2003 BMW 540I SEDAN service interval

5n

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

15n

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

18n

Instrument cluster

*
10 Outside temperature display82
11 Indicator lamp for Automatic Sta-
bility Control plus Traction (ASC+T)/
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

*
2112 Trip odometer82
13 Check Control display85
14 Odometer8215 Service Interval Display84
16 Reset button for trip odometer82
17 Indicator and warning
lamps19 to 21
390us741

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.
390de007
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

146n
The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and oper-
ating safety Ð and as cost-effectively as
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining its resale
value.
390us702
Service Interval DisplayWhile conventional systems rely on dis-
tance traveled alone to determine when
service is due, the BMW Maintenance
System has for years considered the
actual conditions under which the
vehicle operates, because mileage can
be accumulated in very different ways.
From a maintenance standpoint,
62,000 miles (100,000 km) accumulated
in short-distance urban driving are not
the equivalent of the same distance
covered at moderate speeds in long-
distance highway travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the
vehicle covers every kind of operating
situation. However, even those who
drive only short distances Ð significantly
less than 6,000 miles (10,000 km) annu-
ally Ð should have the engine oil
changed at least every 2 years since oil
deteriorates over time, regardless of
use.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models) or Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models)For additional information on mainte-
nance intervals and procedures, please
refer to the Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US models) or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models).
As a precaution against corrosion, it is
advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel at the
same time, depending upon operating
conditions.
Have your BMW center do the
maintenance and repair.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or in
the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian models).
These entries will constitute your proof
that the vehicle has received regular
maintenance. They are also required in
the event of a warranty claim.<
The BMW Maintenance System

Everything from A to Z
181n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Instrument displays15
Instrument lighting104
Instruments15
Intensive cleaning141
Interior lamps105
Interior mirrors58
Interior motion sensor42
avoiding unintentional
alarms44
deactivate35
Interior rearview mirror57
automatic dimmer58
Interlock68 J
Jack159
Jump-starting164t K
Key Memory67
Key with remote control32
Keys32
Kickdown73, 76 L
Lamp switch103
Lamps and bulbs153t
Lashing eyes to secure the
load128
Length of vehicle171 Level control
system21, 101
License plate lamps
bulb replacement158t
Lighter120
LIGHTS ON warning103
LIMIT93
Load-securing devices128
Louvers106, 109
Low beams103
bulb replacement153t
Low-fuel warning lamp83
Lug bolts160
Lug wrench159t
Luggage
compartment38, 42, 125
capacity173
manual operation38t
Luggage compartment
lid38
electrical malfunction38
emergency release from
luggage compartment's
interior41
opening from the
outside39
opening separately38
remote control35
secure separately38
Luggage compartment's
interior, emergency
release41 Luggage net42
Luggage straps42
Lumbar support50
M
M+S tires138
Maintenance84, 146t
Malfunction displays85t
Manual operation
doors33
fuel filler door24
luggage compartment
lid38
sliding/tilt sunroof47
tailgate39
Manual transmission71
Manually controlled
recirculated-air112
Manually-adjusted seat49
Master key32
Maximum cooling112
Memory settings
for seat, mirror and
steering wheel54
related to individuals ("Key
Memory")67
related to the vehicle
("Vehicle Memory")67
Microfilter108, 114
MID (Multi-Information
Display)89 Mirrors57
adjusting57
automatic dimming
feature58
defrosting57
memory setting54
Modifications,
technical9, 147
Monitoring inflation
pressure, tires101
Moonroof47
Multifunction buttons,
steering wheel22
Multi-Information Display
(MID)89
N
Non-smoker's
equipment120 O
OBD interface socket148
Odometer16, 82
Oil additives142
Oil change interval, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US
models) or to the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models)
Oil consumption142

Everything from A to Z
183n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Service Interval
Display84, 146
Shiftlock72, 75
Shoulder support51
Side airbags59
Side Impact Head Protection
System59
Side lamps
bulb replacement154t
Side turn signal indicators
bulb replacement155t
Sitting safely48
with airbags48
with safety belt48
Ski bag122
Ski bag in the sport
wagon124
Sliding/tilt sunroof46
manual operation47
with glass moonroof47
Snow chains138
Socket for attaching
electrical appliances120
Spare tire159t
Speaker119
Special characteristics of
winter tires138
Special oil143t
Speed96
Speed limit93
Speed, average88, 96
Speedometer15, 16, 17 sport wagon
cargo area125
compartments in the cargo
area126
cover in the cargo
area126
folding down the rear
backrest125
lashing eyes128
load-securing
devices128
opening the rear
window40
partition net125
rear window wiper, blade
replacement152t
releasing the tailgate after
an electrical
malfunction39
roll-up cover125
securing a load128
ski bag124
tail lamp assembly, bulb
replacement156t
Standing lamps104
Starting assistance164t
Starting problems69t
Starting the engine69
Steering wheel
heating56
lock68
memory setting54 Steering wheel with
multifunction buttons22
Steptronic75
Stopwatch91
for additional information
refer to the "Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer"
Storage compartments118
in the cargo area126
Summer tires137
Sun blinds114
Sunroof46
Switching off the engine70
Switch-on times for parked-
car ventilation92
Symbols8
T
Tachometer83
Tail lamps156
bulb replacement156t
Tailgate
manual operation39
manual release39
opening from the
inside40
opening from the
outside39
Technical
modifications9, 147
Telephone preparation119 Temperature display82, 88
Temperature gauge84
Temperature
layering108, 113
Tether strap62
Third brake lamp157
Through-loading
system121
Tilt alarm sensor42, 43
avoiding unintentional
alarms44
deactivate35
Tilt function, passenger-side
mirror55
Time
calling up90
changing90
of arrival, estimated95
Timer90
for additional information
refer to the "Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer"
Tire
change158t
damage135t
inflation pressure26, 135
pressure
monitoring101, 135
replacement136
tread135
Tire inflation pressure26