
 
5n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
 
Hill Descent Control (HDC)77
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)78
Flat Tire Monitor80
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams82
Instrument lighting83
High beams/Standing lamps83
Fog lamps83
Interior lamps84
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning85
Automatic climate control88
Roller sun blind91
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Premium sound system91
Glove compartment92
Storage compartments92
Cellular phone94
Ashtray, front95
Ashtray, rear95
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading system96
Ski bag97
Cargo loading99
Roof-mounted luggage rack100
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures104
Driving notes105
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)105
Brake system106
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressures107
Tire condition107
Tire replacement108
Wheel and tire 
combinations110
Winter tires111
 
In the engine compartment:
 
Hood112
Engine compartment 
essentials113
Washer fluids114
Engine oil115
Coolant117
Brake fluid118
 
Maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System119
 
Laws and regulations:
 
Technical modifications120
California Proposition 
65 Warning120
OBD interface socket121 

 
18n
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
Red and yellow: continue driving 
cautiously
 
The brake warning lamp comes 
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and 
ASC+T/DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC, ASC+T/
DSC and
 
  
ADB/ADB-X/DBC
 
  
control system has failed. 
Continue driving cautiously and 
defensively. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Please have the system checked 
by your BMW center as soon as 
possible.
For additional information: refer to 
pages 72, 73
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC and 
ADB/ADB-X/DBC indicator and 
warning lamps for Canadian 
models.
 
Red: an important reminder
 
Parking 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 58
Parking brake warning lamp for 
Canadian models.
Fasten safety belts 
 
l 
 
An acoustic warning also 
sounds in some versions. Lights 
up either for several seconds or until 
the belt is engaged, depending upon 
version.
For additional information on safety 
belts: refer to page 45
Airbags 
 
l
 
Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 49
 
Orange: consult the nearest 
BMW center
 
Automatic transmission
The transmission has 
responded to a malfunction by 
reverting to operation in its emergency 
default program. Please consult the 
nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 59 

 
19n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
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 performance 
remains available with no loss of effi-
ciency. Please have the system 
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 105
ABS warning lamp for Canadian 
models.
Engine oil level
Comes on while driving: the 
engine oil level has fallen to the 
absolute minimum; refill as soon as 
possible. Do not drive more than 
approx. 30 miles (50 km) until you do.
For additional information: refer to 
page 115
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has 
been shut off: add engine oil at 
your earliest opportunity (next time you 
stop to refuel). For additional informa-
tion: refer to page 115
Brake pads 
 
l
 
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer 
to page 106
 
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)/
Flat Tire Monitor 
 
l
 
Check tire inflation pressures, 
refer to pages 24, 78, 80
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic 
Stability Control (DSC)
 
  
l
 
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive 
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
ASC+T has been switched off with the 
button or it is defective, or the DSC has 
been switched off, ADB is operational.
Please consult the nearest BMW center 
in case of a malfunction.
For additional information: beginning on 
page 72
BMW 325xi, 330xi:
DSC has been switched off manually or 
there is a system malfunction. 
ADB-X is operational in its standby 
mode. If the warning lamp fails to go 
out when you press the DSC button 
again, this indicates a system malfunc-
tion affecting both DSC and ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW 
center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 75
 
Indicator lamp for 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 have been 
switched off with the button or are defec-
tive.
Please consult the nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 73
BMW 325xi, 330xi:
DSC and ADB-X system malfunction. 
There is no provision for deactivating 
ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 75
DSC and ADB indicator and 
warning lamps for Canadian 
models.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) 
 
l
 
Malfunction in DBC system. 
Conventional braking efficiency 
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system repaired at your BMW 
center as soon as possible. For addi-
tional information: refer to page 74 

34n
Luggage compartment lidOpening from the inside
*
If the luggage compartment lid has not 
been locked separately, you can open it 
with this button in the footwell on the 
driver's side when the vehicle is 
stationary.
To closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim 
panel of the luggage compartment lid 
(arrows) make it easier to pull the lid 
down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage 
compartment lid is clear when it is 
closed, following the same precautions 
as with all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid is 
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes 
could penetrate the interior of the 
vehicle. Should it be absolutely neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the 
luggage compartment lid open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Sharply increase the air supply for the 
air conditioning or automatic climate 
control. Refer to page 85 or 88.< 

