2000 BMW 323Ci steering

123n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Engine oilChecking oil level 1 Park the vehicle on a level surface
2 Shut the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3 After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material
4 Push the dipstick all the way into the
guide tube and pull it out again
5 The oil level should be between the
two graduations on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions.462de244
The space between the two marks on
the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine.460de189
To add oil Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
But never let the oil drop below the
lower mark.
BMW engines are designed to op-
erate without oil additives; the use
of additives could lead to damage in
some cases. This also applies for the
manual transmission, automatic trans-
mission, differential and the power
steering system.<462de245

135n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Caring for your car Airbags
Cleaning agents can contain sub-
stances that are dangerous or
pose health risks. Therefore always
comply with the warnings and danger
notices on the package.
Open the doors or windows on your
vehicle when cleaning the interior.
Never clean your vehicle with solvents
or other materials not specifically in-
tended for this application.<
1 Front airbag for driver and passenger
2 Side impact Head Protection System
(front)
3 Side airbags (front and rear
* side)
Important safety notices
Do not attempt to remove the gas
generators of the airbag supple-
mental restraint system from the vehi-
cle. Testing and service procedures are
to be performed exclusively by spe-
cially-qualified technicians. In the event
of a malfunction, deactivation or trig-
gered actuation (as a response to an
accident) of the airbag restraint system,
consult your authorized BMW center for
repairs or service operations.
462de207
Do not modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in
the airbag system. These include the
padded steering wheel hub, the instru-
ment panel, the side trim panels of the
front or rear doors and the roof pillars or
the sides of the headliner. Never tape
the air bag cover panels, cover them
over or alter them in any other way. Do
not remove or dismantle the steering
wheel.
To ensure compliance with official
safety regulations, have an authorized
BMW center dispose of airbag genera-
tors.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.<

148n
Changing tires
Take these precautionary mea-
sures if you have either a flat tire
or are changing the tire:
Park the vehicle as far from the flow of
traffic as possible and on firm ground.
Switch on the hazard flashers. Turn the
steering wheel to the straight-ahead
position, remove the key and engage
the steering lock. Shift into 1st or re-
verse (selector lever in "Park" with auto-
matic) and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
car and well away from your immediate
working area (behind the guardrail, for
instance).
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface that is not slippery. Avoid jack-
ing the car on a soft or slippery support
surface (snow, ice, loose gravel, etc.),
as it could slide sideways.
Ensure that the jack is positioned on a
solid support surface.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. If this done, the
jack might not be able to reach its full
support capacity because of the limited
height.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack – risk of fatal injury.<
Your BMW has either a spare
* or
space-saver tire
* for temporary use and
to ensure your mobility.
Take the luggage compartment
floor panel completely out to
remove the spare tire
* (refer to
page 41).<
You will the need the followingIn order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
>A jack (1)
Raise the floor panel in the luggage
compartment (refer to page 41) and
unscrew the red wing nut (arrow).
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back down.
Fold the handle back and insert it in
its holder
>Wedge (2)
The wedge, or wheel chock, is lo-
cated behind the jack on the luggage
compartment's rear wall. Loosen the
wing nut to remove it460de058

151n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Changing tires Battery Driving with the space-saver
spare tire
*
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 45 mph (80 km/h).
Be aware that vehicle handling will be
altered. Slower brake response time,
longer braking distances and changed
steering characteristics may be antici-
pated when approaching limit condi-
tions.
The changes in handling characteristics
will be even more pronounced in con-
junction with winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire
may be mounted. Mount a wheel
and tire with the same size and specifi-
cations as the others at the earliest
possible opportunity. Maintain correct
tire pressures. Refer to page 28.<
Battery location The battery is located at the right-rear
of the luggage compartment. Raise the
luggage compartment floor panel (refer
to page 41), and give a screwdriver or a
coin a 1/4-turn counterclockwise to
release the two fasteners plus an addi-
tional fastener in the upper-center side
trim panel. In order to remove the stor-
age tray, slide the side trim panel
slightly upward.460de176
SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on
your car battery. To avoid injury, please
comply with the corresponding precau-
tions whenever you work with or near
the battery.
Before handling the battery,
please read the following infor-
mation.
Wear eye protection. Do not al-
low particles containing battery
acid or lead to come into con-
tact with your eyes, your skin, or your
clothing.
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and
protective gloves. Do not tip the
battery. Battery acid can leak from the
ventilation openings.
Ensure that children keep well
away from batteries and battery
acid.
Fire, sparks, an open flame and/
or smoking are not allowed in
the vicinity of the battery. Avoid
sparks from electrical cables or electri-
cal equipment. Turn the key to position
0 in the steering lock when the battery
is disconnected or connected. Never
short-circuit the battery terminal, other-
wise you could be injured by electrical
sparks.

