5n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Hill Descent Control (HDC) 77
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)78
Flat Tire Monitor80
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams82
Instrument lighting83
High beams/Standing lamps83
Fog lamps83
Interior lamps84
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Air conditioning85
Automatic climate control88
Interior conveniences:
Sound system91
Glove compartment92
Storage compartments92
Cellular phone94
Ashtray, front94
Ashtray, rear95
Electrical power socket95
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag96
Cargo area97
Cargo loading99
Roof-mounted luggage rack100
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure104
Driving notes105
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)105
Brake system106
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure107
Tire condition107
Tire replacement108
Wheel and tire
combinations110
Winter tires111
In the engine compartment:
Hood112
Engine compartment
essentials113
Washer fluids114
Engine oil115
Coolant117
Brake fluid118
Maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System119
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications120
California Proposition
65 Warning120
OBD interface socket121
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.
21n
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.
34n
Rear windowTo closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim
panel of the tailgate (arrows) make it
easier to pull the lid down.
Both before starting off and after
completing every journey, check
the rear window or the tailgate to
ensure that it has not been opened
inadvertently.<
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the tailgate is clear
when it is closed, as with all closing
procedures.<
Always drive with both the tailgate
and the rear window securely
closed, as exhaust gases might other-
wise be drawn into the interior of the
vehicle. Should it be absolutely neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the tail-
gate or rear window open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Sharply increase the air supply for the
air conditioning or automatic climate
control, refer to page 85 or 88.<
To open from outsideSmall items can be loaded or unloaded
quickly if the rear window is opened
separately.
Press the button (arrow): the rear
window opens slightly. It can now be
tilted up.
Opening with the remote control, refer
to page 30.
Push the window down to close it.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear
window could be damaged.<
59n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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, for example 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.
67n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control ClockThe following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols,
starting with the ignition key in
position 2, until the condition has been
corrected.
1 Check the low beams and high
beams, as well as the parking lamps
2 Door open
3 Tailgate open
4 Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after
parking, a signal sounds to remind you
if the headlamps have not been
switched off.
If you wish to have a permanent time
display, you can make this setting in the
radio display (refer to the Radio
Owner's Manual).
You can set the clock and the time
display in the car radio as follows.
SettingWith ignition key position 1 or 2 and
time displayed in the instrument cluster.
To set ahead: turn the button to the
right.
To set back: turn the button to the left.
The adjustment speed will increase the
longer you continue to hold the button.
To change the display mode: press the
button briefly.
Every time you press the button, the
clock display alternates between the
12-hour or 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is
displayed for a few seconds after you
press the left button, refer to
Odometer on page 65.
73n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
* Ð BMW 325i
The conceptThe Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
maintains vehicle stability, even in crit-
ical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
under- or oversteering, and, as far as is
possible within the laws of physics,
helps keeping the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing engine speed and
brake applications to the individual
wheels.
DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC incorporates the func-
tionality of the Automatic Differential
Brake (ADB) and the Cornering Brake
Control (CBC).
ADB (Automatic Differential Brake)
relies on selective braking applications
at the drive wheels to furnish the func-
tionality of a conventional limited-slip
differential for enhanced traction in crit-
ical driving conditions such as those
encountered on snow-covered road
surfaces, etc.
The ADB is in standby mode when DSC
is switched off.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking
forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off via the
button; ADB is operational.
ADB control intervention is not indi-
cated.
The indicator lamp and the
brake warning lamps remain on
continuously:
The DSC, ADB and DBC have
been switched off via the button
or are defective.
The vehicle will remain completely
operational, however, without DSC. In
the event of a fault, please see your
BMW center, refer to pages 18, 19.
Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.
To switch DSC off/activate ADBPress the DSC button briefly; the indi-
cator lamp comes on and stays on.
DSC is switched off; ADB is opera-
tional.
In the following rare situations, it may
be effective to activate the ADB for a
brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving on snow-covered
grades, in deep snow, or on a snow-
covered surface that has been
packed down from being driven on
>When driving with snow chains.
Traction is increased by deactivating
the control systems that enhance trac-
tion under normal conditions.
75n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Ð BMW 325xiThe conceptDSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
under- or oversteering, and, as far as is
possible within the laws of physics,
helps keeping the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing the engine speed
and brake applications to the individual
wheels.
DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC includes the functions
of ADB-X and CBC.
The Automatic Differential Brake
(ADB-X) enhances traction in critical
situations (such as those encountered
on snow-covered roads) by using
selective braking intervention to replace
the limited-slip functions executed by
the differential and transfer case in
conventional drivetrains.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking
forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off via the
button; ADB-X is operational.
ADB-X control intervention is not indi-
cated.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out
when you press the DSC button,
this indicates a malfunction in the DSC
and ADB-X systems; the stability
enhancement functions described on
the left are no longer available.<
The vehicle will remain completely
operational, however, without DSC. In
the event of a malfunction, please
consult your BMW center, refer to
pages 18, 19.
To deactivate DSCPress the DSC button briefly, the indi-
cator lamp comes on and remains lit.
DSC is switched off, and ADB-X reverts
to its maximum torque-transfer mode.
In the following exceptional circum-
stances, it may be effective to deacti-
vate the DSC for a short period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the DSC
switched on whenever possible.<