2001 BMW 325i TOURING catalytic converter

11n

Controls and features
Maintenance and care

Lamps:

Side lamps/Low beams87
Instrument lighting87
High beams/Parking lamps88
Fog lamps88
Interior lamps88

Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:

Air conditioner90
Automatic climate control96
Seat heating100

Cabin convenience:

HiFi system101
Glove compartment101
Storage compartments102
Cellular phone103
Ashtray, front104
Cigarette lighter104
Ashtray, rear105
Power outlet105

Loading and transporting:

Ski bag106
Cargo area107
Cargo loading110
Roof-mounted luggage rack111

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures114
Driving notes115
Catalytic converter115
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)116
Disc brakes118
Brake system120
Winter operation121
Power steering123
Cellular phone123
Radio reception123

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure124
Tire condition124
Tire replacement125
Tire rotation126
Wheel and tire
combinations127
Winter tires128
Snow chains128
Approved wheel and tire
specifications129

Under the hood:

Hood130
Engine compartment132
Washer fluids134
Washer nozzles134
Engine oil135
Coolant137
Brake fluid138
Vehicle Identification
Number139

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System140
Caring for your vehicle141
Airbags147
Vehicle storage147

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications
to the vehicle148
California Proposition
65 Warning148
OBD interface socket149

28n
Fuel specifications Tire inflation pressure The engine uses lead-free gasoline
only.
Required fuel:
Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI
AKI = Anti Knock Index
Do not use leaded fuels. The use
of leaded fuels will cause perma-
nent damage to the system's oxygen
sensor and the catalytic converter.<
You will find the inflation pressures on
the inside door pillar (visible with door
open).Check tire pressures On the next page you will find all the tire
pressure and ambient air temperature
specifications stated in the units usually
used in your country (psi; kilopascal).
For vehicles with Tire Pressure Control
(RDC):
After correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reactivate the system. Refer to
page 85.460de163
Check tire inflation pressures Ð
including the space-saver spare
wheel, or spare wheel Ð regularly, at
least every two weeks and before
beginning any extended driving. Incor-
rect tire pressure can otherwise lead to
tire damage and accidents.
Inflate the spare tire to the highest tire
inflation pressure specified for your
vehicle.<

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
113n
Index DataTechnologyRepairs Car care Controls Overview
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures114
Driving notes115
Catalytic converter115
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)116
Disc brakes118
Brake system120
Winter operation121
Power steering123
Cellular phone123
Radio reception123
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure124
Tire condition124
Tire replacement125
Tire rotation126
Wheel and tire
combinations127
Winter tires128
Snow chains128
Approved wheel and tire
specifications129Under the hood:
Hood130
Engine compartment132
Washer fluids134
Washer nozzles134
Engine oil135
Coolant137
Brake fluid138
Vehicle Identification
Number139
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System140
Caring for your vehicle141
Airbags147
Vehicle storage147
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications148
California Proposition
65 Warning148
OBD interface socket149
Car care

115n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Brakes:
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear, and
possibly to brake failure.
Aquaplaning:
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the
tires and the road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as aqua-
planing or hydroplaning. It is character-
ized by a partial or complete loss of
contact between the tires and the road
surface. The ultimate results are loss of
steering and braking control.
Driving through water:
When there is water on the roads, do
not drive in it if it is deeper than 1 ft
(30 cm), and then only at walking speed
at the most, otherwise the vehicle can
sustain damage to the engine, the elec-
trical systems and the transmission.
Roll-up cover:
Never use the rear window shelf to
store heavy or bulky objects. If you do
so, such objects could injure vehicle
occupants during braking or evasive
maneuvers or in a crash.
Clothes hooks:
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, ensure that they will not obstruct
the driver's vision. Do not hang heavy
objects on the hooks. If you do, such
objects could pose the risk of personal
injury during braking or evasive maneu-
vers. exhaust emissions, and is designed for
use with unleaded fuel only.
Even minute quantities of lead would be
enough to permanently damage both
the catalytic converter and the system
oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and to avoid potential
damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements.
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty.
>Tow-start only when the engine is
cold. If you attempt to tow-start with
a warm engine, unburned residual
fuel in the catalytic converter could
ignite and cause damage. It is better
to start the vehicle with an outside
starting aid.
>Avoid other situations in which the
fuel is not burned, or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never allow the engine to run with
any of the spark plug cables
disconnected.
Driving notes Catalytic converter

