Status at time of printing
Your individual vehicle

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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 (that is,
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent) will
not void the applicable warranties
covering defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality (volatility, composition, addi-
tives, others) 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, especially under
certain environmental conditions, such
as high ambient temperature and high
altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Always observe all applicable safety
rules when you are handling gasoline.

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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
thoroughly 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
damages resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made
by 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 (such as CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause
extensive damage to the vehicle,
compromise its safety, interfere with
the vehicle's electrical system or affect
the validity of the BMW Limited
Warranty. See your BMW center for
additional information.

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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.

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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

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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
individual 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 engine vehicle safety from the Hotline.

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Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Index Technical data

Overview

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1 Parking lamps/Low beams84
2

>

Turn signal indicators59

>

Standing lamps85

>

High beams85

>

Headlamp flasher59

>

Computer773 Fog lamps85
4 Wiper/Washer system60
5 Central locking system26
6 Hazard warning flashers7 Rear window defroster90
8 Horn: the entire surface
9 Adjusting the steering wheel47

Cockpit
39mde147

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1 Fuel gauge 64
2 Turn signal indicator lamp18
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for high beams18
5 Tachometer and engine oil
temperature gauge64
6 Engine coolant temperature
gauge657 Indicator and warning lamps16
to 18
8 CHECK button66
9 Outside temperature display63
10 Indicator lamp for Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)17
11 Trip odometer6312 Check Control display66
13 Odometer63
14 Service Interval Display65
15 Trip odometer, reset to zero63
16 Indicator and warning lamps16
to 18

Instrument cluster
39mus004

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Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

The system runs a check on the
warning and indicator lamps marked by
"

l

" each time you switch on the igni-
tion. They each light up once for
different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
The following section describes how
you should respond.

Red: stop immediately

Alternator charge current

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The battery is no longer being
charged. Indicates a defective
alternator drive belt or a problem with
the alternator's charge circuit. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
You should never attempt to
continue driving with a defective
drive belt, as the engine could overheat
and sustain serious damage. A defec-
tive drive belt will also make the vehicle
harder to steer.

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Engine oil pressure



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May be accompanied by the
warning "STOP!ENGINE
OILPRESS" in the Check Control
display panel: stop vehicle and switch
off engine immediately. Check level of
oil in engine, top up as required. If oil
level is correct: please contact the
nearest BMW center.
Stop at once. Attempts to
continue driving can lead to
serious engine damage stemming from
a lack of adequate lubrication.

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Brake system hydraulic
circuits

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Have the brake fluid level
checked. Before driving further, be sure
to read the notes on pages 108
and 118
The indicator lamp comes on together
with the "CHECK BRAKE LININGS"
message in the Check Control.
Brake system hydraulic circuits
warning lamp for Canadian
models.