
 
© 1998 BMW AG
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order no. 01 41 9 791 187
US English VIII/98
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper 
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling). 
4n
 
Notes on the Owner's Manual
 
We have made every effort to ensure 
that you are able to find what you need 
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as 
possible. The fastest way to find certain 
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 con-
tents that directly follows the summary 
of contents is intended to stimulate 
your curiosity regarding your BMW and 
to encourage you to read the manual.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at 
some time in the future, please remem-
ber to hand over the Owner's Manual to 
the new owner; it is part of the vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, an 
authorized BMW center will be glad to 
advise you.
 
Symbols used
 
These sections contain vital infor-
mation – please read the accom-
panying text passages carefully, both 
for your own safety and to prevent dam-
age to your BMW.
 
<
 
 
These passages contain informa-
tion on special and unique fea-
tures of your vehicle.
 
<
 
 
Indicates special information on 
recycling.
 
<
 
 
 
<
 
 Indicates the end of a note.
 
* 
 Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras.
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this Owner's 
Manual for information on a particular 
part or assembly.
Alerts you to functions which can 
be adjusted for individual drivers 
by your authorized BMW center ("Car 
Memory" or "Key Memory"). Refer to 
page 53.
 
<
 
The individual vehicle
 
On buying your BMW, you have de-
cided in favor of a model with individu-
alized equipment and features. This 
Owner's Manual describes all models 
and equipment that BMW offers within 
the same group.
We hope you will understand that 
equipment and features are included 
which you might not have chosen for 
your vehicle. Any differences can easily 
be identified, since all optional acces-
sories and special equipment are 
marked with an asterisk 
 
* 
.
If your BMW features equipment which 
is not described in this Owner's Manual 
(car radio or telephone, for instance), 
Supplementary Owner's Manuals are 
enclosed. We ask you to read these 
manuals as well. 

 
Contents
 
Overview
Controls and features
 
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)23
Hazard warning flashers24
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling25
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure26
 
Locks and security systems:
 
Keys30
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Door locks – outside32
Radio remote control33
Door locks – inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Luggage compartment39
Alarm system40
Electric power windows42
Security glass43
Sliding/Tilt sunroof44
 
Adjustments:
 
Seats46
Steering wheel49
Mirrors50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory51
Car Memory, Key Memory53
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Safety belts54
Airbags55
Child restraints57
Child restraint installation58
Child-safety locks58
 
Driving:
 
Steering/Ignition lock59
Starting engine59
Switching off engine60Parking brake61
Automatic transmission62
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic65
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor68
Rear window defroster70
Cruise control70
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer, outside temperature 
display72
Tachometer72
Energy control73
Fuel gauge73
Temperature gauge74
Service Interval Display74
Check Control 75
Multi-Information Display 
(MID)78
Digital clock79
Onboard computer84
 
Technology for safety and 
convenience:
 
Park Distance Control PDC90
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic Sta-
bility Control (DSC)92
Electronic Damper Control 
(EDC)93
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)94 

 
20n
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
Technology that monitors itself
 
Many of the systems of your BMW mon-
itor themselves automatically, both dur-
ing engine starts and while you are driv-
ing. Indicator and warning lamps that 
are identified by "
 
l
 
" are tested for 
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up 
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these 
systems, the corresponding lamp does 
not go out after the engine is started or 
it lights up while the vehicle is moving. 
You will see how to react to this below.
 
Red: Stop immediately
 
Battery charge current 
 
l
 
The battery is no longer being 
charged. There is a malfunction 
of the alternator ribbed V-belt or in the 
charging circuit of the alternator. Please 
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not 
continue driving. The engine could 
be damaged due to overheating. If the 
ribbed V-belt is defective, increased 
steering effort is also required.
 
<
 
 
Engine oil pressure 
 
l
 
Comes on while the engine is 
running and the "Stop! ENGINE 
OILPRESS" message appears in the 
Check Control:
Stop vehicle and switch off engine im-
mediately. Check level of oil in engine, 
top up as required. If oil level is correct: 
Please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter. 
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because 
of inadequate lubrication.
 
<
 
 
 
Brake hydraulic system 
 
l
 
The brake fluid level is too low. 
Before driving further, be sure to 
read the notes on pages 128 and 147.
Also comes on with the message 
"Check brake pads" in the Check Con-
trol.
 
 
 
Brake hydraulic system warning 
lamp for Canadian models. 

