2009 BMW M5 SEDAN towing

Controls
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buckle4 must be guided between the seat
bench and the backrest when doing so.
Do not twist the center belt buckle,
otherwise correct operation of this
safety equipment is not ensured.<
2.Press the rear seat downward into the
mounts at the front until it audibly engages.
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the luggage com-
partment lid are opened
>To movements in the vehicle: interior
motion sensor, refer to page37
>To changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle
>To interruptions in battery voltage
Unauthorized operations are briefly signaled by
the alarm system:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
The luggage compartment lid can also be
opened with the system armed using the
button on the remote control, refer to page35.
When the luggage compartment lid is closed, it
is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page32.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are
not properly closed. Even if you do not close
the alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after approx.
10 seconds. However, the interior motion
sensor is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
your vehicle has not been disturbed while
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the remote control is inserted into the
ignition lock, however for a maximum of
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
*
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following
situations:
>In two-level garages

Things to remember when driving
118 vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page50,
otherwise they could be damaged due to the
width of the vehicle.
You can find valuable information on this topic
under Care, starting on page218.
Ground clearance
Make sure that sufficient ground clear-
ance is available. To drive down curbs,
select the "Sport" program of the EDC Elec-
tronic Damping Control, refer to page83, to
keep the ground clearance as uniform as possi-
ble. Otherwise the vehicle may be damaged.<
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Make sure that no fluids leak in the cargo
bay; otherwise the vehicle could be dam-
aged.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX lbs. or YYY kg, as otherwise the vehicle may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs.:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permissible load is the total of the weight of
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the
weight of occupants, the less cargo/luggage
can be transported.

Driving tips
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Stowing cargo
>Load heavy cargo as far forward and as low
as possible, placing it directly behind the
rear backrest.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the
opposite buckle.
>Do not pile objects higher than the top edge
of the backrest.
Securing cargo
>Use the luggage net*, luggage straps, or
securing straps to hold down small and
lightweight luggage and cargo.
>Heavy-duty cargo straps
* for securing
larger and heavier objects are available at
your BMW center. Four lashing eyes
mounted in the cargo bay are used to
secure these heavy-duty cargo straps, refer
to illustration.
>Please observe the special instructions
supplied with the heavy-duty cargo straps.
Position and secure the cargo as
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the vehicle's occupants, for example if sud-
den braking or evasive maneuvers are neces-sary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer
to page239, as excessive loads can pose a
safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws.
You should never transport unsecured heavy or
hard objects in the passenger compartment, as
they could fly around and pose a safety hazard
to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten the
heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure cargo
with the upper attachment points for LATCH,
refer to page55; otherwise, you could damage
them.<
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option
for your BMW. Please comply with the precau-
tions included with the installation instructions.
Mounting points
The mounting points are located in the door
openings.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
its handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember not to
exceed the approved roof load capacity, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads
when loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights under
Weights on page239.

Mobility
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2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when cranking
up, refer to illustration detail.
3.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are
changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting a wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.
2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt from
the mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub. Also clean the lug bolts.
3.Position the new wheel or spare wheel.
Secure the wheel by screwing at least two
lug bolts into opposite bolt holes.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5.Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. Otherwise, incorrectly tight-
ened lug bolts are a hidden safety risk. The
tightening torque is 88.5 lb ft/120 Nm.<
2.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems with valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
3.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page84, and the Sequential Manual Trans-
mission, refer to After changing wheels/
tires on page208.
4.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Stowing wheel and tools
1.Lay the wheel in the tool mounting.
2.Lay the cover on the mounting.
3.Center the wheel and cover relative to the
lashing eyes5.
4.Hook the belt into the lashing eyes 5.
5.Completely open the tensioning lock.
6.Thread the belt3 through the axis6 of the
tensioning lock without twisting it and ten-
sion it by hand.
7.Tighten the belt firmly with the tensioning
lock by opening and closing the lock several
times.
8.Fold the tensioning lock closed and stow
the protruding belt end.
Driving with spare wheel
With certain wheel-and-tire combinations
the size of the spare wheel differs from
that of the other wheels. The spare wheel is
equivalent to them in all load and speed ranges.
However, to restore the original state, the nor-
mal wheel should be remounted as soon as
possible.<

