BMW M5 2003, Owner'S Manual

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Parking brake Manual transmission
The parking brake is designed primarily
to prevent the vehicle from rolling when
it is parked. It operates on the rear
wheels.
To engage
The lever engages automatically when
it is pulled up, and the "PARK BRAKE"
(in Canada "P") indicator lamp comes
on in the instrument cluster in ignition
key position 2. Refer to page
17 .
To release
Pull up slightly on the lever, press the
button and lower the lever.
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If, in exceptional circumstances, it
should be necessary to engage
the parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up to apply mod-
erate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear axle.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is applied. Always
engage the parking brake when parking
on hills and inclined surfaces, as even
first gear or reverse may not provide
adequate resistance to rolling.
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You can help prevent corrosion and
maintain balanced braking by periodi-
cally pulling up the parking brake lever
gently while coasting to a stop at a
traffic light.
Always check traffic condi-
tions first to avoid posing a hazard to
yourself or other road users.
When shifting gears, always depress
the clutch pedal all the way down, then
move the gearshift lever until it engages
securely in the desired gear.
You will also need to depress the clutch
when starting the engine, as an auto-
matic lockout prevents the starter from
operating when the clutch is engaged.
When the vehicle lighting is switched
on, the shift pattern is illuminated on
the gearshift lever.
When shifting gears in the 5th/
6th-gear plane, be sure to press
the gearshift lever to the right in order
to prevent inadvertent selection of a
gear in the 3rd/4th-gear plane.
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