2002 BMW M5 SEDAN warning lights

16n

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

l

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.

<

Engine oil pressure



l


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.

<



Brake system hydraulic
circuits

l
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.

17n

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Indicator and warning lamps

Red: an important reminder

Parking brake

l



Comes on when you engage the
parking brake.
For additional information: refer to
page 58
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts

l



An acoustic signal sounds and a
message appears in the Check
Control for 4 to 8 seconds. The acous-
tical signal remains on until the belt is
fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 44
Airbags

l

Please have system inspected
at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 49

Yellow: please have checked at
your earliest opportunity

Antilock Brake System
(ABS)

l

ABS has been deactivated in
response to a system malfunction.
Conventional braking efficiency is avail-
able and unrestricted. Please have the
system inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 107
ABS warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

l

DSC has been switched off or
has been deactivated because of a
malfunction. In the event of a malfunc-
tion, have the system checked at your
BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 80

Dynamic Brake Control
(DBC)

l

Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking performance
remains available with no loss of effi-
ciency.
Have the system repaired by your BMW
center at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.
For additional information: refer to
page 80
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Service Engine Soon

l
If the indicator lights up either
continuously or intermittently,
this indicates a fault in the emissions-
related electronic systems. Although
the vehicle remains operational, you
should have the systems checked at
your BMW center at the earliest
possible opportunity.
For additional information: refer to OBD
interface socket, page 121
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.

18n

Indicator and warning lamps

Green: for your information

Turn signal
Flashes when turn signals are
on. Rapid flashing: indicates a
system malfunction.
For additional information: refer to
page 59
Cruise control


Lights up when system is on:
available for operation via the
multifunction steering wheel.
For additional information: refer to
page 61
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the front fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to
page 85

Blue: for your information

High beams
Lights up when the high beams
are on as well as when the
headlamp flasher is activated.
For additional information: refer to
pages 59, 85

67n
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.

78n
The conceptPDC provides extra safety and conve-
nience during parking maneuvers by
providing an acoustic signal to indicate
the distance between your front and
rear bumpers and the nearest object.
The monitoring range for the front and
two rear sensors extends outward
roughly 2 ft (60 cm), while the rear
bumper's two centrally located sensors
detect objects at distances of up to
approx. 5 ft (1.50 m).Automatic functionThe system is activated automatically
about one second after you engage
reverse with the ignition key in
position 2.
Manual activationPress the button, the indicator lamp
lights up.
When you subsequently drive a
distance of more than approx. 160 ft
(50 meters) or exceed a speed of
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h), the system
switches off and the indicator lamp
goes out. Switch the system on again
as required.Manual deactivationPress the button again.39mde116
Acoustic signalsThe distance from an obstacle is indi-
cated in front with a higher intermittent
tone, at the rear with a lower intermit-
tent tone. As the distance between
vehicle and object decreases, the inter-
vals between the tones become
shorter. A continuous tone indicates the
presence of an object less than 1 ft
(30 cm) away.
The warning signal will be canceled
after approx. 3 seconds if the distance
to the obstruction remains constant
during this time (if you are moving
parallel to a wall, for instance).
If there is a malfunction of the system:
The indicator lamp flashes and a brief
continuous signal tone is heard
>when you activate PDC with the
button
>when you select reverse for the first
time after switching on the ignition
>if a malfunction occurs while the PDC
system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected by
your BMW center.
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*

84n
Parking lamps (side marker
lamps)
With the switch in this position,
the front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on.
For lighting on one side for parking as
an additional feature, refer to page 85.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition
and the low beams are still on,
only the parking lamps (side
marker lamps) remain on.
390de732
"Follow me home":
When you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle and
switching off the lights, the low beams
will come on for a brief period. You may
also have this function deactivated if
you wish.<
"LIGHTS ON" warningWhen the driver's door is opened with
the ignition key at position 0 a message
will appear in the Check Control if the
lights are on, refer to page 68.Daytime driving lamps
*
The headlamps are automatically
switched on for daylight driving at
ignition key position 2.
Automatic headlight control
*
When the switch is set to this
position the system automati-
cally activates and cancels the
low beams in response to changes in
ambient light ( in tunnels, at dusk, etc.)
as well as rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lights
remain on constantly when you
switch on the front fog lamps after the
headlights have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlight control
cannot serve as a substitute for
the driver's judgement in determining
when the vehicle lights should be
switched on. For example, the sensors
are not able to detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should respond to
these kinds of low-visibility situations
by switching the headlights on manu-
ally.<
You can have the sensitivity of
your vehicle's automatic head-
light control adjusted.<
Parking lamps/Low beams

Everything from A to Z
149n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Length141
License plate lamps, bulb
replacement127t
Lighter98
Lights-on warning84
Locking and unlocking the
doors27
Low beams14, 84
Low-fuel warning lamp64
Luggage compartment34
capacity142
manual operation32t
opening from the
inside33
opening separately32
securing separately32
Luggage compartment
lid32
emergency release from
luggage compartment's
interior34
opening from the
inside33
opening from the
outside33
remote control29
securing separately32
unlock in case of electrical
malfunction32t
Luggage net34
Luggage straps34
Lumbar support41
M
M Dynamic Driving
Control81
M+S tires112
Maintenance65, 119t
Malfunction displays66
Manual operation
doors27t
fuel filler door20t
luggage compartment
lid32t
sliding/tilt sunroof39t
Maximum cooling90
Memory
adjustment of seat, mirror,
steering wheel45
Microfilter91
MID (Multi-Information
Display)69
Mirrors48
adjusting48
heating48
position adjustment
memory45
self-defrosting48
Modifications,
technical120
Multifunction buttons,
steering wheel19 Multifunction switch59
Multi-Information Display
(MID)69
O
OBD interface socket121
Odometer63
Oil
additives116
checking level115
consumption115
grades117
pressure, indicator
lamp16
Oil change interval, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet
Oil specification117
OILSERVICE65
Onboard tool kit124t
Opening and closing
from inside31
from outside27
with the key27
Outside temperature
display63
P
Parked-car ventilation
system92
activating72
refer also to the "Onboard
Computer Owner's
Manual"
Parking brake17, 58
Parking lamps14, 84
Passenger-side mirror tilt
function46
Performance Recognition for
M Dynamic Driving
Control81
Pocket flashlight96
Pollen filter91
Power seat41
Power windows36
safety switch37
Pressure monitor, tires82
Pressure, tires22t, 109 Q
Quality grades, tires110 R
Rain sensor60
Reading lamps86
Rear backrest, folding99