Mobility
233Reference
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4.Attach one end of the jumper cable minus/–
to the negative terminal of the battery or to
an engine or body ground of the assisting
vehicle.
Your BMW M5 has a special nut as body
ground or negative terminal.
5.Attach the second end of the cable to the
negative terminal of the battery or to the
engine or body ground of the vehicle to be
started.
Starting engine
1.Start the engine on the assisting vehicle
and allow it to run at idle for several minutes
at slightly increased speed.
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in the
usual way.
If the first starting attempt is not successful,
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.
Check the battery and recharge if necessary.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Tow-starting and towing
Observe applicable laws and regulations
for tow-starting and towing.<
Do not transport any passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed.<
Using tow fitting
Always keep the screw-in tow fitting with the
vehicle. It can be screwed in at the front or rear
of the BMW.
It is located in the toolkit in the luggage com-
partment lid, refer to page222.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the
tow fitting for towing only on roads. Avoid lateral
loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehi-
cle by the tow fitting. Otherwise damage to the
tow fitting and the vehicle can occur.<
Access to screw thread
Press the arrow symbol on the cover in the
bumper.
Front
Rear
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on,
refer to page57, otherwise the low
beams, tail lamps, turn signals and windshield
wipers would not be available. Do not tow the
vehicle with the rear axle raised, as otherwise
the steering can turn to the left or right. When
the engine is stopped, there is no power assist.

Giving and receiving assistance
234 This then requires increased effort for braking
and steering.<
Switch on the hazard warning flashers depend-
ing on the local regulations. If the electrical sys-
tem fails, mark the vehicle to be towed, e.g. with
a sign or warning triangle in the rear window.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Sequential Manual Transmission with
Drivelogic
Make sure that selector lever position N is
engaged with the ignition switched on, as
otherwise the engine can be damaged during
towing.<
Towing methods
Do not lift vehicle by tow fitting or body
and chassis parts, otherwise damage may
result.<
In some countries, towing with tow bars or
ropes in public traffic is not permitted. Familiar-
ize yourself with the regulations on towing in the
respective country.
With tow bar
The towing vehicle may not be lighter
than the vehicle to be towed, otherwise it
will not be possible to reliably control vehicle
response.<
The tow fittings used should be on the same
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an offset
angle, please observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.
>When mounted at an angle, the tow bar will
exert lateral forces, tending to push the
vehicle sideways.
Only attach the tow bar to the tow fittings,
as attachment to other vehicle parts can
lead to damage.<
With tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated
stresses on vehicle components when
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Only attach tow ropes to the tow fittings, as
attachment to other vehicle parts can lead to
damage.<
With tow truck
Do not tow the vehicle with only the front
or rear axle raised, as otherwise the
engine may be damaged or the steering can
turn to the left or right.<
Have the BMW transported only on a flatbed
surface.
Tow-starting
Do not tow-start the vehicle if possible, but
instead start the engine by means of jump start-
ing, refer to page232. With a catalytic con-
verter, the vehicle should only be tow-started
with the engine cold.
Manual transmission
1.Switch on the hazard warning flashers,
comply with country-specific regulations.
2.Switch on the ignition, refer to page57.
3.Shift into 3rd gear.
4.Tow-start with the clutch completely
depressed and slowly release the clutch.
After the engine starts, immediately
depress the clutch again completely.

