
11n
Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance
Cabin convenience:
Glove compartment78
Storage compartments78
Storage boxes78
Beverage holder79
Ashtray79
Cigarette lighter80
Loading and transporting:
coupe:
Roll-up cover81
Partition net81
Cargo loading82
Roof-mounted luggage
rack83
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure86
Driving notes87
Catalytic converter88
Antilock Brake System (ABS)89
Disc brakes91
Brake system92
Winter operation93
Power steering94
Cellular phone95
Radio reception95
Hardtop – roadster96
Wheels and tires:
Notes on tire inflation
pressure98
Tire condition98
Tire replacement99
Tire rotation100
Wheel and tire
combinations101
Special features of winter
tires102
Snow chains102
Approved wheel and tire
specifications103
Under the hood:
Hood104
Engine compartment106
Fluids for the washer
systems108
Washer nozzles108
Engine oil109
Coolant111
Brake fluid112
Vehicle Identification
Number113
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System114
Caring for your vehicle115
Airbags122
Storing your vehicle123
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications124
California Proposition
65 Warning124
OBD connector125
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19n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Instrument cluster
1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp
for reserve range62
2 Indicator lamp for turn signals23
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator and warning lamps for:
>
Battery charge current20
>
High beams23
>
Engine oil pressure20
5 Tachometer62
6 Coolant temperature gauge63
Also refer to Engine oil temperature
gauge on page63
7 Indicator and warning lamps for:
>
Brake pad wear22
>
Brake hydraulic
system/Cornering Brake Control
(CBC)20, 21
>
Parking brake21
>
Airbags21
8 Indicator and warning lamps for:
>
Service Engine Soon22
>
Check Filler Cap22
>
Safety belts21
>
Engine oil level22
>
Antilock Brake System (ABS)22
9 Indicator lamp for Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)21, 2210 Trip odometer62
11 Service Interval Display64, 114
12 Odometer62
13 Indicator and warning lamps for:
>
Engine electronics22
>
Tire Pressure Warning
(RDW)21, 22
14 Trip odometer reset button62
The illustration shows the instrument
cluster in the US version. In the Cana-
dian models, some of the indicator and
warning lamps have a different appear-
ance. Refer to pages 20 to 23.
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21n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Indicator and warning lamps
Red and yellow: continue to drive
cautiously
If the red warning lamp for the
brake hydraulic system comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC
control system has failed.
Continue to drive cautiously and
defensively and avoid full brake
applications. Have the system
checked by your BMW center as soon
as possible.
For additional information, refer to
pages 65, 89.
Warning lamps for Canadian
models.
Red: an important reminder
Parking brake
Comes on when the parking
brake is applied.
For additional information, refer to
page 57.
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Please fasten your safety belt
l
Together with an acoustic signal.
Comes on until the safety belts
are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts, refer to page 49.
Airbags
l
Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information, refer to
pages 51, 150.
Yellow: stop immediately
Tire Pressure Warning (RDW)
l
Flashing warning lamp: a flat tire
has occurred. To come to an
immediate stop, reduce speed, while
avoiding any sudden, jerky braking or
steering maneuvers.
For additional information, refer to
page 67.
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22n
Indicator and warning lamps
Yellow: 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 89.
Antilock Brake System warning
lamp for Canadian models.
Engine oil level
l
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 109.
Engine oil level
l
Comes on after the engine has
been shut off: add engine oil at
your earliest opportunity (when you
stop to refuel).
For additional information, refer to
page 109.
Engine oil level
l
Comes on for a short time
(approx. 15 seconds) after the
engine has been started: please have
the system checked by your BMW
center.
Brake pads
l
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information, refer
to page 92.
Tire Pressure Warning RDW
l
RDW has been switched off via
the button or has been deacti-
vated because of a malfunction. In the
event of a malfunction, have the system
checked by your BMW center.
For additional information, refer to
pages 26, 67.
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)
l
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
force and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or if it comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
DSC has been switched off via the
button or has been deactivated
because of a malfunction.
In the event of a malfunction, have the
system checked by the nearest BMW
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 65.
Service Engine Soon
l
If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information, refer to
page 125.
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.
Engine electronics
l
There is a fault in the engine's
electronic control system. You
can continue to drive with reduced
engine output or engine speed. Please
have the system checked by your BMW
center.
Check Filler Cap
l
If the indicator lamp lights up
with the filler cap properly
closed: there is a fault in the fuel
system. The system should be checked
at the earliest possible opportunity at
your BMW center.
For additional information, refer to
page 25.
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35n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Luggage compartment lid Electric power windows
Do not drive with the luggage
compartment lid open, since
exhaust fumes could penetrate the inte-
rior of the vehicle. Should it be abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle
with the luggage compartment lid open
(coupe; roadster with closed convert-
ible top):
>Close all windows. On the coupe,
close the sunroof.