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Correct sitting posture SeatsFor relaxed and fatigue-free driving you 
should select a sitting position that 
reflects your personal requirements. 
Correct posture combines with safety 
belts and airbags to enhance occupant 
safety in the event of an accident. To 
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems 
provide you with optimal protection, we 
request that you direct your careful 
attention to the following section.
For supplementary information on 
transporting children, refer to page 52. Sitting correctly with airbags
Always maintain an adequate 
distance between yourself and the 
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel 
by the rim to keep any chance of injury 
to hands or arms to an absolute 
minimum should the airbag be 
deployed. Never allow any objects, 
individuals or animals to obstruct the 
areas between passengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a 
storage tray or support for objects of 
any kind. Never allow front passengers 
to rest their feet or legs on the airbag 
cover.<
For airbag locations and additional 
information on airbags refer to page 49.
Safe with safety belts
Never allow more than one person 
to wear a single safety belt. Never 
allow infants or small children to ride in 
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the 
belt while routing it firmly across the 
hips and shoulder, wear it as snugly 
against your body as possible. Do not 
allow the belt to rest against hard or 
fragile objects. Do not route the belt 
across your neck, or run it across sharp 
edges. Be sure that the belt does not 
become caught or jammed. Avoid 
wearing bulky clothing and pull on the 
lap belt periodically to retension it over 
your shoulders. 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 it is 
worn loosely. Expectant mothers 
should always wear their safety belts, 
taking care to position the lap belt 
against the lower hips, where it will not 
exert pressure against the abdominal 
area.<
For information on using the safety 
belts refer to page 45.
When adjusting your seat, always 
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while 
operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle 
control could lead to an accident. Never 
ride with the backrest reclined to an 
extreme horizontal angle (important for 
front passengers to remember). Keep 
the backrest relatively upright to mini-
mize the risk of sliding under the safety 
belt and sustaining injury in an acci-
dent.<
Seat adjustment>Manual seat adjustment, refer to 
page 42
>Power seat adjustment, refer to 
page 43
>Head restraint, refer to page 44 

74n
DSC
* Ð BMW 320i, 325i, 330i
Switch DSC off/activate ADBPress the DSC button briefly; the indi-
cator lamp comes on and stays on.
DSC is deactivated; ADB is operational. 
In the following rare situations, it may 
prove useful to deactivate the ADB for a 
brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting 
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving on snow-covered 
grades, in deep snow, or on a snow-
covered surface that has been 
packed down from being driven on
>When driving with snow chains.
Under these special circumstances 
traction is increased by deactivating the 
control systems that enhance traction 
under normal conditions.
Switch the DSC and ADB offHold the DSC button down for at least 
3  seconds. The indicator and the yellow 
brake warning lamps will remain on 
continuously.
The systems for enhancing stability and 
traction are deactivated, and there is no 
active braking intervention or torque 
control.
To maintain vehicle stability, 
always drive with the DSC 
switched on whenever possible.
The laws of physics cannot be 
repealed, even with DSC. An 
appropriate driving style always 
remains the responsibility of the driver. 
We therefore urge you to avoid using 
the additional safety margin of the 
system as an excuse for taking risks.
When ADB is in its standby mode, DSC 
is deactivated; DSC does not intervene 
to enhance vehicle stability under these 
conditions.
Do not make any modifications to the 
DSC system. Allow only authorized 
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.<
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is an integral component of the 
DSC system.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the 
brake pedal by automatically braking 
the vehicle with maximum boost to 
achieve the shortest-possible braking 
distances during "panic stops." This 
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure exerted 
against the brake pedal until the 
braking maneuver has been completed. 
DBC is deactivated when you release 
the brake pedal. 

105n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Driving notes Antilock Brake System
Brakes: do not drive with your foot 
resting on the brake pedal. Even 
light but consistent pedal pressure can 
lead to high temperatures, brake wear 
and possibly even brake failure.
Aquaplaning: when driving on wet or 
slushy roads, reduce vehicle speed. If 
you do not, a wedge of water may form 
between the tires and the road surface. 
This phenomenon can lead to partial or 
complete loss of contact between the 
tires and road surface, vehicle control 
and braking ability.
Driving through water: do not drive 
through water on the road if it is deeper 
than 1 ft (30 cm), and then only at 
walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's 
engine, the electrical systems and the 
transmission may be damaged.
Rear tray: never use it to store heavy or 
hard objects, as otherwise occupants 
could be injured during braking maneu-
vers.
Clothes hooks: when hanging clothing 
from the hooks, be sure that they will 
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not 
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you 
do so, they could cause personal injury 
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
The conceptThe Antilock Brake System (ABS) keeps 
the wheels from locking during braking, 
thereby enhancing active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full 
braking, you will exploit the full benefits 
of the ABS system if you apply 
maximum pedal 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.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined 
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits 
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its 
active mode. 

109n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire replacementunder the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A 
represent higher levels of performance 
on the laboratory test wheel than the 
minimum required by law. 
The temperature grade for this tire 
is established for a tire that is 
properly inflated and not overloaded. 
Excessive speed, underinflation, or 
excessive loading, either separately or 
in combination, can cause heat buildup 
and possible tire failure.< Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where 
applicable on the tire sidewall between 
tread shoulder and maximum section 
width. For example:
Tread wear 200 
Traction AA 
Temperature A
Do not use retreaded tires, since 
driving safety may be impaired. 
This is due to the possible variations in 
casing structures and, in some cases, 
to their extreme age, which can lead to 
a decrease in their durability.<
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the 
sidewall:
DOT ... 4101 indicates that the tire was 
manufactured in week 41 of the year 
2001.
Although tires may have a theoretical 
service life of up to 10 years, BMW 
strongly recommends that you replace 
all tires after an absolute maximum of 
6 years.
Safety tires
*
Safety tires consists of self-contained 
tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that the tire retains 
some residual safety in the event of 
pressure drop and driving remains 
possible to a restricted degree. The 
vehicle is equipped with Tire Pressure 
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor, 
which indicate a flat tire.
For additional information on Tire Pres-
sure Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor 
refer to pages 78 or 80.
Safety tires are only possible in 
conjunction with Tire Pressure 
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor.<