Everything from A to Z
250 Entering zip code for
navigation128
"Entertainment"150
Entertainment sound output
on/off151
Entry map for destination131
Equalizer, refer to Tone
control153
"Equalizer", tone control153
"ESN"161
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control81
Event Data Recorders217
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system116
Exterior mirrors50
– adjusting50
– automatic dimming
feature51
– automatic heating50
– folding in and out50
– tilting down passenger-side
exterior mirror50
External audio device108
Eye for tow-starting and
towing, refer to Tow
fitting233
F
Fader, refer to Tone
control152
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control72
False alarm
– refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms37
– refer to Switching off
alarm37
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts47
– warning lamp48
Fastest route for
navigation136
"Fast route" in navigation137
Filler neck for washer fluid65Filling bottle, refer to
M Mobility System225
Filling sealant into wheel226
Filter, refer to Microfilter/
activated-charcoal filter102
First aid, refer to First-aid
kit232
First-aid kit232
Flashing
– during locking/unlocking,
refer to Setting confirmation
signals33
– triple turn signal
activation63
Flat tire
– changing wheels227
– Flat Tire Monitor84,85
– M Mobility System85,225
– refer to Tire condition206
– spare wheel228
– TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor85
– warning lamp85,86
Flat Tire Monitor84
– false alarms84
– initializing system84
– snow chains208
– system limits84
– warning lamp85
Fluid reservoir, refer to Filler
neck for washer fluid65
"FM", reception
range150,154
FM, waveband154
Folding rear backrest111
Fold-over rear backrest111
Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely117
Footwell lamps, refer to
Interior lamps97
Forward, fast
– CD changer
168
– CD player168
For your own safety5
Freeway, refer to Route
criteria136
Front airbags88
Front armrest, refer to Center
armrest, front107Front passenger airbags
– deactivating89
Front seat adjustment43
"FTM"85
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor84
Fuel203
– average consumption69
– display68
– high-quality brands203
– quality203
– specifications203
– tank contents, refer to
Capacities239
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge68
Fuel consumption display,
refer to Computer, average
fuel consumption69
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge68
Fuel filler door202
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction202
Full mobile phone preparation
package176
Full screen display, refer to
Switching assistance
window off22
Fuses230
G
Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control105
Gasoline, refer to Required
fuel203
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel
gauge68
Gear changes62
Gear display, refer to Displays
in instrument cluster61
Gearshift lever60
– manual transmission59
General driving notes116

Reference 253
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Loading
– securing cargo119
– stowing cargo119
– vehicle118
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo119
"Lock after driving"35
Lock buttons in the doors,
refer to Lokking35
Locking33
– confirmation signals33
– from inside35
– from outside33
– without key, refer to Comfort
access38
Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals33
– from inside34
– from outside32
Low beams93
– automatic93
– indicator lamp13
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support44
Lug bolts228
– tightening torque, refer to
After mounting229
– wrench228
Luggage compartment lid35
– emergency release36
– locking with remote
control33
– opening from inside35
– opening from outside36
– opening with remote
control33
– unlocking and locking from
inside34
Luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
– comfort access39
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack119
Lumbar support44LW, waveband154
M
M Dynamic Mode MDM81
– indicator lamp13,81
M Engine Dynamic Control59
– "P 400"60
– "P 500"60
– "P 500 Sport"60
M Mobility System225
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires208
Maintenance216
– refer to Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models216
– refer to Service
requirements70
– refer to Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models216
Maintenance system216
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control72
Manual air distribution100
"Manual" in radio mode155
Manual operation
– door lock34
– driver's door34
– fuel filler door202
– glass sunroof41
– luggage compartment lid36
Manual transmission59
– tow-starting234
"Map direction of travel"140
Map display140
"Map facing north"140
Map for navigation
– changing scale140
– destination entry131
Map view facing north140
Master key, refer to Keys/
remote control30
Maximum cooling101
Maximum speed with winter
tires208MDM, refer to M Dynamic
Mode81
MDrive52
"M Dynamic Mode"81
Measurements, refer to
Dimensions238
Memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory45
MENU, button refer to Start
menu18
Menus, refer to iDrive16
Message list for traffic
information143
Microfilter102
Microphone
– for telephone14
– for voice command
system14
Mirror dimming feature51
Mirrors50
– automatic curb monitor50
– folding in and out50
– heating50
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory45
"Missed calls"184
Missed calls185
Mobile phone
– accepted calls185
– adjusting volume182
– calling183
– ending call183
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest107
– missed calls185
– operation by voice187
– operation via iDrive182
– redialing185
– refer to separate operating
instructions107
– Top 8185
– touch tone dialing, refer to
Tone dialing method186
Mobile phone battery190
Mobility System225
Monitor, refer to iDrive16