
© 1999 BMW AG
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Part number 01 41 0 155 026
US VI/99
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling).
4n
Notes on the Owner's Manual
We have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you wish to gain only an ini-
tial overview of your vehicle, you will
find this in the first chapter.
The detailed table of contents immedi-
ately following the index is intended to
arouse your curiosity about your BMW
and stimulate you to read about it.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at
some time in the future, please remem-
ber to hand over the Owner's Manual to
the new owner; it is part of the vehicle.
Should you have any further questions,
your BMW center will be glad to assist
at any time.
Symbols used
These sections contain vital infor-
mation – please read the accom-
panying text passages carefully, for
your safety, the safety of others and to
prevent damage to your BMW.
<
These passages contain informa-
tion on special and unique fea-
tures of your vehicle.
<
Special information on
recycling.
<
<
Indicates the end of a note.
*
Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras.
Denotes vehicle parts for which
you should consult this Owner's
Manual.
Alerts you to functions that can
be adjusted for individual drivers
by your authorized BMW center
("Car Memory" or "Key Memory"). Refer
to page 54.
<
The individual vehicle
On buying your BMW, you have de-
cided in favor of a model with individu-
alized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same range.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
which you might not have chosen for
your vehicle. Any differences can easily
be identified, as all optional accessories
and special equipment are marked with
an asterisk
*
.
If your BMW features equipment which
is not described in this Owner's Manual
(e.g., car radio or telephone), (Supple-
mentary) Owner's Manuals are en-
closed. We ask you to read these man-
uals as well.

6n
For your own safety
Use unleaded gasoline only.
Fuels containing up to 10% etha-
nol or other oxygenates with up to 2.8%
oxygen by weight (i.e. 15% MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent
amount of co-solvent) will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
Field experience has indicated signifi-
cant differences in fuel quality (i.e. vola-
tility, composition, additives, etc.)
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in drive-
ability, starting and stalling problems
especially under certain environmental
conditions, such as high ambient tem-
perature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems that you suspect could be related
to the fuel you are using, we recom-
mend that you respond by switching to
a recognized high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when
you are handling gasoline.
c
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones (including op-
eration of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (such as C.B., walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause
extensive damage to the vehicle, com-
promise its safety, interfere with the
vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty.
See your authorized BMW center for
additional information.
Do not use key or remote to lock doors
or luggage compartment lid with any-
one inside the car. See page 34 for
more details.
"Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automo-
tive repair establishment or individual
using any certified automotive part".
c

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

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.

24n
Multi-function steering wheel (MFL)
The controls integrated in the multi-
function steering wheel are provided so
that you can operate a number of ac-
cessories quickly and without being
distracted from traffic conditions. You
may operate:
>selected radio functions
>the cruise control and
>selected cellular phone functions.
In order to operate a system via
the MFL, the corresponding sys-
tem controls must be switched on.<
The illustration shows the maximum
possible number of controls, corre-
sponding to a full range of optional
equipment. Refer to the individual
accessory manuals for more detailed
descriptions.
1 Switch between the radio and the
cellular phone
2 Cellular phone: Receive a call, start
dialing, terminate a call
3 Radio/Cellular phone volume
4 Radio/Cellular phone: Search in re-
verse or station keys (or browse in list
of names)
5 Radio/Cellular phone: Search for-
wards or station keys (or browse in
list of names)463de057
6 Horn: The entire surface
7 Cruise control: Resume stored
setting
8 Cruise control: Store and accelerate
(+); decelerate and store (–)
9 Cruise control: Activate/Interrupt/
Cancel.

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.<