Page 4 of 159

Contents
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 190
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
Ð via the door lock31
Ð from the inside32
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment35
Alarm system36
Electric power windows38
Manual convertible top39
Fully-automatic convertible
top42
Wind deflector46
Adjustments:
Correct sitting posture48
Seats48
Adjusting electric power
seats49
Lumbar support50
Head restraints50
Entering the rear51
Safety belts52
Seat and mirror memory53
Seat heating54
Steering wheel54
Mirrors55
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags56
Transporting children safely59Rollover protection system61
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory63
Driving:
Ignition lock64
Starting the engine64
Switching off the engine65
Parking brake66
Manual transmission66
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic67
Indicator/Headlamp flasher69
Washer/Wiper system/
Rain sensor70
Cruise control72
Everything under control:
Odometer74
Tachometer74
Energy control74
Fuel gauge75
Temperature gauge75
Service Interval Display75
Check Control76
Computer76
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)79
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)80
Contents
Page 14 of 159
14n
1 Parking lamps/Low beams87
2
>
Turn signal indicators69
>
Standing lamps88
>
High beams88
>
Headlamp flasher69
>
Computer763 Wiper/Washer system/Rain
sensor70
4 Hazard warning flashers
5 Central locking system286 Rear window defroster91, 95
7 Horn: the entire surface
8 Adjusting the steering wheel54
9 Fog lamps88
Cockpit
Page 31 of 159

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 there are
passengers still inside, because
they would not be able to unlock the
doors.<
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 fully-automatic
convertible top via the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, hold
the key in the "Unlock" position
>To close: with the door closed, hold
the key in the "Lock" position.
Watch the closing process care-
fully and be sure that no one is
trapped by the closing motion.
Releasing the key stops the opera-
tion.<
Manual operation (in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the key to the extreme left or right
to unlock/lock the driver's door.
Page 34 of 159
34n
Luggage compartment lidTo 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 closing
it, 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 into the interior of the
vehicle. Should it be absolutely neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the
luggage compartment lid open (with
closed convertible top):
>Close all windows
>Turn up the blower to increase the air
supply from the air conditioning or
automatic climate control, refer to
page 90 or 93.<
Emergency releaseThis lever releases the luggage
compartment lid from the luggage
compartment's interior.
Page 38 of 159

38n
Electric power windowsTo open and close windowFrom ignition key position 1:
>Press the switch up to the pressure
point: the window retracts as long as
you maintain pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point (only on driver's door): the
window moves automatically.
Pressing the switch again stops the
opening cycle.
You can close the window in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
To operate all the side windows>Press the switch up to the pressure
point: the windows retract as long as
you maintain pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the windows move auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again
stops the opening cycle.
You can close all windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still use the electric power
windows for up to 15 minutes, as long
as no one opens any of the front doors.
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key from the
lock and remember to close the doors
to prevent children from operating the
power windows and injuring them-
selves, etc.<
For convenience closing via the door
lock refer to page 31.
Page 39 of 159

39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Manual convertible topThe fabric top offers the perfect protec-
tion against weather and one person
can open and close it easily and simply.
So that you will get the most out of
enjoying your convertible, here are a
few tips: it is advisable to close the
convertible top when the vehicle is
being parked. The closed convertible
top not only protects the passenger
compartment from unforeseeable
damage from the weather, it also
provides a certain degree of theft
protection.
In addition, keep valuables only in the
locked luggage compartment, even
with the convertible top closed.
Never mount a roof-mounted luggage
rack on the convertible top.
Closing the electric power
windows: to help ensure that the
windows seal securely, you should
either close the rear windows first or
close all four windows at the same
time.<
To open the convertible top
Never attempt to open or close
the convertible top unless the
vehicle is completely stationary. To
prevent vehicle damage the top
compartment's lock will not disengage
unless the luggage compartment lid is
closed.<
1. Flip the locking handle out (refer to
illustration), and turn it as far as the
end stop will allow
2. Raise the convertible top a little bit
(release the tension)
3. To unlock, press the button with igni-
tion key in position 1. The top
compartment lid's lock disengages
and the lid itself rises a small
distance. The side windows will
lower slightly
If the indicator lamp lights up
when you press the button, this
indicates that the top compartment's
floor panel has been raised, preventing
the lock from disengaging, refer to
page 35. You should respond by folding
the top compartment panel back to its
original position and then reclosing the
luggage compartment lid.<
Page 40 of 159

40n
Manual convertible top4. Position the rear convertible top
frame vertically and grip it firmly
You can make it easier to raise the
rear convertible top frame by
pressing the area indicated by the
arrow.<
5. Reach into the recess created when
the convertible top compartment is
lifted and pull it all the way by hand 1
6. Lay the rear convertible top frame in
the convertible top compartment 2
Let go of the rear convertible top
frame before laying the convert-
ible top down, otherwise, the side trim
panel could be damaged.<
7. Raise the front of the top and pull it
back for storage
Now finish pushing the convertible
top all the way down into the
convertible top compartment. This
makes it easier to close the convertible
top compartment lid, especially at
lower temperatures.<
8. Press down slightly on the convert-
ible top compartment lid from above
(arrow). The closing process will then
be carried out automatically
9. Either close the slightly lowered side
windows or put them at the desired
height.
To prevent finger injuries, always
grip the convertible top compart-
ment lid from above.
An interlock device helps avoid damage
to the vehicle by preventing the
luggage compartment lid from opening
unless the convertible top compartment
lid is completely closed.<
Page 41 of 159

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Manual convertible topAs soon as the top convertible
compartment lid closes the central
locking system will release the lock to
allow renewed access to the luggage
compartment.
To avoid fabric damage stemming
from extended exposure to mois-
ture, you should never retract the
convertible top when it is wet, refer also
to the "Caring for your vehicle"
manual.<
To close the convertible top1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
2. Press the button to unlock it. The
convertible top will be unlocked and
the side windows will lower slightly
3. Open the convertible top compart-
ment lid all the way
4. Lift the convertible top out by the
lateral guide section 1 and the front
convertible top frame 2, swinging it
forward until you encounter percep-
tible resistance
To avoid damaging the side trim,
always fold the convertible top
forward before folding the rear frame
brace up into its vertical position.<
5. Either close the slightly lowered side
windows or put them at the desired
height
6. Press down slightly on the convert-
ible top compartment lid from above
(arrow). The closing process will then
be carried out automatically, refer to
page 40
Operate the convertible top
compartment lid from above only
in order to avoid any pinching.<
As soon as the top convertible
compartment lid closes the central
locking system will release the lock to
allow renewed access to the luggage
compartment.<
7. Holding on to the locking handle, pull
the front part of the convertible top
frame up onto the windshield frame,
and lock the convertible top by
turning the handle until you hear the
convertible top engage and lock.
The system automatically presses the
top's rear frame against the convertible
top compartment lid, pretensioning it to
ensure that it seals tightly.