2002 BMW M5 SEDAN check engine

64n
Tachometer Engine oil temperature Fuel gauge During the warm-up period, the display
lamps in the orange caution zone indi-
cate the maximum recommended
engine speed for the current engine
temperature. As the engine warms to its
normal operating temperature, the
lamps in this adaptive display then go
out, one after the other.
Avoid allowing the engine speed to rise
into the caution zone.
Do 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.39mus023
The normal operating temperature
range is between + 176 7 (+ 80 6) and
+ 248 7 (+ 120 6). Do not exceed the
maximum temperature of +302 7
(+150 6). 39mus024
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an
operation check.
If the indicator lamp comes on and
stays on, there are approx. 2.5 gal
(10 liters) of fuel still in the tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to
page 143.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies (when you
are driving in mountainous areas, for
example), the needle may fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.<39mus025

65n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Temperature gauge Service Interval Display BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at
moderate engine and vehicle speeds.RedAccompanied by the warning,
"COOLANT TEMPERATURE" in the
Check Control: the engine is over-
heated. Shut off the engine immediately
and allow it to cool down.
To check coolant level, refer to
page 118.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle
may rise as far as the edge of the red
sector in normal operation. 39mde026
Green lampsThe number of illuminated lamps
decreases as the time for your next
maintenance visit approaches.Yellow lampThis field appears together with
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION.
Maintenance is due. Please contact
your BMW center for an appointment. Red lampThe maintenance deadline has been
passed.380us008

66n
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions with the
ignition key in position 2 and higher.
The alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status symbol for messages
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages warning of system malfunc-
tions are assigned one of two priority
levels.
39mus027
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol 1. Simultaneous defects will be
displayed consecutively. These status
messages remain in the display until the
defects are corrected. They cannot be
deleted by pressing the CHECK
button 3:
>"RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE"
>"COOLANT TEMPERATURE"
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle and switch off the engine
immediately. Refer to page 117
>"STOP!ENGINE OILPRESS"
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle and switch off the engine
immediately. Refer to pages 16, 115>"CHECK BRAKE FLUID"
The level has dropped nearly to the
minimum. Top up the brake fluid at
the earliest opportunity. Refer to
page 118. Have the source of the
brake fluid loss diagnosed and
corrected at your BMW center
>"TIRE DEFECT"

Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
Refer to page 83
>"SPEED LIMIT"
*
This is displayed if the programmed
speed limit has been exceeded.
Refer to page 73
Check Control

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
with the ignition key in position 2. The
warning symbols remain after the
message disappears. The messages
can be recalled again with Check
button 3.
>"TRUNKLID OPEN"
This message appears only when you
initially begin a trip
>"DOOR OPEN"
This message appears after a defined
road speed has been exceeded
>"FASTEN SEAT BELTS"
*
In addition to this message, an indi-
cator lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustic signal is
sounded
>"WASHER FLUID LOW"
Too low; top up fluid at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 115
>"CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV"
The oil level is at the absolute
minimum, so add engine oil as soon
as possible. Refer to page 115. Until
then, do not drive more than approx.
30 miles (50 km)>"SET TIRE PRESSURE"
The Flat Tire Monitor has adopted the
tires' current inflation pressures as its
reference levels. Refer to page 82
>"TIRECONTROL INACTIVE"

Transient malfunctions and system
errors in the Flat Tire Monitor. Refer
to page 83
>"CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS"
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault. Refer to page 126
and 132 or consult a BMW center
>"CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS"
"CHECK SIDE LIGHTS"
"CHECK REAR LIGHTS"
"CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS"
"CHECK LICPLATE LIGHT"
"CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHT"
"CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS"
Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to
page 124 ff. and 132 or consult a
BMW center>"CHECK BRAKE LININGS"
Have the brake pads checked at your
BMW center. Refer to page 108
>"CHECK COOLANT LEVEL"
The coolant level is too low; top off at
the next opportunity. Refer to
page 118
>"CHECK FILLER CAP"
Check to see whether the fuel filler
cap has been properly closed. Refer
to page 20. An improperly closed fuel
filler cap will activate the Service
Engine Soon lamp
>"ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG"
Indicates a malfunction in the elec-
tronic engine-management system,
which then reverts to an emergency
default program allowing continued
operation at reduced power and
lower engine speeds.
Please have the system inspected by
your BMW center
>
"Outside temperature 24 7 (Ð 5.0 6)"This temperature display is only an
example. The current temperature is
displayed at outside temperatures of
37.5 7 (+3 6) and below. Refer also
to page 63.

