Contents
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 156
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
Tailgate33
Rear window34
Cargo area35
Alarm system35
Electric power windows37
Sliding/tilt sunroof38
Adjustments:
Correct sitting posture40
Seats40
Manual seat adjustment41
Power seat adjustment42
Lumbar support42
Head restraints43
Safety belts44
Seat and mirror memory45
Seat heating46
Steering wheel46
Mirrors47
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags48
Transporting children safely51Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory54
Driving:
Ignition lock55
Starting the engine55
Switching off the engine56
Parking brake57
Manual transmission57
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic58
Indicator/Headlamp flasher60
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor61
Cruise control63
Everything under control:
Odometer65
Tachometer65
Energy control65
Fuel gauge66
Coolant temperature gauge66
Service Interval Display66
Check Control67
Clock67
Computer68
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)70
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)71
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)73
Contents
36n
Alarm system
*
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes while the
system is armed: the door(s), the
hood, the tailgate or rear window are
not completely closed. Even if you do
not close the alerted area(s), the
remaining areas are secured, and the
indicator lamp will flash continuously
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out when the
system is disarmed: no manipulation
or attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the
system was armed.
>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 the 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 the interior motion sensor
are deactivated as long as the system is
armed.
Interior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely
closed.
Nevertheless, you should switch off 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.
The system deactivates the tilt-
alarm sensor and the interior
motion sensor if closing is interrupted in
the first 10 seconds and then restarted
when the convenience closing feature
is used to close the sunroof and
windows. The alarm must then be
disarmed and reactivated before it will
resume operation.<
45n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Seat and mirror memory
*
You can store as many as three
different driver's seat and mirror adjust-
ment settings into the system for later
selection.
The lumbar support adjustment is
not stored in the memory.
the desired position
3. Press the
M
EMORY button: indi-
cator lamp in the button comes on
4. Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as
desired: indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
You should never activate the
memory feature while the vehicle
is moving, as the seat could move in a
way that you had not anticipated,
posing an accident hazard.<
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.
With the driver's door closed and the
ignition key either removed or in posi-
tion 0 or 2:
>Maintain pressure on 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.<
46n
Seat and mirror memory
*
Seat heating
*
Steering wheel
Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt
function(Automatic curb monitor
*)
1 Set the mirror selection switch 1 to
the "driver's door mirror" position
2 When the selector lever is placed in
"Reverse", the passenger-side mirror
tilts downward to help the driver
monitor the area directly adjacent to
the vehicle during parking (curbs,
etc.).
You can deactivate this automatic
feature by setting the mirror selection
switch to the "passenger side" position.
The seat cushion and backrest can
be heated with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2.
You can call up different heating modes
by repeatedly pressing the button.
You can also switch the higher heating
modes off directly:
Press the button and hold it slightly
longer.
Adjustments1. Fold down the detent lever
2. Adjust the steering column to obtain
the best reach and rake angles for
the current seat position
3. Fold the detent lever back up to
engage the lock.
Never attempt to adjust the
steering wheel while driving the
vehicle Ð it could respond with unex-
pected movement, posing a potential
accident hazard.<
47n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Mirrors To adjust exterior mirrors1 Switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Selection switch for changing
between mirrors
To adjust manuallyYou can also adjust the mirrors manually:press against the edges of the lens.
Storing mirror positions, 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 esti-
mations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as
precise. This same precaution applies
to the rectangular outside sections of
both door mirrors.
Both mirrors are heated automatically
when the ignition key is in position 2.
Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from vehicles behind
you when you are driving at night, tilt
the mirror by turning the knob.
Vehicles not equipped with an alarm
system:
Fold the small lever forward.
48n
Mirrors AirbagsInterior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature
*
This mirror automatically responds to
glare by dimming through an infinitely
variable range. It automatically reverts
to its clear, undimmed mode whenever
you select reverse.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate efficiently, ensure that the area
adjacent to the photocells remains
clean and unobstructed. One photocell
is integrated within the mirror's lens
(arrow), while the other is located at an
offset position on the rear of the mirror.
Refrain from attaching stickers or other
objects to the windshield in the area
immediately behind the rearview mirror.
1 Front driver and passenger-side
airbags
2 Head airbags for driver and front
passenger
3 Side airbags on the driver and
passenger sides (front and rear
*)
Protective effectThe front airbags protect the vehicle's
occupants during frontal impacts in
which the protection provided by the
safety belts alone might not be enough
to prevent injury. The head airbags and
side airbags help provide protection in
the event of a collision from the side.
Each of the side airbags is designed to
help support the seat occupant's upper
body. For information on correct sitting
posture refer to page 40.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the
operational status of the airbag
system from ignition key posi-
tion 1.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when you turn the ignition key to
position 1 or higher.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine is started, or comes
on in the course of normal vehicle
operation.
Because a system malfunction could
prevent the airbags from deploying in
the event of a severe impact within their
normal activation range, you should
always respond to any problems by
having them corrected at your BMW
center as soon as possible.
The side airbags in the rear
passenger area
* of your vehicle
may already have been deactivated,
either at the time of manufacture or by a
BMW center. You may have them acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please
contact your BMW center for additional
information.<
54n
Vehicle Memory, Key Memory How it worksNo doubt you have often reflected on
how great it would be if you could
permanently configure your vehicle's
various features and adjustments to
mirror your own personal preferences.
In engineering your vehicle, BMW has
included a number of options for
storing personal adjustment data.
These can be programmed 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 basic
adjustment data for up to four individ-
uals in the system.
The system relies on a bilateral data
exchange to identify the individual user
and dial in the selected settings when-
ever the remote control unit is used to
disengage the locks.
Color-coded decals have been
provided to help you distinguish the
different keys with their individual
settings.What the system can doYou can learn about the entire array of
features this system offers at your BMW
center. Here are just a few examples:
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various confirmation signals when
you lock or unlock the vehicle, refer
to pages 29, 31
>Activation/deactivation of the "Follow
me home" lamps, refer to page 82
>Activation/deactivation of the
daytime driving lamps, refer to
page 82.Examples for Key Memory:
>Engagement of the vehicle's door
locks as soon as it starts to move,
refer to page 32
>Automatic seat adjustment according
to the individual's personal settings
when the vehicle is unlocked, refer to
page 45
>Option of unlocking the driver's door
first, and then the rest of the vehicle,
refer to page 32.
At various points in this Owner's
Manual you will see this symbol
indicating that the system or function
described in the adjacent section can
be adjusted to reflect your personal
preferences.<
61n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer/Wiper system 0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
2 Normal wiper speed
3 Fast wiper speed
4 Brief wipe
5 Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensorIntermittent mode(not on vehicles with rain sensor)
You can set the wipe interval at four
stages with rotary dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied
automatically depending on road
speed.
Rain sensor
*
The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield directly behind the rearview
mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>From ignition key position 1, move
the lever to position 1. The wipers will
make at least one sweep across the
windshield.
You can leave the lever in position 1 at
all times. From ignition key position 1,
all you then need to do to activate the
rain sensor is
>briefly turn the rotary dial 5, or
>clean the windshield 1, refer to
page 62.To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor: turn rotary dial 5.
To deactivate the rain sensor: return
lever to position 0.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by
undesired wiper activation.<
Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers switch automatically to intermit-
tent wipe (not on vehicles with rain
sensor).Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers revert to operation at normal
speed (not on vehicles with rain
sensor).