2011 BMW 5 SERIES check engine light

Oil types
Note
No oil additives
Oil
additives may lead to engine damage.◀
Approved oil types
Your service center can advise you on which en‐
gine oils have been approved by the manufac‐
turer of your vehicle.
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the
engine.
Only use approved BMW High Performance oil.
Approved oils belong to the viscosity grades
SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40 and SAE
5W-30.
Alternative oil types
If the approved engine oils are not available, up
to 1 US quart/liter of another oil with the follow‐
ing specification may be used.
API SM quality standards or higher. Coolant
General information
Danger of burns from hot engine
Do not open the cooling system while the
engine is hot; otherwise, escaping coolant may
cause burns.◀ Suitable additives
Only
use suitable additives; otherwise, en‐
gine damage may occur. The additives are
harmful to your health.◀
Coolant consists of water and additives.
Not all commercially available additives are suit‐
able for your vehicle. Ask your service center for
suitable additives.
Coolant level
If there is no Min– and Max– mark in the filler
neck of the coolant reservoir, have the coolant
level checked if necessary by your service cen‐
ter and add coolant as needed.
Checking
1. Let the engine cool.
2. Turn the cap of the coolant reservoir slightly
counterclockwise

to allow any excess pres‐
sure to dissipate, and then open it. 3.
The coolant level is correct if it lies between
the minimum and maximum marks in the
filler neck. 4.
If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level; do not overfill. Seite 258
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Engine oil
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Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The maintenance system directs you to re‐
quired
maintenance measures and thereby sup‐
ports you in maintaining road safety and the op‐
erational reliability of the vehicle.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take into ac‐
count the driving conditions of your vehicle.
Based on this, Condition Based Service deter‐
mines the maintenance requirements.
The system makes it possible to adapt the
amount of maintenance you need to your user
profile.
Details on the service requirements, refer to
page 74, can be displayed on the Control Dis‐
play.
Service data in the remote control
Information on the required maintenance is con‐
tinuously stored in the remote control. Your
service center will read out this data and suggest
the right array of service procedures for your ve‐
hicle.
Therefore, hand your service specialist the re‐
mote control that you used most recently.
Storage periods
Storage periods during which the vehicle bat‐
tery was disconnected are not taken into ac‐
count.
If this occurs, have a service center update the
time-dependent maintenance procedures,
such as checking brake fluid and, if necessary,
changing the engine oil and the microfilter/acti‐
vated-charcoal filter. Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please
consult your Service and Warranty Infor‐
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models for
additional information on service requirements.
Maintenance and repair should be performed by
your service center. Make sure to have regular
maintenance procedures recorded in the vehi‐
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models, and in the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models. These en‐
tries are proof of regular maintenance.
Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnosis There is an OBD socket on the driver's side for
checking

the primary components in the vehicle
emissions.
Emissions
▷The warning lamp lights up:
Emissions are deteriorating. Have
the

vehicle checked as soon as pos‐
sible.
▷ The warning lamp flashes under cer‐
tain circumstances: Seite 260
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Maintenance
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This indicates that there is excessive
misfiring in the engine.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have
the system checked immediately;
otherwise, serious engine misfiring
within a brief period can seriously
damage emission control compo‐
nents,
in particular the catalytic con‐
verter.
Fuel cap The indicator lamp lights up.
If the fuel cap is not properly tightened,
the

OBD system may conclude that fuel
vapor is escaping. If the cap is then tightened,
the display should go out in a short time.
Data memory
Your vehicle records data relating to vehicle op‐
eration, faults and user settings. These data are
stored in the remote control and can be read out
with suitable devices, particularly when the ve‐
hicle is serviced. The data obtained in this way
provide valuable information for service proc‐
esses and repair or for optimizing and develop‐
ing vehicle functions further.
In addition, if you signed a service contract for
Assist, certain vehicle data can be sent directly
from the vehicle to facilitate the desired serv‐
ices. Seite 261
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Reference
Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance
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Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
Use
a clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or
hold the bulb by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Light-emitting diodes installed behind a cover
serve as the light source for controls, display el‐
ements and other equipment.
These light-emitting diodes, which are related
to conventional lasers, are officially designated
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never stare
into the unfiltered light for several hours; other‐
wise, irritation of the retina could result.◀
Headlamp glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lamps in cool or humid weather. When the
light is switched on, the condensation evapo‐
rates after a short time. The headlamp glasses
do not need to be changed.
If there is a large amount of moisture, e.g., water
droplets form in the lamp, have it checked by
your service center.
Front lamps, bulb replacement
Halogen headlamps
Parking lamps and roadside parking lamps,
turn signal lamp
These lights are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction. Accessing the bulbs
Remove the screws and fold down the cap.
Low beams
The

illustration shows the left side of the engine
compartment.
55-watt bulb, H7 Unscrew the cap, remove it, and change the
bulb.
Turn signal
The

illustration shows the left side of the engine
compartment.
24-watt bulb, PY Unscrew the cap, remove it, and change the
bulb.
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Reference
Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance
ProCarManuals.com

