2002 BMW 325xi TOURING light

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Cargo areaFolding rear backrestReach into the recess and pull forward
(arrow).
When you fold back the backrest,
be sure that the catch engages
securely. The red warning indicator
disappears in the recess when the
retainer is locked.<
Cargo area coverPull out the cover and suspend it by
attaching to the retainers.
You can carry light objects such as
articles of clothing on the cover.
Never use the cover to carry
heavy or hard objects, as such
objects could pose a hazard to the
vehicle's occupants during sudden
braking maneuvers.
Guide the cover back into place; do not
allow it to snap back, as it could sustain
damage.<
Partition net
*
Use the loop to pull out the partition
net, then grasp both sides of the rod
and insert it in its holder. It is easiest to
do this from the back seat.
Do not allow the partition net to
snap back. Doing so could pose a
risk of injury and the partition net could
be damaged.<
If the backrests are folded forward, the
case can be stored on the backrests;
you can then extract the partition net
and hold it in place by inserting the
retainers in the front holders (refer to
next page).

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Cargo loading Roof-mounted luggage rack
*
Securing cargo >Small and light luggage and cargo
can be secured with the aid of flex-
ible straps or a cargo area net
*, refer
to page 35
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices
*. Anchorages for securing
cargo straps have been provided on
the inner corners of the cargo area
(arrow).
Read and comply with the instructions
enclosed with the load-securing
devices.
Always position and secure the
load correctly. If you do not, it can
endanger the passengers during
braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the approved gross
vehicle weight or the maximum axle
loads, refer to page 142, otherwise the
vehicle's operating safety is no longer
assured and you are in violation of the
law.
Do not stow heavy or hard objects in
the passenger compartment without
securing them. Otherwise they would
be thrown around during braking and
evasive maneuvers and endanger the
passengers.<
A special roof-rack system is available
as an optional extra for your BMW.
Please observe the precautions
included with the installation instruc-
tions.AnchoragesAccess to the anchorages:
To fold up the covers (arrow), please
use the tool provided with the roof-rack
system.Loading and driving notesRoof-mounted luggage racks raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle when
they are loaded. For this reason, they
exercise a major effect on the vehicle's
handling and steering response.

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To ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you
observe the following information.
Engine and differentialUp to 1,200 miles (2,000 km):
Constantly vary both engine and vehicle
speed, remembering not to exceed
4,500 rpm or 100 mph (160 km/h)
during this period.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Do not use full throttle, and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the
kickdown point during these initial
miles.
You can then proceed to increase both
engine and vehicle speed once the
initial 1,200 miles (2,000 km) have
elapsed.
You should also observe the same
break-in procedures if the engine or
differential is replaced later in the
course of the vehicle's life.
TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
after an initial break-in period. We thus
ask you to drive with extra care during
the first 200 miles (300 km).
Always obey all official speed limits.
When the vehicle is operated on
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water may form between the tire and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as aquaplaning, or hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle
control and braking effectiveness.
Reduce your speed on wet roads. elapse before the brake pads and
rotors achieve the optimal pad-surface
and wear patterns required for trouble-
free operation and an extended service
life later on.
To break-in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill (at a traffic
signal, for instance), provided that
traffic conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on
when the parking brake is
engaged.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
vehicle with the engine switched off Ð
when towing, for example Ð substan-
tially higher levels of pedal force will be
required to brake the vehicle. elapse before the clutch starts to
operate at optimum efficiency.
Remember to engage the clutch care-
fully during this initial period.
Break-in procedures

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Driving notes Antilock Brake System
Brakes: do not drive with your foot
resting on the brake pedal. Even
light but consistent pressure on the
brake pedal can lead to high tempera-
tures, accelerated brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.
Aquaplaning: when driving on wet or
slushy roads, reduce your speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water may form
between tires and road surface. This
phenomenon can lead to partial or
complete loss of contact between the
tires and road surface, vehicle control
and braking ability.
Driving through water: do not drive
through water on the road if it is deeper
than 1 ft (30 cm), and then only at
walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.
Cargo area cover: never use it to store
heavy or hard objects, as otherwise
occupants could be injured during
braking maneuvers.
Clothes hooks: when hanging clothing
from the hooks, be sure that they will
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you
do so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
The conceptThe Antilock Brake System (ABS) keeps
the wheels from locking during braking,
thereby enhancing active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply
maximum pedal pressure ("panic stop").
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.

