BMW 525i Sedan Owner's manual

Category
Cars
Type
Owner's manual

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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 glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to
use the index, refer to page 202.
Using this Owner's Manual
4 Notes
7 Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10 Cockpit
16 Control Center
20 Voice command system
Controls
26 Opening and closing
36 Adjustments
45 Transporting children safely
49 Driving
65 Everything under control
76 Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
87 Lamps
90 A congenial climate
96 Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
106 Things to remember when driving
Navigation
114 Starting navigation system
116 Destination entry
123 Destination guidance
127 What to do if …
Entertainment
130 On/off, tone
134 Radio
141 CD Compact Disc
144 CD changer
Communications
150 Telephoning
161 TeleService, BMW Assist
Mobility
168 Refueling
170 Wheels and tires
177 Under the hood
181 Maintenance
183 Rules and regulations
184 Replacing components
190 Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
198 Technical data
202 Everything 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
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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 – that is,
15% MTBE or 3% methanol plus an equiv-
alent amount of co-solvent – will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship. Field
experience has indicated significant differ-
ences in fuel quality – volatility, composi-
tion, additives, etc. – 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.
<
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.
<
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 – including operation of
any portable phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna – 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.
<
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.
<
7
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Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publica-
tion thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following war-
ranties:
>
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>
Federal Emissions System Defect
Warranty
>
Federal Emissions Performance
Warranty
>
California Emission Control System
Limited Warranty.
Detailed information about these warran-
ties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or in the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.
Reporting safety defects
The following only applies to vehicles
owned and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration NHTSA in addition to notify-
ing BMW of North America, LLC, P.O. Box
1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-
1227, Telephone (800) 831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or BMW of North
America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123
in Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transporta-
tion, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor vehi-
cle safety from the Hotline.
At a glance
This overview of buttons, switches and
displays is intended to serve as a source
of orientation in your vehicle's operating
environment. The section will also assist
you in becoming acquainted with the
control concepts and options available
for operating the various systems.
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
All around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1
Roller sun blind for rear window 97
2
Rear window safety switch 34
3
Electric power windows 33
4
Adjusting exterior mirrors 42
5
Turn signal indicators 56
High beams, headlamp
flasher 88
Check Control 68
Computer 70
Standing lamps 88
At a glance
11
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6
Buttons on steering wheel
Portable phone
*
:
>
Accepting a call
>
Start calling
>
Ending call.
Volume
Voice command system.
Fast forward/reverse:
>
Radio
Press briefly: change station
Press longer: manual tuning or auto-
matic search scan
>
CD
Press briefly: select track
Press longer: fast forward/reverse.
Individually programmable, refer to
page 44.
>
Individually programmable, refer to
page 44
>
Voice instructions for navigation.
7
Instrument cluster 12
9
Ignition lock 49
10
Horn: the entire surface
13
Opening the hood 177
14
Opening the luggage compartment
lid 31
16
Parking lamps and low beams 87
8
Windshield wipers 57
Rain sensor 57
11
Steering wheel heater 44
Steering wheel adjustment 43
12
Cruise control 58
Active cruise control 59
15
Head-Up Display 85
17
Instrument lighting 88
Front fog lamps 89
Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1 Indicator lamps for turn signal
indicators 13
2 Speedometer with display of speed for
> Cruise control 58
or
> Active cruise control 59
3 Indicator and warning lamps 13
4 Display for active cruise control 60
5 Tachometer with variable advance
warning field and Energy Control 65
6 Display for
> Indicator and warning lamps of the
Check Control 68
> Speed of the cruise control 58
> Desired speed for active cruise
control 60
> Clock/date 65
> Outside temperature 65
7 Display for
> Automatic transmission 54
> Sequential manual transmission 53
> Computer 70
> Date and remaining distance for
service requirement 66
> Trip odometer/odometer 65
> Check Control message present 68
8 Fuel gauge 66
9 To set trip odometer to zero
and reset for
service requirement display 65
At a glance
13
Reference ControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Indicator and warning
lamps
Technology that monitors itself
The indicator and warning lamps identified
by the
+ symbol are subjected to an oper-
ation check each time you switch on the
ignition or start the engine. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored
system, the corresponding lamp will either
fail to go out when the engine is started, or
