2003 BMW 540I SEDAN Owners Manual

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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.

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 Ð i.e.
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent Ð will
not void the applicable warranties
covering defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality Ð volatility, composition, addi-
tives, 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, especially 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.
Obey pertinent 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 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
damages resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if 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.

The individual vehicle
Status at time of printing

Notes

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Notes

Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones Ð including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally-mounted antenna Ð or trans-
ceiver equipment, eg., CBs, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar accessories,
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.

<


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.
Service and Warranty

This manual is supplemented by a Ser-
vice and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian
models.
We recommend that you read this
publication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following
warranties:

>

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

>

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty

>

Federal Emissions System Defect
Warranty

>

Federal Emissions Performance War-
ranty

>

California Emissions Control System
Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these
warranties is listed in the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet for US
models or in the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.

Reporting safety defects

The following only applies to vehicles
owned and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which 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 (800) 831-1117.
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 Ð or 366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area Ð or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transpor-
tation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You
can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

For your own safety

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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 beams103
2

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Turn signal indicators78

>

Standing lamps104

>

High beams104

>

Headlamp flasher78

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Computer883 Fog lamps104
4 Washer/Wiper system78
5 Central locking system32
6 Hazard warning flashers7 Rear window defroster107, 112
8 Horn, the entire surface
9 Adjusting the steering wheel56

Cockpit
390de788

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1 Fuel gauge83
2 Indicator lamp for turn signal
indicators21
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for high beams215 Tachometer and Energy Control83
6 Coolant temperature gauge84
7 Indicator and warning
lamps19 to 218 Selector lever and program display
for automatic transmission

*
72, 75
9 Service Interval Display84

Instrument cluster
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Instrument cluster

10 Display for the computer Ð opera-
tion via the turn signal lever,
refer to page 88:

>

Outside temperature

>

Average fuel consumption

>

Cruising range

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Average speed11 Indicator lamp for Automatic Sta-
bility Control plus Traction (ASC+T)/
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

*
21
12 Indicator lamp for self-leveling
suspension

*
2113 Odometer and trip odometer82
14 Indicator for Check Control85
15 Reset trip odometer to zero82
16 Indicator and warning
lamps19 to 21
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