
 
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 

40n
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 51. 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 48.
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 
pelvis and shoulder, wear it as snugly 
against your body as possible. Do not 
allow the belt to rest against hard or 
fragile objects in your pockets. 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 the 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 44.
When adjusting your seat, always 
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while 
operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with an unexpected 
movement, and the ensuing loss of 
vehicle control could lead to an acci-
dent. Never ride with the backrest 
reclined to an extreme horizontal angle 
(important for front passengers to 
remember). Keep the backrest relatively 
upright to minimize the risk of sliding 
under the safety belt and sustaining 
injury in an accident.<
Seat adjustment>Manual seat adjustment, refer to 
page 41
>Power seat adjustment, refer to 
page 42
>Head restraint, refer to page 43
>Entering the rear, refer to page 43 

51n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Transporting children safelyLATCH child-restraint mounting 
system
*
Remove the cover from the outside 
mount by pulling forward. When re-
installing ensure that the recess is on 
the top.
Tilt the backrest halfway forward to 
make the cover easier to remove (refer 
to page 91).
The illustration is an example showing 
the mounts for a LATCH child-restraint 
mounting system at the right rear.
Always follow all manufacturer's 
instructions and observe all safety 
precautions when installing the LATCH 
child-restraint mounting system.<
Commercially available child seats 
complying with the legal standard are 
designed to be secured with a lap belt 
or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. 
Improperly or inadequately installed 
restraint systems can increase the risk 
of injury to children. Always read and 
follow the instructions that come with 
the system.
If you use a child-restraint system with 
a tether strap, three additional tether 
anchorage points (refer to the arrows in 
the illustration) have been provided. 
Depending on the location selected for 
seating in the rear passenger area, 
attach the tether strap to the corre-
sponding anchorage point to secure the 
child-restraint system. Remove the 
center cover first.
If the selected seating position is fitted 
with a headrest lift the headrest and 
pass the tether strap between the 
headrest and the backrest.
Adjust the tether strap according to the 
child-restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat, 
please read the following: 
Never install a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat of this vehicle. 
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag 
supplemental restraint system for the 
front passenger. Because the backrest 
on any rear-facing child-restraint 
system (of the kind designed for infants 
under 1 year and 20 lbs/9 kg) would be 
within the airbag's deployment range, 
you should never mount such a device 
in the front passenger seat, as the 
impact of the airbag against the child-
restraint's backrest could lead to 
serious or fatal injuries. 
If it is necessary for a child (not an 
infant) to ride in the front seat, certain 
precautions should be taken. First, 
move the passenger seat as far away 
from the instrument panel as possible. 
This important precaution is intended to  

92n
Ski bag
* 
The ski bag allows the safe and clean 
transport of up to 4 pairs of standard 
skis or up to two snowboards.
The length of the ski bag and the addi-
tional space provided in the luggage 
compartment make it possible to carry 
skis up to 6.8 ft (2.1  m) long. Because 
of the tapered shape of the bag, the ski 
bag can only accommodate two pairs 
of skis up to 6.8 ft (2.1  m) long.
Loading1 Fold the center armrest outward. 
Loosen the trim from the upper 
Velcro¨ fastener and place it on the 
armrest
2 Press button 1 downward and swing 
the cover forward
3 Extend the ski bag between the front 
seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to stored items. It may 
be opened to allow the ski bag to dry
4 Press knob 2: the cover in the 
luggage compartment is unlocked.
To store the ski bag, perform the above 
steps in reverse sequence.
Securing cargo
Secure skis and any other objects 
stored in the bag by tightening the 
retaining strap at the buckle.<
Be sure that your skis are clean 
before loading them into the bag. 
Avoid damage from sharp edges during 
loading.< 

