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
69n
Indicator/Headlamp flasher
Washer/Wiper system
1 High beams (blue indicator)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking
sound from the relay).
If the indicator lamp and the clicking
from the relay are both faster than
normal, one of the turn indicators has
failed. To signal briefly Press the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released. 530us043
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent wipe or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Clean the windshield
6 Special wash program
*
7 Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensor
*.
530us044
0 Wipers retracted (home
position) The left wiper is partially concealed by
the hood. In order to bring the wipers to
roughly a vertical position (this is impor-
tant for changing the wiper blades or to
fold the wipers out during frosty
weather, for example):
>With the lever in position 1, switch off
the ignition as soon as the wipers
come to a stop.
If equipped with a rain sensor
*:
1 Switch on the wipers with the lever in
position 1, 2 or 4.
2 When the wipers are approximately
vertical, switch the ignition off.
For changing the wiper blades, refer to
page 154.
Fold the wipers back down onto
the windshield before you turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 2 again. If
you do not, they could be damaged.<
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.
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
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).<
74n
1 Odometer You can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the button in the
instrument cluster (arrow).
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment. 2 Trip odometer To reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the button (arrow) with the igni-
tion key in position 1 or 2. 390us608
3 Outside temperature display The outside temperature appears in the
display panel from ignition key position
1 and higher.
You can change the units of measure-
ment (6/7) by
1 pressing and holding down the
button (arrow) with the ignition key
in position 1.
2 and then turning the ignition key to 0.
Ice warning If the outside temperature drops to ap-
prox. +37.5 7 (+3 6), a signal sounds
as a warning and the display flashes for
a brief period.
The warning is repeated whenever the
temperature climbs to at least +43 7
(+6 6) following the last warning and
then drops back to +37.5 7 (+3 6).
The ice warning does not alter the
fact that surface ice can form at
temperatures above +37.5 7 (+3 6),
on bridges or shaded road surfaces, for
instance.<
Odometer, outside temperature display
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.