it will come on again during normal driving.
For information on how you should respond
when this happens, please refer to the
pages indicated.
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light
up in different colors and combinations.
The following section explains the signifi-
cance of the individual colors as well as
how you should respond when they
appear.
> Red:
Stop immediately
or
important reminder
> Red and yellow:
Continue driving moderately
> Yellow:
Have checked soon
or
for your information
> Green or blue:
For your information.
Indicator and warning lamps of the
Check Control
Other indicator and warning lamps appear
in display 6 of the instrument cluster as
necessary, accompanied by supplemen-
tary text on the Control Display, refer to
Check Control, page 68.
Turn signal indicators 56
Active steering
+ 82
Handbrake/brake fluid, brake
hydraulics/DBC Dynamic Brake
Control
+ 50/ 180/ 79
Handbrake/brake fluid, brake
hydraulics/DBC Dynamic Brake
Control for Canadian models
Airbags
+ 83
Service Engine Soon + 183
If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the
emissions-related electronic sys-
tems. Although the vehicle
remains operational, you should
have the systems checked by your
BMW center at the earliest possi-
ble opportunity.
Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp for Canadian models.
Front fog lamps 89
ABS Antilock Brake System
+ 77
DTC Dynamic Traction Control 79
High beams/headlamp flasher 88
Please fasten safety belt
+ 40
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
+ 78
Check Gas Cap 168
lamp for US models
Cockpit
14
Comfort area: controls and displays
At a glance
15
Reference ControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
1 Microphone for
> Telephone/portable phone 151
> Voice command system 20
2 Reading lamps 89
3 Starting emergency call 190
4 Interior lamps 89
5 Glass roof, electric 34
6 Front passenger's airbag indicator
lamp 84
7 Control Display 16
displays for menu guidance
8 Hazard warning flashers
9 Central locking system 30
10 Automatic climate control 90
11 Button for
> Station scan/track search 130
> CD player 141
> CD changer 145
12 Ejecting
> Navigation CD/DVD 114
> Audio CD 130
13 Drive for navigation CD/DVD 114
14 Drive for audio CD 130
15 Switching audio sources on/off and
adjusting the volume 130
16 Center console switching center
17 Controller 16
Horizontal movement in four directions,
turn or press
18 Activating voice command system 20
19 Open start menu 17
Temperature setting,
left/right 91
Automatic air distribution and
supply 91
Cooling function 91
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC 91
Maximum cooling 91
Residual heat mode 92
To switch off automatic climate
control 92
Air volume 91
Defrost windows 91
Rear window defroster 90
Heated seats 41
Active seat ventilation 42
Active seat 42
PDC Park Distance Control 76
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control 78
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
1 Controller: 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
2 Opening the start menu from any menu
item
3 Control 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.
At a glance
17
Reference ControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Menu guidance
As of ignition key position 1, the following
message appears on the Control Display:
Confirm the message by pressing the con-
troller; the start menu is opened.
Start menu
In ignition key position 2:
Via the start menu, you can open four
menus by moving the controller to the left,
right, forwards or backwards. Pressing the
controller opens the menu.
Calling up the start menu:
Press button.
Opening the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.
Displays on the Control Display
A menu
1 In menus, you can change fields to
select the menu items they contain or to
make adjustments. The active field is
brighter than the others
2 Menu items are usually grouped in hor-
izontal or vertical lists
3 Arrows indicates that other menu items
can be selected in lists, but these are
not visible at the moment
4 Adjustments are displayed in diagrams
or as numbers
5 A symbol indicates the last selected
menu item of the start menu
Communication
Navigation or
onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
menu
Control Center
18
Status information
1 Manual or automatic air distribution for
driver and passenger side
2 Display for Entertainment:
Radio and CD or
Entertainment off
Display for telephone:
Name of network operator with display
for roaming:
Roaming active
3 SMS received
4 Reception of portable phone network
and emergency call possible
SOS: emergency call possible
no display: emergency call not possible
5 Current time
If information is issued by the Check Con-
trol or inputs are made using the voice
command system, a text message appears
here on the Control Display.
Assistance window*
While you are operating whatever functions
you like using the Control Center, you can
obtain the following additional information
in the assistance window:
> Short help and supplementary informa-
tion texts for selected menu entries
> The computer or trip computer
> The travel route in vehicles with naviga-
tion system
> The current position.
To select the display in the assistance win-
dow:
1. Move the controller to the right to
switch to the assistance window and
press the controller
2. Select the menu item and press the
controller.
Switching Control Display on/off
To switch off the Control Display:
1. Open the start menu
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Display off" and press the con-
troller.
The status informations continue to be
displayed.
To switch on the Control Display:
Press the controller.
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BMW 525i Sedan Owner's manual

Category
Cars
Type
Owner's manual
This manual is also suitable for

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