2000 BMW 323Ci COUPE lock

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Antilock Brake System (ABS)The concept ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking dur-
ing brake applications. Locked wheels
are dangerous. When the front wheels
slide, the driver loses steering control
over the vehicle. Traction loss at the
rear wheels can cause the rear end to
break into an uncontrolled skid.
The system can achieve the shortest
braking distances possible under most
conditions (on straight-aways and in
curves, on asphalt, ice, wet road sur-
faces, etc.).
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability
>To help maintain steering control and
maneuverability – on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, mud,
wet, snow, ice).
Braking with ABSThe system becomes operative once
the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). Below approx. 3 mph
(6 km/h), it is once again deactivated.
This means that the wheels can lock in
the final phase of a panic stop – a factor
of no significance in actual use.
If you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum brake pressure ("panic stop").
Since the vehicle maintains steering re-
sponsiveness, you can avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.
The ABS system closed-loop control
circuit cycles in fractions of a second.
A pulsation at the brake pedal indicates
to the driver that ABS is active, that is,
that the vehicle is within its maximum
braking range. In addition, a pulsation –
a result of the control function cycles –
indicates to the driver that vehicle
speed should be reduced to adapt to
road surface conditions when there is
reduced traction and grip between tires
and road surface (slippery road sur-
face).
In driving conditions where there is a
loose upper surface together with a
subsurface that provides good traction (on gravel or snow, for instance), or with
snow chains, the braking distance may
also be longer than when the wheels
are locked. However, ABS continues to
provide enhanced vehicle stability and
steering response under these condi-
tions.
Information for your safetyNot even ABS can suspend the laws
of physics. ABS cannot prevent the
consequences of brake applications
with inadequate clearances for safety
between vehicles, when exceeding the
speed limit in curves, or the risks in-
volved when aquaplaning occurs. Re-
sponsibility for these types of situations
remains in the hands (and at the feet) of
the driver.
You should never allow the added
safety of ABS to lull you into a false
sense of security, or mislead you into
taking increased risks that could affect
your own safety and that of others.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Antilock Brake System (ABS)Antilock Brake System (ABS)/
Cornering Brake Control (CBC) CBC is an advanced engineering devel-
opment of ABS. When braking while
cornering at high speed or braking dur-
ing high lateral acceleration, or when
braking during a lane change, vehicle
stability is improved and steering
response is enhanced.
In the event of a fault
If the ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up,
refer to page 22. The brake sys-
tem then reverts to conventional opera-
tion as on vehicles without ABS. How-
ever, have the brake system checked by
your BMW center as soon as possible.
To prevent undetected defects and cu-
mulative faults from adversely affecting
the brake system, refer any problems to
your authorized BMW center at the ear-
liest opportunity.
ABS warning lamp for Canadian
model.
If the brake warning lamp comes
on together with the indicator
lamps for the ABS and DSC sys-
tems, refer to page 21. The en-
tire ABS, CBC and DSC
govern-
ing system has deactivated.
Continue driving cautiously and
defensively. Avoid full brake ap-
plications. This could cause the vehicle
to lose stability and you might no longer
be able to control it.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by your authorized BMW cen-
ter.
Warning lamps CBC, ABS and
DSC for Canadian models.

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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 op-
erating conditions where brakes appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an in-
creased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs be-
cause 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: Only use
brake linings that BMW has re-
leased for your particular vehicle model.
BMW cannot vouch for driving safety or
the suitability of brake linings other than
those they have released.<
Driving notesWhile driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is effective to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles (kilometers). Watch traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The
heat that is generated by the brake ap-
plications helps to dry the brake pads
and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate,
peaking when the wheels remain on the
verge of locking without actually doing
so. ABS maintains this state automati-
cally. If the ABS fails, you should revert
to the staggered braking technique
described on page 110.
Long or steep mountain descents do
not necessarily lead to reduced braking
efficiency if you drive downhill with the
transmission in a gear that allows mini-
mal brake applications (or, with an auto-
matic transmission, in an appropriate
lower range).
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).Should engine braking prove inade-
quate, you should still avoid extended,
continuous braking. Instead of main-
taining low to moderate pressure over
an extended period of time, you should
decelerate the vehicle by applying more
substantial force on the pedal (watch
for following traffic!) and then pausing
before repeating the application. This
staggered braking technique allows the
brakes to cool in the intervals between
active braking phases, preventing over-
heating and ensuring that full braking
capacity remains available at all times.
Do not coast with the clutch de-
pressed or with the transmission
or selector lever in neutral. Do not drive
with the engine shut off. The engine
provides no braking effect when the
clutch pedal is depressed or the trans-
mission is in neutral, and there is no
power-assist for brakes and steering
when the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator, clutch and
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<

