
 
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 

30n
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlConvenience opening modePress and hold button: the power 
windows and sliding/tilt sunroof are 
opened.To lock and securePress button.
Do not lock the vehicle if anyone 
will be remaining inside, as it 
would then be impossible for the occu-
pant(s) to disengage the locks from the 
inside.< To switch on the interior lampsAfter locking the vehicle, press button 
again.To switch off tilt alarm sensor
* 
and interior motion sensor
* 
Press button a second time immedi-
ately after locking. For additional infor-
mation refer to page 36.
To open the rear windowPress button.
The rear window opens slightly. It can 
now be tilted up.
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the rear window has not been 
opened unintentionally.<
If you prefer, the tailgate will open 
instead of the rear window.
gered in the event of danger, if it is 
armed. 
Press the button to cancel the alarm.External systemsThe remote control system's operation 
may be affected by other units or 
equipment operating in the immediate 
vicinity of your vehicle.
If this should occur, you can still open 
and close the vehicle using the master 
key in the door lock.For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units 
comply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal 
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the 
following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the 
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful 
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference 
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to 
these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<  

31n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the door lockOne turn of the key in the driver's door 
lock unlocks the driver's door only. 
Turning the key a second time unlocks 
all of the remaining doors, the tailgate 
and the fuel filler door.
Do not lock the vehicle if anyone 
will be remaining inside, as it 
would then be impossible for the occu-
pant(s) to disengage the locks from the 
inside.< 
You can have a signal set to 
confirm that the vehicle's locks 
have engaged securely.<
Convenience operationYou can also operate the power 
windows and the sliding/tilt sunroof via 
the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, hold 
the key in the "Unlock" position
>To close: with the door closed, hold 
the key in the "Lock" position.
Watch the closing process care-
fully and be sure that no one is 
trapped by the closing motion. 
Releasing the key stops the opera-
tion.<
Manual operation (in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the key all the way to the left or 
right to unlock/lock the driver's door. 

34n
Rear windowTo closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim 
panel of the tailgate (arrows) make it 
easier to pull the lid down.
Both before starting off and after 
completing every journey, check 
the rear window or the tailgate to 
ensure that it has not been opened 
inadvertently.<
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the tailgate is clear 
when it is closed, as with all closing 
procedures.<
Always drive with both the tailgate 
and the rear window securely 
closed, as exhaust gases might other-
wise be drawn into the interior of the 
vehicle. Should it be absolutely neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the tail-
gate or rear window open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Sharply increase the air supply for the 
air conditioning or automatic climate 
control, refer to page 85 or 88.<
To open from outsideSmall items can be loaded or unloaded 
quickly if the rear window is opened 
separately.
Press the button (arrow): the rear 
window opens slightly. It can now be 
tilted up.
Opening with the remote control, refer 
to page 30.
Push the window down to close it.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects 
could strike the rear window while 
driving, be sure to provide protection 
around all edges. If you do not do this, 
the heating conductors of the rear 
window could be damaged.< 

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.< 

38n
Electric power windows Sliding/tilt sunroof
* 
Safety switch With the safety switch, you can prevent 
the rear windows from being opened or 
closed via the switches in the rear 
passenger area (by children, for 
example).
Press the safety switch whenever 
children are riding in the rear of 
the vehicle. Careless use of the power 
windows can lead to injury.<
To prevent injuries, exercise care 
when closing the sliding/tilt 
sunroof and keep it in your field of 
vision until it is shut.
When leaving the vehicle, always 
remove the ignition key from the lock 
and remember to close the doors to 
prevent children from operating the 
sliding/tilt sunroof and injuring them-
selves, etc.<
Raising Ð opening Ð closingFrom ignition key in position 1.
After the ignition has been switched off, 
you can still operate the sliding/tilt 
sunroof for up to 15 minutes as long as 
neither of the doors has been opened. 
Raising/Opening/Closing: press the 
switch or slide it in the desired direction 
until you feel resistance.
If you briefly press the switch in the 
"raise" direction while the sunroof is 
open, the sunroof will rise to its upper-
most position. 

39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sliding/tilt sunroof
* 
The headliner insert slides back some-
what when you raise the sunroof. When 
the sunroof is opened, the headliner 
retracts with it.
Do not use force to close the 
headliner insert with the sunroof in 
its raised position, as damage to the 
mechanism could result.<
For the convenience mode via the door 
lock, refer to page 31.Automatic opening and closingPress the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the sunroof travels to either 
the fully-closed or fully-open position.
Pressing the switch again stops the 
motion immediately.
Safety featureIf the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters 
resistance
>when it is closing from the raised 
position
>when it is closing from a point 
roughly past the middle of its travel,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the 
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again 
slightly.
Despite this safety feature, be 
extremely careful that the travel 
path of the sunroof is not obstructed 
whenever it is closed. Remember that 
the safety mechanism may not be able 
to detect obstructions under all circum-
stances (with very thin objects, for 
instance). 
You can disable this safety feature by 
pressing the switch beyond the pres-
sure point and holding it.<
Manual operation In the event of an electrical malfunction, 
you can also operate the sliding/tilt 
sunroof manually:
1. Remove the interior lamp, then reach 
into the exposed opening and press 
out the cover
2. Use the Allen key from the onboard 
tool kit, refer to page 124 to turn the 
sliding/tilt sunroof in the desired 
direction. 

101n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Roof-mounted luggage rack
*
You should therefore always remember 
not to exceed the approved roof load 
capacity, the approved gross vehicle 
weight or the axle weights when 
loading the rack. These weights are 
listed under Technical Data  on 
page 142.
Make sure that the load is not too bulky, 
and attempt to distribute it evenly. 
Always load the heaviest pieces first (on 
the bottom). Be sure that adequate 
clearance is maintained for raising the 
sliding/tilt sunroof, and that objects do 
not project into the opening path of the 
tailgate.
Secure the roof luggage correctly and 
securely to prevent it from shifting or 
being lost during driving (danger to 
following traffic).
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden 
acceleration and braking. Do not corner 
at high speeds. 
The roof-mounted luggage rack and the 
roof load increase the aerodynamic 
resistance: increased fuel consumption 
and additional stress on the vehicle's 
body are the result.