6n
For your own safety
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (that is,
15 % MTBE or 3% methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent) will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality (volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc.) among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada.
The use of poor quality fuels may result
in driveability, starting and stalling
problems especially under certain envi-
ronmental conditions such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when
you are handling gasoline.
<
Important safety information.
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure
optimum performance when installed
on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones (including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (for instance, CBs,
walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar
accessories) may cause extensive
damage to the vehicle, compromise its
safety, interfere with the vehicle's elec-
trical system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW
center for additional information.
<
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed
by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
<
Symbol on vehicle parts
Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this
Owner's Manual for information on a
particular part or assembly.
For your own safety
22n
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 lights 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; top up as
required. If the oil level is correct:
please contact the nearest BMW
center.
Do not continue driving. The
engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication. <
Parking brake*/
Brake hydraulic system l
Comes on when you engage the
parking brake. For additional informa-
tion: refer to page 66.
Comes on although the parking brake
is released: have the brake fluid level
checked. Before continuing your
journey, be sure to read the notes on
pages 141 and 161.
Also comes on in the Check Control
with the message "CHECK BRAKE
LININGS." Parking brake warning lamp
*/
Brake hydraulic system warning
lamp for Canadian models.
26nMultifunction steering wheel
The controls integrated in the multi-
function steering wheel (MFL) are
provided so that you can operate a
number of accessories quickly and
without being distracted from traffic
conditions. You may operate:
>Selected functions of the radio as
well as the CD and cassette modes,
> recirculated air control of the air
conditioner system
or
> the steering wheel heating,
> the cruise control,
> selected cellular phone
* functions
and
> voice recognition
*.
In order to operate a system via
the MFL, the corresponding
system controls must be activated. <
The illustration shows the maximum
possible number of controls, corre-
sponding to a full range of optional
equipment. Refer to the individual
accessory manuals for more detailed
descriptions.
1 Press briefly: Receive a phone call, initiate dialing,
terminate a call.
Press longer:
Turn voice recognition on and off
2 Radio/Telephone: select
3 Radio/Telephone: scan backward or scan station buttons or scroll in the
phone listings.
Reverse scan in the CD mode and
rewind in the cassette operation
4 Radio/Telephone: volume
380de702
5 Radio/Telephone: scan forward or scan station buttons or scroll in the
phone listings
Forward scan in the CD mode and
fast forward in the cassette operation
6 Horn: the entire surface
7 Cruise control: activate stored setting (resume)
8 Cruise control: store and accelerate (+); decelerate
and store (–)
9 Cruise control: activate/interrupt/ deactivate
10 Recirculated air mode and AUC or steering wheel heating: activate and
deactivate
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
27nSports steering wheel*
The controls integrated in the sports
steering wheel are provided so that you
can operate a number of accessories
quickly and without being distracted
from traffic conditions.
You may operate:
>Selected radio functions as well as
the CD and cassette modes,
> the cruise control,
> selected cellular phone
* functions
and
> voice recognition
*.
In order to operate a system via
the sport steering wheel, the
corresponding system controls must be
activated. <
Refer to the individual accessory
manuals for more detailed descriptions.
1 Radio/Telephone: select
2 Press briefly: Receive a phone call, initiate dialing,
and terminate a call.
Press longer:
Turn voice recognition on and off
3 Radio/Telephone: volume
4 Radio/Telephone: scan backward or scan station buttons or scroll in the
phone listings.
Reverse scan in the CD mode and
rewind in the cassette operation
463de057
5 Radio/Telephone: scan forward or scan station buttons or scroll in the
phone listings
Forward scan in the CD mode and
fast forward in the cassette operation
6 Horn: the entire surface
7 Cruise control: activate stored setting (resume)
8 Cruise control: store and accelerate (+); decelerate
and store (–)
9 Cruise control: activate/interrupt/ deactivate
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
43nAlarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate
is opened.
> To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor).
> To variations in the vehicle tilt sensor
such as occur during attempts to
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle.
> To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
> Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds.
> The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes.
> The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
To activate and deactivate the
alarm system
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
with the key or the remote control, the
alarm system is also simultaneously
armed or disarmed.
The interior motion sensor is activated
approx. 30 seconds after you have
finished locking the vehicle.
