2004 BMW 545I SEDAN negative terminal

Replacing components
184
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is located in the lug-
gage compartment lid.
Loosen the wingnut to open.
Windshield wiper blades
To replace, fold the wiper arm up and hold.
Press the catches together while pushing
the wiper blade out of the front.
Lamps and bulbs
The lamps and bulbs are essential factors
contributing to the safety of your vehicle.
Therefore, comply fully with the following
instructions during bulb replacement. If you
are not familiar with the specified proce-
dures, have the replacements carried out at
your BMW center.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs
with your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the bulb's surface and reduce its service life.
Use a clean cloth, napkin, etc., or hold the
bulb by its metal socket.
In the case of bulbs where the replacement
is not described, please consult your BMW
center.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement
bulbs at your BMW center.
To prevent short circuits, before
working on any electrical system,
equipment or accessory you should always
switch it off and disconnect the cable from
the battery's negative terminal before start-
ing.
To avoid possible injury or equipment dam-
age when changing bulbs, observe any
instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
When maintaining the headlamps,
please comply with the instructions in
the separate Caring for your vehicle bro-
chure.<
Headlamps
The illustration shows the left-hand side of
the engine compartment.
1Cover cap for low beams
2Cover cap for high beams
Turn the cover cap to the left and remove.
Always wear gloves and eye protec-
tion Ð the atmosphere within the H7
bulb is pressurized. Failure to observe this
precaution can lead to personal injury
should the bulb be damaged.<

Giving and receiving assistance
192
Jump-starting
When your battery is discharged you can
use two jumper cables to start your vehicle
with power from the battery in a second
vehicle. You can also use the same method
to help start another vehicle.Use only
jumper cables with fully-insulated clamp
handles.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal
injury, always avoid all contact with
electrical components while the engine is
running. Carefully adhere to the following
sequence, both to prevent damage to one
or both vehicles, and to guard against pos-
sible personal injuries.<
Preparing
1.Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and
approximately the same capacitance in
Ah. This information can be found on
the battery
2.Switch off the engine of the support
vehicle
3.Switch off any consumer units in both
vehicles.
There must not be any contact
between the bodies of the two vehi-
cles, as otherwise there is a danger of short
circuits.<
Connecting the jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks,
always observe this sequence when
connecting jumper cables.<
On your BMW, the so-called starting-aid
terminal in the engine compartment serves
as the battery positive terminal, refer also
to Engine compartment overview on
page 178. The symbol + is embossed on
the cover.
1.Open the cover of the BMW starting-aid
terminal. To do so, pull the tab
2.Attach one end of the jumper cable
plus/+ to the positive terminal of the
battery or a starting-aid terminal of the
vehicle providing assistance
3.Attach the second end of the cable to
the positive terminal of the battery or to
a starting-aid terminal of the vehicle to
be started
Your BMW has a special nut as body
ground or negative pole.
4.Attach one end of the jumper cable
minus/Ð to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground
of the vehicle providing assistance

Mobility
193Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
5.Attach the second end of the cable to
the negative terminal of the battery or to
the engine or body ground of the vehi-
cle to be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the engine on the support vehicle
and allow it to run for several minutes at
a fast idle
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in
the usual way.
If the first start attempt is not success-
ful, wait a few minutes before another
attempt in order to allow the discharged
battery to recharge
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by
reversing the connection sequence.
If required, have the battery inspected and
recharged at your BMW center.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Towing
Always observe all applicable towing
laws and regulations.<
Towing with a commercial tow truck
>Use a wheel lift or flatbed carrier
>Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Never allow passengers to ride on a
towed vehicle for any reason.<
Towing with raised front axle
Vehicles with automatic
transmission:
1.Towing speed:
Maximum 45 mph/70 km/h
2.Towing distance:
Maximum of 90 miles/150 km.
Vehicles with Sequential manual
transmission SMG
With the ignition switched on, engage the
selector lever position N, then switch off
the ignition again.
Tow fitting
The threaded tow fitting is stored in the tool
kit mounted on the inside of the luggage
compartment lid, refer to page 184, and
should always remain in the vehicle. It can
be screwed to the front or rear of the vehi-
cle.