2000 BMW 323Ci CONVERTIBLE Owner's Manual

169n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Towing the vehicleTow fittingThe screw-in tow fitting is stored in the
onboard tool kit; be sure that it remains
in the vehicle at all times. This fitting
is designed for installation in the tow
sockets located at the front and rear of
the vehicle. It is intended for towing on
paved road surfaces only. This fitting
should not be used to pull a vehicle out
of deep snow, mud, sand, etc.
Always comply with all applicable
towing laws and regulations.Access to tow socketsFront:
Using a screwdriver, press out the cover
panel on the top part of the recess.462de254
Rear:
Using a screwdriver, press out the cover
panel on the top part of the recess.
Screw the tow fittings in com-
pletely and tightly. If you do not,
the threads could be damaged.
Do not tow the vehicle by any compo-
nents of the running gear, or lash them
down in any way. If you do, the compo-
nents could be damaged, leading to
possible accidents.<462de255
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Use wheel lift or flat bed equipment
>Please comply with applicable state
towing laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.
Never attach tie-down hooks, chains,
straps, or tow hooks to the tie rods,
control arms, or any other part of the
vehicle suspension. If you do so, severe
damage will occur to these compon-
ents.c46cus031

170n

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
171n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)172
Airbags173
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)173
Radio reception174
Safety belt tensioner174
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer175
Rain sensor176
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)177
Self-diagnostics178
Rollover protection system179
Xenon lamps179
Technology

172n
For vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion
*, Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC) makes the optimum gear selec-
tion based on a number of factors. In
this process, it considers your individ-
ual driving style as well as current
driving conditions.
ATC recognizes your personal driving
style from the positions and movements
of the accelerator pedal, deceleration
when braking, and lateral acceleration
through curves. ATC makes the appro-
priate selection based on various shift
characteristics, which range from com-
fort- to performance-oriented.
46cus020
In order to include driving conditions in
its calculations, ATC registers curves
and both uphill and downhill gradients.
For example, if you maintain speed
through a curve, the transmission does
not shift up.
On uphill gradients, it shifts up only
when the engine speed increases in
order to make more efficient use of
power reserves. On downhill gradients,
ATC shifts down when the speed of the
vehicle increases and the driver must
apply the brakes.
ATC
*

173n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the acceleration forces acting
upon the vehicle. If, as the result of a
frontal collision, a deceleration is
reached at which the protection of the
safety belts alone is no longer ade-
quate, the gas generators of the driver
and passenger-front airbags are ignited.
However, the passenger-side airbag is
only triggered if an additional sensor
has recognized that the passenger seat
is occupied.
In the event of a side collision, the
side airbags in the front are triggered
if necessary. 390de012
The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of
a few milliseconds. In this process, they
tear through the designed separation
points of the upholstered covers or
press them out.
Because the inflation process must be
virtually instantaneous, it is necessarily
accompanied by a certain amount of
ignition and inflation noise. The gas
required to inflate the airbags is not
dangerous, and the smoke associated
with it dissipates.
The entire process is completed within
fractions of a second.Highly sensitive sensors monitor the
wheel speeds, steering angle, lateral
acceleration, brake pressure and the
movement of the vehicle around its
vertical axis.
If differences in the wheel speeds occur,
the system counteracts the danger of
wheelspin by reducing torque. If neces-
sary, the system also responds with
additional brake applications at the
rear wheels.
In addition, DSC permanently monitors
the vehicle's current operating condition
and compares it with an ideal condition
that is calculated from the sensor sig-
nals. If deviations from this occur (un-
dersteering or oversteering, for in-
stance), DSC can stabilize the vehicle in
fractions of a second by reducing engine
output and with the assistance of brak-
ing intervention at individual wheels.
As a result, most skids can be preven-
ted from their very onset.
You may need some time to become
accustomed to this system intervention.
However, it provides optimum drive
force and vehicle stability.
The braking intervention may be
accompanied by sounds specific to
the system.
Airbags DSC

174n
Radio reception Safety belt tensionerThe AM frequency bands (medium-
wave, long-wave and short-wave)
make it possible to receive stations
from a great distance, because the
broadcast signals travel not only along
the ground as surface waves, but also
as atmospheric waves that are re-
flected from the ionosphere.
Frequency-modulation (FM) provides
substantially better sound quality than
the other frequencies. However,
because FM transmissions rely on line-
of-sight broadcast waves, their effec-
tive reception range is limited. 360de084
The limitations inherent to radio recep-
tion in a moving vehicle have been min-
imized by a number of innovative sys-
tem designs:
The "Radio Data System" (RDS) makes
sure that, for stations broadcasting on
several frequencies, the radio automati-
cally tunes to the frequency with the
best reception quality.
With the Diversity Antenna system, sev-
eral FM antennas are integrated within
the convertible top compartment lid to
provide three separate sources for re-
ceiving broadcast waves. An integral
processor automatically selects the an-
tenna with the best FM reception qual-
ity at any given time. The selection of
the antenna takes place within millisec-
onds, and is therefore not noticed by
the radio listener.The safety belt tensioners respond to
severe head-on collisions by tightening
the belts to ensure that occupants
remain firmly positioned in their seats.
A gas-pressure system retracts the
buckle assembly to tension the shoul-
der and lap belts within fractions of a
second. This reduces the tendency to
slide under the lap belt.
390de330

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Interior rearview mirror with automatic dimmer
*
The interior rearview mirror with auto-
matic dimming feature reduces glare by
adapting the intensity of the reflected
images to correspond to levels of light
registered by the unit's sensors. The
mirror reverts to its undimmed setting
as soon as the light source disappears.
One light sensor is mounted on the front
of the mirror housing. This sensor, the
one that is directed forward, measures
light intensity in the area ahead of the
vehicle. The second sensor is inte-
grated within the mirror's glass. The
electronic control system compares the
light intensity from front and rear. The
difference provides the basic parameter
used to modulate an electrical current
and induce chemical changes in a semi-
solid layer incorporated in the lens.46cus036
The semisolid reacts chemically to this
electrical current, dimming the mirror
through an infinitely-variable range
(electrochromic technology).
As a result, it is no longer necessary to
dim the mirror manually, and the driver
can concentrate completely on traffic
conditions.

176n
Rain sensor
*
Depending on how wet the windshield
is, the rain sensor controls the opera-
tion of the windshield wipers.
Infrared light is carried along the sur-
face of the windshield in an optical con-
ductor in such a manner that it is re-
flected completely when the windshield
is dry. The quantity of reflected light is
measured.
If there is moisture on the glass, the
amount of light reflected is reduced
since the infrared light at the surface of
the windshield can escape. The quan-
tity of reflected light is thus a means of
gauging the degree of wetness on the
windshield.390de133
When the system is set to the "Intermit-
tent" wiper speed, the wipers react im-
mediately – if water is splashed onto the
windshield by vehicles traveling ahead
of you, for example. As a result, the rain
sensor contributes to driving safety and
comfort.