
 
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 

112n
Power steering Cellular phones
* Radio reception 
High steering effort:
Please contact a BMW center.
High steering effort during sudden tran-
sitions: 
Have your authorized BMW center in-
spect this system as soon as possible. 
If the power steering fails, in-
creased effort will be required to 
steer the vehicle.<
Mobile communications systems (cellu-
lar phone, two-way radios, etc.) are only 
allowed a power output of up to 10  Watt. 
Mobile communications devices not 
specifically designed for use in your car 
may trigger malfunctions while operat-
ing your vehicle. BMW can neither test 
nor assume responsibility for every indi-
vidual product being offered on the mar-
ket. We recommend that you consult 
your BMW center before purchasing any 
device of this kind.
To ensure that your BMW continues to 
provide reliable and trouble-free opera-
tion, refrain from using a mobile phone 
or other radio device with an antenna 
located inside the passenger compart-
ment. The antenna should always be 
fitted on the outside of the vehicle.
Before loading the vehicle on a 
car-carrier train or driving it 
through a car-wash, remove the an-
tenna.<
The reception and sound quality ob-
tained from mobile radios varies ac-
cording to a variety of factors, including 
the broadcast range of the transmitter 
and the directional orientation of the 
antenna. Interference factors such as 
high-tension power lines, buildings and 
natural obstructions can all lead to un-
avoidable reception interference, re-
gardless of how well the vehicle's sound 
system is operating.
Climatic factors such as intense solar 
radiation, fog, rain and snow can also 
interfere with reception.
Car telephones or cellular phones not 
approved by BMW can also cause in-
terference in the radio during a tele-
phone call. This phenomenon assumes 
the form of a low-pitched hum emanat-
ing from the speaker system.
Please refer to the supplementary oper-
ating instructions provided with your 
sound system for detailed information 
on its use. 

162n
Radio reception Safety belt tensionerThe radio waves — medium-wave, long-
wave and short-wave — offer a wide 
range of reception, because the broad-
cast signals travel not only along the 
ground as surface waves, but also as 
atmospheric waves bounced back to 
earth from the ionosphere.
Frequency-modulation (FM) provides 
substantially better sound quality than 
AM. However, because FM transmis-
sions rely on line-of-sight broadcast 
waves, their effective reception range is 
limited. 360de084
The limitations inherent to radio recep-
tion in a moving vehicle have been min-
imized by a number of innovative sys-
tem designs:
The "Radio Data System" (RDS) makes 
sure that, for broadcast stations trans-
mitting on several frequencies, the ra-
dio automatically tunes to the frequency 
with the best reception quality.
The Diversity Antenna system employs 
several FM antennas integrated within 
the rear window to provide three sepa-
rate sources for receiving broadcast 
waves. An integral processor automati-
cally selects the antenna with the best 
FM reception quality at any given time. 
The selection of the antenna takes 
place within milliseconds, and is there-
fore not noticed by the radio listener.The safety belt tensioner responds to 
collisions by tightening the belts to en-
sure that occupants remain firmly posi-
tioned in their seats. A gas-pressure 
system retracts the buckle assembly 
to tension the shoulder and lap belts 
within fractions of a second. This re-
duces the tendency to slide under the 
lap belt. 
390de330 

164n
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
*
This system regularly checks tire pres-
sures and monitors all four tires even 
while driving, so you don't have to. 
Behind the valve stem in every wheel, 
there is an extended-life electronic chip 
that has a pressure sensor, a transmit-
ter and a battery. The pressure is mea-
sured in extremely short time intervals 
and then transmitted by a radio signal. 
If an irregularity is detected, the trans-
mission rate is increased. 462de257
Near every wheel there is an antenna in 
the body that receives the signals from 
all four wheels. A central electronics 
system evaluates the quadruple signals 
and forwards any changes. The RDC 
plays an important part in driving safety. 

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 Z
179n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Code, refer to the radio 
operating instructions
Coin holder, cup holder 95
Combination switch 69
Compression 170
Computer 77
Configure settings 54
Consumption 78
Consumption display 75
Coolant 110, 126, 173
Coolant thermometer 75
Coolant, antifreeze 110
Cooling system 173
Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC) 21, 107
Cruise control 72
Cruising range 79
Curb weight 172
Current check indicator 20DDashboard 16
Data
dimensions 171
engine 170
technical 170
weights 172
Daytime-driving light 
switch 84
Defrost setting 91
Defrost windows 91
Defroster, rear window 92Digital clock 77
Dimensions 171
Dipstick 123
Disc brakes 108
Displacement 170
Display lighting 84
Displays 18
Distance warning 80
Diversity, antenna 162
Divided rear backrest 98
Door key 32
Door locks, care 110
Doors
emergency actuation 34
remote control 35
unlocking and locking 34
Drawbar load 172
Drive belts 174
Driving hints 104
Driving lamps 84
DSC (Dynamic Stability 
Control) 22, 81, 161
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC) 22, 81, 161
EElectric power seat 50
Electric power windows 44
Electrical accessories, 
failure 153
Electrical system 174Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer 33
Elements of operation 16
Emergency actuation
doors 34
tank cover 155
Energy Control 74
Engage 62
Engine
engage 62
Engine compartment 120
Engine coolant 126, 173
Engine data 170
Engine oil
filling capacity 173
quality 124
viscosity 124
Engine oil consumption 123
Engine oil level 21
check 123
Engine oil pressure 20
Engine oil 
specifications 124
Engine speed 170
Entry from the rear 49
Exterior mirrors 52
FFailure messages 77
Fault
ABS 107
Fault displays 77Filler cap cover 26
Filling capacities 173
Filling the washer 
reservoir 173
First aid 25
First aid kit 25
Fittings, towing 157
Flashlight 94
Flat tire 113, 148
Fog lamps 85
bulb replacement 143
Fog lights 85
Folding rear backrest 98
Follow-Me-Home lamps 84
Footbrake 108
Footwell lamps 85
bulb replacement 146
Front seat adjustment 47
Frost protection, 
radiator 126
Fuel 26
preparation 170
Fuel consumption 78
Fuel consumption 
display 75
Fuel gauge 75
Fuel quality 26
Fuel tank capacity 173
Fuel tank gauge 75
Functional status 166
Fuses 153