66n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can
also shift manually.
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
you wish to use the automatic transmis-
sion mode again, move the selector
lever to the right into the "D" position.
The automatic transmission of your
BMW is equipped with Adaptive Trans-
mission Control (ATC), a system which
reacts with precision to your individual
driving style and the driving conditions. 530us040
To achieve this, different shift programs
are automatically engaged.
For additional details concerning the
ATC, please refer to the chapter de-
scribing "Advanced technology" on
page 176. Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S
The transmission range display varies
according to the equipment of your ve-
hicle (refer to the illustrations).
Starting the engine The engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever positions P ("Park") or N ("Neu-
tral"). 390us607
Range selection A detent prevents inadvertent shifts to
the "Reverse" or "Park" selector lever
positions. To disengage the detent,
press the button on the front side of the
shift knob (arrow).
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. The vehicle will otherwise "creep"
when a drive position is engaged.< 530us041
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
67n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
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 vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P Ñ Park Select "Park" only when the vehicle is
completely stopped. The transmission
locks to prevent the rear wheels from
turning. R Ñ Reverse Select "Reverse" only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
When you select "Reverse", the backup
lamps will turn on automatically when
the ignition key is in position 2. N Ñ Neutral Select "Neutral" only if your journey is
interrupted for a longer period.
D Ñ Drive
(automatic shift program) This position is designed for driving
under all normal operating conditions.
All forward gears are available. "Kickdown" In the "Kickdown" mode, you achieve
maximum performance.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
M/S Manual mode and
Sport Program When you change from D to M/S, the
Sport Program is activated. This is indi-
cated by "D S" in the gear selection
display. The Sport Program is designed
for performance-oriented driving.
With the first brief touch, the automatic
transmission shifts from the Sport Pro-
gram to the manual mode. When you
move the selector lever forward in the
"+" direction, the transmission shifts up.
When the lever is moved back in the "Ð"
direction, the transmission shifts down.
Depending on the equipment version,
1 to 5 or M1 to M5 is indicated in the
transmission range display.
Upshifts or downshifts will only be
carried out by the ATC at appropriate
engine speeds and road speeds. If the 530us042
68n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic engine speed is too high, for instance,
the downshift will not be executed. The
gear selected will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster followed by the
current gear.
If you are driving in the manual
mode and wish to accelerate rap-
idly Ð to pass another vehicle, for exam-
ple Ð shift down manually or with the
kickdown function.<
You can only change from M/S to se-
lector lever positions "P," "R" and "N"
via the "D" position.
In the following situations, the Step-
tronic "thinks" for you in the manual
mode:
>In order to prevent engine over-
speeding, the transmission shifts
automatically to the next higher gear
shortly before the RPM cutoff point.
>At low speeds, the transmission
shifts down automatically Ð you do
not have to act.
>In the "Kickdown" mode, the trans-
mission shifts down to the lowest
possible gear based on the engine
speed.
>Depending on the situation Ð when
driving in adverse winter conditions,
for example Ð you may also start out
in 2nd or 3rd gear.
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on
or the message "TRANS.FAIL-
SAFE PROG" appears in the
Check Control
*, there is a fault in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to "P." Set
the parking brake and turn the engine
off (ignition key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the en-
gine.
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 indica-
tor lamp does not go out, you can place
the selector lever in all positions. How-
ever, the vehicle will now only drive for-
ward with limited gear selection.
If this should occur, avoid extreme en-
gine loads and consult the nearest au-
thorized 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.<
Information on jump-starting, tow-start-
ing and towing begins on page 170.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
71n
Washer/Wiper system Rear window defroster Rear window wiper 0 Retracted (home) position of the rear
window wiper.
1 Rear window wiper in intermittent
operation. When "Reverse" is se-
lected, continuous operation is
switched on automatically.
2 Clean the rear window.
You can also program the interval:
>Switch briefly from position 0 to posi-
tion 1.
>The time until reactivation (from posi-
tion 0 to 1) is the programmed inter-
val (max. 30 seconds). 530us045
Programming is deleted:
>Approx. 10 seconds after the lever is
placed in position 0 or
>after the engine is switched off.
For changing the wiper blade, refer to
page 154.
To activate Press 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. To deactivate Press the button if the indicator lamp
lights up. 530us046
72n
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 position 1 or 2:
Press button 4, the indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on. You can
now use the cruise control.
For the arrangement of the buttons in
the Sports steering wheel
*: refer to
page 27.
390de058
To store and maintain speed or to
accelerate Press button 1 briefly:
The system registers and maintains the
current vehicle speed. Every time you
briefly touch the button, the speed in-
creases by approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h).
Press and hold button 1:
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's braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed can be
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.<
To decelerate Press button 2 briefly:
When cruise control is active, every
briefly touch of the button reduces the
speed by approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h).
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.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
75n
Tachometer Energy control Fuel gauge Do not operate the engine with the
needle in the red overspeed zone of the
gauge.
To protect the engine, the engine-man-
agement system automatically inter-
rupts the fuel supply in this range; the
resulting effect resembles that associ-
ated with a sudden loss of power. 390us004
Indicates the current fuel consumption
in mpg (in liters/100 km on Canadian
vehicles). This allows you to see
whether your current driving style is
conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the
display goes to "Maximum" (zero on
Canadian models). 390us005
When you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the indicator lamp comes on and
stays on, there are approx.
>2.6 gallons (10 liters)
of fuel still in the tank.
Tank capacity: refer to page 187.
Certain operating conditions (such as
those encountered in mountainous ar-
eas) may cause the needle to fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, as driving to
the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.< 390us006
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
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
77n
Check Control Graphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed with icons from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check low beams.
2 Add washer fluid (goes out after ap-
prox. 1 minute).
3 Door open.
4 Tailgate open.
5 Check brake and tail lamps.
A defective center brake lamp is indi-
cated by the upper symbol.
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a vi-
sual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON and
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK. 390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions when the
ignition key is turned to position 2. The
alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status report symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities: 390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol 1. Simultaneous defects will be
displayed consecutively. These status
messages remain in the display until the
defects are corrected. They cannot be
deleted by pressing the CHECK
button 3:
>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 76
and 140.
>STOP! ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to page 22.