IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
53n
Mirrors Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from vehicles behind
you when you are driving at night, tilt
the mirror by turning the button. Lighted vanity mirror Fold down the sun visor and slide the
cover panel to the side as required.
The mirror lamps operate from ignition
key position 1 and up. Sun visors These can be folded down toward the
windshield or swiveled out against the
side windows. 530us030
Interior and exterior rearview
mirror with automatic dimmer
*
By responding to the effects of ambient
light and the glare from following traffic,
these mirrors automatically dim through
an infinitely-variable range.
The mirrors automatically revert to their
clear, undimmed setting whenever you
select "Reverse."
To ensure that the mirrors continue to
operate properly, keep the two photo-
cells on the interior mirror clean and un-
obstructed. One photocell (arrow) is in
the mirror glass, while the other is offset
somewhat on the opposite side of the
mirror. 530us031
For an explanation of the electro-chro-
mic technology used in these mirrors,
refer to page 179.
58n
Airbags Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the
operational status of the airbag
system from ignition key posi-
tion 1 and up.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on.
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting up
again.
A system malfunction could prevent the
system from responding to an impact
occurring within its normal response
range.
Please have your authorized BMW cen-
ter inspect and repair the system as
soon as possible.
Sitting correctly with airbags
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for the air-
bags. If you do not, the airbags may not
be able to provide their maximum pro-
tection. All passengers in the vehicle
should be aware of and comply with
this information:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide extra pro-
tection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags will not be triggered
in the event of a minor accident, a vehi-
cle roll-over, or collisions from the rear.
In these instances, the safety belt pro-
vides optimal protection.
Airbags are located under cover panels
in the steering wheel, in the dashboard,
in the side trim panels in the front and
rear*, and in the windshield pillars and
the sides of the headliner.
Adjust your seat to a position that pro-
vides maximum distance between you
and the steering wheel, the instrument
panel and the door while still allowing
comfortable and safe access to all
vehicle controls.
To avoid sustaining hand and arm inju-
ries, always grasp the steering wheel
on
the rim with the hands at the 9 and
3 o'clock positions. Do not place your
hands on the center pad.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant.
Do not use the cover panel above the
passenger-side airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way.
Do not install a rear-facing child re-
straint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle.
Children under 13 years of age and
children less than 5 feet (150 cm) tall
should ride only in the rear seat.
Infants or small children should never
be held on the lap of a passenger.
If your vehicle is equipped with side air-
bags in the rear passenger area, be
sure that child restraints are mounted
correctly and provided with the great-
est-possible distance between the air-
bags in the side trim panels. Do not al-
low children to lean out of the child's
seat in the direction of the side trim
panels. If they do so, serious injuries
can occur if the airbag is triggered.<
60n
Airbags Child restraints
*
This is the right way for a larger child to
sit wearing the safety belt when rear
side airbags (arrow) are provided. 380de638
Commercially-available child restraint
systems are designed to be secured
with a lap belt or with the lap belt por-
tion of a combination lap/shoulder belt.
Improperly or inadequately installed
restraint systems can increase the risk
of injury to children. Always read and
follow the instructions that come with
the system.
If you use a child restraint system with a
tether strap, three additional tether an-
chorage points (refer to the arrows in
the illustration) have been provided.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area, at-
tach the tether strap to the correspond-
ing anchorage point to secure the child
restraint system. Remove the cover first
on the middle location.
If the respective seating position is fit-
ted with a headrest lift the headrest and
pass the tether strap between the
headrest and the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
530us037
70n
Washer/Wiper system 1 Intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
*
Intermittent wipe:
You can set the wipe interval to four
stages with rotary dial 7.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied
automatically depending on road
speed.
Rain sensor:
When the rain sensor is activated, the
windshield wiper is controlled automati-
cally, depending on the degree of wet-
ness of the windshield (in both snow
and rain). You do not have to be con-
cerned with switching the windshield
wiper on or off or adjusting the wipe
interval between intermittent and full
wipe. Instead, you can concentrate fully
on the traffic conditions. This is espe-
cially important under adverse weather
conditions.
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly in front of the inte-
rior rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
Move the lever to position 1 with the
ignition key in position 1 or higher. The
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather condi-
tions. You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1. It is then only necessary to
activate the rain sensor from ignition
key position 1 and up. To do this,
>turn rotary dial 7 briefly or
>clean the windshield 5 or use the
special wash program 6.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not,
damage may occur if the wipers switch
on unintentionally.<
2 Normal wiper speed The system switches automatically to
intermittent operation when the vehicle
is not moving (not on vehicles with the
rain sensor
*).
3 Fast wiper speed The wipers operate at normal speed
when the vehicle is not moving (not on
vehicles with the rain sensor
*).
