2000 BMW 323Ci CONVERTIBLE clutch

70n
0 Steering lock engaged The key can be inserted or removed in
this position only.
After removing the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the left or right until
the lock engages.
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion
*:
Do not move the selector lever from the
"Park" position until the engine is run-
ning (ignition key at position 2).
In order to turn the key back to position
0 or to remove it, move the selector
lever into position "Park" first (Inter-
lock).<
46cde093
1 Steering lock disengaged Turning the steering wheel slightly to
the right or left often makes it easier to
turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual electrical equipment is ready
for operation.2 Ignition onAll electrical equipment and accesso-
ries is ready for use.3 Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion: depress the clutch when
starting the vehicle. A lockout prevents
the engine from starting if the clutch is
not depressed.<
>Engage the parking brake
>Ensure that the transmission selector
is in "Neutral" ("Park" or "Neutral" if
the vehicle is equipped with auto-
matic transmission
*)
>Step on the clutch pedal when tem-
peratures are low
>Start the engine. Do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not actuate the starter for too
short a time, but do not turn it for
more than approx. 20 seconds. Release
the ignition key immediately when the
engine starts.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by
leaving it running while the vehicle re-
mains stationary. Instead, drive off im-
mediately at a moderate engine
speed.<
Do not run the engine in enclosed
areas. The exhaust gases contain
carbon monoxide, an odorless, color-
less, yet highly toxic gas. Breathing the
exhaust gases poses an extreme health
risk, and can lead to unconsciousness
and death.
Never leave the vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Steering/Ignition lock Starting the engine

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Manual transmission The shift lever's neutral plane (dot in the
illustration) is located between 3rd and
4th gears.
When shifting from each gear into
"Neutral", the shift lever returns auto-
matically to this gear plane because of
its spring loading.360de044
Reverse Select reverse only when the vehicle is
stationary. Press the shift lever to the
left to overcome a resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will
turn on automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead. A
slipping clutch increases clutch wear.<

81n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cruise controlTo cancel the cruise control When the system is activated, press
button 1. The indicator lamp stays on.
You can use the cruise control again as
required.
In addition, cruise control is canceled
automatically:
>If the brakes are applied
>If the clutch pedal is depressed or
the automatic transmission
* selector
lever is moved from "D" to "N"
>If you exceed or fall below the pro-
grammed speed for an extended pe-
riod, for example by depressing the
accelerator.
To resume the stored settingPress button 4:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored. When you
turn the ignition key to position 0, the
stored speed is deleted and the system
is deactivated.
To deactivate the system When the cruise control has been can-
celed, press button 1 again. The indica-
tor lamp goes out and the stored speed
is deleted.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic den-
sity prevents driving at a constant
speed, when the road surface is slick
(snow, rain, ice), or when the road sur-
face is loose (rocks, sand).<

116n
Disc brakesDisc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure that
must be exerted by the pads to clean
the rotors by brake applications is
not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect that even extended
brake applications will fail to cure.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has ap-
proved for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-ap-
proved brake pads to determine if they
are suited for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehi-
cle if they are installed.<
Driving notesWhen driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles or kilometers. Watch traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other drivers. The heat
which is generated by the brake appli-
cations helps to dry the brake pads and
rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate, but
rather when they are still barely turning
immediately prior to locking. ABS main-
tains this state automatically. If the ABS
fails, you should revert to the staggered
braking technique described on
page 119.
Extended or steep mountain descents
do not necessarily lead to reduced
braking efficiency if you drive downhill
with the transmission in a gear that
allows minimal brake applications (or,
with automatic transmission
*, in an
appropriate lower gear).
You can further increase the engine's
braking effect by selecting a lower gear,
downshifting as far as first gear or plac-
ing the selector lever in position 1.If engine braking should prove to be
inadequate, you should still avoid ex-
tended, continuous braking. Instead of
maintaining low to moderate pressure
over an extended period of time, you
should decelerate by applying more
substantial pressure to the brake pedal
(watch for following traffic), releasing
the pedal, and then repeating the appli-
cation (staggered braking). The cooling
phases between active braking inter-
vals prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing, thus ensuring that full braking
capacity remains available at all times.
Do not coast with the clutch de-
pressed or with the shift lever or
selector lever in "Neutral". Do not drive
with the engine shut off. The engine
provides no braking effect when the
clutch is depressed or the transmission
is in "Neutral", and there is no power
assist for braking or steering when the
engine is not running.
Do not allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the brake pedal, the clutch or
the accelerator, which could obstruct
their freedom of movement.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Winter operationBrakesWinter road conditions substantially
reduce the amount of traction available
between the tires and the road surface.
Keep this in mind, because the braking
distance increases substantially.
ABS is intended to prevent the wheels
from locking during brake applications,
thus helping to maintain vehicle stability
and steering response.
If the ABS does not respond in a critical
braking situation and the wheels lock,
reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
until the wheels just start to roll again
while still maintaining enough force to
continue braking. Then increase the
pressure, reduce the pressure when the
wheels lock, reapply pressure, etc.
This staggered braking procedure will
reduce stopping distances while help-
ing you maintain steering control.
You can then attempt to steer around
hazards after you have reduced pres-
sure on the brake pedal.Do not shift down on slick road
surfaces. Doing so could cause
the rear wheels to lose traction and
skid, which could result in the loss of
vehicle control.<
Depress the clutch during hard
braking on road surfaces that pro-
vide only poor or uneven traction.<
Skid control Depress the clutch and release the ac-
celerator pedal, or place the selector
lever of the automatic transmission into
the "Neutral" position. Countersteer
carefully and attempt to regain control
of the vehicle.
ParkingEngage first or reverse gear. If your
vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, place the selector lever in
Park. On vehicles with manual trans-
mission, also apply the parking brake
when parking on inclined surfaces. In
order to prevent the parking brake pads
from locking due to frost or corrosion,
dry them by gently applying the parking
brake as the vehicle is coming to a
stop. Make sure that following traffic
is not endangered.
The brake lamps do not come
on when the parking brake
is applied.<