
 
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 

 
16n
 
Instrument cluster
 
7 Indicator and warning 
lamps17 to 20
8 Reset trip odometer to zero
9 Indicator for Check Control6610 Display for
 
>
 
Trip odometer/odometer64
 
>
 
Clock66
 
>
 
Service Interval65
 
>
 
Computer6611 Selector lever and program display 
for automatic transmission18, 59
12 Control button for the clock66
13 Indicator and warning 
lamps17 to 20 

 
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
 
  
control system 
has failed. Continue driving 
cautiously and defensively. 
Avoid hard brake applications. Please 
have the system checked by your BMW 
center as soon as possible.
For additional information: refer to 
pages 70, 71
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC and 
ADB/DBC indicator and warning 
lamps for Canadian models.
 
Red: an important reminder
 
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 56
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 44
Airbags 
 
l
 
Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 48
 
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 57 

54n
Ignition lock  Starting the engine 0 Steering locked 
1 Steering unlocked
2 Ignition switched on
3 Starting engine
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion:
Do not move the selector lever from 
position "P" until the engine is running 
(ignition key position 2).
Your vehicle is equipped with an inter-
lock. Therefore, the ignition key cannot 
be turned to position 0 and removed 
until the selector lever is in 
position "P."< 
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion:
Step on the clutch when starting the 
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine 
from starting if the clutch is not 
depressed.<
Steering lockedThe key can only be inserted and 
removed in this position.
After removing the key, turn the 
steering wheel slightly to the left or right 
until the lock engages.
The sound system remains operational 
for approx. 20 minutes after you switch 
off the ignition (ignition key in position 0 
or key extracted). Simply switch it back 
on.Steering unlocked You will find that it is often easier to turn 
the ignition key from position 0 to posi-
tion 1 when you move the steering 
wheel slightly to help disengage the 
lock.
Individual electrical accessories are 
ready for operation.
Before starting>Engage the parking brake
>Gearshift lever in neutral, or, with an 
automatic transmission, selector 
lever in position "P"
>Depress the clutch pedal.
Do not allow the engine to run in 
enclosed spaces. The exhaust 
gases contain carbon monoxide, an 
odorless and colorless, but highly toxic 
gas. 
Breathing the exhaust gases poses an 
extreme health risk, and can lead to 
unconsciousness and death.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
with the engine running. An unat-
tended vehicle with a running engine 
represents a potential safety hazard.<
When driving, standing at idle, 
and parking the vehicle, take care 
to avoid contact between the exhaust 
system and flammable materials (grass, 
hay, leaves, etc.).  Such contact could 
lead to a fire, resulting in serious 
personal injury and property damage.<
>Start the engine. Do not press the 
accelerator pedal. 

55n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Starting the engine Switching off the engine 
Do not actuate the starter for too 
short a time, but do not actuate it 
for more than approx. 20 seconds. 
Release the ignition key immediately 
when the engine starts.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by 
leaving it running while the vehicle 
remains stationary. Instead, drive off 
immediately at a moderate engine 
speed.<
If the engine does not start on the first 
attempt (if it is very hot or cold, for 
instance):
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at extremely low tempera-
tures of roughly +5 7 (Ð15 6) or below 
and at altitudes of over 3,300 ft 
(1,000 m):
>On the first start attempt, engage the 
starter for a longer period (approx. 
10 seconds)
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down while engaging the starter.
Engine idle speed is controlled by the 
engine computer system. Increased 
speeds at start-up are normal and 
should decrease as the engine warms 
up. If engine speed does not decrease, 
service is required.
To prevent the battery from discharging, 
always deactivate electrical devices 
that are not in use. Switch the ignition 
off when the vehicle is not being driven.
Extended starting attempts, char-
acterized by excessively frequent 
or long periods with the starter 
engaged, can lead to catalyst 
damage.<
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
You should never remove the igni-
tion key when the vehicle is in 
motion, as the steering lock could 
engage. 
When you leave the vehicle, always 
remove the ignition key and engage the 
steering lock.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when 
parking on hills and slopes, as first gear 
or reverse may not provide adequate 
resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in "Park."< 

56n
Parking brake  Manual transmission The parking brake is designed primarily 
to prevent the vehicle from rolling when 
it is parked. It operates on the rear 
wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically, the 
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster 
comes on when the ignition key is in 
position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the 
button (arrow) and lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances 
make it necessary to engage the 
parking brake while the vehicle is in 
motion, do not pull it with excessive 
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed 
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up to apply 
moderate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing) 
at the rear axle.
The brake lamps do not come on when 
the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when 
parking on hills and inclined surfaces, 
as first gear or reverse may not provide 
adequate resistance to rolling. 
Vehicles with automatic transmission: 
place the selector lever in "Park."<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided 
braking, apply the parking brake lightly 
from time to time when coasting to a 
standstill (at a traffic signal, for 
instance), provided that it is safe to do 
so.
Reverse Select only when the vehicle is 
stationary. Press the shift lever to the 
left to overcome the slight resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will 
turn on automatically when the ignition 
key is in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on 
slopes by slipping or "riding" the 
clutch. Use the parking brake instead. 
Riding the clutch leads to severe and 
premature clutch wear.< 

57n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can 
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from 
the "D" position to the left into the M/S 
range, the performance-oriented shift 
programs of the automatic transmission 
are engaged. Steptronic enters the 
manual selection mode and executes 
the desired shift whenever you tap the 
selector lever in the direction indicated 
by "+" or "Ð." Whenever you want to use 
automatic again, just shift the selector 
lever toward the right to position D.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + Ð
Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in 
selector lever positions P ("Park") or N 
("Neutral").Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts to 
the "Reverse" or "Park" selector lever 
positions. To disengage the detent, 
press the button on the front side of 
the shift knob (arrow).
While the vehicle is stationary and 
before shifting out of "Park" or 
"Neutral," depress the footbrake in 
order to disengage the selector lever's 
lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
Hold the footbrake down until starting 
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep" 
when a drive position is engaged.< 
To prevent the vehicle from 
starting off on its own, always 
move the selector lever to position P 
or N and engage the parking brake 
before leaving your vehicle with the 
engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
with the engine running. An unattended 
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P  ParkSelect only when the vehicle is 
stationary. Transmission locks to 
prevent rear wheels from turning.R  ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is 
stationary. 

58n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
N  NeutralSelect only when stopping for an 
extended period.D  Drive (automatic shift program)This position is designed for driving 
under all normal operating conditions. 
All forward gears are available.KickdownIn the kickdown mode, you achieve 
maximum acceleration and in 
position D top speed.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
M/S Manual mode and
Sport ProgramMove the selector lever from D to M/S 
to activate the Sport Program; SD 
appears in the display panel. The M/S 
mode is recommended for perfor-
mance-oriented driving.
Once in the M/S mode you can tap the 
selector lever to switch the automatic 
transmission from the Sport Program to 
its manual selection mode.
This mode allows you to execute 
upshifts manually by tapping the lever 
toward "+," while downshifts are 
selected by tapping in the "Ð" direction. 
The displays M1 through M5 appear in 
the display panel to indicate your 
current gear selection.
The Adaptive Transmission Control 
(ATC) executes upshifts and downshifts 
only when the new gear will provide a 
suitable combination of engine and 
road speed, i.e., ATC will not execute 
downshifts if the engine speed is too 
high.  The desired, then the actual gear, 
briefly appear in the instrument cluster.
To accelerate quickly in the 
manual mode (to pass another 
vehicle), shift down manually or employ 
the kickdown mode.<
Shifting from M/S to the selector lever 
positions P, R and N is possible only by 
going through D.