The system indicates that it has been
correctly armed by switching on the
hazard flashers for a single cycle and by
emitting an acoustical signal.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
system arming and disarming. <
You can still open the liftgate after the
system has been armed by pressing
button 3 of the remote control. Refer to
page 39. When you close the liftgate, it
is secured again.
Indicator lamp displays
> The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed.
> The indicator lamp flashes during
arming: a door(s), the hood or liftgate
are not completely closed. Even if
you do not close the alerted area, the
system begins to monitor the
remaining areas, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after
10 seconds. However, the interior
motion sensor is not activated.
> If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
530us018
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
45nElectric power windows
Open and close windows
From ignition key position 1:
>Press the switch until you feel resis-
tance:
The window continues to move as
long as you continue to hold the
switch.
> Press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point:
The window moves downward auto-
matically. Touch the switch again to
stop the opening movement.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
530us020
After the ignition has been switched off:
> You can still operate the windows as
long as neither of the front doors has
been opened. To open the windows,
press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point.
Remove the key from the ignition
when you leave the vehicle so that
children cannot operate the power
windows and possibly injure them-
selves. <
For the convenience mode via the door
lock or the remote control, refer to
page 36 or 38.
Safety feature
A contact strip is integrated into the
inner side of each of the upper window
frame sections. If pressure is exerted
against this contact strip while a
window is being raised, the system will
respond by stopping the window and
then retracting it a small distance.
Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the closing
path of the window is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Otherwise, an
object might not touch the contact strip
in some situations (with very thin
objects, for instance).
You can override this safety feature by
pulling the switch beyond the resis-
tance point and holding it.
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 deactivate
the electric power windows whenever
you leave the vehicle. Never leave the
keys in the vehicle with unsupervised
children. Never place anything that
could obstruct the driver's vision on or
next to the windows. <
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
47nSliding/Tilt sunroof with glass moonroof*
Automatic* opening and closing
Press the switch past the resistance
point and then release it.
Other automatic operations are:
>With the sunroof open, press the
switch briefly toward "Lift:" the
sunroof automatically extends to its
fully raised position.
Pressing the switch again briefly stops
the motion.
> With the sunroof raised, hold the
control switch toward "Open" until
the roof has reached the desired
position.
Safety feature
If the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters
resistance at a point roughly past the
middle of its travel when it is closing,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again
slightly. Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the closing
path of the sunroof is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Otherwise, trig-
gering the closing-force limitation may
not be ensured in some situations (with
very thin objects, for instance). You can
disable this safety feature by pressing
the switch beyond the pressure point
and holding it. <
Power loss or malfunction
After interruptions in the electrical
supply (when the battery is discon-
nected, for instance), the sunroof may
only lift. To reinitialize the mechanism:
1 Raise the sliding/tilt sunroof fully.
2 Press and hold the switch for approx.
twenty seconds.
In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can also operate the sliding/tilt
sunroof manually. Refer to page 188.
530us023
48n
For maximum safety when adjusting the
seat position, please observe the
following: Never try to adjust your seat while
driving the vehicle. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement,
and the ensuing loss of vehicle control
could lead to an accident.
Be sure that the safety belt remains
firmly against your body at all times. In
the event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over your hips, leading
to abdominal injury. In addition, the
safety belt's restraint effectiveness is
reduced if the belt is worn loosely.
Never ride with the backrest reclined to
an extreme angle (especially important
for the front passenger to remember).
If you do so, there is a risk that you will
slide under the safety belt in an acci-
dent, thus reducing the protection
provided by the safety belt. <
Correct sitting posture
To reduce strain on the spinal column,
sit all the way back in the seat and rest
your back fully against the backrest.
The ideal sitting posture is achieved
with your head extending from your
spine in a straight line.
For long-distance driving, you may
wish to angle the backrest slightly to
reduce muscular tension. You should
be able to reach the highest point on
the steering wheel without straight-
ening your arms. 1 Tilt angle (driver's seat only)
2 Backward/Forward adjustment
3 Cushion height
4 Backrest angle
Adjust the head restraint manually.
Comply with the adjustment
instructions in the preceding
column. Failure to do so could result in
diminished personal safety. <
Lumbar support*
Refer to the BMW comfort seat on
page 50.
530us024
Seat adjustment Power seat(s*)