
 
Contents
 
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order No. 01 41 0 156 168
US English VIII/01
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper 
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling). 
Overview
Controls and features
 
Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps17
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)21
Hazard warning triangle22
Refueling22
Fuel specifications23
Tire inflation pressures24
 
Opening and closing:
 
Keys28
Central locking system28
Opening and closing Ð via the 
remote control29
Opening and closing Ð via the 
door lock31
Opening and closing Ð from the 
inside32
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment35
Alarm system36
Electric power windows37
Sliding/tilt sunroof39
 
Adjustments:
 
Correct sitting posture41
Seats41
Manual seat adjustment42
Power seat adjustment43
Lumbar support43
Head restraints44
Safety belts45
Seat and mirror memory46
Seat heating47
Steering wheel47
Mirrors48
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags49
Transporting children safely52
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory55
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock56
Starting the engine56
Switching off the engine57
Parking brake58
Manual transmission58
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic59
Indicator/Headlamp flasher61
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor62
Cruise control64
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer66
Tachometer66
Energy control66
Fuel gauge67
Temperature gauge67
Service Interval Display67
Check Control68
Clock68
Computer69
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)71
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)72
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)73
 
Contents 

30n
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlConvenience opening modePress and hold button to open the elec-
tric power windows and sliding/tilt 
sunroof.To lock and securePress button.
Do not lock the vehicle if anyone 
will be remaining inside, as it 
would then be impossible for the occu-
pant(s) to disengage the locks from the 
inside.< To switch on the interior lampsAfter locking the vehicle, press button 
again.To switch off the tilt alarm sensor
* 
and the interior motion sensor
* 
Press button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to 
page 37.
To open the luggage 
compartment lidPress button.
The luggage compartment lid will open 
slightly, regardless of whether the lid 
was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the luggage compartment lid 
has not been opened unintentionally.
danger by holding down the button for 
between two and five seconds. 
Press the button to cancel the alarm.External systemsThe remote control system's operation 
may be affected by other units or 
equipment operating in the immediate 
vicinity of your vehicle.
If this should occur, you can still open 
and close the vehicle using the master 
key in either the door or luggage 
compartment lid locks.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units 
comply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal 
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the 
following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the 
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful 
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference 
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to 
these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<  

31n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the door lockOne turn of the key in the driver's door 
lock unlocks the driver's door only. 
Turning the key a second time unlocks 
all of the remaining doors, the luggage 
compartment lid and the fuel filler door.
Do not lock the vehicle if anyone 
will be remaining inside, as it 
would then be impossible for the occu-
pant(s) to disengage the locks from the 
inside.< 
You can have a signal set to 
confirm that the vehicle's locks 
have engaged securely.<
Convenience operationYou can also operate the power 
windows and the sliding/tilt sunroof via 
the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, hold 
the key in the "Unlock" position
>To close: with the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Lock" position and 
hold it.
Whenever closing the windows or 
sliding/tilt sunroof you should 
always monitor their path and progress 
to ensure that no injuries occur. 
Release the key to stop the windows 
(sliding/tilt sunroof).<
Manual operation (in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the key to the extreme left or right 
to unlock/lock the driver's door. 

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.< 

37n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Alarm system
*
Electric power windows
>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
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is 
disarmed: an attempted entry has 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the 
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor may be switched off at the same 
time. You can do this to prevent a false 
alarm from being triggered in garages 
with elevator ramps, for instance, or 
when the vehicle is transported by 
trailer or train:
Lock the vehicle twice (= arm the 
system). Press button on the remote 
control twice in succession or lock the 
vehicle twice with the key.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and interior motion sensor are 
deactivated for as long as the system 
remains armed.
Interior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and the 
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely 
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate 
the interior motion sensor (refer to 
previous column) if 
>children or animals are left in the 
vehicle
>the windows or the sliding/tilt sunroof 
are being left open.
To open and close windowsWith ignition key in position 1 or 2.
>Press the switch up to the resistance 
point: the window retracts; it remains 
in motion for as long as you maintain 
pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the window moves auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again 
stops the opening cycle.
You can close the windows in the same 
manner by pulling the switch.
Separate switches are located under 
the windows in the rear passenger 
area. 