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Brake systemBrake fluid level If the brake fluid level is too low and
brake pedal travel has become longer,
there may be a defect in one of the two
brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW
center. It may be necessary to
apply higher levels of pressure to the
pedal when stopping and braking
distances may also be longer. Please
remember to adapt your driving style
accordingly. with the vehicle parked or in storage,
and operating conditions in which
braking is restricted to gentle, low-
pressure applications will all increase
the tendency for corrosion to form on
the rotors; this is often accompanied by
a simultaneous accumulation of
contamination on the brake pads. The
pads must exert a certain minimal level
of pressure against the rotors for the
disc brakes' inherent self-cleaning
effect to remain effective; the pressure
available under the above conditions
may not provide adequate cleansing.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect that even extended
brake applications will fail to cure.
When driving in heavy rain and on wet
roads it is useful to apply light pressure
to the brake pedal every few miles.
Monitor traffic conditions to ensure that
this maneuver does not pose a hazard
to you or to other road users. The heat
generated in this process helps dry the
pads and rotors to ensure that your
brake system will respond with undi-
minished efficiency when you need it.
When descending steep hills and
extended grades, downshift to a gear
that will allow you to continue safely
with only a minimal amount of braking.
By minimizing the loads placed on the
brake system, this strategy helps
ensure that optimal brake system
response will remain available at all
times. Use care to avoid exceeding the
approved engine-speed range, refer to
page 65.Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in neutral. Do not
coast with the engine switched off. The
engine provides no braking effect when
the clutch is depressed and there is no
power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is not running.
BMW 325xi: always refer all brake
inspection and service work to your
BMW center, as failure to observe the
special procedures could result in
damage to brake system components.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator, clutch and
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that the manufacturer
has released for your particular vehicle
model. The manufacturer cannot eval-
uate non-approved brake pads to
determine if they are suited for use, and
therefore cannot ensure the operating
safety of the vehicle if they are
installed.<

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Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for operation under
inclement winter driving conditions.
While all-season tires (M+S designa-
tion) provide better winter traction than
summer tires with the load ratings H, V,
W, Y and ZR, they generally do not
achieve the performance of winter tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer having
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels.Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by trained
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire pressureOnce the tire wears to below 0.16 in
(4 mm), winter tires display a percep-
tible decrease in their ability to cope
with winter driving conditions, and
should be replaced in the interest of
safety.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ñ and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.
StorageAlways store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against
contact with oil, grease and fuel.Snow chains
*
Use BMW narrow-link snow chains on
summer or winter tires in pairs only and
only on the rear wheels.
BMW 325xi: in an extreme emergency Ð
for instance, with the vehicle stuck on
one side, or when obstructions make it
impossible to reach one tire Ð a chain
may also be mounted on just one tire
for the limited period needed to resolve
the problem.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
You cannot mount snow chains on the
following tires:
225/50 R 16 92
225/45 R 17 91
245/40 ZR 17

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Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling
system when the engine is hot. If
you attempt to do so, escaping coolant
can cause burns.
To avoid the possibility of damage later
on, never use anything other than
factory-approved, nitrite and amino-
free extended-duty antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor. Your BMW center is
familiar with the official specifications.
Antifreeze and anti-corrosion agents
are hazardous to health. You should
always store them in their original
container and in a location which is out
of reach of children.
Extended-duty antifreeze with corro-
sion inhibitor contains the flammable
substance ethylene glycol. For this
reason, do not spill extended-duty anti-
freeze with corrosion inhibitor on hot
engine parts. It could ignite and cause
serious burns.<
Checking coolant levelCorrect coolant level when the engine
is cold (approx. 68 7 or +20 6):
1. Open the cap for the expansion tank
by turning it slightly counterclock-
wise to allow accumulated pressure
to escape, then open
2. The coolant level is correct when the
upper end of the red float is at least
even with the upper edge of the filler
neck, but no more than 0.8 in (2 cm)
above it Ð that is, up to the second
mark on the float (refer also to the
schematic diagram next to the filler
neck)
3. If necessary, add coolant. If the
coolant is low, slowly add coolant
until the correct level is reached Ð do
not overfill.
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of extended-duty antifreeze
with corrosion inhibitor.<

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Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light
source for many of the controls and
displays in your vehicle. These LEDs
use a concept related to that of conven-
tional lasers.
Do not remove the protective lens
and avoid staring directly at the
unfiltered beam for extended periods
(several hours), as inflammation of the
iris could result.<
California laws require us to state the
following warning:
Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle
components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.<
Technical modifications California Proposition 65 Warning