20 Most Recent 2002 BMW 5 Series - Page 8 Questions & Answers

If you have the BMW tool to pull radio, check wiring plug in rear of radio. Also check grounds (brown wires usually in bundles) If you don't have tool BMW dealer is the only other option. If it's the actual radio, I'll tell you now BMW will send it in for repair which is a one week turnaround. (I used to work for BMW of NA)

It's not a fuse (sorry) Bimmers have a motherboard that needs to be replaced. If you have the owners manual, there's instructions on how to make dash instruments do a self test. (It varies from model to model) Sometimes the self test will clear up faults.

When all else fails - some ideas:

(1) locksmith who does house calls - they'll have a locksmith's kit (consisting of dozens of
oddly-shaped metal wires/probes, wedges, slim-jim, etc.) to open nearly any car door.
This costs about $30-$40.

(2) dealership may be able to help - esp if you have "Roadside Assistance" coverage on your
(new?) BMW.

(3) AAA - you membership may cover accidental lockouts.

(4) if you can get into the trunk with they key - and push forward your fold-down rear seats (if so
equipped), then you're in - but I don't know if this car's seats fold down.

(5) there might be a clever way to pop the hood release from below (jack up the car to see).
If so, hook up a spare charged battery (or battery charger - everyone should have one) to
the car battery just long enough to get in with your key or keyless remote.
Note that you only need to hook up the Positive
battery terminal to the battery - the Negative terminal (of battery charger or battery) can be
connected to any part of the frame/unibody. Why: This car's electrical system uses the frame
as a negative/ground.

security system thinks your trying to steal it. Try locking and unlocking the front doors manually with the key.

check door/ boot seal on side that the carpet is wet .also if your car has a sun roof check the drain chanels.

Hi; If I get the 'Trans Failsafe Prog" message twice within about 2 hours, The SES light will go on automatically. Since I do not seem to have any real transmission problems, this SES message clears itself in about 24 hours. The "Trans Failsafe Prog" messageseems to be used to indicate other transmission problems as well, like loss of transmission fluid, so be careful. I have a 2002 X5. Cheers. Omer

Hi,
If you check the picture below it shows you where the drain plug on the sump is, you need to remove the splash guard under the vehicle to see it though.


Hope this helps you out, if you need more information let me know.
Thanks
Jason

without hearing it i cannot give you an answer ,but best advice is if its working then leave well alone it could cost a small fortune to put right ,have belt tension checked by a local mechanic

is the car smoking blue or is the oil leeking out ?

if the is consuming oil by buring it while driving the faults are either :

Valve seats / Burnt valves
Piston Rings
or sump compression which can force oil into the combustion chamber causing it to burn it and expel the burnt oil via the exhaust system.

Either way, its going to pretty expensive on a 2002 5 series.

Golden rule with batterys..

The Positive terminal is ALWAYS physically larger that the Negative.(ie larger battery post ) The Negative will be the EARTH connection ( bolted to car body and engine) There may be hard to see (-) or (+) on battery leads . Colours do not matter either as manufacturers vary on this !
Good Luck

if there is an airbag in the steering wheel, think long and hard about pulling it off yourself. you will end up at a dealer getting it put back together correctly. i would look for a video on the lock cylinder over on youtube. often you can pull off cosmetic steering column surrounds and get at the ignition switch parts.

Hi,

Please find the entire towing capacity of BMW series.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart3.htm

Thanks

its not a screw on type its inside a housing ,but sorry i cannot remember weither on the top right hand side ,it will have something like a 22/24 mm nut shape on top of the plastic housing

jump the car to get trunk open. Then, please see my tip at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r5925550-dead_battery_troubleshooting and let me know if you have questions.

Try this procedure and let me know if it does not work.

1. Ignition key in the "Off" or "0" position.

2. Press and hold the odometer button and turn the ignition key to the "Accessory" or "1" position.

3. Keep the odometer button pressed in until you see the following words in the display, "oil service", or "inspection" with "reset" or "re".

4. Press and hold down the odometer button again until "reset" or "re" flash.

5. While the display is flashing, press the odometer button again briefly but do not hold it down this time to reset the service interval indicator. After the display has shown a new service interval then "END SIA" should appear in the display for two seconds.

If the procedure fails the first time then repeat the procedure and it should clear the service interval indicator.

Replace key barrel