Everything from A to ZDivided rear-seat 
backrest91 
Door keys28 
Doors 
electrical malfunction31 
locking and unlocking29 
manual operation31 
DOT Quality Grades102 
Draft-free ventilation82, 85 
Driving notes99 
DSC (Dynamic Stability 
Control)19, 71 
Dynamic Brake Control 
(DBC)19, 72 
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)19, 71 E 
Electric power windows38 
Electrical heating, exterior 
mirror47 
Electrical malfunction 
doors31 
fuel filler door22 
luggage compartment 
lid33 
sliding/tilt sunroof39 Elements of operation14 
Emergency release of 
luggage compartment lid 
from luggage 
compartment's interior35 
Energy control64 
Engine compartment 
essentials107 
Engine coolant, refer to 
coolant111 
Engine data132 
Engine oil 
capacity135 
consumption109 
level19 
level, check109 
level, indicator lamp17 
pressure17 
pressure, indicator 
lamp17 
quality110 
specifications110 
viscosity110 
Engine speed132 
Engine, starting54 
Engine, switching off55 
Entering the rear43 
Exterior mirrors47 
electrical heating47 
F 
Failure messages66 
Fault displays66 
Filling capacities135 
Finger guard38 
Fittings, tow starting and 
towing129 
Flashlight87 
Flat Tire 
Monitor75, 103, 126 
Flat tires101, 123, 126 
Floor mat, luggage 
compartment35 
Floor panel, luggage 
compartment35 
Fog lamps78 
Follow me home lamps77 
Fuel consumption68 
display65 
Fuel filler door22 
electrical malfunction22 
manual operation22 
Fuel gauge65 
Fuel preparation132 
Fuel reserve indicator 
lamp65 
Fuel specifications23 
Fuel tank capacity135 
Fuel tank gauge65 
Fuses127 
G 
Gasoline gauge65 
Glove compartment87 
Grilles83 
Gross vehicle weight134 H 
Handbrake56 
Hands-free system89 
Hazard warning triangle22 
Head restraints43 
Headlamp cover, care119 
Headlamp flasher78 
Headlamp washer 
system108 
capacity135 
Headlamps77 
Headlight control77 
Headrests43 
Heated seats46 
Heater and ventilation83 
Heavy cargo93 
Height133 
High beams20, 59, 78 
bulb replacement119 
Holder for canned 
beverages88 
Hood release106 
Horn14  

Everything from A to ZOil change intervals, see the 
Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet/
Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet 
Oil dipstick109 
Oil filter change135 
OIL SERVICE65 
Onboard computer66 
refer to the "Onboard 
Computer Owner's 
Manual" 
Onboard tool kit118 
Opening and closing 
from the inside32 
via the door lock31 
via the remote control29 
Outlets, ventilation83 
Outside temperature 
display67 
P 
Paint care, refer to the 
"Caring for your vehicle" 
manual 
Park assistant69 
Park Distance Control 
(PDC)69 
Parking aid69 
Parking brake56 
Parking lamps77 
bulb replacement119 
PDC (Park Distance 
Control)69 
Performance132 
Pocket light87 
Power seat adjustment42 
Power windows38 
Premium sound system86 
Protective function38 Q 
Quality Grades102 
R 
Rain sensor60 
RDC (Tire Pressure 
Monitor)73 
Reading lamps 
front79 
rear79 
Rear center 3-point belt91 
Rear fog lamps 
bulb replacement121 
Rear lamps121 
Rear reading lamps79 
Rear window 
defroster81, 85 
Rear-seat backrest, 
removable91 
Rearview mirror47 
Recirculated-air mode81 
Reclining seat40 
Refueling22 
Release backrest43 
Releasing the fuel filler door 
after an electrical 
malfunction22 
Remote control29 
Removable rear-seat 
backrest91 Remove window 
condensation82, 84 
Replace windshield wiper 
blades118 
Replacement keys28 
Replacing lamps and 
bulbs118 
Reporting safety defects11 
Reverse56 
Roller sun blind86 
Roof load capacity134 
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack94 
S 
Safety belts 
correct use40 
height adjustment44 
Safety defects, reporting11 
Safety tires103, 126 
Seat adjustment40 
Seat heating46 
Seat memory45 
Seats40 
Securing cargo93 
Securing child-restraint 
system52