2000 BMW 323Ci COUPE stop start

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 ribbed V-belt is defective, do
not continue driving. The engine
could be damaged due to overheating.
If the ribbed V-belt is defective, in-
creased steering effort is also re-
quired.

<

Engine oil pressure


l


Stop vehicle and switch off en-
gine immediately. Check level of
oil in engine, top up as required. If oil
level is correct: Please contact the
nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.

<
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
* l
In addition, there is an acousti-
cal warning signal: A tire failure
has occurred. Reduce vehicle speed
immediately and stop the vehicle. Avoid
hard brake applications. Do not over-
steer.
For additional information: Refer to
page 82.
Brake hydraulic system l
If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
Check the brake fluid level. Before driv-
ing further, be sure to read the notes on
pages 109 and 127.
Brake-warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.

21n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Indicator and warning lampsYellow: Stop immediately
Engine oil level

Comes on while driving: Stop
vehicle and switch off engine
immediately. The oil level is at the abso-
lute minimum.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.<
Red and yellow: Continue driving
cautiously
Cornering Brake Control (CBC) l
Comes on together with the yel-
low indicator lamps for ABS and
DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC

system has been deactivated.
Continue driving cautiously and
defensively. Avoid hard brake
applications. Please have the system
checked by your authorized BMW cen-
ter as soon as possible.
For additional information: Refer to
page 81, 107.
Warning lamps CBC, ABS and
DSC for Canadian models.
Red: An important reminder
Parking brake
Comes on when the parking
brake is applied – an additional
acoustical signal sounds when starting
off.
For additional information: Refer to
page 64.
Parking brake lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts l
An acoustical warning signal
sounds simultaneously. Lights
up for a few seconds or until the safety
belt is fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: Refer to page 55.
Airbags l
Please have the system in-
spected by your authorized
BMW center.
For additional information: Refer to
page 57, 161.

68n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
The Steptronic will "think" for you in the
following situations:
>In order to keep the engine from
overrevving, it will automatically shift
into the next higher gear shortly be-
fore the governed speed.
>If you do not do anything to interfere,
it will automatically downshift at
lower speeds.
>In kickdown, it will downshift into the
lowest gear possible, depending on
the engine speed.
Available displays
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5462us019
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on,
there is a malfunction in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop, select trans-
mission position "P", set the parking
brake and turn the engine off (ignition
key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a few
seconds, normal transmission perfor-
mance has been restored. Drive off
normally.
If the indicator lamp does not go out, all
selector lever positions can still be se-
lected; however in the forward positions
the vehicle has limited performance as
it drives only in 3
rd and 4
th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest authorized
BMW center.
Do not carry out any work on the
car in the engine compartment
without first making sure that the selector
lever is in position P or N, and that
the parking brake has been set.<
For towing, tow-starting or jump-start-
ing the vehicle, refer to the information
beginning on page 156.

91n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Automatic climate control Air supply

By pressing the left or right half
of the button, you can vary the
air supply. By doing this, you switch off
the automatic control of the air supply.
Nevertheless, the automatic air distribu-
tion remains unchanged.
When you set the lowest blower speed
by pressing the left half of the button,
all of the displays are canceled: The
blower, heating and air conditioner are
switched off, and the air supply is
stopped. You can reactivate the system
by pressing any button of the automatic
climate control.
To defrost windshield and side
windows
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and the side windows.
Air conditioner
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the
temperature setting – rewarmed when
the air conditioner system is switched
on.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started.
Use the button to switch off the air con-
ditioner at outside temperatures below
approx. + 407 (+ 56). This will help to
prevent the windows from fogging up.
If the windows fog over after switching
the air conditioner off, switch it back on.
Condensation forms in the air con-
ditioner system during operation,
that then exits under the vehicle. Traces
of condensed water of this kind are thus
normal.<
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
external odors by temporarily
blocking outside air. The system then
recirculates the air already within the
vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the re-
circulated air mode, switch this
mode off and increase the air supply as
required.<

105n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Clothes hooks:
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, ensure that they will not obstruct
the driver's vision. In order to avoid per-
sonal injuries during braking maneu-
vers, do not hang heavy objects on the
hooks. exhaust emissions, and is designed for
use with unleaded fuel only.
Even minute quantities of lead would be
enough to permanently damage both
the catalytic converter and the system
oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements
>Do not drive until the fuel tank is
empty
>Tow-start only when the engine is
cold, otherwise unburned, residual
fuel in the catalytic converter could
ignite and cause damage. It is better
to start the vehicle with an outside
starting aid
>Avoid other situations in which the
fuel is not burned, or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine that is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never let the engine run with any of
the spark plug cables disconnected.Be sure to comply with the in-
structions above to prevent un-
burned fuel from reaching the catalytic
converter. Otherwise, the catalytic con-
verter could respond by overheating,
leading to serious damage.
Extreme temperatures occur at the cat-
alytic converter. Heat shields are in-
stalled adjacent to some sections of the
exhaust system. Never remove these
shields; do not apply undercoating to
their surfaces. When driving, standing
at idle, and parking the vehicle, take
care to avoid contact between the ex-
haust system and flammable materials
(grass, hay, leaves, etc.). Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in serious
injury and property damage.

