176n
Changing a wheel Battery Driving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Be aware that vehicle handling will be
altered. Slower brake response time,
longer braking distances and changed
steering characteristics may be
anticipated when approaching limit
conditions.
The changes in handling characteristics
will be even more pronounced in
conjunction with winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire
*
may be mounted at a time. Mount
a wheel and tire with the same size
and specifications as the others at the
earliest possible opportunity. Maintain
correct tire pressures. Refer to
page 28.<
LocationThe battery is located at the right-rear
of the luggage compartment. Remove
the luggage compartment floor panel
(refer to page 40), and give a screw-
driver or a coin a f-turn counter-clock-
wise to release and remove the two
fasteners, plus an additional fastener in
the top center side trim panel. In order
to remove the storage tray, slide the
side trim panel slightly upward.
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash hands after
handling.<46cde045
Charge conditionYou can read the charge condition of
the battery with the "Magic Eye"
*
(a hydrometer):
>Green: adequate charge.
>Black: not adequately charged. The
battery must be recharged. Please
contact your BMW center for addi-
tional information.
>Yellow: replace the battery.
The service life specified for the
battery can be achieved only if it is
always kept adequately charged. If the
vehicle is primarily used for stop-and-
go traffic, be sure to check the charge
state more often.<
46cde044
184n
Towing the vehicleTow fittingThe screw-in tow fitting is stored in the
onboard tool kit; be sure that it remains
in the vehicle at all times. This fitting is
designed for installation in the towing
sockets located at the front and rear of
the vehicle. It is intended for towing on
paved road surfaces only. This fitting
should not be used to pull a vehicle out
of deep snow, mud, sand, etc.
Always comply with all applicable
towing laws and regulations.Access to towing socketFront:
Use a screwdriver to press out the
cover at the top of the recess.462de254
Rear:
Use a screwdriver to press out the
cover at the top of the recess.
Screw the tow fittings in
completely and tightly. If you do
not, the threads could be damaged.
Do not tow the vehicle by any compo-
nents of the running gear, or lash them
down in any way. If you do so, the
components could be damaged,
leading to possible accidents.<462de255
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Do not tow with sling-type equip-
ment.
>Use wheel lift or flat bed equipment.
>Please comply with applicable state
towing laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.
Never attach tie-down hooks, chains,
straps, or towing hooks to tie rods,
control arms, or any other part of the
vehicle suspension, as severe damage
to these components will occur, leading
to possible accidents.c46cus031
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.
390de012
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.
390de134
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 Z
205n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
upholstery155
vinyl upholstery154
wool velour155
Cargo
loading114
securing114
Caring for the vehicle's
finish153
Cassette operation, refer
also to the Radio Owner's
Manual
Catalytic converter121
CBC (Cornering Brake
Control)21,123
CD operation, refer also to
the Radio Owner's Manual
Cellular phone111,129
refer to also the separate
Owner's Manual
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp171
Center armrest110
Central locking system34
button38
Changing a tire173
Changing a wheel173
Check Control83
Child restraints64
Child restraint
systems61,64
Child seat security65
Child's seat61,64
Cigarette lighter112 Cleaning headlamps78
Cleaning windshield77
Clock84
Cockpit16
Code, refer to the radio
Owner's Manual
Coin box, cup holder111
Combination switch76
Compression196
Computer83
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Configure settings59
Consumption85
Contents10
Convertible top45
cleaning and care157
closing following an
electrical malfunction181
compartment panel41
convenience operation34
electrical fault181
emergency closure181
Coolant127,147,199
antifreeze127
Cooling system199
Copyright4
Cornering Brake Control
(CBC)21,123
Cruise control79
Cruising range85
Curb weight198
Current check indicator20
D
Data
dimensions197
engine196
technical196
weights198
Daytime-driving lamp
switch93
DBC (Dynamic Brake
Control)124
Deep water121
Defrost setting100,105
Defrostable rear
window98,106
Defrosting the
windows100,105
Digital clock84
Dimensions197
Dipstick145
Disc brakes125
Displacement196
Display lighting93
Displays18
Disposal
batteries178
engine oil147
Distance warning87
Diversity Antenna190
Door key32
Door locks, care127 Doors
emergency operation34
remote control35
unlocking and locking34
DOT Quality Grades133
Draft-free
ventilation99,106
Drive belts200
Driving hints121
Driving in winter127
Driving lamps93
DSC (Dynamic Stability
Control)22,88,189
Dynamic Brake Control
(DBC)124
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)22,88,189
E
Electric power windows44
Electrical accessories,
failure179
Electrical system200
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer33
Elements of operation16
Emergency closure181
Emergency operation
convertible top181
doors34
fuel filler door180
Energy Control81
Everything from A to Z
207n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Interlock69
Intermittent mode, wiper
system76 J
Jack173
Jump-starting183 K
Key Memory59
Keys32
with remote control32 L
Lamps and bulbs166
LAMPS ON warning93
Lashing eyes115
LATCH attachment of the
child seat64
Leather care155
Length197
License plate lamp, bulb
replacement171
Light-alloy wheels137
Lighter112
Loads, securing114
Load-securing devices115
Low beam headlamps93
bulb replacement167
Lug bolts174 Luggage
compartment40,41
capacity198
emergency release39
floor panel40
lid39
lighting39
lock separately39
remote control36
Luggage compartment
lamps, bulb
replacement172
Luggage rack116
Lumbar support55
M
M+S tires136
Maintenance82,150
Malfunction displays83
Manual convertible top,
operating45
Manual transmission72
Manually controlled
recirculated-air105
Memory57
MFL (Multi-function steering
wheel)24
Microfilter99,180
Mirror memory57
Mirrors57
Mobile phones129 Modifications,
technical6,161
Motion sensor, interior43
Mounting child safety
seat64
Mounting the roof
carrier130
Multi-function steering
wheel (MFL)24
N
Navigation system, refer to
the radio Owner's Manual O
OBD interface socket162
Odometer81
Oil
additives145
capacity199
consumption145
dipstick145
quality146
specifications146
viscosity146
Oil change intervals, see the
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US
models)/Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models) Oil filter change199
Oil level
check145
indicator lamp20
Oil pressure, indicator
lamp20
OILSERVICE82
Onboard tool kit166
Opening and closing
from the inside38
from the outside34
Operating the convertible
top manually in the event
of an electrical
malfunction181
Outside temperature
display84
P
Paint blemishes152
Paint, care152
Paintwork
minor repairs153
waxing153
Park Distance Control
(PDC)87
Parking brake71
Parking help87
Parking lamps94
Parking, winter128