>Increase the air supply of the heating
and ventilation system to a high level.
Refer to page 72.<
Opening and closing windowsFrom ignition key position 1 and up:
>Depress the rocker switch until you
feel resistance:
The window continues moving for as
long as you maintain pressure on the
switch.
>Press the rocker switch beyond the
resistance point (one-touch mode):
The window moves automatically.
Press the switch a second time to
stop the window.36mde744
After the ignition has been switched off:
Actuation is still possible for up to
15 minutes in ignition key position 0 or
if the ignition key has been removed, as
long as no doors have been opened.
Because the power windows are
sealed at high pressure to prevent
wind noise when closed, a powerful
motor is required for efficient closing.
When closing the windows, always
ensure that they are not obstructed in
any way. Unsupervised use of these
systems can result in serious personal
injury. Remove the ignition key to deac-
tivate the electric power windows
whenever you leave the vehicle. Never
leave the keys in the vehicle with unsu-
pervised children.
Never place anything that could
obstruct the driver's vision on or next to
the windows.<
For convenience closing via the door
lock, refer to page 32.
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Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
85n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure86
Driving notes87
Catalytic converter88
Antilock Brake System (ABS)89
Disc brakes91
Brake system92
Winter operation93
Power steering94
Cellular phone95
Radio reception95
Hardtop – roadster96
Wheels and tires:
Notes on tire inflation
pressure98
Tire condition98
Tire replacement99
Tire rotation100
Wheel and tire
combinations101
Special features of winter
tires102
Snow chains102
Approved wheel and tire
specifications103Under the hood:
Hood104
Engine compartment106
Fluids for the washer
systems108
Washer nozzles108
Engine oil109
Coolant111
Brake fluid112
Vehicle Identification
Number113
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System114
Caring for your vehicle115
Airbags122
Storing your vehicle123
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications124
California Proposition
65 Warning124
OBD connector125
Car care
ProCarManuals.com

89n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS increases active safety by
preventing the wheels from locking
when braking. The reason: locked
wheels are dangerous. When the front
wheels slide, the driver loses steering
control over the vehicle. Traction loss at
the rear wheels can cause the rear end
to break into an uncontrolled skid.
The system can achieve the shortest
braking distances possible under most
conditions (on straight-aways, in curves
and on various road surfaces.).
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability.
>Assured ability to steer and maneuver
on the various road surfaces (asphalt,
concrete, dirt, wet conditions, snow
and ice).
Braking with ABSThe system is operative once the
vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). It is inactive once
again below approx. 4 mph (6 km/h).
Therefore, the wheels could theoreti-
cally tend to lock in the final phase of a
braking action, but this is insignificant in
actual practice.
If you are in a situation which 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 avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.The ABS closed-loop control circuit
cycles in fractions of a second. The
pulsation at the brake pedal, together
with sounds generated by the hydraulic
control system, indicate to you that the
vehicle is approaching its maximum
braking range. It is a reminder to you
that you must adapt the vehicle's road
speed to existing road conditions.
On road surfaces that have a loose
surface layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel, deep sand or snow,
for example), braking distances may be
longer than with locked wheels. This
also applies for driving with snow
chains. However, ABS continues to
provide enhanced vehicle stability and
steering response under these condi-
tions.
ProCarManuals.com

90n
Antilock Brake System (ABS)Information for your safetyNot even ABS can suspend the laws
of physics. ABS alone cannot prevent
accidents if the brakes are applied
without an adequate, safe distance
between vehicles or if the speed limit
has been exceeded. Nor can it prevent
the hazards of aquaplaning. Responsi-
bility for these types of situations
remains in the hands (and at the feet) of
the driver. You should never allow the
added safety of ABS to lull you into a
false sense of security, or mislead you
into taking increased risks that could
affect your own safety and that of
others.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.< Antilock Brake System (ABS)/
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering
feature of the ABS. When braking while
cornering at high speed or braking
during high lateral acceleration, or
when braking during a lane change,
vehicle stability is improved and
steering response is enhanced.
In the event of a malfunction
The ABS warning lamp comes
on, refer to page 22. The brake
system then reverts to conven-
tional operation as on vehicles
without ABS. However, have the
brake system checked by your
BMW center as soon as possible. To
prevent undetected defects and cumu-
lative faults from adversely affecting the
brake system, refer any problems to
your BMW center at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
If the red warning lamp for the
brake hydraulic system comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and DSC
(refer to page 21), the entire
ABS, CBC and DSC control
system has failed. Continue to
drive cautiously and defensively.
Avoid full brake applications
because the vehicle could become
unstable and go out of control.
Have the system checked by your BMW
center as soon as possible.
Warning lamps for Canadian
models.
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