110n
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.

132n
Caring for your carWaxing your car Protect the finish using carnauba or
synthetic-based waxes only.
The best way to determine when the
finish needs to be waxed is by noting
when water stops beading on the sur-
face.
You can use a glass cleaner to remove
any wax or silicone that may have been
left on the windows during waxing.
A full range of car-care products is
available from your BMW center.<
Paint damageYou can touch up small areas of paint
damage with a BMW spray paint or a
BMW touch-up stick.
The paint color code for your car is pro-
vided on a sticker located next to the
type plate and on the first page of your
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet.
Damage caused by flying stones,
scratches, etc., must be touched up
without delay to prevent rust from form-
ing.
If corrosion has started to form in an
area with paint damage, remove all rust
and clean the area. Then prime the area
with a BMW Primer Stick. Finally, apply
the finish coat. Wait a few days, then
polish the repaired area. Finish by ap-
plying a wax preservative.
More extensive paint damage should be
professionally repaired in accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions.
Your BMW center uses original BMW
finish materials in accordance with offi-
cial repair procedures.
Caring for other vehicle
components and materials Light-alloy wheels should be treated
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially dur-
ing the winter months. However, do not
use aggressive products containing ac-
ids, strong alkalis or abrasives. Do not
use steam cleaners operating at tem-
peratures above 1407 (606). Follow
the manufacturer's instructions.
If your vehicle has chrome parts
* such
as the window frames and door handles,
be especially careful about cleaning
them with plenty of water and possibly a
shampoo supplement as well after the
roads have been salted. Use chrome
polish as an additional treatment.
You can use window and glass cleaner
to clean inside window surfaces and
mirrors without smearing and streaking.
Never use polishing pastes or abrasive
(quartz) cleansers on mirror lenses.

Everything from A to ZService and Warranty
Information Booklet 129
Service Interval
Display 76, 129
Shiftlock 66
Side airbags 57
Side impact Head Protection
System 57
Ski bag 99
Sliding 111
Sliding/tilt sunroof 45
closing after electrical
fault 155
ease of use actuation 34
remote control 35
Slippery roads 110
Snow chains 110, 117
Space-saver spare tire 148
Spare key 32
Spare key with radio remote
control 32
Spare tire 148
Spark plugs 174
Special oils 124
Speed control 72
Speedometer 18
Sports Seat 49
Start 62
Starting problems 105, 156
Steel wheels 117
Steering 112
Steering wheel lock 62Steptronic 66
Stopping the vehicle 63
Storage shelf 95
Stroke 170
Summer tires 115
Sun roller blind 93
Sun visors 52
Switching off the engine 63
Symbols 4, 151
TTachometer 74
Tail lamps 143
bulb replacement 143
Tank capacity 173
Tank cover
unlock in case of electrical
fault 155
Technical data 170
Technical
modifications 6, 136
Telephone prep 95
Telephone, please refer to
the manufacturer's
operating instructions
Temperature display
outside temperature 78
Temperature gauge
engine coolant 75
Temperature
stratification 92
Third brake lamp 145Through-loading facility 98
Tilt alarm 36
Tilt sensor alarm
system 36, 43
Tire codes 115
Tire damages 113
Tire inflation
pressure 27, 113
Tire Pressure Control
(RDC) 82, 164
Tire pressure
monitoring 82, 164
Tire replacement 114
Tire specifications 117
Tire tread 113
Tools 140
Top off washer fluid
reservoir 122
Top off windshield washer
fluid reservoir 122
Torque 170
Tow fittings 157
Tow starting 157
Towing 157
Track 171
Trailer loads 172
Transmission 65
Tread depth, tires 113
Trip odometer 74
Trunk 39
capacity 172
locking separately 39Trunk lamps
bulb replacement 146
Trunk lid, refer to luggage
compartment lid 39
Turn signal 23
bulb replacement 142
Turn signals 69
Turning radius 171
Two-way radios 112
UUsed batteries 153VVacuum cleaner,
connecting 96
Vanity mirror 52
bulb replacement 146
Vehicle
engage 62
Vehicle battery 151, 174
Vehicle care
exterior 131
interior 132
Vehicle identification 128
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) 128
Vehicle immobilizer 33
Vehicle painting 131
Vehicle removal from
service 136
Vehicle weight 172