2003 BMW 540I SEDAN coolant

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Controls and features

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags59
Transporting children safely62
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory67

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock68
Starting the engine68
Switching off the engine70
Parking brake70
Manual transmission71
Automatic transmission72
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic75
Indicator/Headlamp flasher78
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor78
Cruise control80

Everything under control:

Odometer, outside temperature
display82
Tachometer83
Energy control83
Fuel gauge83
Coolant temperature gauge84
Service Interval Display84
Check Control85
Computer88
Multi-Information Display
(MID)89
Digital clock in the MID90
Computer in the MID93

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)98
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)99
Self-leveling suspension 101
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)101

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams103
Instrument lighting104
High beams/Standing
lamps104
Fog lamps104
Interior lamps105
Reading lamps105

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Air conditioning106
Automatic climate control109
Roller sun blind114
Parked-car ventilation
system114

Cabin convenience:

BMW Universal Transmitter115
Glove compartment118
Storage compartments118
Cellular phone119
Beverage holder119
Ashtray, front119
Cigarette lighter120
Ashtray, rear120

Loading and transporting
cargo:

Through-loading system121
Ski bag122
sport wagon:
Cargo area125
Roll-up cover125
Partition net125
Storage areas in the luggage
compartment126
Cargo loading128
Roof-mounted luggage rack129

Contents

Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures132
Driving notes133
Antilock Brake System133
Brake system134

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure135
Tire condition135
Tire replacement136
Wheel and tire
combinations137
Special characteristics of winter
tires138
Snow chains138

Under the hood:

Hood139
Engine compartment
essentials140
Washer fluids141
Engine oil142
Coolant144
Brake fluid145

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System146

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications147
California Proposition
65 Warning147
OBD interface socket148

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit152
Windshield wiper blades152
Lamps and bulbs153
Changing a wheel158
Battery162
Fuses162

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting164
Towing the vehicle165

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Instrument cluster

*
1 Fuel gauge83
2 Indicator lamp for turn signal
indicators21
3 Speedometer4 Indicator lamp for high beams21
5 Tachometer and Energy Control83
6 Coolant temperature gauge847 Indicator and warning
lamps19 to 21
8 CHECK button85
9 Selector lever and program display
for automatic transmission

*
72, 75
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84n
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval DisplayBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at mod-
erate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp
* comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the warning lamp lights up during
normal vehicle operation, or the mes-
sage "COOLANT TEMPERATURE"
appears in the Check Control
*, the
engine is overheated. Switch off the
engine immediately and allow it to cool
down.
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Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle
may rise as far as the edge of the red
sector in normal operation.
Checking coolant level: refer to
page 144.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.
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.390us702

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Check Control>"RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE"
>"COOLANT TEMPERATURE"
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 84
and 144
>"STOP!ENGINE OILPRESS"
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 19, 142
>"CHECK BRAKE FLUID"
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
roughly minimum level. Have the
reservoir topped up at the earliest
opportunity, refer to page 145. Have
the source of the brake fluid loss
repaired at your BMW center
>"TIRE DEFECT"
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
Refer to page 102
>"SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT"
Please consult the nearest BMW
center. Refer to page 101
>"LIMIT"
*
Display if the programmed speed
limit has been exceeded, refer to
page 93Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
when the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 2. The warning symbols remain
after the message disappears. You can
display the messages again by pressing
the CHECK button 3:
>"TRUNKLID OPEN"
Message appears only when the
vehicle is initially set in motion
>"DOOR OPEN"
This message appears after a defined
road speed has been exceeded
>"FASTEN SEAT BELTS"
*
In addition to this message, a
warning lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustic signal
sounds
>"WASHER FLUID LOW"
Too low; top up fluid at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 141
>"CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV"
The engine oil level is at the absolute
minimum. You should respond by
topping up the oil as soon as
possible, refer to page 142. Do not
continue for more than approx.
30 miles (50 km) before adding oil>"CHECK FILLER CAP"
Inspect the cap to make sure that it is
closed properly, refer to page 25
>"OUTSIDE TEMP. +20 7 (Ð5 6)"
This 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 82
>"TIRE PRESSURE SET"
*
The RDC has imported the current
inflation pressure in the tires as the
target values which the system will
monitor.
Refer to page 101
>"CHECK TIRE PRESSURE"
*
Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure to specifications at the
earliest opportunity (next stop to
refuel).
Refer to page 101
>"TIRECONTROL INACTIVE"
*
A temporary interference of the RDC
or a system fault. Refer to page 102
>"CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS"
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault. Refer to pages 156
and 162 or consult a BMW center

87n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control>"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
pages 153 and following, page 162
or consult your BMW center
>"TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG"
Please consult the nearest BMW
center. Refer to pages 74 and 77
>"CHECK BRAKE LININGS"
Have the brake pads inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 134
>"CHECK COOLANT LEVEL"
Coolant too low, top up at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 144
>"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 at
your BMW center.
Displays after completion of tripAll of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
ignition key is turned to position 0.
The following displays will appear when
appropriate:
>"LIGHTS ON"
>"KEY IN IGNITION LOCK"
>"CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV"
Add engine oil at the next opportunity
(next stop to refuel). Refer to
page 142.
This display appears when you open
the driver's door after parking the
vehicle. A supplementary gong is also
heard.
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. If there were multiple
reports, 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.
No malfunctions are present in the
monitored systems.ComputerYou can find a description of the com-
puter on pages 88 and 93 as well as in
the "Owner's Manual for Onboard Com-
puter."
You can have the Check Control
and computer messages
displayed in a different language.<

140n
1 Reservoir for brake fluid (under the
housing of the microfilter)145
2 Auxiliary terminal for
jump-starting1643 Engine oil dipstick142
4 Engine oil filler neck142
5 Coolant expansion tank1446 Reservoir for intensive-cleaning
system
*
141
7 Reservoir for windshield and
headlamp washer system
*
141
Engine compartment essentials
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