68n
Check ControlDisplays after completion of a tripAll of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
key is turned to position 0.
The following displays will appear when
appropriate:
>"LIGHTS ON"
This display appears when you open
the driver's door after parking the
vehicle
>"KEY IN IGNITION LOCK"
>"CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV"
Check the engine oil at the earliest
opportunity (next stop for fuel). Refer
to page 115.
Status messages remain available for a
period of approx. three minutes after
the display goes out and the key is
removed from the ignition. Press the
CHECK button 3 to display these
messages. If there were multiple
messages, press the CHECK button
repeatedly to view them all in
sequence.
To check the Check ControlPress the CHECK button 3 with the
ignition key in position 2:
CHECK CONTROL OK appears in the
display.
There are no faults in the monitored
systems.ComputerYou can find descriptions of the
computer starting on page 73 and in
the "Onboard Computer Owner's
Manual."
You can have the Check Control
and computer messages
displayed in a different language.<

82n
Flat Tire MonitorThe conceptThe Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in your tires as you
drive. The system provides an alert
whenever the inflation pressure drops
significantly in one of the tires.
To initialize the Flat Tire Monitor system
with the correct tire pressures, start by
checking the inflation pressures in all
four tires, comparing them with the
figures specified in the tire pressure
table (page 23). Then correct the tire
pressures as necessary. Now you can
activate the system.
The Check Control (refer to page 66)
will inform you if the tire pressure of one
the tires has dropped significantly.
Activating the system1. Turn the ignition key to position 2 (do
not start the engine)
2. Press the button and maintain pres-
sure until the message "SET TIRE
PRESSURE" appears in the Check
Control display panel (several
seconds)
3. As you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor
automatically enters the system
initialization mode in which it stores
the current pressures as its reference
figures. The initialization process
lasts for ten minutes or somewhat
longer. Once it has been completed
the Tire Pressure Monitor is able to
detect and warn of flat tires.39mde119
Repeat this process after altering the
tire inflation pressure, changing the tire,
or rotating the wheels.
Do not carry out a new initialization of
the system, if you correct the inflation
pressures to the already specified tire
pressures.

115n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer fluids Engine oilHeadlamp and windshield
washer systemCapacity in US quarts (liters).
Windshield washer:
Approx. 3.7 US quarts (3.5 liters)
With headlamp-washing system:
Approx. 6.3 US quarts (6.0 liters).
Fill with water and Ð if required Ð with a
washer antifreeze (according to manu-
facturer's recommendations).
We recommend that you mix the
washer fluid before adding it to
the reservoir.< 39mde128
Intensive-action washer
reservoirCapacity approx. 1.1 US quarts
(1.0 liter).
Fill with intensive-action washer fluid. It
resists freezing down to approx. Ð 17 7
(Ð 27 6) and is available from your
BMW center.
Antifreeze agents or intensive-
action washer fluids for the
washer systems are highly flammable.
For this reason, keep them away from
sources of flame and store them only in
their original containers. Store them so
that they are inaccessible to children.
Comply with the instructions on the
containers.<39mde129
Checking oil level 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Allow the engine to run at operating
temperature for at least 15 seconds
at idle, then shut it off
3. After approx. one minute, pull the
dipstick out and wipe it off with a
clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or
similar material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the
way into the guide tube and pull it
out again
5. The oil level should be between the
two graduations on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions. 39mde042

118n
Coolant Brake fluidChecking coolant level and
adding coolantCorrect coolant level when the engine
is cold (approx. 68 7/20 6):
In the translucent container's visible
range, as far as the graduation marked
KALT/COLD.
1. Turn the cap counterclockwise
slightly in order to allow accumulated
pressure to escape
2. If the coolant is low, slowly add
coolant until the correct level is
reached Ð do not overfill.
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of extended-duty antifreeze
with corrosion inhibitor.<39mde111
Brake fluid level
The warning lamp for the brake
system hydraulic circuits comes
on and/or the message "CHECK
BRAKE FLUID" appears in the
Check Control panel:
Brake fluid level too low.
To add brake fluidThe brake fluid reservoir is located
under the microfilter housing on the
driver's side of the vehicle. For adding
brake fluid or for determining and
correcting the cause of brake fluid loss,
consult your BMW center. Your BMW
center is familiar with the specifications
for factory-approved brake fluids
(DOT 4).
Brake fluid loss may result in extended
brake pedal travel. If this occurs, refer
to the information on page 108.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years at
a BMW center. Refer also to the Service
and Warranty Information Booklet (US
models) or the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet (Canadian models).
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the
vehicle's paint. You should always store
it in its original container and in a loca-
tion which is out of reach of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not fill the
brake fluid reservoir beyond the MAX
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating
the disposal of brake fluid.<