2000 BMW 323i SEDAN Owner's Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
You have the option of driving with a
normal automatic transmission or
switching to manual.
When you move the selector lever from
the "D" position to the left into the M/S
range, the performance-oriented shift
programs of the automatic transmission
are engaged. As soon as you briefly
touch the selector lever in the "+" or "Ð"
direction, Steptronic changes the gear.
The manual mode is engaged. When-
ever you want to use automatic again,
just shift the selector lever toward the
right to position D.
The automatic transmission with Step-
tronic is equipped with ATC (Adaptive
Transmission Control). ATC reacts with
precision to your individual driving style
and the current driving conditions. It is
for this reason that various shift pro-
grams are used.
For additional details concerning the
ATC, please refer to the chapter de-
scribing "Advanced technology" on
page 162.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + Ð
Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever positions P ("Park") or N ("Neu-
tral").Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts into
certain selector lever positions. To dis-
engage the detent, press the button on
the front of the shift knob (arrow).460de076
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of "Park" or
"Neutral," depress the footbrake in
order to disengage the selector lever's
lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
Hold the footbrake down until starting
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep"
when a drive position is engaged.<
If you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, move the selector
lever to the "Park" or "Neutral" position
and apply the parking brake. If you fail
to do this, the vehicle could move. Do
not leave the car unattended with the
engine running. An unattended vehicle
with a running engine represents a po-
tential safety hazard.<
P ParkSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. The transmission locks to prevent
the rear wheels from turning.R ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary.N NeutralSelect only if your journey is interrupted
for a long period.

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Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
D Drive (automatic shift program)This position is designed for driving un-
der all normal operating conditions. All
forward gears are available."Kickdown"In the "Kickdown" mode, you achieve
the maximum acceleration and the top
speed in position D.
To activate this mode, depress the ac-
celerator pedal beyond the full-throttle
position, at which a resistance point
must be overcome.
M/S Manual operation and
Sport ProgramShifting from D into M/S activates the
Sport Program. This is indicated by
"SD" in the gear selection display. This
position is recommended for a perfor-
mance-oriented driving style.
With the first brief touch, the automatic
transmission shifts from the Sport Pro-
gram to the manual mode.
When you move the selector lever for-
ward in the "+" direction, the transmis-
sion shifts up. When the lever is moved
back in the "Ð" direction, the transmis-
sion shifts down. M1 to M5 appear in
the gear indicator.460de145
Upshifts or downshifts will only be car-
ried out by the ATC at appropriate en-
gine speeds and road speeds. If the en-
gine speed is too high, for instance, a
downshift will not be executed. The gear
selected will appear briefly in the instru-
ment cluster followed by the current
gear.
To accelerate quickly in the man-
ual mode (to pass another vehicle,
for instance), shift down manually or
employ the kickdown mode.<
Shifting from M/S to the selector lever
positions P, R and N is possible only by
going through D.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
In the following situations, the Step-
tronic "thinks" for you in the manual
mode:
>In order to prevent the engine from
overrevving, the transmission shifts
automatically to the next higher gear
just before the RPM cutoff point.
>If you do not do anything to inter-
vene, it will automatically downshift
at lower speeds.
>In kickdown, it will downshift into
the lowest gear possible, depending
on the engine speed.
>According to the situation, for in-
stance in wintry conditions, the
vehicle can be started in 2nd or
3rd gear.
Available displays
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5460de138
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 per-
formance has been restored. You may
continue to drive as usual.
If the indicator lamp does not go out,
you can place the selector lever in all
positions. However, the vehicle will now
only operate in 3rd and 4th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest BMW
center.
Do not work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear (for-
ward or reverse) is engaged. If you do
this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing, tow-starting or jump-start-
ing the vehicle, refer to the information
beginning on page 157.