161n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the physical 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 adequate, 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 Head
Protection and side airbags in the front
or rear
* are triggered if necessary.
390de319
The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of a
few milliseconds. In this process they
tear through the rated breaking 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 associated smoke
then dissipates.
The entire process is completed within
fractions of a second.Highly sensitive sensors monitor the
number of revolutions of the wheels,
steering angle, lateral acceleration,
brake pressure and the movement of
the vehicle around its vertical axis.
If differences in the wheel speeds oc-
cur, the system counteracts the danger
of wheelspin by reducing engine torque.
If necessary, the system also responds
with additional application of the brakes
at the rear wheels.
If the system detects an instability in the
vehicle's condition, the braking action
can also be directed to the front wheels
by the DSC in order to help stabilize the
vehicle.
You may need some time to become
accustomed to this system's interven-
tion. However, it provides optimum pro-
pulsive force and driving stability.
The braking intervention may be ac-
companied by a certain degree of
noise.
Airbags DSC

174n
Electrical system Ribbed V-belt Battery 12 V, 80 AhSpark plugs NGK BKR 6 EQUP
Bosch FGR 7 DQP (under development)Water pump – AC generator – Power
steering
Ribbed V-belt 6 PK x 1538
A/C compressor
Ribbed V-belt 5 PK x 863You can obtain Original BMW
Parts and Accessories, as well as
professional advice from your autho-
rized BMW center.<

Everything from A to ZAABS (Antilock Brake
System) 22, 106
Accessories 6
Activated charcoal
filter 93, 154
Adaptive Transmission
Control (ATC) 66, 160
Adding engine oil 123
Adding washer fluid 173
Adjust the backrest 47
Adjust the temperature 90
Adjust the thigh support
area 49
Adjusting steering wheel 51
Air distribution 90
Air outlets 88
Air pressure 113
Air supply 91
Airbags 21, 57, 135, 161
Alarm system 42
Antenna 112
Antenna, Diversity 162
Antifreeze 126
Antifreeze, radiator 110
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 22, 106
Anti-theft alarm system 42
Aquaplaning 104, 113
Armrest 95
Ashtray 96
Assisted rear entry 49AUC (Automatic
recirculated-air
control) 91
Automatic car washes 130
Automatic climate
control 88
remove window
condensation 91
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC) 91
Automatic speed control 72
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic 22, 66
Average consumption 78
Average speed 79
Avoiding unwanted
alarm 43
Axle loads 172
BBackrest
release 49
Backup lamps 65
bulb replacement 143
Battery 151, 174
capacity 174
charge 153
discharged 156
removal and
installation 152
Battery charge current 20
Belts 55Blower 91
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil 124
BMW Sports Seat 49
Bore 170
Brake fluid 127
Brake hydraulic system 20
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 143
Brake pads 22
Brake-in procedure 104
Brakes 108
Brakes, brake faults 109
Breaking in the vehicle 104
Bulb replacement 140
CCar Memory 54
Car phone, please refer to
the manufacturer's
operating instructions
Car radio 112
reception 112, 162
refer also to the car radio
operating instructions
Car vacuum cleaner,
connecting 96
Car wash 130
Care
exterior 131
interior 132
Care of upholstery 133Care of wool velour 133
Cargo loading 100
Caring for the vehicle
finish 131
Cassette operation, refer to
the radio operating
instructions
Catalytic converter 105
CBC (Cornering Brake
Control) 21, 107
CD mode, refer to the radio
operating instructions
Cellular phones 95, 112
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp 145
Center armrest 95
Central locking system 34
key 38
Changing tires 148
Check air pressure 27
Check Control 77
Child restraint
systems 56, 60
Child seat 56, 60
Cigarette lighter 96
Clock 77
refer also to the onboard
computer operating
instructions
Clothes hooks 97
Cockpit 16

Everything from A to ZGGasoline 26
Gasoline gauge 75
Glove compartment 94
Glove compartment lamp
bulb replacement 146
Grills 88
Gross weight 172HHandbrake 64
Hands-free system 95
Hazard warning system 25
Hazard warning triangle 25
Head restraint 48
Headlamp covers,
care 130, 141
Headlamp flasher 85
Headlamp washer
system 122, 173
Headlamp washers 71
Heated mirrors 52
Heated seats 93
Heater and ventilation 88
Heavy loads 100
Height 171
HiFi System – harman
kardon 94
High beams 23, 69, 85
bulb replacement 141
Hood release 119
Horn 17
Hubcap 149
IIce warning 78
Icy roads 78
Identification, tires 115
Ignition key 32
Ignition lock 62
Indicator lamps 20
Inflation pressure 27, 113
Inflation pressure
monitoring 82, 164
Inside rearview mirror,
automatically set for low-
beam lights 53
INSPECTION 76
Installing child restraint
system 61
Instrument cluster 18
Instrument lighting 84
Instrument panel lighting 84
Interaxle tire rotation 114
Interface socket 96
Interface socket for On-
Board-Diagnostics 137
Interference
cellular phones 112
Interior lamp 36, 85
bulb replacement 145
remote control 36
Interior mirror 52
automatic dim 163
Interior motion sensor 42
Interlock 62
Intermittent wipe 69
JJack 148
Jump-starting 156KKey 32
Key Memory 54LLamp switch 84
Lamps on warning 84
Lashing eyes 100
Leather care 134
Length 171
License plate lamp
bulb replacement 145
Light-alloy wheels 117
Lighter 96
Load-securing devices 100
Low beam headlamps 84
Low beams
bulb replacement 141
Low-beam light inside
rearview mirror 53
Lug bolts 149
Luggage compartment 39
capacity 172
emergency release 39
floor mat 41
floor panel 41
remote control 37Luggage compartment
lamps
bulb replacement 146
Luggage compartment
lid 39
emergency release 39
Luggage compartment
lighting 39
Luggage rack 101
Lumbar support 49
MM+S tires 116
Maintenance 76, 129
Malfunction displays 77
Manual transmission 65
Manually controlled
recirculated-air 91
Memory 51
MFL (Multi-function steering
wheel) 24
Microfilter 93, 154
Microphone 95
Mirror memory 51
Mirrors 52
Mobile phones 112
Modifications,
technical 6, 136
Multi-function steering wheel
(MFL) 24