
 
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 

40n
Correct sitting posture SeatsFor relaxed and fatigue-free driving you 
should select a sitting position that 
reflects your personal requirements. 
Correct posture combines with safety 
belts and airbags to enhance occupant 
safety in the event of an accident. To 
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems 
provide you with optimal protection, we 
request that you direct your careful 
attention to the following section.
For additional information on trans-
porting children refer to page 51. Sitting correctly with airbags
Always maintain an adequate 
distance between yourself and the 
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel 
by the rim to keep any chance of injury 
to hands or arms to an absolute 
minimum should the airbag be 
deployed. Never allow any objects, 
individuals or animals to obstruct the 
areas between passengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a 
storage tray or support for objects of 
any kind. Never allow front passengers 
to rest their feet or legs on the airbag 
cover.<
For airbag locations and additional 
information on airbags refer to page 48.
Safe with safety belts
Never allow more than one person 
to wear a single safety belt. Never 
allow an infant or small child to ride in a 
passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the belt 
while routing it firmly across the hips 
and shoulder, wear it as snugly against 
your body as possible. Do not allow the 
belt to rest against hard or fragile 
objects. Do not route the belt across 
your neck, or run it across sharp edges. 
Be sure that the belt does not become 
caught or jammed. Avoid wearing loose 
or bulky clothing. You should remember 
to retension the lap belt periodically by 
pulling the shoulder strap to take up 
any slack in the mechanism. In the 
event of a frontal impact, a loose lap 
belt could slide over your hips, leading 
to abdominal injury. In addition, the 
safety belt's restraint effectiveness is 
reduced if the belt is worn loosely. 
Expectant mothers should always wear 
their safety belts, taking care to position 
the lap belt against the lower hips, 
where it will not exert pressure against 
the abdominal area. <
For information on using safety belts, 
refer to page 44.
When adjusting your seat, always 
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while 
operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle 
control could lead to an accident. Never 
ride with the backrest reclined to an 
extreme horizontal angle (important for 
front passengers to remember). Keep 
the backrest relatively upright to mini-
mize the risk of sliding under the safety 
belt and sustaining injury in an acci-
dent.<
Seat adjustment>Manual seat adjustment, refer to 
page 41
>Power seat adjustment, refer to 
page 42
>Head restraint, refer to page 43 

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.< 

Everything from A to ZA 
ABS (Antilock Brake 
System)19, 105 
Accessories10 
Activated-charcoal filter91 
Adaptive Transmission 
Control (ATC)59 
ADB (Automatic Differential 
Brake)73 
Adding 
brake fluid118 
coolant117 
engine oil115 
washer fluid114 
Adjusting 
backrest41 
manual seat41 
mirrors47 
power seat42 
steering wheel46 
thigh support41 
Air conditioning85 
Air distribution86, 89 
Air outlets, 
ventilation85, 88 
Air supply86, 89 Airbags18, 48 
sitting correctly40 
Alarm system35 
Antifreeze and anti-
corrosion agents117 
disposal117 
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)19, 105 
Anti-theft system35 
Approved gross vehicle 
weight142 
Aquaplaning105, 107 
Armrest92 
ASC+T (Automatic Stability 
Control plus Traction)71 
Ashtray 
front94 
rear95 
ATC (Adaptive Transmission 
Control)59 
Attach vehicle vacuum 
cleaner94 
AUC (Automatic recircu-
lated-air control)90 Automatic climate 
control88, 89 
Automatic cruise control63 
Automatic Differential Brake 
(ADB)73 
Automatic headlight 
control82 
Automatic recirculated-air 
control (AUC)90 
Automatic Stability Control 
plus Traction (ASC+T)71 
Automatic transmission58 
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic18, 58 
Average fuel 
consumption69 
Average speed69 
Axle loads142 
B 
Backrest41 
Backup lamps57 
bulb replacement127 
Battery133 
care133 
charging133 
disposal133 Battery charge current 
indicator17 
Beverage holder93 
Blower86, 89 
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oil116 
BMW Maintenance 
System119 
BMW sports seat 
manual adjustment41 
power adjustment42 
Bore140 
Bottle holder, refer to 
beverage holder93 
Brake fluid118 
disposal118 
Brake lamps 
bulb replacement127 
Brake pads19 
Brake system 
brake fluid level106 
brake pads106 
brake rotors, 
corrosion106 
defect in hydraulic 
circuits106 
disc brakes106 
   
A-Z 

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