10n
For your own safety
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (i.e.
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent) will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality (volatility, composition, addi-
tives, for example) among gasolines
offered for sale in the United States and
Canada. The use of poor-quality fuels
may result in driveability, starting and
stalling problems especially under
certain environmental conditions, such
as high ambient temperature and high
altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Obey all applicable safety rules when
you are handling gasoline.
<
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been
thoroughly tested by BMW to ensure
optimum performance when installed
on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made
by other manufacturers to ascertain
whether it can be used on a BMW
safely and without risk to either the
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones (including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (such as CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause
extensive damage to the vehicle,
compromise its safety, interfere with
the vehicle's electrical system or affect
the validity of the BMW Limited
Warranty. Contact your BMW center for
additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to
lock doors or cargo area with anyone
inside the vehicle. Refer to pages 29
and 32 for more details.
<
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed
by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
<
Symbol on vehicle parts
Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this
Owner's Manual for information on a
particular part or assembly.
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by
l
are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for
different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started, or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this in the
following section.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
l
The battery is no longer being
charged. Indicates a defective
alternator drive belt or a problem with
the alternator's charge circuit. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and
serious engine damage. If the drive belt
is defective, increased steering effort is
also required.
<
Engine oil pressure
l
Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine.
Check the engine oil level and top off as
required. If the oil level is correct,
please contact the nearest BMW
center.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious
damage from inadequate lubrication.
<
Brake warning lamp
l
If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. Before
driving further, be sure to comply with
the instructions on pages 106 and 118
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)/
Flat Tire Monitor
l
In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: a tire failure has occurred.
Reduce vehicle speed immediately and
stop the vehicle. Avoid hard brake
applications. As you steer the vehicle,
use caution and avoid overcorrecting.
For additional information refer to
pages 78, 80
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/ADB-X/DBC
control system has failed.
Continue driving cautiously and
defensively. Avoid full brake applica-
tions. Please have the system checked
by your BMW center as soon as
possible.
For additional information refer to
pages 71, 73
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/ADB-X/DBC indicator and
warning lamps for Canadian
models.
Red: an important reminder
Parking brake warning lamp
Comes on when the parking
brake is engaged Ð an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off.
For additional information refer to
page 57
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 58
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps
Yellow: check as soon as possible
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
l
ABS has been deactivated in
response to system malfunction.
Conventional braking performance
remains available with no loss of effi-
ciency. Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information refer to
page 105
ABS warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Engine oil level
Comes on while driving: the
engine oil level has fallen to the
absolute minimum; refill as soon as
possible. Do not drive more than
approx. 30 miles (50 km) until you do.
For additional information refer to
page 115
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been switched off: add engine
oil at the earliest opportunity (next time
you stop to refuel). For additional infor-
mation refer to page 115
Brake pads
l
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information refer
to page 106
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)/Flat
Tire Monitor
l
Check tire inflation pressures,
refer to pages 24, 78, 80
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)
l
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
ASC+T has been switched off with the
button or it is defective or, the DSC has
been switched off, ADB is operational.
Please contact the nearest BMW center
in case of a malfunction.
For additional details refer to informa-
tion beginning on page 71
BMW 325xi:
DSC has been switched off manually or
there is a system malfunction. ADB-X is
operational in its standby mode. If the
warning lamp fails to go out when you
press the DSC button again, this indi-
cates a system malfunction affecting
both DSC and ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center.
For additional information refer to
page 75
Indicator lamp for Automatic
Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC) and brake
warning lamp
l
The indicator lamps remain on:
The DSC
and ADB/DBC have been
switched off with the button or are
defective.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center. For additional information refer
to page 73
BMW 325xi:
DSC and ADB-X system malfunction.
There is no provision for switching off
ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW
center. For additional information refer
to page 75
DSC and ADB indicator and
warning lamps for Canadian
models.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
l
Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking efficiency
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system repaired at your BMW
center as soon as possible. For addi-
tional information refer to page 74
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Multifunction steering wheel (MFL)
*
The buttons integrated in the multifunc-
tion steering wheel are provided so that
you can operate a number of accesso-
ries quickly and without being
distracted from traffic conditions. You
may operate:
>
Selected radio functions
>
The cruise control
>
Selected cellular phone functions.
The controls are active only when
the corresponding systems and
accessories are switched on.
<
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing,
terminate a call.
Switch between phone, radio, cassette
and CD.
Forward:
>
Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: search function
>
CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function
in track
>
Cassette
Press briefly: stop track scan or fast
forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>
Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind/reverse: functions as fast
forward.
Volume
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate (+)
or decelerate and store (Ð).
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo area Alarm system
*
Luggage strapsUse the retaining straps on the cargo
area floor to secure smaller items of
luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are
placed on the straps.
To secure your luggage, use the
luggage nets
* or flexible straps that you
can attach to the fittings at the inner
corners of the cargo area.
Refer also to Cargo loading on page 99.
For additional details in the cargo area
and for the cargo area cover, please
refer to Cargo area beginning on
page 97.
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, the tailgate
or the rear window is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle
such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow
the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off
in rhythm with the hazard warning
flashers.
To arm and disarm the alarm
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
via the driver's door lock or with the
remote control, the alarm system is also
simultaneously armed or disarmed.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
arming and disarming.<
You can use the button on the remote
control to open the rear window even
when the alarm is armed, refer to
page 30. The alarm will start monitoring
the window again as soon as it is
reclosed.
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Electric power windowsOpen and close windowsFrom ignition key in position 1.
>Press the switch until you feel resis-
tance: 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 the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
If your vehicle is equipped with optional
electric power windows in the rear
*
separate switches will be located below
the windows.
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 the convenience mode via the door
lock, refer to page 31.
Safety feature The front windows are each equipped
with contact strips located in the upper
window frames. If pressure is exerted
against this contact strip while a
window is being raised, the system will
respond by stopping the window and
then retracting it a small distance.
Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful to ensure that
the closing path of the window is not
obstructed. Some types of objects
might fail to trigger the contact strip in
some situations (very thin objects, for
instance). You can override this safety
feature by pressing the switch beyond
the resistance point and holding it.<
39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sliding/tilt sunroof
*
The headliner insert slides back some-
what when you raise the sunroof. When
the sunroof is opened, the headliner
retracts with it.
Do not use force to close the
headliner insert with the sunroof in
its raised position, as damage to the
mechanism could result.<
For the convenience mode via the door
lock, refer to page 31.Automatic opening and closingPress the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the sunroof travels to either
the fully-closed or fully-open position.
Pressing the switch again stops the
motion immediately.
Safety featureIf the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters
resistance
>when it is closing from the raised
position
>when it is closing from a point
roughly past the middle of its travel,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again
slightly.
Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the travel
path of the sunroof is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Remember that
the safety mechanism may not be able
to detect obstructions under all circum-
stances (with very thin objects, for
instance).
You can disable this safety feature by
pressing the switch beyond the pres-
sure point and holding it.<
Manual operation In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can also operate the sliding/tilt
sunroof manually:
1. Remove the interior lamp, then reach
into the exposed opening and press
out the cover
2. Use the Allen key from the onboard
tool kit, refer to page 124 to turn the
sliding/tilt sunroof in the desired
direction.