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Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher Wiper/Washer system 1 High beams (blue indicator)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
lamp accompanied by periodic click-
ing sound from the relay).
If the indicator lamp and the clicking
from the relay are both faster than nor-
mal, one of the turn indicators has
failed. 460de085
To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released.
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent wipe or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Automatic windshield washer
6 Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensor.460de023

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Wiper/Washer system1 Intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
*
Intermittent wipe:
You can use rotary dial 6 to select from
four wipe intervals.
In addition, the wipe interval automati-
cally adapts to variations in road speed.
Rain sensor:
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror. When the rain sen-
sor is activated, the windshield wiper is
controlled automatically, depending on
the degree of wetness of the windshield
(in both snow and rain). You do not
have to be concerned with switching
the windshield wiper on or off or adjust-
ing the wipe interval between intermit-
tent and full wipe. Instead, you can
concentrate fully on the traffic condi-
tions. This is especially important under
adverse weather conditions.
To activate the rain sensor:
In ignition key positions 1 or 2, move
the lever to position 1. The wipers travel
once across the windshield, regardless
of the weather.You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1, and then activate the rain
sensor in ignition key positions 1 or 2.
To do this,
>turn rotary dial 6 briefly or
>use the automatic windshield
washer 5.
To modify the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 6.
Turn the rain sensor off when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in
damage caused by undesired wiper
activation.<
2 Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers switch automatically to intermittent
wipe (not on vehicles with rain sensor).3 Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers operate at normal speed (not on
vehicles with rain sensor).5 Automatic windshield washer The system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you pull the lever only briefly, the sys-
tem sprays washer fluid onto the wind-
shield without activating the wipers.

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Wiper/Washer system Rear window defroster Headlamp washers
*
When the vehicle's lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps will also be
cleaned every fifth time the automatic
windshield washer is activated.
Do not use the washers if there
is any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield. If you do so,
your vision could be obscured. Use an
antifreeze agent. Refer to page 124.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. If you do so, the washer
pump could be damaged. *
automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.To activatePress the button: As long as the indica-
tor lamp remains on, the rear window
defroster continues at high-output
(rapid thaw).
After the indicator lamp goes out, the
defroster continues operating at re-
duced power for a limited period before
deactivating automatically. 460de026
To deactivatePress the button if the indicator lamp is
on.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cruise control
*
You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h). To activate the system In ignition key positions 1 or 2:
Press button 1. The indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster comes on. You
can now use the cruise control.462de214
To store and maintain speed or
to accelerate Press button 3 briefly:
The system registers and maintains the
current vehicle speed. The speed will
now be increased by approx. 0.6 mph
(approx. 1 km/h) every time you briefly
press the button.
Press and hold button 3:
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the button, the system reg-
isters and maintains the current speed.
If, on a downhill gradient, the
engine braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed may be
exceeded. Speed may drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.<
To deceleratePress button 2 briefly:
When the cruise control is active, vehi-
cle speed is reduced by approx.
0.6 mph (approx. 1 km/h) every time
you briefly press the button.
Press and hold button 2:
With the cruise control active, the sys-
tem automatically reduces the throttle
opening to slow the vehicle. When you
release the button, the system registers
and maintains the current speed.

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Cruise control
*
To cancel the cruise control When the system is activated, press
and hold button 1. The indicator lamp
stays on. You can use the cruise control
again as desired.
In addition, cruise control is canceled
automatically:
>if the brakes are applied
>if the clutch is depressed or the auto-
matic transmission selector lever is
moved from "Drive" to "Neutral"
>if you exceed or fall below the pro-
grammed speed for an extended pe-
riod (by depressing the accelerator,
for example).
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 from the sys-
tem's memory and the system is deacti-
vated.
To deactivate the system When the cruise control has been can-
celed, press button 1 again. The indica-
tor lamp goes off and the stored speed
is canceled.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic density
prevents driving at a constant speed,
when the road surface is slick (snow,
rain, ice), or when the road surface is
loose (rocks, sand).<