
 
Contents
 
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order No. 01 41 0 156 168
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
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment35
Alarm system36
Electric power windows37
Sliding/tilt sunroof39
 
Adjustments:
 
Correct sitting posture41
Seats41
Manual seat adjustment42
Power seat adjustment43
Lumbar support43
Head restraints44
Safety belts45
Seat and mirror memory46
Seat heating47
Steering wheel47
Mirrors48
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags49
Transporting children safely52
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory55
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock56
Starting the engine56
Switching off the engine57
Parking brake58
Manual transmission58
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic59
Indicator/Headlamp flasher61
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor62
Cruise control64
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer66
Tachometer66
Energy control66
Fuel gauge67
Temperature gauge67
Service Interval Display67
Check Control68
Clock68
Computer69
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)71
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)72
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)73
 
Contents 

 
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 
covering 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 
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 thor-
oughly 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 on the  
market to determine 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 oper-
ation of any portable cellular phone from 
within the vehicle without using an exter-
nally mounted antenna) or transceiver 
equipment (such as CB, walkie-talkie, 
ham radio or similar) may cause exten-
sive damage to the vehicle, compromise 
its safety, interfere with the vehicle's 
electrical system or affect the validity of 
the BMW Limited Warranty. See your 
BMW center for additional information. 
Do not use key or remote control to lock  
doors or luggage compartment with 
anyone inside the vehicle. Refer to 
page 34 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.  

28n
Keys Central locking systemThe key set1 Master key with remote control unit, 
for information on programming the 
Key Memory refer to page 55.
You can mark individual keys for 
subsequent identification by applying 
the colored decals that you received 
when accepting delivery of your 
vehicle
There is an extended-life battery 
in every master key that is 
charged automatically in the ignition 
lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master 
key that is not being used otherwise, 
use those keys approximately once a 
year while driving for an extended 
period to charge the battery, refer also 
to page 29.<
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place, 
such as in your wallet. This key is not 
intended for constant use 
3 Door and ignition key
The locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid and the glove compartment 
cannot be operated with this key Ð 
this is useful for valet parking, for 
instance
The conceptThe central locking system is ready for 
operation whenever the driver's door is 
closed. The system engages and 
releases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door. 
The central locking system can be 
operated
>from outside via the remote control 
as well as via the driver's door lock
>from inside by pressing a button.
Activating it from inside does not lock 
the fuel filler door, refer to page 32. 
When the system is actuated from the 
outside, the anti-theft system is acti-
vated simultaneously. Both the door 
locks and release handles remain 
locked. The alarm system is also acti-
vated or deactivated.
If locked from the inside, the central 
locking system unlocks automatically in 
the event of an accident, except on 
doors that have been locked individu-
ally using the lock buttons, refer to 
page 31. In addition, the hazard 
warning flashers and interior lamps 
come on. 

29n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control gives you an excep-
tionally convenient method for 
unlocking and locking your vehicle. 
Furthermore, it provides two additional 
functions which you can only execute 
via the remote control:
>To switch on interior lamps, refer to 
page 30.
With this function, you can also 
search for the vehicle, when parked 
in an underground garage, for 
instance
>To open the luggage compartment 
lid, refer to page 30.
The luggage compartment lid will 
open slightly, regardless of whether it 
was previously locked or unlocked.
Whenever you unlock (lock) the vehicle, 
you simultaneously deactivate (activate) 
the anti-theft system, disarm (arm) the 
alarm system and switch the interior 
lamps on (off).
You can have a signal set to 
confirm that the vehicle's locks 
have engaged securely.<
Since children might be able to 
lock the doors from the inside, 
always take the vehicle keys with you 
so that the vehicle can be opened again 
from the outside at any time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock 
the vehicle via the remote control, 
the battery is discharged. Use this key 
while driving for an extended period in 
order to recharge the battery.
To prevent unauthorized use of the 
remote control, surrender only the door 
and ignition key or the spare key, for 
example when leaving the vehicle for 
valet parking, refer to page 28.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW center. You 
can also obtain replacement keys 
there.<
1 Unlock and convenience opening 
2 Lock and secure, interior lamp activa-
tion, disarming tilt alarm sensor and 
interior monitor sensor
3 Open the luggage compartment lidTo unlockPress the button once to unlock the 
driver's door.
Press the button a second time to 
disengage all vehicle locks. 

30n
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlConvenience opening modePress and hold button to open the elec-
tric power windows and sliding/tilt 
sunroof.To lock and securePress button.
Do not lock the vehicle if anyone 
will be remaining inside, as it 
would then be impossible for the occu-
pant(s) to disengage the locks from the 
inside.< To switch on the interior lampsAfter locking the vehicle, press button 
again.To switch off the tilt alarm sensor
* 
and the interior motion sensor
* 
Press button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to 
page 37.
To open the luggage 
compartment lidPress button.
The luggage compartment lid will open 
slightly, regardless of whether the lid 
was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the luggage compartment lid 
has not been opened unintentionally.
danger by holding down the button for 
between two and five seconds. 
Press the button to cancel the alarm.External systemsThe remote control system's operation 
may be affected by other units or 
equipment operating in the immediate 
vicinity of your vehicle.
If this should occur, you can still open 
and close the vehicle using the master 
key in either the door or luggage 
compartment lid locks.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units 
comply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal 
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the 
following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the 
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful 
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference 
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to 
these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<  

36n
Alarm system
*
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the 
luggage compartment lid 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:
>The acoustic alarm sounds for 
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash 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 open the luggage compart-
ment lid even when the system is 
armed by pressing the button on the 
remote control, refer to page 30. When 
it is closed, the lid is once again 
secured.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during 
arming: the door(s), the hood or 
luggage compartment lid 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 

37n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Alarm system
*
Electric power windows
>If the indicator lamp goes out when 
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed
>If 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 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 interior motion sensor are 
deactivated for as long as the system 
remains armed.
Interior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and the 
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely 
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate 
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.
To open and close windowsWith ignition key in position 1 or 2.
>Press the switch up to the resistance 
point: the window retracts; it remains 
in motion for as long as you maintain 
pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the window moves auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again 
stops the opening cycle.
You can close the windows in the same 
manner by pulling the switch.
Separate switches are located under 
the windows in the rear passenger 
area. 

48n
Mirrors To adjust exterior mirrors1 Mirror switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Selection switch for changing 
between mirrors
To adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted manu-
ally: 
Press the edge of the lens.
Storing mirror settings, refer to Seat 
and mirror memory on page 46.
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.