39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sliding/tilt sunroof
* 
To prevent injuries, exercise care 
when closing the sliding/tilt 
sunroof and keep it in your field of 
vision until it is shut.
When leaving the vehicle, always 
extract the ignition key from the lock 
and remember to close the doors to 
prevent children from operating the 
sliding/tilt sunroof and injuring them-
selves, etc.<
Raising Ð opening Ð closingWith ignition key in position 1 or 2.
After the ignition has been switched off, 
you can still operate the sliding/tilt 
sunroof for up to 15 minutes as long as 
neither of the front doors has been 
opened.
Raising/opening/closing: press the 
switch or slide it in the desired direction 
until you feel resistance.
If you briefly press the switch in the 
"raise" direction while the sunroof is 
open, the sunroof will rise to its upper-
most position.
The headliner insert slides back some-
what when you raise the sunroof. When 
the sunroof is opened, the headliner 
retracts with it.
Do not use force to close the 
headliner insert with the sunroof in 
its raised position, as damage to the 
mechanism could result.<
To use the convenience mode via the 
remote control or the door lock, refer to 
pages 30 or 31.
Automatic opening and closingPress the switch past the resistance 
point briefly: the sunroof travels to 
either the fully-closed or fully-open 
position.
Pressing the switch again stops the 
motion immediately. 

40n
Sliding/tilt sunroof
* 
Safety featureIf the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters 
resistance
>when it is closing from the raised 
position
>when it is closing from a point 
roughly past the middle of its travel
the closing cycle is interrupted and the 
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again 
slightly.
Despite this safety feature, be 
extremely careful that the travel 
path of the sunroof is not obstructed 
whenever it is closed. Remember that 
the safety mechanism may not be able 
to detect obstructions under all circum-
stances (with very thin objects, for 
instance). 
You can disable this safety feature by 
pressing the switch beyond the pres-
sure point and holding it.<
Manual operationIn the event of an electrical malfunction, 
you can also operate the sliding/tilt 
sunroof manually:
1. Remove the interior lamp, then reach 
into the exposed opening and press 
out the cover
2. Use the Allen key from the onboard 
tool kit (refer to page 124) to turn the 
sliding/tilt sunroof in the desired 
direction. 

100n
Cargo loading Roof-mounted luggage rack
* 
Always position and secure the 
load correctly. If you do not, it can 
endanger the passengers during 
braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the approved gross 
weight or the approved maximum axle 
loads, refer to page 142, otherwise the 
vehicle's operating safety is no longer 
assured and you are in violation of the 
law.
Do not stow heavy or hard objects in 
the passenger compartment without 
securing them. Otherwise they would 
be thrown around during braking and 
evasive maneuvers and endanger the 
passengers.<
A special roof-rack system is available 
as an optional extra for your BMW. 
Please observe the precautions 
included with the installation instruc-
tions.AnchoragesAccess to the anchorages:
To fold up the cover (arrow), please use 
the tool provided with the roof-rack 
system.Loading and driving notesRoof-mounted luggage racks raise the 
center of gravity of the vehicle when 
they are loaded. For this reason, they 
have a major effect on the vehicle's 
handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember 
not to exceed the approved roof load 
capacity, the approved gross vehicle 
weight or the axle loads when loading 
the rack. These weights are listed under 
Technical Data  on page 142.
Make sure that the load is not too 
heavy, and attempt to distribute it 
evenly. Always load the heaviest pieces 
first (on the bottom). Be sure that 
adequate clearance is maintained for 
raising the sliding/tilt sunroof, and that 
objects do not project into the opening 
path of the luggage compartment lid.
Secure the roof luggage correctly and 
securely to prevent it from shifting or 
being lost during driving (danger to 
following traffic).
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden 
acceleration and braking. Do not corner 
at high speeds. 
The roof-mounted luggage rack and the 
roof load increase the aerodynamic 
resistance: increased fuel consumption 
and additional stress on the vehicle's 
body are the result.