
 
© 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 

 
7n
The following only applies to vehicles owned and operated in the US.
 
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
 
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should 
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of 
North America, Inc., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a 
group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 202-366-0123 in 
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. You can 
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline. 

 
11n
 
Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Headlamps84
Instrument panel rheostat84
High beams/Parking lamps85
Fog lamps85
Interior lamps85
Reading lamps86
 
Controlling the climate 
for pleasant driving:
 
Automatic climate control88
Heated seats93
Roller sun blind93
 
Cabin convenience:
 
HiFi System94
Glove compartment94
Storage compartments95
Cellular phones95
Ashtray96
Cigarette lighter96
Clothes hooks97
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading facility98
Ski bag99
Cargo loading100
Roof-mounted luggage rack101
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures104
Driving notes104
Catalytic converter105
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)106
Disc brakes108
Brake system109
Winter operation110
Power steering112
Cellular phones112
Radio reception112
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressures113
Tire condition113
Tire replacement114
Tire rotation114
Wheel and tire 
combinations115
Winter tires116
Snow chains116
Approved wheel and tire 
specifications117
 
Under the hood:
 
Hood119
Engine compartment120
Washer fluids122
Washer nozzles122
Engine oil123
Coolant126
Brake fluid127
Vehicle Identification
Number128
 
Care and maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System129
Caring for your car130
Airbags135
Vehicle storage136
 
Laws and regulations:
 
Technical modifications 
to the vehicle136
OBD connector137 

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. 

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
31n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Manual transmission65
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic66
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher69
Wiper/washer system/Rain 
sensor69
Rear window defroster71
Cruise control72
Everything under control:
Odometer74
Tachometer74
Energy control74
Fuel gauge75
Temperature gauge75
Service Interval Display76
Check Control77
Clock77
Onboard computer77
Technology for safety and 
convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)80
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)81
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)82Lamps:
Parking lamps/Headlamps84
Instrument panel rheostat84
High beams/Parking lamps85
Fog lamps85
Interior lamps85
Reading lamps86
Controlling the climate 
for pleasant driving:
Automatic climate control88
Heated seats93
Roller sun blind93
Cabin convenience:
HiFi System94
Glove compartment94
Storage compartments95
Cellular phones95
Ashtray96
Cigarette lighter96
Clothes hooks97
Loading and transporting:
Through-loading facility98
Ski bag99
Cargo loading100
Roof-mounted luggage rack101 

95n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Storage compartments  Cellular phones
* 
To open the storage shelf in the front 
center armrest
*:
Press the button (arrow) and lift up-
ward.
Other compartments are located on the 
front doors as well as on the center 
console over the ashtray
*. Storage 
nets
* are located on the back of the 
front seats.
Storage packet
*
(Not released at this time)
For your comfort, there are:
>the rear center armrest with the pull-
out cup/can holder and a clip for a 
trash bag, 
>two flip-out sockets on the rear cen-
ter console, 
>an eyeglass storage compartment
* in 
the center console in front over the 
ashtray.
460de043
Coin holder, cup holder>A coin holder and two cup holders 
are provided in the center console.460us251
Hands-free systemIn vehicles with a telephone prep
* or 
communications package
*, the trim 
piece for the hands-free microphone is 
located in the headliner near the interior 
lamp. 
For additional information concerning 
the cellular phone, please refer to the 
manufacturer's operating instructions.
460de253 

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
103n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures104
Driving notes104
Catalytic converter105
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)106
Disc brakes108
Brake system109
Winter operation110
Power steering112
Cellular phones112
Radio reception112
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressures113
Tire condition113
Tire replacement114
Tire rotation114
Wheel and tire 
combinations115
Winter tires116
Snow chains116
Approved wheel and tire 
specifications117Under the hood:
Hood119
Engine compartment120
Washer fluids122
Washer nozzles122
Engine oil123
Coolant126
Brake fluid127
Vehicle Identification 
Number128
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance 
System129
Caring for your car130
Airbags135
Vehicle storage136
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications to the 
vehicle136
OBD connector137