2004 BMW 525I SEDAN fuel

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

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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Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signal
indicators13
2Speedometer with display of speed for
>Cruise control58
or
>Active cruise control59
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Display for active cruise control60
5Tachometer with variable advance
warning field and Energy Control65
6Display for
>Indicator and warning lamps of the
Check Control68
>Speed of the cruise control58
>Desired speed for active cruise
control60
>Clock/date65
>Outside temperature65 7Display for
>Automatic transmission 54
>Sequential manual transmission 53
>Computer70
>Date and remaining distance for
service requirement66
>Trip odometer/odometer65
>Check Control message present68
8Fuel gauge66
9To set trip odometer to zero
and reset for
service requirement display65

Control Center
16
Control Center
The Control Center groups the functions of
a large number of switches. This means
that these functions can be operated from
a central position. The following section
provides an introduction to the principle of
the menu guidance. How you control the
individual functions is described in the con-
text of the relevant equipment.
Controls
1Controller: you navigate through the
menus of the Control Center and make
adjustments by turning, pressing and
moving it to the left, right, forwards or
backwards
2Opening the start menu from any menu
item
3Control Display
When you turn the controller, you feel a
clicking. This helps you to select the
desired menu item.
To avoid posing an unnecessary haz-
ard due to inattention, both to your
own vehicle's occupants and to other road users: never attempt to use the controls or
make entries unless traffic and road condi-
tions allow.<
Menu overview
You can call up all the functions in the Con-
trol Center using five menu items.
Communication
>Portable phone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*.
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard information, e.g. for display of
the average fuel consumption.
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD.
Climate
>Air distribution
>Seat air conditioning
*
>Independent ventilation
*.
Menu item
>Switching off the Control Display
>Traffic information
>Sound and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. Key
Memory
>Display of the maintenance requirement
and dates for statutory emission and
vehicle inspections.

Controls
27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Examples of Key Memory functions
>Automatic adjustment of the electric
driver's seat
>Locking the vehicle after moving off
>When unlocking with the remote con-
trol, either unlock only the driver's door
or the entire vehicle
>Activating optical warning for Park Dis-
tance Control PDC
>Setting the volume.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed. This simultaneously engages and
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be oper-
ated from the outside
>via the remote control
>via the driver's door lock
and from inside via the button for the cen-
tral locking system.
When the system is locked from inside, the
fuel filler door remains unlocked, refer to
page 30.
The anti-theft system is automatically acti-
vated whenever you operate the central
locking system from outside the vehicle. It
prevents the doors from being unlocked
using the safety lock buttons or door han-
dles. The alarm system is armed/disarmed
at the same time.
In the event of an accident, the central
locking system automatically unlocks the
vehicle. In addition, the hazard warning
flashers and interior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: from
outside
Using the remote control
The remote control provides two additional
functions for the central locking system:
>Switching on the interior lamps, refer to
page 28.
You can also use this function to locate
your vehicle in parking garages etc.
>Opening the luggage compartment lid,
refer to page 28.
The luggage compartment lid opens,
regardless of whether it was previously
locked or unlocked.
In addition, the remote control offers you
another function:
>Panic mode
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
When you lock/unlock the vehicle, you
simultaneously activate/deactivate the
anti-theft system, arm/disarm the alarm
system, and switch the interior lamps on/
off.
Protect the remote control against
unauthorized use by handing over
only the spare key, for example when using
hotel valet parking.<
Because any persons or animals left
unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always keep the remote control with you;
this precaution ensures that you will remain
able to unlock the vehicle from the outside
at all times.<
Unlocking
Press the button.
You can set which doors are to be
unlocked for each specific key:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller

Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Malfunctions
External systems or devices may cause
local interference in the functions of the
remote control.
Should the remote control fail to operate
owing to interference of this kind, you can
respond by using the central key to unlock
your vehicle at one of the doors.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center, which is
also your source for replacement keys.
When it is no longer possible to lock the
vehicle via the remote control, the battery is
discharged. Use this remote control during
an extended drive; this will recharge the
battery, refer to page 26.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply
with part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communi-
cation Commission regulations. Operation
is governed by the following:
FCC ID: LX8766S
LX8766E
LX8CAS
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could void
the user's authority to operate this equip-
ment.<
Using the door lock
Do not lock the vehicle when persons
are inside, as the vehicle cannot be
unlocked from inside.<
One turn of the key in the driver's door lock
unlocks the driver's door only.
Turning the key a second time unlocks all of
the remaining doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid and the fuel filler door.
Convenience operation
You also have the option of operating the
windows and the glass roof from the
driver's door lock.
>To open:
With the door closed, turn the key to the
unlock position and hold it there
>To close:
With the door closed, turn the key to the
lock position and hold it there.
Watch during the closing process to
be sure that no one is injured. Releas-
ing the key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction
You can turn the key all the way to the right
or left in the door lock to lock or unlock the
driver's door.

Opening and closing
30
Opening and closing: from
inside
You can operate the central locking system
with this button when the front doors are
closed. This only unlocks or locks the
doors and luggage compartment lid, but
not secured. Also, the fuel filler door
remains unlocked to allow refueling.
You can also make the following settings
for each specific key:
>The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle as soon as you
drive off
>The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle after a short time
when no door has been opened.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3.Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4.Select "Central locking" and press the
controller
5.Select "Lock after driving off" or
"Relock door if not opened" and press the controller.
displays the selected setting.
Unlocking and opening the doors
>Either unlock the doors together with
the button for the central locking sys-
tem and then pull the door handle
above the armrest or
>pull the door handle twice at each indi-
vidual door: the first pull unlocks the
door, the second pull opens it.
Locking
>Use the central locking button to lock all
of the doors simultaneously, or
>press down the individual safety lock
buttons. To prevent you from being
locked out, the open driver's door can-
not be locked using the safety lick but-
ton.
Because any persons or animals left
unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always keep the remote control with you;
this precaution ensures that you will remain
able to unlock the vehicle from the outside
at all times.<

Controls
49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving
Ignition lock
0 Steering locked
The key can only be inserted or removed in
this position.
After removing the key, turn the steering
wheel slightly until it locks.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
only move the selector lever from
position P with the engine running. To turn
the key back to position 0 or to remove it,
first place the selector lever in position P:
Interlock.<
1 Steering unlocked
A slight steering wheel movement often
makes it easier to turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual current consumers are ready for
operation.
2 Ignition switched on
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
3 Start engine
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed
rooms, as otherwise the inhaling of
toxic exhaust gases can cause uncon-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas. Never leave
an unattended vehicle with the engine run-ning, as such a vehicle represents a poten-
tial safety hazard.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by
leaving it running while the vehicle remains
stationary. Instead, begin to drive immedi-
ately at a moderate engine speed.
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Your BMW is equipped with the con-
venience starting feature. Here, it is
sufficient to turn the ignition key only briefly
to position 3 'Start engine' and to let go of it
right away. The system responds by auto-
matically engaging the starter for a certain
period and allowing it to run until the engine
starts, after which it then disengages auto-
matically. The automatic starting mode will
not operate or will be canceled if the bat-
tery voltage is low. The engine can be
started by jump-starting, refer to
page 192.<
Press the accelerator pedal halfway down
when starting if
>the engine fails to start on the first
attempt, for instance, if it is very hot or
cold
>the engine is started at very low tem-
peratures, as of approx. +5 7/Ð156,
at high altitudes over approx. 3,300 ft/
1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick suc-
cession or repeated start attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise,
the fuel is not burned or inadequately
burned and there is a danger of overheat-
ing and damaging the catalytic converter. 1.Apply the handbrake
2.Gearshift lever in idle position
3.Press the clutch pedal
4.Start the engine.
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, place the gearshift