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Winter operationThe onset of winter is often accompa-
nied by rapid changes in weather. Adap-
tations in driving style should be accom-
panied by preparations on the vehicle
itself to ensure that your progress
through the winter remains safe and
trouble-free.CoolantBe sure that the coolant mixture is kept
at the year-round ratio of 50:50 of water
and antifreeze/corrosion protection.
This mixture provides protection against
freezing down to approx. – 347
(– 376). Replace the coolant every four
years.LocksBMW door lock deicer can be used to
free them if frozen. This deicer also
contains lubricant.
After using deicer, treatment with BMW
lock barrel grease is recommended.Rubber seals and components To prevent the weather-stripping from
freezing, apply a spray-on rubber treat-
ment or silicone spray to the door, hood
and luggage compartment lid seals.
A full range of car-care products is
available from your BMW center.<
Snow chains BMW snow chains
* can be mounted on
both summer and winter tires. Mount
them in pairs on the rear wheels only
and comply with the manufacturer's
safety precautions. Do not exceed a
maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
In this situation (snow chains mounted),
deactivate the DSC. Refer to page 81.
Starting offWe recommend that you use the man-
ual control switch to deactivate DSC
when starting off in deep snow or when
rocking the car to free it (refer to
page 81).Driving on low-traction road
surfacesUse smooth, gentle pressure to control
the accelerator pedal. Avoid excessive
engine speeds and shift to the next
higher gear at an early point. Adapt
your speed and driving style when ap-
proaching grades or slopes. Maintain
an adequate distance between yourself
and the car ahead.
BrakesWinter road conditions substantially
reduce the traction available between
the tires and the road surface.
Remember that braking distances will
be significantly longer as a result.
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 in-
crease the pressure, reduce the pres-
sure 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.

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Winter operation
Do not shift down on slick road
surfaces. Doing so could cause
the rear wheels to lose traction and
skid, that 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
accelerator 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 1st or reverse gear. If your car
is equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion, place the selector lever in "Park".
On vehicles with manual transmission,
also apply the parking brake when
parking on inclined surfaces. In order to
prevent the parking brake linings 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 light up
when the parking brake is ap-
plied.<

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
To unlock Pull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.
Do not work on your vehicle with-
out appropriate skills. Always
switch off the engine and allow it to
cool down before working in the engine
compartment. Always disconnect the
battery before working on any electrical
systems or equipment, especially when
these are located within the engine
compartment. Comply with all applica-
ble instructions and warnings. Have
your vehicle serviced by an authorized
BMW service center if you are not famil-
iar with the guidelines that need to be
followed. Improper parts and materials
servicing could create a safety hazard
not only for passengers, but also for fel-
low drivers on the road.<460us012
To openPull the release handle and open the
hood.462de269
To closeLet the engine hood drop from about
30 cm (about 12 inches) up, so that it
audibly engages.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is closed, as with all closing
procedures.
If it is determined that the hood is not
completely closed while driving, stop
immediately and close it securely.<462de270
Hood

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Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling
system when the engine is hot,
since escaping coolant can cause
burns.
To avoid the possibility of damage later
on, never use anything other than fac-
tory-approved, nitrite- and amino-free
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. Your authorized BMW center
is familiar with the official specifica-
tions.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. Store antifreeze
and anticorrosion agents in their origi-
nal containers and inaccessible to chil-
dren. Extended-duty antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor contains the flamma-
ble substance ethyleneglycol. Do not
spill antifreeze containing corrosion
inhibitor on hot engine components,
since it could catch fire and cause seri-
ous burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of extended-duty antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor.<
Checking coolant levelCorrect coolant level when the engine
is cold (approx. 687 or 206):
Unscrew the cap from the expansion
tank.
The coolant level is correct when the
end of the red float is aligned with the
upper edge of the filler opening (refer to
the arrow in the illustration or the sche-
matic diagram next to the cap).460de053
Add coolant Wait until the engine cools before
removing the cap from the expansion
tank. The coolant gauge needle in the
instrument cluster must be located in
the blue field; otherwise, otherwise, you
could be scalded.
1 Turn the cap slightly counterclock-
wise in order to allow accumulated
pressure to escape. Then open.
2 If the coolant is low, slowly add
coolant until the correct level is
reached – do not overfill.
The coolant is a mixture of water and
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. Always maintain the pre-
scribed all-season 50:50 mixture ratio
for year-round protection against inter-
nal corrosion. No other additives are re-
quired.
Replace the coolant every four years.

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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Remote controlNew transmitter If you place a new transmitter into ser-
vice (either a replacement or an addi-
tional transmitter), it must be initialized:
1 Enter the vehicle and close the doors
2 Turn the ignition key briefly (max.
5 seconds) to position 1 in the steer-
ing lock and then turn it back to posi-
tion 0. Remove the key
3 Press button 1 (refer to the illustra-
tion) and hold it. Maintain pressure on
button 1 while rapidly pressing button
2 three times in succession within a
period of 10 seconds
4 Release button 1
5 The central locking system activates
and releases all lock mechanisms in
rapid succession to indicate that the
initialization procedure has been suc-
cessfully completed.463de028
If the central locking system fails to re-
spond, you must repeat the initialization
procedure.
If you possess additional transmitters
for your vehicle (up to a maximum of
four units), you must now initialize these
as well. Be sure that no more than
30 seconds is allowed to elapse be-
tween the individual initialization proce-
dures. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each of
the transmitters when doing this. The
central locking system will confirm every
initialization procedure as described in
step 5.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your authorized BMW
center, who can also provide you with
replacement transmitters.Whenever you take receipt of a
new transmitter, always turn it to
position 2 (ignition switched on) in the
ignition lock and then back to the home
position, so that the electronic immobil-
iser (see page 33) "accepts" the new
key.
Protect the transmitters against unau-
thorized use, e.g. by handing in only
door and ignition key 3 or the spare key
(see page 32) at a hotel reception.<