2004 BMW 525I SEDAN 5w 30

Owner's Manual
for Vehicle

525i
530i
545i

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with
enhanced control and security when you drive it. We there-
fore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and
familiarize yourself with the information that we have com-
piled for you before starting off in your new vehicle.
It contains important data and instructions intended to
assist you in gaining maximum use and satisfaction from
your BMW's unique range of technical features. The man-
ual also contains information on maintenance designed to
enhance operating safety and contribute to maintaining the
value of your BMW throughout an extended service life.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent
part of this vehicle. It should stay with the vehicle when
sold to provide the next owner with important operating,
safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

© 2003 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 157 647
US English VIII/03 5 10
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility

Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to
use the index, refer to page 202.

Using this Owner's Manual

4Notes
7Reporting safety defects

At a glance

10Cockpit
16Control Center
20Voice command system

Controls

26Opening and closing
36Adjustments
45Transporting children safely
49Driving
65Everything under control
76Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
87Lamps
90A congenial climate
96Practical interior accessories

Driving tips

106Things to remember when driving

Navigation

114Starting navigation system
116Destination entry
123Destination guidance
127What to do if É

Entertainment

130On/off, tone
134Radio
141CD Compact Disc
144CD changer

Communications

150Telephoning
161TeleService, BMW Assist



Mobility

168Refueling
170Wheels and tires
177Under the hood
181Maintenance
183Rules and regulations
184Replacing components
190Giving and receiving assistance

Reference

198Technical data
202Everything from A to Z

Notes

4

Notes
Using this Owner's Manual

We have made every effort to ensure that
you are able to find what you need in this
Owner's Manual as quickly as possible.
The fastest way to find specific topics is to
use the detailed index at the back of the
manual. If you wish to gain an initial over-
view of your vehicle, you will find this in the
first chapter.
Should you want to sell your BMW some
day, please remember to hand over the
Owner's Manual as well; it is an important
component of your vehicle.

Additional sources of information

Should you have any other questions, your
BMW center will be glad to advise you at
any time.
You can find information on BMW, e.g.
technology, on the Internet at
www.bmwusa.com.

Symbols used

Indicates precautions that must be
followed precisely in order to avoid
the possibility of personal injury and seri-
ous damage to the vehicle.

<

Marks the end of a specific item of infor-
mation.
Contains information that will assist
you in gaining the optimum benefit
from your vehicle and enable you to care
more effectively for your vehicle.
Refers to measures that can be taken
to help protect the environment.

*
Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras
when available.
"..." Identifies Control Display texts used to
select individual functions

.



Symbols on vehicle components

Indicates that you should consult the
relevant section of this Owner's Man-
ual for information on a particular part or
assembly.

5

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility

The individual vehicle

On purchasing your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individual-
ized equipment and features. This Owner's
Manual describes the entire array of
options and equipment available with a
specific BMW model.
Please bear in mind that the manual may
contain information on accessories and
equipment that you have not specified for
your own vehicle. Sections describing
options and special equipment are marked
by asterisks

*

to assist you in identifying
possible differences between the descrip-
tions in this manual and your own vehicle's
equipment.
Should your BMW be equipped with fea-
tures or accessories not described in this
manual, please consult the enclosed sup-
plementary manual(s).

Editorial notice

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived 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, the
features described in this Owner's Manual
may differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely ruled
out. You are therefore asked to appreciate
that no legal claims can be entertained on
the basis of the data, illustrations or
descriptions in this Owner's Manual.

Notes

6

For your own safety

Fuels

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10% ethanol or other oxygenates with up
to 2.8% oxygen by weight Ð that is,
15% MTBE or 3% methanol plus an equiv-
alent amount of co-solvent Ð will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship. Field
experience has indicated significant differ-
ences in fuel quality Ð volatility, composi-
tion, additives, etc. Ð 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 environ-
mental conditions such as high ambient
temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when you
are handling gasoline.

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Maintenance and repair

Advanced technology, e. g. the use of
modern materials and high-perform-
ance electronics, requires specially
adapted maintenance and repair methods.
Therefore, only have corresponding work
on your BMW carried out by a BMW center
or a workshop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspond-
ingly trained personnel. If work is carried
out improperly there is a danger of conse-
quential damage and the related safety
risks.

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Parts and accessories

For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Genuine BMW
Parts, you simultaneously acquire the
assurance that they have been thoroughly
tested by BMW to ensure optimum perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for dam-
age resulting from installation of parts and
accessories not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk to
either the vehicle, its operation, or its occu-
pants.
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on using
these items, are available from all BMW
centers.
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 phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna Ð or transceiver equipment, for
instance, 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. Consult your BMW cen-
ter for additional information.

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Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any automo-
tive repair establishment or individual using
any certified automotive part.

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