
 
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).