116n
Catalytic converter Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Be sure to observe the instruc-
tions above to prevent unburned
fuel from reaching the catalytic
converter, otherwise, the catalytic
converter could overheat and be
damaged.
High temperatures occur in any vehicle
equipped with a catalytic converter.
Heat shields are installed adjacent to
some sections of the exhaust system.
Never remove these shields; do not
apply undercoating to their surfaces.
When driving, standing at idle, and
parking the vehicle, take care to avoid
contact between the exhaust system
and flammable materials (grass, hay,
leaves etc.). Such contact could lead to
a fire, resulting in personal injury and
property damage.<
The concept ABS enhances active driving safety by
helping to prevent the wheels from
locking under braking. The reason:
locked wheels are dangerous. When the
front wheels slide, the driver loses
steering control over the vehicle. Trac-
tion loss at the rear wheels can cause
the rear end to break into an uncon-
trolled skid.
The system can achieve the shortest
braking distances possible under most
conditions (on straight-aways and in
curves, on asphalt, ice, wet road
surfaces, etc.).
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability.
>Assured ability to steer and
maneuver Ð on the various road
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, dirt,
wet conditions, snow, ice).
The system can achieve the shortest
braking distances possible under most
conditions (on straight-away and in
curves, on asphalt, ice, wet road
surfaces, etc.).
Braking with ABSThe system is operative once the
vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). It is deactivated once
again below approx. 4 mph (6 km/h).
This means that the wheels can lock in
the final phase of a panic stop Ð a factor
of no significance in actual use.
If you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply
maximum brake pressure ("panic
stop"). Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can
nevertheless avoid possible obstacles
with a minimum of steering effort.
The ABS closed-loop control circuit
cycles in fractions of a second. A pulsa-
tion at the brake pedal, together with
the sounds associated with the
hydraulic controls, tells you that the
brake system is within its maximum
limit range, and reminds you that you
should adapt road speed to the road
conditions.
On road surfaces that have a loose
surface layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel or snow, for
example), or when snow chains are
mounted, braking distances may be
longer than with locked wheels.

149n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
OBD interface socket The interface socket for onboard diag-
nostics is located on the driver's side at
the left-hand bottom of the dashboard
and under a cover. The cover has the
letters "OBD" on it.
The purpose of the OBD system is to
ensure proper emission control system
operation for the vehicle's lifetime by
monitoring emission-related compo-
nents and systems for deterioration
and malfunction.460us250
An illuminated indicator informs
you of the need for service, not
that you need to stop the
vehicle. Your system should be
checked, however, at the earliest possi-
ble opportunity.
If the indicator blinks or flashes, this
indicates a high level of engine misfire.
Reduce speed and contact your near-
est BMW center immediately. Severe
engine misfire over even a short period
of time can seriously damage emission
control components, especially the
catalytic converter.
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.
If the fuel filler cap is not properly
tightened, the OBD system can
detect leaking vapor and the indicator
will light up. If the fuel filler cap is then
tightened, the indicator will usually go
out after a short period of time.<

Everything from A to ZA
ABS (Antilock Brake
System)22,116
Accessories6
Activated-charcoal
filter100,165
Adaptive Transmission
Control (ATC)65,173
Adding engine oil135
Adding washer
fluid134,187
Adjust
backrest47
steering wheel50
temperature92
thigh support area48
Air conditioner90
Air distribution92,98
Air nozzles90
Air outlets96
ventilation90,96
Air pressure124
Air supply92,99
Airbags21,58,147,172
Alarm system41
Antenna123
Antenna Diversity174
Antifreeze137
radiator121
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)22,116
Anti-theft alarm system41
Aquaplaning115,124 Armrest102
ASC+T (Automatic Stability
Control plus
Traction)22,173
Ashtray104
ATC (Adaptive Transmission
Control)65,173
Attaching vacuum
cleaner104
AUC (Automatic climate
control)96
Automatic car washes141
Automatic climate
control96
remove condensation from
the windows98
Automatic cruise control71
Automatic dimming, interior
rearview mirror52
Automatic Stability Control
plus Traction
(ASC+T)22,173
Automatic transmission21
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Automatic washer
rear window69
windshield69
Average consumption77
Average speed77
Axle loads186
B
Backrest, adjusting47
Backup lamps64
bulb replacement156
Battery162,188
capacity188
charging164
discharged167
removal and
installation163
Battery charge current20
Battery safety terminal163
Belts53
Beverage holder102
Blower92,99
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oils136
BMW sports seat48
Bore184
Brake
fluid138
hydraulic system20
pads22
Brake lamps
bulb replacement156
Brake system118
faults120
Break-in procedure114
Bulb replacement153
Bulbs and lamps153
C
California Proposition
65 Warning148
Capacities187
Car Memory52
Car radio123
reception174
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Car telephone103
Car vacuum cleaner,
connecting104
Car wash141
Care
upholstery145
vehicle exterior142
vehicle finish143
vehicle interior144
wool velour145
Cargo loading110
Catalytic converter115
CBC (Cornering Brake
Control)21,117
Cellular phone123
refer to the separate
Owner's Manual
Center armrest102
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp157
Central locking system34
button38
Changing a tire159