
 
Contents
 
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order No. 01 40 0 156 144
deutsch 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 sunroof38
 
Adjustments:
 
Correct sitting posture40
Seats40
Manual seat adjustment41
Power seat adjustment42
Lumbar support42
Head restraints43
Entering the rear43
Safety belts44
Seat and mirror memory45
Seat heating46
Steering wheel46
Mirrors47
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags48
Transporting children safely51
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory53
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock54
Starting the engine54
Switching off the engine55
Parking brake56
Manual transmission56
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic57
Indicator/Headlamp flasher59
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor60
Cruise control62
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer64
Tachometer64
Energy control64
Fuel gauge65
Temperature gauge65
Service Interval Display65
Check Control66
Computer66
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)69
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)70
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)71
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)73
Flat Tire Monitor75
 
Contents 

45n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Seat and mirror memory
* 
You can store and recall three different 
driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions.
Memory will not retain the adjust-
ment made to the lumbar 
support.
to the desired position
3. Press the 
M
EMORY button: the indi-
cator lamp in the button lights up
4. Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as 
desired. Indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
Do not select a memory position 
while the vehicle is moving. If you 
do so, there is a risk of accident from 
unexpected seat movement.<
Ignition key in position 1:
>Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3, 
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when 
one of the seat adjustment or 
memory buttons is activated during 
the adjustment process.
The driver's door is closed and the igni-
tion key is either removed or in posi-
tion 0 or 2:
>Press and hold the desired memory 
button (1, 2 or 3) until the adjustment 
process is completed.
If you press the 
M
EMORY button 
accidentally: press the button 
again; the indicator lamp goes out.<
Your BMW center can adjust your 
vehicle's systems in such a 
manner that your personalized settings 
are automatically set for the seat and 
exterior mirror positions when you 
unlock the vehicle with your personal 
remote control.<
Before activating the programmed 
adjustment feature ensure that the 
footwell behind the driver's seat is 
empty and unobstructed. If you fail to 
do so, any persons or objects behind 
the seat could be injured or damaged 
by a rearward movement of the seat.< 

47n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Mirrors To adjust exterior mirrors1 Switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Selection switch for changing 
between mirrors
To adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted by 
hand: 
Press the edge of the lens.
Storing mirror settings, refer to Seat 
and mirror memory on page 45.
The mirror on the passenger's side 
features a lens with a more convex 
surface than the mirror installed on the 
driver's side. When estimating the 
distance between yourself and other 
traffic, bear in mind that the objects 
reflected in the mirror are closer than 
they appear. This means that estimates 
of the distance to following traffic 
should not be regarded as precise. This 
precaution also applies to the non-
spherical outer section of the lens.
Both mirrors are automatically heated 
when you turn the ignition key to posi-
tion 2.
Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from vehicles behind 
you when you are driving at night, tilt 
the lens by turning the button.
Vehicles without alarm system: 
Tilt the small lever forward. 

53n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Vehicle Memory, Key Memory How the system functionsNo doubt you have reflected at one 
time or another on how great it would 
be if you could permanently configure 
your vehicle's various features and 
adjustments to mirror your own indi-
vidual preferences. In engineering your 
vehicle, BMW has incorporated a 
number of options for personal adjust-
ment that can be programmed into your 
vehicle at your BMW center.
The available configuration data fall into 
two categories, according to whether 
their primary orientation is the vehicle 
(Vehicle Memory) or the individual (Key 
Memory). Provided that each person 
has a separate remote-control key, you 
can have your BMW center enter 
adjustment data for as many as four 
different individuals into the system.
The system then relies on a bilateral 
data exchange to identify the individual 
user and dial in the selected settings 
whenever the remote control unit is 
used to disengage the door locks.
Color-coded decals have been 
provided to help you distinguish indi-
vidual keys with different settings.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with 
details on the capabilities of the Vehicle 
Memory and Key Memory systems. A 
few examples follow below:
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgment 
when locking or unlocking your 
vehicle, refer to page 29, 31
>Activates/deactivates the "Follow me 
home" function, refer to page 77
>Activates/deactivates daytime driving 
lamps, refer to page 77.Examples for Key Memory:
>Locks the vehicle when you start off, 
refer to page 32
>Automatically adjusts the driver's 
seat to the personal programmed 
settings when the vehicle is 
unlocked, refer to page 45
>Unlocks driver's door first, then 
proceeds to disengage the vehicle's 
remaining locks, refer to page 29.
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to 
remind you at appropriate places of the 
settings that are available to you.< 

Everything from A to Z
141n
OverviewControlsMaintenancRepairsDataIndex
I 
Ice warning67 
Icy roads67 
Ignition keys28 
Ignition lock54 
Imprint4 
Indicator lamps17 
Inflation pressures, 
tires24, 25, 101 
Inside rearview mirror 
automatic-dimming 
feature48 
INSPECTION65 
Instrument cluster15 
Instrument lighting78 
Instruments15 
Interface socket 
for Onboard 
Diagnostics115 
Interior lamps30, 79 
remote control30 
Interior motion sensor36 
switching off37 
Interior rearview mirror47 
Interlock54 
J 
Jack123 
Jump-starting128 K 
Key Memory53 
Key with remote control 
unit28 
Keys28 L 
Lamps and bulbs, 
replacement118 
Lashing eyes93 
LATCH child-restraint 
mounting system51 
Length133 
License plate lamp 
bulb replacement122 
Litter bag holder88 
Load-securing devices93 
Lock buttons32 
Louvers80 
Low beams77 
bulb replacement119 
Lug wrench123 Luggage compartment35 
capacity134 
floor mat35 
floor panel35 
secure separately33 
Luggage compartment lid 
electrical malfunction33 
emergency release from 
luggage compartment's 
interior35 
manual operation33 
remote control30 
Luggage compartment 
lighting33 
Luggage rack94 
Lumbar support42 
M 
M+S tires105 
Maintenance65, 113 
Malfunction displays66 
Manual operation 
doors31 
fuel filler door22 
luggage compartment 
lid33 
sliding/tilt sunroof39 
Manual seat adjustment41 
Manual transmission56 Manually controlled 
recirculated-air85 
Master key28 
MFL (Multifunction steering 
wheel)21 
Microfilter82, 86 
Mirror heating47 
Mirror memory45 
Mirrors47 
Modifications, 
technical10, 114 
Motion sensor, refer to 
interior motion sensor 
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)21 
O 
OBD interface socket115 
Odometer64 
Oil 
additives109 
capacity135 
consumption109 
quality110 
specifications110 
viscosity110