 
23n
 
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
 
Multifunction steering wheel (MFL)
 
The controls integrated in the multi-
function steering wheel are provided so 
that you can operate a number of ac-
cessories quickly and without being 
distracted from traffic conditions. You 
may operate:
 
>
 
Some of the functions of the radio, 
the CD and cassette modes
 
>
 
The recirculated-air mode of the air 
conditioner or
 
>The steering wheel heating
>The cruise control and
>Selected cellular phone functions.
In order to operate a system via 
the MFL, the corresponding sys-
tem controls must be switched on.< 
The illustration shows the maximum 
possible number of controls, corre-
sponding to a full range of optional 
equipment. Refer to the individual ac-
cessory manuals for more detailed de-
scriptions.
1 Cellular phone: Receive an incoming 
call, initiate dialing and end a call.
Pressing and holding the key for a 
longer period activates or deactivates 
the voice input
*
2 Radio/Telephone: Selection
3 Radio/Telephone: Search backward 
or station keys or scroll in the phone 
book.
Fast forward and reverse for CD and 
cassette modes
4 Radio/Telephone: Volume
5 Radio/Telephone: Search forward or 
station keys or scroll in the phone 
book.
Fast forward and reverse for CD and 
cassette modes390de110
6 Horn: The entire surface
7 Cruise control: Activate stored 
setting (resume)
8 Cruise control: Store and acceler-
ate (+); decelerate and store (–) 
9 Cruise control: Activate/Interrupt/
Deactivate
10 Recirculated-air mode and AUC or 
steering wheel heating: Switch on 
and off 

28n
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Door locks – outside32
Radio remote control33
Door locks – inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Luggage compartment39
Alarm system40
Electric power windows42
Security glass43
Sliding/Tilt sunroof44
Adjustments:
Seats46
Steering wheel49
Mirrors50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory51
Car Memory, Key Memory53
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts54
Airbags55
Child restraints57
Child restraint installation58
Child-safety locks58
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock59
Starting engine59
Switching off engine60 

30n
KeysKey with radio remote control1 Master key with transmitter for radio 
remote control.
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place, 
such as your wallet. This key is not in-
tended for continuous use.
3 Door and ignition key 
The locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid and glove compartment can-
not be operated with this key – this is 
useful for valet parking, for instance.380us012
Replacement keysReplacement keys are available exclu-
sively through your authorized BMW 
center. Your BMW center is obligated to 
ensure that a person requesting a key is 
authorized to do so since the keys be-
long to a security system (refer to "Elec-
tronic vehicle immobilizer" on page 31). 

31n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Electronic vehicle immobilizerThe key to securityYour BMW is equipped with a passive 
anti–theft system. This electronic immo-
bilization system is designed to reduce 
the susceptibility of your vehicle to theft 
by making it impossible to start the en-
gine using any means other than the 
special keys furnished with the vehicle.
Your BMW center can cancel the elec-
tronic system authorization for individ-
ual keys (for instance, in the event of 
loss). A deactivated key can no longer 
be used to start the engine.390de015
How the electronics workAt the heart of this system is an elec-
tronic chip which is integrated into the 
key. The lock mechanism itself is actu-
ally a dual-function device, simulta-
neously serving as a communications 
interface designed to allow the security 
system to maintain a continuous stream 
of variable, vehicle-specific signals with 
the electronic circuitry in the key. The 
system will not release the ignition, fuel 
injection and starter unless it recog-
nizes an "authorized" key.
Force applied to the key can dam-
age the integrated electronic cir-
cuitry. A damaged key can no longer be 
used to start the engine.<  

32n
Central locking system Door locks – outsideThe conceptThe central locking system is ready for 
operation as soon as you close the 
driver's door. The system engages and 
releases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be 
operated 
>from outside via the driver's door or 
luggage compartment lock and with 
the remote control
>from inside via the central locking 
button.
The fuel filler door remains unlocked 
when you activate the system from in-
side the vehicle.
The anti-theft system is automatically 
armed whenever you activate the cen-
tral locking system from outside the ve-
hicle. The alarm system is also acti-
vated or deactivated.
In the event of an accident, the central 
locking system unlocks automatically 
(only those doors which were not 
locked separately with the safety lock 
buttons). Refer to page 36. In addition, 
the hazard warning flashers and interior 
lamps come on.
To engage and release locksOne turn of the key in the driver's door 
lock unlocks the driver's door only. 
Turning the key a second time unlocks 
all of the remaining doors, the luggage 
compartment lid and the fuel filler door.
When a door is opened, the inte-
rior lamps and the exterior door 
handle illumination are switched on. 
Switching off is automatic.< 380de015
Convenience operating modeYou can also use your remote control 
transmitter to open and close the elec-
tric power windows and the sliding/tilt 
sunroof.
>To open: With the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Unlock" position and 
hold it.
>To close: With the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Lock" position and 
hold it.
Watch the closing process care-
fully and be sure that no one is 
trapped by the closing motion. The 
movement stops when you release the 
key.< Manual operation(in the event of an electrical failure)
Turn the key all the way to the extreme 
left or right to unlock/lock the door.