Get Owner service procedures -> Battery Guide for BMW 5 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (1995-2003)

¹⁶⁶ⁿBattery

Never allow sparks or open

flame near the battery. Do not

smoke in the vicinity of the bat-

Maintenance

The battery is absolutely maintenance-

free, that is, the original electrolyte will

normally last for the service life of the

battery under moderate climatic

conditions.

tery. Avoid sparks from electrical cables

or electrical equipment. Turn the key

to position 0 in the steering lock when

connecting or disconnecting the bat-

tery. Don't short-circuit the battery ter-

minal. If you do so, you could be injured

by electrical sparks.

Symbols

You will find the following symbols on

your vehicle battery. To avoid injury,

please comply with the corresponding

precautions whenever you work with or

near the battery.

A highly-explosive gas is

generated when the battery is

charged.

Battery posts, terminals, and

related accessories contain lead

and lead compounds. Wash hands after

handling.<

If you happen to get acid in

your eyes, rinse thoroughly for

15 minutes with clear water.

Before handling the battery,

please read the following infor-

mation:

Consult a physician immediately. If your

skin or clothing are splashed by acid,

rinse immediately with plenty of water.

If electrolyte is accidentally swallowed,

consult a physician immediately.

Wear eye protection. Do not

allow particles containing bat-

tery acid or lead to come into

contact with your eyes, your skin, or

your clothing.

Installation location

The battery is located under the floor-

mat in the luggage compartment.

1 Read and comply with the warning

information on page 167.

2 Lift the floormat.

In order to protect the battery

case from ultraviolet radiation,

Battery acid is extremely corro-

sive. Wear eye protection and

protective gloves. Do not tip the

battery. Battery acid can leak from the

ventilation openings.

do not place it in direct sunlight.

A discharged battery can freeze. Store

the battery in areas where temperature

remains above freezing.

3 Press the small cover gently. Lift the

cover (arrow 1).

4 Disconnect the battery cable from the

negative terminal.

Do not allow children access to

batteries and battery acid.

5 Loosen the three screws (arrows) and

remove the cover.

Battery

167n

When removing the battery, disconnect

the cable on the negative terminal first,

then the cable on the positive terminal.

When installing a battery, connect the

positive terminal first, then connect the

negative terminal.

When installing the battery, be

sure that it is mounted securely in

the battery well and that the cover is

installed. If the battery is not mounted

and fastened properly, it will not be

adequately secured in case of an

accident.<

Charge condition

Removal and installation

You can read the charge condition

of the battery with the "Magic Eye "

(a hydrometer):

Do not disconnect the battery

when the engine is running. If

you do so, the ensuing voltage surge

will damage the vehicle's onboard

electronics.

> Green: adequate charge.

> Black: not adequately charged. The

battery has to be recharged. Please

contact your BMW center for addi-

tional information.

Do not alter the positive terminal wiring

in any way. If you do so, the Battery

Safety Terminal's safety function will no

longer be guaranteed. Repair and dis-

posal must be performed by trained

technicians only.<

> Yellow: replace the battery.

The service life specified for the

battery can be achieved only if it

is always kept adequately charged.

Check the charge condition of the bat-

tery frequently if the vehicle is used pri-

marily for driving short distances.<

¹⁶⁸ⁿBattery

Fuses

Avoid environmental pollution

when disposing of old batteries.<

Charging the battery

Charge the battery in the vehicle only

when the engine is not running.

Return used batteries to a recy-

cling point or your BMW center.

Before doing any work on the

electrical system, be sure to dis-

connect the cable from the battery's

negative terminal. Failure to do so

could result in short-circuits, a fire or

personal injury.<

Maintain the battery in an upright posi-

tion for transport and storage. Secure

the battery against tilting in transit.<

If the vehicle is to be parked longer

than four weeks, disconnect the battery

from the vehicle's electrical system by

disconnecting the negative terminal

cable and then recharge using a suit-

able charging device.

If an electrical accessory should fail,

switch it off and check the fuse.

In the glove compartment

1 Open the glove compartment and

turn the two white quick-release

knobs to the left. Spare fuses and

plastic tweezers are located on the

fuse holder.

If you intend to store your vehicle for

longer than twelve weeks: remove the

battery, charge it and store it in a cool

(but frost-and dust-free) room. Every

three months and before reinstalling the

battery, have it recharged. If it is not

recharged, it will not be serviceable.

Every time the battery is discharged,

especially over extended periods, its

service life is reduced.

2 Use the plastic tweezers to remove

the fuse for the accessory or equip-

ment that has stopped working.

3 If the fuse is burned through (the

metal strip will have melted and

separated), replace it with a new

fuse of the same ampere rating

(color code).

Owner service procedures -> Battery for Your BMW 5 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (1995-2003)

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