Contents
Overview
Controls and features
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)24
Sports steering wheel25
Hazard warning flashers26
Warning triangle26
First-aid kit26
Refueling27
Fuel specifications28
Tire inflation pressure28
Opening and closing:
Keys32
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð
from the outside34
Opening and closing Ð
from the inside38
Tailgate38
Cargo area40
Alarm system41
Electric power windows43
Sliding/tilt sunroof44
Adjustments:
Seats46
Seat and mirror memory49
Steering wheel50
Mirrors51
Car Memory, Key Memory52
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts53
Airbags55
Transporting children safely58
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock61
Starting the engine61
Switching off the engine62
Parking brake63
Manual transmission64
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Turn signal indicator/
Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system68
Rear window defroster70
Cruise control71
Everything under control:
Odometer73
Tachometer73
Energy Control73
Fuel gauge74
Coolant temperature gauge74
Service Interval Display74
Check Control75
Clock75
Computer76
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)78
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)79
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)80
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)85
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
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
15n
Index DataTechnologyRepairs Car care Controls Overview
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)24
Sports steering wheel25
Hazard warning flashers26
Warning triangle26
First-aid kit26
Refueling27
Fuel specifications28
Tire inflation pressure28
Overview
17n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cockpit
1 Parking lamps/Low beams87
2
d
Turn signal indicator68
>
Parking lamps88
>
High beams88
>
Headlamp flasher68
>
Computer
*
76
3 Washer/Wiper system68
4 Shift lever/Selector lever
*
64
For vehicles equipped with manual
transmission:
To engage reverse gear, press the
lever to the left and overcome the
slight resistance you will encounter
5 Hazard warning flashers26
6 Central locking system34
7 Rear window defroster70
8 Horn sports steering wheel
*
: the
entire surface
9 Adjusting steering wheel50
10 Fog lamps
*
88
19n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Instrument cluster
1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp for
fuel reserve74
2 Turn signal indicator23
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for:
>
Battery charge current20
>
High beams23
>
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil
level20, 22
5 Tachometer and Energy Control73
6 Engine coolant temperature gauge
with "Coolant temperature too high"
indicator74
7 Indicator and warning lamps
(clockwise) for:
> Parking brake/Brake hydraulic
system/Cornering Brake Control
(CBC)/(DBC)20, 21 >
Antilock Brake System (ABS)22
>
Brake pads22
>
Tire Pressure Control
(RDC)20, 22
>
Airbags21
>
Please fasten safety belts21
>
Cruise control
* 23
8 Adjusting knob for the clock759 Program display for automatic
transmission65, 67
Indicator lamp for automatic
transmission21, 65, 67
10 Indicator lamp for Automatic
Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) or DSC and
ADB/ADB-X22
11 Indicator for:
>
Odometer73
>
Trip odometer73
>
Clock75
>
Service Interval74
Display for computer, operation
via the turn signal lever, refer to
page 76:
>
Clock
>
Outside temperature
>
Average fuel consumption
> Cruising range >
Average speed
12 Indicator for Check Control75
13 Trip odometer, reset to zero7314 Indicator and warning lamps
(clockwise) for:
>
Fog lamps23
>
Add washer fluid22
>
Coolant level23
>
Electronic Throttle Control
(EML)
*
23
>
Service engine soon23
You can display the outside
temperature and distance driven
in different units of measurement.
<
20n
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Many of the systems of your BMW
monitor themselves automatically, both
during engine starts and while you are
driving. Indicator and warning lamps
that are identified by "
l
" are tested for
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it will light up while the vehicle is
moving. You will see how to react to
this below.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
l
The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator V-belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
V-belt is defective, increased steering
effort is also required.
<
Engine oil pressure
l
Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine. Check
the engine oil level and refill as required.
If the oil level is correct, please contact
the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving, otherwise,
the engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication.
<
Tire Pressure Control (RDC) l
In addition, an acoustic signal
will go off: a tire failure has
occurred. Reduce vehicle speed imme-
diately and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
For additional information, refer to
page 85.
Brake warning lamp l
If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged,
check the brake fluid level. Before
driving further, be sure to read the
notes on pages 122 and 138.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
21n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Indicator and warning lampsRed and yellow: continue driving
cautiously
If the brake warning lamp comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and ASC+T/
DSC:
Then the entire ABS, CBC,
ASC+T/DSC and ADB/ADB-X/
DBC
control system has failed.
Continue driving cautiously and
defensively. Avoid hard brake
applications. Please have the system
checked by your BMW center as soon
as possible.
For additional information, refer to
pages 79, 80.
CBC, ABS, ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/ADB-X/DBC indicator and
warning lamps for Canadian
models.
Red: an important reminder
Brake warning lamp
Comes on when the parking
brake is applied Ð an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off.
For additional information, refer to
page 63.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts l
A warning signal will sound at
the same time. Lights up for a
few seconds or until the safety belt is
fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts, refer to page 53.
Airbags l
Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information, refer to
pages 55, 172.
Orange: consult the nearest
BMW center
Automatic transmission
Because of a malfunction, the
automatic transmission shifts
only in the emergency program. Please
consult the nearest BMW center.
For additional information, refer to
pages 65, 67.
22n
Indicator and warning lampsYellow: check as soon as possible
Antilock Brake System (ABS) l
ABS has been deactivated in
response to system malfunction.
Conventional braking efficiency is avail-
able without limitations. Please have
the system inspected by your BMW
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 117.
ABS warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Engine oil level
Comes on while driving: the oil
level is at the absolute
minimum; refill as soon as possible. Do
not drive more than approx. 30 miles
(50 km) until you add oil.
For additional information, refer to
page 135.
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been shut off: add oil at the
earliest opportunity (when you stop to
refuel).
For additional information, refer to
page 135
Brake pads l
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information, refer
to page 120.
Tire Pressure Control (RDC) l
Check the tire pressure. Refer to
pages 28 and 85.
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) l
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
force and braking force.
The indicator lamp remains on:
ASC+T has been switched off via the
button or it is defective, or the DSC has
been switched off, the ADB is opera-
tional.
In the event of a fault, please consult
the nearest BMW center.
For additional information, refer
page 79.
BMW 325xi:
The DSC has been either turned off or
is defective. ADB-X is in ready mode. If
the warning lamp does not go out after
pressing the DSC button repeatedly,
then the both the DSC and ADB-X are
defective.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 80.
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) and
brake warning lamp l
The indicator lamps remain on:
The DSC
and ADB/DBC are
switched off by means of the button or
are defective.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 79.
BMW 325xi:
DSC and ADB-X are defective.
ADB-X cannot be switched off.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 83.
DSC and ADB/ADB-X/DBC indi-
cator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.
Add washer fluid
The washer fluid level is too low.
Top up at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information, refer to
page 134.