2003 BMW M5 SEDAN warning light

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
ignition. They each light up once for dif-
ferent 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 con-
tinue driving with a defective drive
belt, as the engine could overheat and
sustain serious damage. A defective
drive belt will also make the vehicle
harder to steer.

<

Engine oil pressure



l


May be accompanied by the
warning "STOP!ENGINE OIL-
PRESS" in the Check Control display
panel: stop the vehicle immediately and
switch off the engine. Check level of oil
in engine, top up as required. If oil level
is correct: please contact the nearest
BMW center.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious
damage from inadequate lubrication.

<



Brake hydraulic system

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 hydraulic system 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 the 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. Con-
ventional braking efficiency is available
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 mal-
function. In the event of a malfunction,
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 lamp lights up
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 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 indicators
Flashes when the turn signal
indicators are on. Rapid
flashing: indicates a system malfunc-
tion.
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

56n
0 Steering locked
1 Steering unlocked
2 Ignition switched on
3 Starting engine
Steering locked The key can be inserted or removed in
this position only.
An acoustic warning is sounded when
you fail to remove the ignition key after
opening the driver's door.
After removing the key, turn the
steering wheel slightly to the left or right
until the lock engages. 390de010
Steering unlocked Turning the steering wheel slightly to
the right or left often makes it easier to
turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual electrical accessories are
ready for operation.Starting engine Depress the clutch when starting the
engine. A lockout prevents the engine
from starting with the clutch engaged.
Before starting>Engage the parking brake
>Move the gearshift lever to the neu-
tral position
>Depress the clutch pedal.
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. The exhaust
gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless, but highly toxic
gas. Breathing the exhaust gases poses
an extreme health risk, and can lead to
unconsciousness and death.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Steering/Ignition lock Starting the engine

64n
Tachometer Engine oil temperature Fuel gauge The orange pre-warning zone appears
depending on the engine temperature.
As the engine temperature increases,
more and more of the sectors of this
pre-warning zone disappear.
Avoid engine speeds in the pre-warning
zone if possible.
Do not operate the engine with the
needle in the red overspeed zone of the
gauge.
To protect the engine, the engine-man-
agement system interrupts the fuel
supply when you approach this sector.39mus023
The normal operating temperature
range is between + 176 7 (+ 80 6) and
+ 248 7 (+ 120 6). Do not exceed the
maximum temperature of +302 7
(+150 6). 39mus024
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the indicator lamp comes on and
stays on, there are approx. 2.5 gal
(10 liters) of fuel still in the tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to
page 143.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies (when you
are driving in mountainous areas, for
example), the needle may fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.<39mus025

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 mes-
sage 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 min-
imum, so add engine oil as soon as
possible. Refer to page 115. Until
then, do not drive more than approx.
30 miles (50 km)>"TIRE PRESSURE SET"
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 cir-
cuit has a fault. Refer to pages 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 and following and
page 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 21
>"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 to the nearest object. To
do this, four ultrasonic sensors in the
front and rear bumpers each measure
the distance to the nearest object. The
monitoring range of the front sensors
and two rear sensors at the ends of the
rear bumper 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 dis-
tance 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 pres-
ence of an object less than 1 ft (30 cm)
away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if you are
moving parallel to a wall.
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 in 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