High beams
The
illustration shows the left side of the engine
compartment.
55-watt bulb, H7
1. Fold open the cover in the engine compart‐
ment. 2.
Unscrew the cap and remove it. 3.
Unscrew the bulb holder counterclockwise. 4.
Remove the bulb and replace it.
5. Insert the new bulb and attach the cover in
the reverse order.
Xenon headlamps*
Because
of the long life of these bulbs, the like‐
lihood of failure is very low. Switching the lamps
on and off frequently shortens their life. If a xenon bulb fails, switch on the front fog lamps
and continue the trip with great care. Comply
with local regulations.
Do

not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center.
Due to the high voltage present in the system,
there is the danger of fatal injuries if work is car‐
ried out improperly.◀
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your BMW center.
Parking lamps and roadside parking lamps,
turn signal lamp
These lights are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Corner-illuminating lamps
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs.
The illustration shows the left side of the engine
compartment.
55-watt bulb, H7 Seite 264
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Replacing components
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Corrosion on brake discs 148
Cruise control 109
Cruise control, active with Stop & Go 102
Cruising range 73
Cupholder 140
Current fuel consumption 74
Current location, storing 156
Customer Relations 235
D
Damage, tires 251
Damping control, dynamic 98
Data, technical 280
Date 73
Daytime running lights 81
Defrosting, refer to Windows, defrosting 127
Destination distance 76
Destination guidance 161
Destination guidance with in‐ termediate destinations 160
Destination input, naviga‐ tion 154
Digital clock 73
Digital radio 175
Dimensions 280
Dimmable interior rearview mirror 53
Direction indicator, refer to Turn signals 62
Displacement, engine 281
Display,
electronic, instrument
cluster 69
Display in front wind‐ shield 124
Display lighting, refer to Instru‐ ment lighting 83
Displays, cleaning 276
Disposal, coolant 259
Disposal, vehicle battery 268
Distance control, refer to PDC 111
Distance, selecting for ACC 103
Distance to destination 76 Divided screen view, split
screen 20
Door lock, refer to Remote control 28
Doors, Automatic Soft Clos‐ ing 35
Downhill control 96
Drive-off assistant 95
Drive-off assistant, refer to DSC 95
Driving instructions, breaking in 146
Driving notes, general 146
Driving stability control sys‐ tems 95
Driving tips 146
DSC Dynamic Stability Con‐ trol 95
DTC Dynamic Traction Con‐ trol 96
DVD/CD 181
DVD/CD notes 187
DVD/CD player, rear 201
DVD changer 185
DVD settings 184
DVDs, storing 188
DVD, video 183
Dynamic Damping Control 98
Dynamic destination guid‐ ance 167
Dynamic Drive 98
Dynamic Driving Control 99
Dynamic Stability Control DSC 95
Dynamic Traction Control DTC 96
E
EfficientDynamics, refer to Saving fuel 150
Electronic engine oil level check 257
Electronic Stability Program ESP, refer to DSC 95
Emergency detection, remote control 29 Emergency release, door
lock 34
Emergency release, fuel filler flap 240
Emergency Request 269
Emergency service, refer to Roadside Assistance 270
Emergency start function, en‐ gine start 29
Emergency unlocking, trunk lid 37
Energy Control 74
Energy recovery 74
Engine compartment 255
Engine compartment, working in 255
Engine coolant 258
Engine oil 257
Engine oil, adding 257
Engine oil additives 258
Engine oil filler neck 257
Engine oil temperature 72
Engine oil types, alterna‐ tive 258
Engine oil types, ap‐ proved 258
Engine specifications 281
Engine start during malfunc‐ tion 29
Engine start, refer to Starting the engine 59
Engine start, Starting aid 270
Engine stop 59
Engine temperature 72
Equalizer 172
Equipment, interior 132
ESP Electronic Stability Pro‐ gram, refer to DSC 95
Exchanging wheels/tires 251
Exhaust system 146
Exterior
mirror, automatic dim‐
ming feature, dimmable exte‐
rior mirrors 52
Exterior mirrors 51
External devices 192
External start 270
External temperature dis‐ play 73
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Everything from A to Z
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