2009 BMW 5 Series Owner's Manual - Page 237

Adding engine oil Your BMW center will be happy to answer detailed questions on BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic oils.< You can also call BMW of North America at 1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information. Viscosity grades Do not add 1 US quart/liter of oil until a corresponding message is shown on the Control Display. Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km, otherwise the engine could be damaged.< Continuous exposure to used oil has caused cancer in laboratory testing. For this reason, any skin areas that come into contact with oil should be thoroughly washed with soap and water. Keep oil, grease etc. out of reach of children and observe the warnings on the containers to prevent health risks.< Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and is specified in SAE grades. The choice of the right SAE grade is based on the climatic conditions in the region in which you normally drive your BMW. Approved oils belong to the 0W-40, 0W30, 5W-40 and 5W-30 SAE grades.< These oils can be used for driving at all outside temperatures. Coolant Do not add coolant to the cooling system when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant can cause burns.< Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a coolant additive. Not all commercially available additives are suitable for your BMW. Ask your BMW center for suitable additives. Only use suitable additives, otherwise engine damage may result. The additives present a health hazard; observe the instructions on the containers.< Comply with the appropriate environmental protection regulations when disposing of coolant additives.< Oil change Have oil changed only at your BMW center or at a workshop that works according to BMW repair procedures with correspondingly trained personnel. Approved engine oils The quality of the engine oil selected has critical significance for the operation and service life of an engine. BMW continuously approves specific oils after confirming their suitability for use in its vehicles with extensive testing. Do not use oil additives, as these may result in engine damage.< Only use approved BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil. If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is unavailable, you can add small quantities of other synthetic oils between oil changes. Only use oils of the specification API SM or higher. Checking coolant level Mobility Reference 1. Do not open the hood until the engine has cooled down. 2. Turn the cap of the expansion tank counterclockwise to allow any accumulated pressure to escape, then continue turning to open. 235 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 600 721 - © 08/08 BMW AG Communications Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance