2003 BMW 540I SEDAN high beam

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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

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1 Parking lamps/Low beams103
2

>

Turn signal indicators78

>

Standing lamps104

>

High beams104

>

Headlamp flasher78

>

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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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
390us740

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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
390us741

21n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps
Self-leveling suspension
* l
The self-leveling suspension
system is inactive. Please con-
sult the nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 101
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic Sta-
bility Control (DSC)
* l
ASC+T/DSC has been deactivated,
either manually at the button or auto-
matically in response to a system mal-
function. In the event of a malfunction,
have the system checked by your BMW
center.
For additional information: refer to
page 99
Engine electronics
*
There is a fault in the electronic
engine-management system.
You can continue to drive with reduced
engine output and engine speed.
Please have the system inspected by
your BMW center.
Service Engine Soon l
If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information: refer to
page 148
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.
Check Filler Cap
* l
This indicator lamp comes on
when the fuel filler cap is loose
or missing.
Close the filler cap tightly: refer to
page 25
Green: for your information
Turn signal indicators
Flashes when the turn signal
indicators are on. Rapid flashing
indicates a system malfunction.
For additional information: refer to
page 78
Cruise control
Lights up when the system is
switched on: available for oper-
ation via the multifunction steering
wheel.
For additional information: refer to
page 80
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the front fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to
page 104
Blue: for your information
High beams
Lights up when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to
pages 78 and 104

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Luggage compartment Alarm systemLuggage strapsUse the straps on the floor of the
luggage compartment to secure smaller
items of luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are
placed on the straps.
The lashing eyes at the corners of the
luggage compartment provide you
with a convenient means of attaching
luggage nets
* and flexible straps for
securing suitcases and luggage.
Refer also to "Cargo loading" on
page 128.
394de302
HangerOn the left-hand side of the luggage
compartment is a hanger for fastening
shopping bags, packages and similar
items.394de144
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds
>when a door, the hood, the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate or the rear
window is opened
>to movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>to variations in the vehicle's tilt angle
such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow
the vehicle
>to interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following
>an acoustic alarm for 30 seconds
>the hazard warning flashers, for
approx. five minutes
>the high beams flash on and off in the
same rhythm as the hazard warning
flashers.

78n
Indicator/Headlamp flasher
Washer/Wiper system
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
lamp accompanied by periodic
clicking sound from the relay)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the pressure point. It then returns to the
center position when released.
If the indicator lamp and the
clicking from the relay are both
faster than normal, one of the turn
signal indicators has failed.<390de722
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Clean the windshield
6 Intensive cleaning
*
7 Rotary dial for controlling wipe inter-
vals in the intermittent mode and for
setting the rain sensor's sensitivity
level
*
394de730
Intermittent mode or rain sensor
*
Intermittent mode:
You can set the wipe interval to four
stages with rotary dial 7.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied
automatically depending on road
speed.
Rain sensor:
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
Move the lever to position 1 with the
ignition key in position 1 or higher. The
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather
conditions.
You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1. Whenever the ignition key is
in position 1 or higher, all you then need
to do to activate the rain sensor is
briefly turn the rotary dial 7.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Deactivating the rain sensor:
Move lever to position 0.

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.<