2000 BMW 323Ci ECU

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and
security when you drive it. We therefore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new car. It
contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in gaining maximum
use and satisfaction from the unique range of technical features on your BMW. The
manual also contains information on care and maintenance designed to enhance
operating safety and contribute to maintaining the value of your BMW throughout an
extended service life.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It should
stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important operating,
safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information Booklet
(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canada models). We recom-
mend that you read these publications thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:
– New Vehicle Limited Warranty
– Limited Warranty Rust Perforation
– Emissions System Defect Warranty
– Emissions Performance Warranty
– California Emissions Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) and the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canada models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

Contents

Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit 16
Instrument cluster 18
Indicator and warning lamps 20
Multi-function steering wheel 24
Hazard warning system 25
Warning triangle 25
First-aid kit 25
Refueling 26
Fuel specifications 26
Tire inflation pressure 27

Locks and security systems:

Keys32
Electronic vehicle immobilizer 33
Central locking system 34
Door locks – from outside 34
Using the key 34
Using the remote control 35
Door locks – from inside 38
Luggage compartment lid 39
Luggage compartment 41
Alarm system 42
Electric power windows 44
Sliding/tilt sunroof 45

Adjustments:

Seats47
Seat and mirror memory 50
Steering wheel 51
Mirrors 52
Car Memory, Key Memory 54

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts55
Child restraint systems 56
Airbags 57

Driving:

Steering/ignition lock 62
Starting the engine 62
Switching off the engine 63
Parking brake 64 Manual transmission
65
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 66
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher 69
Wiper/washer system/Rain sensor 69
Rear window defroster 71
Cruise control 72

Everything under control:

Odometer74
Tachometer 74
Energy control 74
Fuel gauge 75
Temperature gauge 75
Service Interval Display 76
Check Control 77
Clock 77
Onboard computer 77

Technology for safety and
convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC) 80
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) 81
Tire Pressure Control (RDC) 82

30n
Locks and security systems:
Keys32
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Door locks – from outside34
Using the key34
Using the remote control35
Door locks – from inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment41
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Sliding/tilt sunroof45
Adjustments:
Seats47
Seat and mirror memory50
Steering wheel51
Mirrors52
Car Memory, Key Memory54
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts55
Child restraint systems56
Airbags57
Driving:
Steering/ignition lock62
Starting the engine62
Switching off the engine63
Parking brake64

32n
Keys1 Master key with transmitter for the
remote control determines the Key
Memory functions, see page 54.
Every key contains a long-life re-
chargeable battery which is auto-
matically recharged from the ignition
lock, while the car is being driven.
If you have spare master keys which are
not otherwise in regular service, it is ad-
visable to use them about once a year
for a journey of some distance, so that
their batteries are recharged. Also see
page 35.<
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet. This key is not
intended for continuous use.463de023
3 Door and ignition key
The locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid and glove compartment can-
not be operated with this key – this
may be beneficial for valet parking,
for instance.
Replacement keysare available exclusively through your
authorized BMW center. Your BMW
center is obligated to ensure that a per-
son requesting a key is authorized to do
so, since the keys belong to a security
system (refer to "Electronic vehicle im-
mobilizer" on page 33).
Whenever you have been handed
a replacement key, insert it into
the ignition lock and turn it once to
position 2 (ignition switched on), then
back to the home position, so that the
electronic immobiliser "accepts" the
new key.<
See also "New transmitter", page 147.

33n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Electronic vehicle immobilizer The key to securityYour BMW is equipped with a passive
anti-theft system. This electronic immo-
bilization system is designed to reduce
the susceptibility of the vehicle to theft
by making it impossible to start the en-
gine using any means other than the
special keys furnished with the vehicle.
Your BMW center can cancel the elec-
tronic system authorization for individ-
ual keys (in the event of loss, for in-
stance). A deactivated key can no
longer be used to start the engine.
BMW
LOCK
463de042
How the electronics workAt the heart of this system is an elec-
tronic chip that is integrated into the
key. The lock mechanism itself is actu-
ally a dual-function device, simulta-
neously serving as a communications
interface designed to allow the security
system to maintain a continuous stream
of variable, vehicle-specific signals with
the electronic circuitry in the key. The
system will not release the ignition, fuel
injection and starter unless it recog-
nizes an "authorized" key.
Force applied to the key can dam-
age the integrated electronic cir-
cuitry. A damaged key can no longer be
used to start the engine.<

35n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Door locks – from outsideUsing the remote control The remote control makes opening and
locking the doors of your vehicle very
convenient. Furthermore, it provides
two additional functions that can only
be executed by means of the remote
control:
>To switch on interior lamps
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle, when
parked in an underground garage,
for instance.
>To open luggage compartment
The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly, regardless of whether
the lid was previously locked or un-
locked.
The anti-theft system is also deacti-
vated/activated simultaneously with
the unlocking or locking of the vehicle,
and the alarm system
* is disarmed/
armed, and the interior lamps are
turned on/off.
You can have a confirmation mes-
sage set to inform you that the car
has been properly locked.<
Master keysKeys with a transmitter for remote con-
trol are master keys. Refer to page 32.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this rea-
son, always take the vehicle keys with
you so that the vehicle can be opened
again from the outside at any time.<463de024
Transmitters that are in regular use
will always be operational, as the
rechargeable battery in the transmitter
is automatically recharged in the ignition
lock while the car is being driven.
If it should prove impossible to lock the
car with a particular transmitter via the
remote control, the battery is in need of
recharging. Use this transmitter for a
lengthy journey, to recharge its battery.
Also see page 32.<

36n
Door locks – from outsideUnlocking and convenience
opening modeUnlock driver's door: Press button 1.
Unlock and lower the driver's win-
dow: Press button 1 twice. If you
wish, you can have this special feature
adjusted. If the car is in a tight parking
space, lowering the driver's-side win-
dow helps you when entering the car.
After the door is closed, the driver's-
side window closes automatically.<
After unlocking the driver's door, press
button 1 again to unlock the entire vehi-
cle.
If you wish, you can have this spe-
cial feature adjusted to be key-
specific.<463de025
Convenience opening mode: Press and
hold button 1. The windows and the
sliding/tilt sunroof are opened.
To lock and secure To lock and secure: Press button 2.Switching off tilt alarm
* and
interior motion sensor*
Press button 2 again directly after lock-
ing.
For additional information: Refer to
page 43To switch on interior lamps After locking the car, press button 2
again.463de027

38n
Door locks – from inside Use this button to operate the central
locking system when the doors are
closed. The doors and luggage com-
partment lid are unlocked or locked
only. The anti-theft alarm system is not
activated.
After opening the driver's door by acti-
vating the remote control once, the
front passenger door can also be
opened by pressing the button. When
the driver's door is closed, it is auto-
matically locked.
If you desire, the central locking
system will secure the locks as
soon as you start to drive. This can be
adjusted to be key-specific.<460us007
To unlock and open the doors>Either unlock the doors together with
the button for the central locking sys-
tem and then pull each of the release
handles above the armrests or
>pull the release handle for each door
twice: The first pull unlocks the door,
and the second one opens it.
Doors locked from outside can be
opened from inside by first press-
ing the button and then pulling a re-
lease handle twice.<
To engage locks>Either use the central locking button
to lock all doors at once, or
>press down the individual door lock
buttons. The fuel filler door then re-
mains unlocked. As an added design
feature to prevent the driver from be-
ing inadvertently locked out of the ve-
hicle, the driver's door lock button
will not engage as long as the door
is open.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this rea-
son, take the vehicle's keys with you so
that the vehicle can be opened again
from the outside at any time.<