Page 4 of 155

 
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 
     
        
        Page 16 of 155
 
16n
 
Instrument cluster
 
7 Indicator and warning 
lamps17 to 20
8 Reset trip odometer to zero65
9 Indicator for Check Control6710 Display for
 
>
 
Trip odometer/Odometer65
 
>
 
Clock67
 
>
 
Service Interval66
 
>
 
Computer6811 Selector lever and program display 
for automatic transmission18, 60
12 Clock reset button67
13 Indicator and warning 
lamps17 to 20 
     
        
        Page 65 of 155
65n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Odometer Tachometer Energy control 1 Odometer
2 Trip odometerOdometer You can activate the displays shown in 
the illustration with the ignition key in 
position 0 by pressing the button in the 
instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero, 
press the button with the ignition key in 
position 1 or higher.
Never allow the engine to operate with 
the needle in the red overspeed zone of 
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
interrupted when you approach this 
sector.
Indicates the current fuel consumption 
in mpg (in liters/100 km on Canadian 
models). You can check your current 
driving style to see whether it is condu-
cive to economy and minimum exhaust 
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the 
display goes to "Maximum" (zero on 
Canadian models). 
     
        
        Page 67 of 155

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. 
     
        
        Page 149 of 155

Everything from A to Z
149n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
I 
Ice warning68 
Icy roads68 
Ignition keys28 
Ignition lock55 
Imprint4 
Indicator lamps17 
Inflation pressures24, 107 
INSPECTION66 
Instrument cluster15 
Instrument lighting83 
Instrument panel15 
Interface socket 
for onboard diagnostics 
(OBD)121 
Interior lamps30, 84 
remote control30 
Interior motion sensor35 
operation via remote 
control30 
switching off36 
Interior rearview mirror47 
automatic dimming 
feature48 
Interlock55 
J 
Jack129 
Jump-starting134 K 
Key Memory54 
Key set28 
Keys28 L 
Lamps and bulbs, 
replacement125 
Lashing eyes100 
License plate lamps, bulb 
replacement128, 129 
LIGHTS ON warning82 
Litter bag holder93 
Loading and driving 
notes100 
Load-securing devices100 
Lock buttons32 
Low beams82 
bulb replacement125 
Lug wrench129 
Luggage cover, refer to 
cargo area cover 
Luggage rack100 
M 
M+S tires111 
Maintenance66, 119 
Malfunction displays67 
Manual operation 
doors31 
fuel filler door22 
sliding/tilt sunroof39 
tailgate33 
Manual seat adjustment41 
Manual transmission57 
Manually controlled recircu-
lated-air90 
Master keys28 
Memory settings45 
MFL (Multifunction steering 
wheel)21 
Microfilter87, 91 
Mirror defrosting47 
Mirror memory45 
Mirrors47 
Mobile phone94 
Modifications, 
technical10, 120 
Motion sensor, refer to 
interior motion sensor35 
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)21 
O 
OBD interface socket121 
Odometer65 
Oil 
additives115 
capacity143 
consumption115 
quality116 
specifications116 
viscosity116 
Oil change intervals, see the 
Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet 
Oil dipstick115 
Oil filter change143 
OILSERVICE66 
Onboard computer68 
refer also to the "Owner's 
Manual Onboard 
Computer" 
Onboard tool kit124 
Opening and closing 
from the inside32 
via the door lock31 
via the remote control29 
Outside temperature 
display68  
     
        
        Page 151 of 155

Everything from A to Z
151n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Steering wheel lock55 
Stopping the vehicle56 
Storage compartments92 
Stroke140 
Switching off the engine56 
Symbols8 
Synthetic oils116 T 
Tail lamps 
bulb replacement127 
Tailgate33 
electrical malfunction33 
manual operation33 
remote control 
operation30 
Tank capacity143 
Technical data140 
Technical 
modifications10, 120 
Telephone preparation94 
Temperature display 
outside temperature68 
Temperature gauge 
engine coolant66 Temperature 
layering87, 90 
Temperature 
settings86, 89 
The Automatic Differential 
Brake (ADB-X)75 
Thigh support41 
Third brake light128 
Tilt alarm sensor36 
operation via remote 
control30 
switching off36 
Tire change129 
Tire inflation 
pressures24, 107 
Tire inflation pressures, 
table25 
Tire Pressure Monitor 
(RDC)78, 109, 132 
Tire pressure, indicator78 
Tire pressure, 
monitoring78 
Tire Quality Grading109 
Tire replacement108 
Tire tread107 
wear indicators (TWI)107 Tools124 
Torque140 
Tow fittings135 
Towing the vehicle135 
Trailer weights142 
Transmission57 
Transmitter keys28 
Transporting children 
safely51 
Tread depth, tires107 
Tread wear indicators107 
Trip odometer65 
Turn signal 
indicators20, 60 
Turn signals 
bulb replacement126 
U 
Uniform Tire Quality 
Grading109 
Use antifreeze, radiator117 
V 
Vehicle keys28 
Vehicle Memory54 
Vehicle weight142 
Vehicle, starting55 
Ventilation85, 88 
draft-free87, 90 W
 
Warning lamps17 
Warning messages67 
Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet (Canadian 
models)119 
Washer fluid, adding114 
Washer reservoir, filling114 
Washing your vehicle, refer 
to the "Caring for your 
vehicle" manual 
Water on roadways105 
Weights142 
Wheel and tire 
combinations110 
Wheels and tires107 
Windshield washer system 
capacity143 
filling114