Get Mobility -> Giving and receiving assistance Guide for BMW M5 4 Door Fourth Generation (2004-2010)

Giving and receiving assistance

then be able to provide a detailed description of

the situation.

Emergency call

Conditions for an emergency call:

If the current position of your vehicle can be

determined, it will be forwarded to the

BMW Assist response center.

Full preparation package mobile phone.

With this equipment, an emergency call is

still possible when no mobile phone is

logged on in the vehicle.

If the LED flashes, but you are unable to hear

the BMW Assist response center through the

hands-free system, this could indicate, for

instance, that the hands-free system is no

longer operational. However, you may then still

be audible for the response center.

BMW Assist is enabled.

Enabling BMW Assist, refer to page 167.

Radio readiness is activated.

The car phone is logged on to a mobile

communications network.

Under certain conditions, an emergency call is

automatically initiated immediately after a

severe accident. The automatic emergency call

is not affected by the button being pressed.

The emergency call system is operable.

When the contract of participation with

BMW Assist expires, the car phone can be

deactivated by a BMW center without having to

visit a workshop. Following deactivation of the

car phone, no emergency calls can be made.

The car phone can be reactivated after signing a

new contract with a BMW center.

For technical reasons, the emergency call

cannot be guaranteed under unfavorable

conditions.<

Warning triangle*

The warning triangle is located in the luggage

compartment lid.

Initiating an emergency call

1. Briefly press protective cover to open.

Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the

arrangement of the switches and indicator

lamps may differ somewhat.

Loosen the wing nut to open.

2. Press the button for at least 2 seconds.

First-aid kit*

The LED in the button lights up. As soon as the

voice connection to the BMW Assist response

center has been established, the LED flashes.

Some of the articles contained in the first-aid kit

have a limited service life. Therefore, check the

expiration dates of the contents regularly and

replace the contents concerned in good time if

necessary.

If conditions allow, remain in the vehicle until

the connection has been established. You will

196

Preparation

1. Check whether the battery of the other

vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and

approximately the same capacitance in Ah.

This information can be found on the bat-

tery.

2. Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-

cle.

3. Switch off any electrical systems and com-

ponents in both vehicles.

The first-aid kit is located in the luggage com-

partment lid.

There must not be any contact between

the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise

there is a danger of shorting.<

Loosen the wing nut to open.

Connecting jumper cables

Roadside Assistance*

To avoid personal injury from sparks, fol-

low this sequence when connecting

jumper cables.<

The Roadside Assistance of the BMW Group

offers you assistance in the event of a break-

down around the clock, including on weekends

and public holidays.

In your BMW M5, the so-called auxiliary termi-

nal for jump starting in the engine compartment

serves as a positive terminal for the battery, also

refer to engine compartment overview on

page 182. The cover cap is marked with a +.

The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-

tance in your home country can be found in the

Contact brochure.

With BMW Assist or TeleService, you can con-

tact the Roadside Assistance of the BMW

Group for assistance in the event of a break-

down directly via iDrive, refer to page 169.

1. Fold open the cover of the BMW starting-

aid terminal. To do so, pull the tab.

Jump starting

When your battery is discharged, you can use

two jumper cables to start your BMW with

power from the battery in a second vehicle. You

can also use the same method to help start

another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with

fully-insulated clamp handles.

2. Attach one end of the jumper cable plus/+

to the positive terminal of the battery or a

starting-aid terminal of the vehicle provid-

ing assistance.

To avoid the risk of potentially fatal injury,

always avoid all contact with electrical

components while the engine is running. Care-

fully adhere to the following sequence, both to

prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to

guard against possible personal injuries.<

3. Attach the second end of the cable to the

positive terminal of the battery or to a start-

ing-aid terminal of the vehicle to be started.

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.

197

Your BMW M5 has a special nut as body

ground or negative terminal.

It is located in the toolkit in the luggage com-

partment lid, refer to page 188.

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

Rectangular cover panel in bumper: press on

the arrow symbol on the cover panel.

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.

Front

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.

Rear

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.<

Being towed

Make sure that the ignition is switched on,

refer to page 53, otherwise the low

Tow-starting and towing

Observe applicable laws and regulations

for tow-starting and towing.<

beams, tail lamps, turn signals and windshield

wipers would not be available. If the vehicle

electrical system fails, do not tow-start or tow

the vehicle. The electric steering-wheel lock

cannot be unlocked and the vehicle cannot be

steered. For information on jump starting, refer

to page 197. There is no power assistance with

the engine stopped. This then requires

Do not transport any passengers other

than the driver in a vehicle that is being

towed.<

Using tow fitting

The screw-on tow-fitting must always be car-

ried in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the

front or rear of the BMW M5.

increased effort for braking and steering.<

198

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.

With tow truck

Engage selector lever position N with the igni-

tion switched on.

Towing methods

Do not lift vehicle by tow fitting or body

and chassis parts, otherwise damage may

result.<

Have the BMW transported with a tow truck

with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.

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.

Tow-starting

Do not tow-start the vehicle if possible, but

instead start the engine by means of jump start-

ing, refer to page 197. With a catalytic con-

verter, the vehicle should only be tow-started

with the engine cold.

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.<

If the electrical system fails, do not tow-

start or tow the vehicle, as otherwise the

electric steering-wheel lock cannot be

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:

unlocked and the vehicle cannot be steered.<

1. Switch on the hazard warning flashers,

comply with country-specific regulations.

Clearance and maneuvering capability will

be sharply limited during cornering.

2. Switch on the ignition, refer to page 53.

3. Tow-start in selector lever position N.

When mounted at an angle, the tow bar will

exert lateral forces, tending to push the

vehicle sideways.

4. Move the selector lever into the drive posi-

tion and pull toward + within 2 seconds.

The correct gear will be selected and

engaged automatically.

Only attach the tow bar to the tow fittings,

as attachment to other vehicle parts can

5. Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow

bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-

ing flashers.

lead to damage.<

With tow rope

6. Have the vehicle checked.

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.<

199

Mobility -> Giving and receiving assistance for Your BMW M5 4 Door Fourth Generation (2004-2010)

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