2001 BMW 330Ci CONVERTIBLE airbag

189n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the acceleration forces acting
upon the vehicle. If, as the result of a
frontal collision, a deceleration is
reached at which the protection of the
safety belts alone is no longer
adequate, the gas generators of the
driver and passenger-front airbags are
ignited. However, the passenger-side
airbag is only triggered if an additional
sensor has recognized that the
passenger seat is occupied.
In the event of a side collision, the side
airbags in the front and/or rear
* are
triggered if necessary.
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The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of
a few milliseconds. In this process, they
tear through the designed separation
points of the upholstered covers or
press them out.
Because the inflation process must be
virtually instantaneous, it is accompa-
nied by a certain amount of ignition and
inflation noise, which will be drowned
out by the noise from the accident
itself. The gas required to inflate the
airbags is not dangerous, and the
associated smoke then dissipates.
The entire process is completed within
fractions of a second.Highly sensitive sensors monitor the
number of revolutions of the wheels.
When equipped with DSC, they also
monitor steering angle, lateral accelera-
tion, brake pressure and the movement
of the vehicle around its vertical axis.
If differences in the wheel speeds
occur, ASC+T counteracts the danger
of wheelspin by reducing engine
torque; if necessary, ASC+T will also
respond by applying the brakes to the
rear wheels.
In addition, DSC permanently monitors
the vehicle's current operating condi-
tion and compares it with an ideal
condition that is calculated from the
sensor's signals. If deviations from this
occur (understeering or oversteering,
for instance), DSC can stabilize the
vehicle in fractions of a second by
reducing engine output and with the
assistance of braking intervention at
individual wheels. Dangerous skids are
thus prevented before they can even
start, and all of this is possible, of
course, only within physically possible
limits. You may need some time to
become accustomed to the system's
intervention. However, it provides
optimum drive force and vehicle
stability. The braking intervention may
be accompanied by sounds specific to
the system.
Airbags ASC+T/DSC
*

192n
Tire Pressure Control* Self-diagnostics This system regularly checks tire pres-
sure and monitors all four tires even
while driving, so you do not have to.
Behind the valve stem in every wheel,
there is an extended-life electronic chip
that contains a pressure sensor, a
transmitter and a battery. The pressure
is measured in extremely short time
intervals and then transmitted by a
radio signal. If an irregularity is
detected, the transmission rate is
increased.
Located near each wheel and
embedded in the vehicle body is an
antenna that receives signals from the
wheel. A central electronics system
evaluates the quadruple signals and
forwards any changes.
The RDC provides an important contri-
bution to driving safety.46cde078
All
of the important electrical and elec-
tronic systems in the vehicle are tested
regularly and automatically Ð the driver
does not have to perform any extra
operations or adjustments.
The indicator lamps come on brießy
after the ignition has been turned on, for
example.
While you are driving, the functional
status of the actuator motors (for the
windshield wipers, power windows,
seats, etc.) is constantly being analyzed
by electrical measurements in the relays.
In the same manner, the electrical
resistance of the airbag ignition genera-
tors and all of the remaining airbag
components is measured at all times. Any
fault in this system would be detected
immediately by a current ßuctuation that 46cde052
would necessarily accompany it.
The fault
would be indicated immediately by the
airbag warning lamp.
Even after you shut off the engine, the
overall functional status of your vehicle is
monitored. For example, all of the ßaps of
the heating and ventilation system travel
to the nearest limit position. This action
ensures that the system will be able to
provide defrosting, regardless of other
circumstances, e. g. if a malfunction in the
air conditioner/automatic climate control
system
* should occur during the night
while the vehicle is parked.
A calibration cycle runs every tenth time
the engine is shut off. During this cycle,
the actuator motors of all the heating and
ventilation ßaps travel to their limit stops
in both directions. The limit positions and
the return travel paths are checked in this
manner in order to ensure that appro-
priate adjustments for the operating
elements can be made at any time.
You will hear the sounds of the air ßaps as
the air conditioner/automatic climate
control* carries out its self-diagnostic
functions after the ignition has been shut
off. All of the other self-diagnostics func-
tions operate silently in the background.
Any possible faults detected during these
self-diagnostics can be read out and
corrected by your BMW center
during the
next regularly scheduled maintenance.

193n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Rollover protection system
Xenon lamps
*
The rollover protection system offers
additional protection to the airbags and
the safety belts. It uses highly sensitive
sensors that respond immediately to
any unstable vehicle condition encoun-
tered while driving, e. g. a steep angle
or loss of wheel contact with the
ground. The protective bar in the rear
headrests would be triggered in this
type of situation.
The xenon lamp provides forward illu-
mination with significantly more bright-
ness and uniformity than the traditional
halogen lamp.
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc replaces
the filament in order to generate intense
illumination. A gas mixture in a quartz
glass tube with metal vapor is ignited by
a high electric voltage. The arc that is
generated is then sustained by a lower
voltage. When the lamp is turned on,
there is a brief warm-up period.
Maximum brightness is attained in
approx. 15 seconds.
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Xenon lamps provide significantly
improved visibility, especially during
adverse weather conditions and difficult
driving situations (e. g. driving at night in
heavy rain or through road repair areas
where there are no lane markers).
Vehicles with xenon lamps are equipped
with an automatic headlamp range
control. As a result, the lane ahead of
you is always optimally lighted, even
under varying load conditions, and
drivers in oncoming traffic are not
blinded.
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-
bution to highway safety since other
highway users, bicyclists and motor-
cyclists in the right lane, and pedes-
trians are more easily detected.

