Get Foreword and Safety Notes Guide for BMW M5 4 Door Third Generation (1998-2003)

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW M5.

Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and

security when you drive it. We therefore have this request:

Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the

information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new BMW. It

contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in gaining maximum

use and satisfaction from the unique range of technical features on your BMW. In

addition, you will find information on maintenance and care, there to ensure oper-

ating and driving safety, as well as to maintain the best possible value of your

vehicle.

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

(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models). We

recommend that you read this publication thoroughly.

Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:

> New Vehicle Limited Warranty

> Limited Warranty Rust Perforation

> Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty

> Federal Emissions Performance Warranty

> California Emission Control System Limited Warranty

Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty

Information Booklet (US models) or in the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet

(Canadian models).

We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.

BMW M

Foreword

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t Identifies index entries that refer to

owner service procedures or topics on

car care.

Notes on the Owner's Manual

Symbols used

We have made every effort to ensure

that you are able to find what you need

in this Owner's Manual as quickly as

Indicates instructions or precau-

tions that must be followed

precisely in order to avoid the possi-

Identifies systems or components,

which your BMW center can either

activate or adapt to suit an individual

driver's requirements ("Car Memory",

"Key Memory"). Refer to page 52.

possible. The fastest way to find certain bility of personal injury and serious

topics is by using the detailed index at

the end. If you desire an initial overview

of your vehicle, this can be found in the

first chapter. The detailed list of

contents that directly follows the

summary of contents is intended to

stimulate your curiosity regarding your

BMW and to encourage you to read the

manual.

damage to the vehicle.<

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.<

Should you wish to sell your BMW at

some time in the future, please

remember to hand over the Owner's

Manual to the new owner; it is part of

the vehicle.

< Marks the end of a specific item of

information.

Should you have any further questions,

your BMW center will be glad to assist

at any time.

* Indicates special equipment,

country-specific equipment and

optional extras.

Munich, Germany

Reprinting, including excerpts, is permitted

only with the express written approval of

BMW M GmbH, Munich.

Order no. 01 41 0 155 429

US English VIII/2000

Printed in Germany

Printed on environmentally friendly paper

(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling).

Notes

Symbols

Your individual vehicle

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The individual vehicle

Status at time of printing

On buying your BMW, you have BMW pursues a policy of continuous,

decided in favor of a model with individ- ongoing development conceived to

ualized equipment and fittings. This

Owner's Manual describes all models

and equipment that BMW offers within

the same group.

ensure that our vehicles continue to

embody the highest quality and safety

standards combined with advanced,

state-of-the-art technology. For this

reason, it is possible that the features

described in this Owner's Manual could

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.

We hope you will understand that

equipment and features are included

that you might not have chosen for your

vehicle. Any differences can easily be

identified, since all optional accessories

and special equipment are marked with

an asterisk *.

If your BMW features equipment that is

not described in this Owner's Manual (a

car radio or telephone, for instance), we

have enclosed Supplementary Owner's

Manuals. We ask you to read these

manuals as well.

Status at time of printing

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Important safety information!

Installation and operation of non-BMW

approved accessories such as alarms,

For your own safety

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels

containing up to and including

For your own safety, use genuine parts radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,

and accessories approved by BMW. wheels, suspension components, brake

When you purchase accessories tested dust shields, telephones (including

and approved by BMW and Original operation of any portable cellular phone

10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with

up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (that is,

15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an

equivalent amount of co-solvent) will

not void the applicable warranties

respecting defects in materials or work-

manship. Field experience has indi-

cated significant differences in fuel

quality (volatility, composition, addi-

tives, 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

environmental conditions such as high

ambient temperature and high altitude.

Should you encounter driveability prob-

lems that you suspect could be related

to the fuel you are using, we recom-

mend that you respond by switching to

a recognized high-quality brand.

BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire from within the vehicle without using an

the assurance that they have been thor- externally-mounted antenna) or trans-

oughly tested by BMW to ensure

optimum performance when installed

on your vehicle.

ceiver 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 elec-

trical system or affect the validity of the

BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW

center for additional information.<

BMW warrants these parts to be free

from defects in material and workman-

ship.

BMW will not accept any liability for

damage resulting from installation of

parts and accessories not approved by

BMW.

Maintenance, replacement, or

repair of the emission control

BMW cannot test every product from

other manufacturers to verify if it can be devices and systems may be performed

used on a BMW safely and without risk by any automotive repair establishment

to either the vehicle, its operation, or its or individual using any certified auto-

occupants.

motive part.<

Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories

and other products approved by BMW,

together with professional advice on

using these items, are available from all

BMW centers.

Symbol on vehicle parts

Failure to comply with these recom-

mendations may result in unscheduled

maintenance.

Indicates that you should consult

the relevant section of this

Follow the relevant safety rules when

you are handling gasoline.<

Owner's Manual for information on

a particular part or assembly.

For your own safety

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The following only applies to vehicles owned and operated in the US.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

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 notifying BMW of

North America, Inc., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000.

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 indi-

vidual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, Inc.

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 Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can

also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

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Foreword and Safety Notes for Your BMW M5 4 Door Third Generation (1998-2003)

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