5 Clean the windshield 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. 6 Special wash program
*
As at 5; there are also several additional
wash cycles, and the headlamps are
cleaned
*.
This program is recommended after you
have driven on extremely dirty roads.
Headlamp washers
*
>With the Special wash program 6
>With every fifth actuation of Clean
windshield 5 when the vehicle's
lighting is switched on.
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. For this
reason, use an antifreeze agent. Refer
to page 136.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage
to the washer pump.< Windshield washer jets The windshield washer jets are warmed
automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
73n
Cruise control To interrupt the cruise control When the system is activated, press
and hold button 4. The indicator lamp
stays on. You can use the cruise control
again as required.
In addition, the system is also automati-
cally deactivated in response to the fol-
lowing conditions:
>When you apply pressure to the
brake pedal.
>When you move the automatic trans-
mission selector lever 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 setting Press button 3:
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 and the system
is deactivated. To deactivate the systemWhen the cruise control has been can-
celed, press button 4 again. The indica-
tor lamp goes off and the stored speed
is canceled. Do not use cruise control on
twisting roads, when high traffic
density prevents driving at a constant
speed, when the road surface is slick
(snow, rain, ice), or when the road sur-
face is loose (rocks or gravel, sand).<
76n
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval Display Blue The engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds. Red When you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
Comes on while driving and the mes-
sage "COOLANT TEMPERATURE" ap-
pears in the Check-Control
*: the engine
is overheated. Shut off the engine im-
mediately and allow it to cool down.
390de007
Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. It is not un-
usual for the needle to rise as far as the
edge of the red zone in response to
high outside temperatures or severe
operating conditions.
Checking coolant level: refer to
page 140.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.
Green lamps The number of illuminated lamps
decreases as the time for your next
maintenance visit approaches. Yellow lamp This field appears together with
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION.
Maintenance is due. Please contact
your BMW center for an appointment. Red lamp The maintenance deadline has been
passed. 390us008
82n
The concept The PDC assists you when you are
parking. Acoustical signals inform you
of the distance to an obstacle. To do
this, four ultrasonic sensors in the front
and rear bumpers measure the distance
to the nearest object. The monitoring
range for the front sensors as well as
the two rear corner sensors ends ap-
prox. 2 feet (60 cm) behind the respec-
tive bumper. The center sensors in the
rear have a range of approx. 5 feet
(1.50 meters). Automatic function The system starts to operate auto-
matically about one second after you
select ÒReverseÒ with the ignition key in
position 2.
Manual activation Press the button (arrow); the indicator
lamp comes on.
After driving a distance of more than ap-
prox. 160 feet (50 meters) or exceeding
a speed of approx. 20 mph (30 km/h),
the system switches off and the indica-
tor lamp goes out. Switch the system on
again as required. Manual deactivation Press the button again. 530us060
Acoustical signals The distance to the nearest object is
indicated by a tone sounding at various
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals
between the tones become shorter.
A continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than approx.
1 foot (30 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if you are mov-
ing parallel to a wall.
If there is a malfunction of the system:
The indicator lamp flashes and a short
steady signal tone is sounded
>if you activate PDC with the button.
>when you select ÒReverseÒ for the
first time after switching on the igni-
tion.
>if a malfunction occurs while the PDC
system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected by
your BMW center.
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
83n
PDC
*
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
The PDC system does not remove
the driver's personal responsibility
for evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be de-
tected. This applies especially in those
cases where the system approaches
the physical constraints of ultrasonic
measurement, as occurs with tow bars
and trailer couplings, and in the vicinity
of thin and painted objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain an adequate distance of more
than 4 inches (10 cm).<
The concept DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, the system recog-
nizes unstable vehicle conditions (un-
dersteering or oversteering, for exam-
ple) and helps to keep the vehicle on a
sure course by intervening via the en-
gine and by braking intervention at the
individual wheels.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine. Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition.
Refer to page 24.
Indicator lamp ßashes:
The system is active and governs drive
force and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or comes on dur-
ing normal driving and stays on:
There is a system malfunction or the
system was deactivated with the but-
ton. You can continue to drive the vehi-
cle normally, but without DSC. Consult
your authorized BMW center to have
the system repaired.
To deactivate the system Press the button (arrow); the indicator
lamp comes on and stays on.
Traction intervention remains active;
that is, braking intervention will con-
tinue. Refer also to Four-wheel drive on
page 177.
In the following exceptional circum-
stances, it may be effective to deacti-
vate the DSC for a short period:
>when rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose
surfaces.
>on sandy road surfaces.
>on poor surfaces with deep ruts.
>if the wheels "churn" on muddy
surfaces.
>or when driving with snow chains. 530us048