Everything from A to Z
A
ABS (Antilock Brake System) 22,122
Accessories 6
Activated-charcoal filter 106,180
Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC) 73,188
Adding engine oil 145
Adding washer fluid 144,199
Adjusting backrest 52
Adjusting headrests 53
Adjusting the steering wheel 57
Adjusting the temperature 98,104
Adjusting thigh support 54
Air conditioner 96
Air distribution 98,104
Air nozzles 96,102
Air outlets 96,102
ventilation 96,102
Air pressure, tires 27,132
Air supply 98,105
Airbags 21,61 ,159 ,189
sitting properly with 62
Alarm system 42
Antenna 129
Antenna, Diversity 190 Antifreeze
147
radiator 127
Antilock Brake System (ABS) 22,122
Anti-theft alarm system 42
Aquaplaning 121,132
Armrest 110
ASC+T (Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction) 22,88
Ashtray front 111
rear 112
ATC (Adaptive Transmission Control) 73,188
Attach vacuum cleaner 112
AUC (Automatic recirculated-air
control) 105
Automatic car washes 151
Automatic climate control 102
remove window
condensation 105
Automatic cruise control 79
Automatic dimming, interior rearview mirror 58
Automatic recirculated-air control (AUC) 105
Automatic Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T) 22,88 Automatic transmission with
Steptronic 21,73
Automatic windshield washer 77
Average consumption 85
Average speed 86
Avoiding unwanted alarm 43
Axle loads 198
B
Backrest adjusting 52
locking 21,55
releasing 55
Backup lamps 72
bulb replacement 169
Battery 176,200
capacity 200
charge current 20,176
charging 178
discharged 183
removal and
installation 178
Belts 60
Beverage holder 111
Blower 98,105
BMW High Performance Synthetic Oils 146
BMW Maintenance System 150 BMW sports seat
54
Bore 196
Brake fluid 148
Brake hydraulic system 20
Brake lamps, bulb replacement 169
Brake pads 22,126
Brake system 126
Brakes 125
malfunctions 126
Break-in procedures 120
Bulb replacement 166
C
California Proposition 65 Warning 161
Capacities 199
Car Memory 59
Car radio 129
reception 129,190
refer also to the Radio
Owner's Manual
Car washes 151
Care convertible top 157
exterior 152
interior 154
leather upholstery 155
rubber seals and
components 127

Everything from A to ZPDC (Park Distance
Control)87
Performance196
Phone, mobile129
Pocket flashlight107
Pollen99,106
Power steering129
Power windows44
convenience operation34
Pressure monitoring,
tires91,192
Pressure, tires27,132 Q
Quality Grades133 R
Radiator199
Radio
reception129,190
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Radio Data System
(RDS)190
Rain sensor77,191
RDC (Tire Pressure
Control)91,192
RDS (Radio Data
System)190
Rear lamps169
Rear window
defroster78,98,106
Rear-entry assist55 Rearview mirror57
Recirculated air mode98
Reclining seat52
Refueling26
Remote control35
Remove condensation,
windows105
Replacement keys32
Reporting safety defects7
Restraint system61,64
Reverse17,72
Rollover protection
system67,68,193
Roof load capacity198
Roof-mounted luggage
rack116
Rubber seals and
components127
S
Safety belt tensioner190
Safety belts60
Safety buttons38
Safety defects, reporting7
Seat adjustment52
Seat heating107
Seat memory57
Seat-integrated safety
belts55
Seats52
Securing cargo114
Securing loads114 Selector lever, automatic
transmission73
Self-defrosting mirrors57
Self-diagnostics192
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet150
Service Interval
Display82,150
Shiftlock73
Side airbags61
Side impact Head Protection
System61
Side lamps93
bulb replacement168
Sitting properly with
airbag62
Ski bag113
Skid control128
Slippery roads127
Snow
chains127,136,137
Socket112
for flashlight112
for power supplies112
for vacuum cleaner112
Spare key32
Spare tire173
Spark plugs200
Speaker111
Specifications, fuel27
Speed, average86
Speedometer18
Sports seat54 Starting
problems121,183
Starting the engine69
Steel wheels137
Steering129
Steering lock69
Steering wheel57
adjusting57
Steptronic73
Stopping the vehicle70
Storage compartments110
Storage facilities110
Storing your vehicle160
Stroke196
Summer tires135
Sun visors58
Switching off the engine70
Symbols4,177
Synthetic oils146
T
Tachometer81
Tail lamp assembly, bulb
replacement169
Tank capacity199
Tank cover
unlock in case of electrical
fault180
Technical data196
Technical
modifications6,161
Telephone hookup111