
 
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 

 
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 

66n
Fuel gauge  Temperature gauge  Service Interval DisplayOnce the indicator lamp stays on 
continuously, there are still approx. 
2 gallons (8 liters) of fuel in the fuel 
tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to 
page 143.
Certain operating conditions (such as 
those encountered in mountainous 
areas) may cause the needle to fluc-
tuate slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving 
to the last drop of fuel can result in 
damage to the engine and/or catalytic 
converter.<
When you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an 
operation check.
BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at 
moderate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the 
warning lamp comes on briefly to 
confirm that the system is operational.
If the lamp comes on during normal 
vehicle operation: the engine has over-
heated. Switch off the engine immedi-
ately and allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to 
page 117.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating temperature. The 
needle may rise as far as the edge of 
the red sector in normal operation.
Remaining distance to serviceThe displays shown in the illustration 
appear for a few seconds when the 
ignition key is in position 1 or after the 
engine is started.
The next service due appears with the 
message OIL SERVICE or INSPEC-
TION, together with the distance 
remaining in miles (kilometers) before 
the next scheduled service. The 
computer bases its calculations of the 
remaining distance on the preceding 
driving style.
A flashing message and a "Ð" in front of 
the number mean that the service 
interval has already been exceeded by 
the distance shown on the display. 
Please contact your BMW center for an 
appointment. 

119n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
The BMW Maintenance System has 
been designed as a reliable means of 
providing maximum driving and oper-
ating safety Ð and as cost-effectively as 
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the 
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a 
significant role in maintaining the resale 
value of the vehicle.
Service Interval DisplayWhile conventional systems rely on 
distance traveled alone to determine 
when service is due, the BMW Mainte-
nance System has for years considered 
the actual conditions under which the 
vehicle operates, because miles can be 
traveled in many different ways:
From a maintenance point of view, 
62,000 miles (100,000 km) of short-
distance urban driving cannot be 
compared with 62,000 miles 
(100,000km) of long-distance highway 
travel.
The BMW Maintenance System 
includes the Engine Oil Service and 
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals 
according to the actual use of the 
vehicle covers every kind of operating 
situation. However, drivers who cover 
only extremely short distances Ð 
substantially less than 6,200 miles 
(10,000 km) annually Ð should still have 
the engine oil changed at least every 
2 years, as it continues to age regard-
less of whether the vehicle is used on a 
regular basis.
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet (US models)/Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet (Cana-
dian models)For additional information on required 
maintenance intervals and procedures, 
please refer to the Service and 
Warranty Information Booklet (US 
models), or the Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet (Canadian models).
As a precaution against corrosion, it is 
advisable to have the body checked for 
damage from rocks or gravel at the 
same time, depending upon operating 
conditions.
We recommend that you refer all 
maintenance and repair opera-
tions to your BMW center.
Be sure that all maintenance work is 
confirmed in the Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet (US models), or in 
the Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet (Canadian models). These 
entries confirm that your vehicle has 
benefitted from regular maintenance, 
and are also required for warranty 
claims.<
The BMW Maintenance System 

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  

P 
Paintwork, refer to the 
"Caring for your vehicle" 
manual 
Park assistant70 
Park Distance Control 
(PDC)70 
Parking aid70 
Parking brake57 
Parking lamps82 
bulb replacement126 
Partition net97 
PDC (Park Distance 
Control)70 
Phone94 
Pocket light92 
Power seat adjustment42 
Power windows 
safety switch38 Q 
Quality Grades, tires108 
R 
Radiator143 
Rain sensor61 
RDC (Tire Pressure 
Monitor)78 
Rear backrests, folding97 
Rear fog lamps 
bulb replacement127 
Rear lamps127 
Rear reading lamps84 
Rear window34 
Rear window 
defroster86, 90 
Rearview mirror47 
Recirculated-air mode86 
Reclining seat40 
Refilling washer 
reservoir114 
Refueling22 
Remote control29 
Remove window 
condensation87, 89 
Replace rear window wiper 
blades124 Replace windshield wiper 
blades124 
Replacement keys28 
Reporting safety defects11 
Retractable luggage cover, 
refer to cargo area cover 
Reverse57 
Roof load capacity142 
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack100 
S 
Safe with safety belts40 
Safety belts40 
height adjustment44 
Safety defects, reporting11 
Safety tires109, 132 
Seat adjustment40 
Seat heating46 
Seat memory45 
Seat, manually-adjusted40 
Securing cargo100 
Selector lever, automatic 
transmission58 
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US 
models)119 Service Interval 
Display66, 119 
Setting temperature86 
Shiftlock58 
Shoulder strap height 
adjustment44 
Side airbags48 
Side Impact Head Protection 
System48 
Sitting correctly with 
airbags40 
Ski bag96 
Sliding/tilt sunroof38 
electrical malfunction39 
manual operation39 
Socket for power 
appliances94 
Sound system91 
Spare key28 
Spare tire129 
Speedometer15 
Sports seat 
manual adjustment41 
power adjustment42 
Standing lamps83 
Starting problems56 
Starting the engine55 
Steering wheel46