66n
Parking brake Manual transmission The parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked. It operates on the rear wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically, the
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on when the ignition key is in
position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the
button (arrow) and lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up to apply
moderate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on hills and slopes, as first gear
or reverse may not provide adequate
resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in "P."<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake lightly
from time to time when coasting to a
standstill (at a traffic signal, for
instance), provided that it is safe to do
so.
Reverse Select only when the vehicle is
completely stopped. Press the gearshift
lever to the left to overcome the slight
resistance.
When you select reverse the backup
lamps will turn on automatically when
the ignition key is in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead.
Riding the clutch leads to severe and
premature clutch wear.<
67n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from
the "D" position to the left into the M/S
range, the performance-oriented shift
programs of the automatic transmission
are engaged. Steptronic enters the
manual selection mode and executes
the desired shift whenever you tap the
selector lever in the direction indicated
by "+" or "Ð." When you wish to use the
automatic transmission mode again,
move the selector lever to the right into
the "D" position.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + Ð
Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in
selector lever positions P ("Park") or N
("Neutral").Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts to
the "Reverse" or "Park" selector lever
positions. To disengage the detent,
press the button on the front side of
the shift knob (arrow).
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of "Park" or
"Neutral," depress the footbrake in
order to disengage the selector lever's
lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
Hold the footbrake down until starting
off. The vehicle will otherwise "creep"
when a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from
starting off on its own, always
move the selector lever to position P
or N and engage the parking brake
before leaving your vehicle with the
engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P ParkSelect only when the vehicle is
stationary. Transmission locks to
prevent rear wheels from turning.R ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is
stationary.
69n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
Indicator/Headlamp ßasher
Available displays
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on,
there is a malfunction in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to "P."
Engage the parking brake and turn the
engine off (ignition key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission
performance has been restored. You
may continue to drive as usual.
If the indicator lamp does not go out,
you can place the selector lever in all
positions. However, the vehicle will now
only operate in 3rd and 4th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest BMW
center.
Do not work in the engine
compartment when a drive gear
(forward or reverse) is engaged. If you
do this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing or jump-starting, refer to the
information beginning on page 140.
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
lamps accompanied by a periodic
clicking sound from the relay)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released.
If the flashing of the turn signal
indicators and the clicking from
the relay are both faster than normal,
one of the turn signal indicators has
failed.<
73n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cruise control
*
To deceleratePress button (Ð) briefly:
If you are already driving with active
cruise control, the speed is decreased
by approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h) every time
you tap the button.
Press and hold button (Ð):
With the cruise control active, the
system automatically reduces the
throttle opening to slow the vehicle.
When you release the button, the
system maintains and stores the
current speed.
To interrupt the cruise controlWhen the system is activated, press the
button. The indicator lamp stays on.
You can use the cruise control again
whenever you want by calling up the
speed that was stored last.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted
automatically:
>When the brakes are applied
>When you apply pressure to the
clutch pedal, or when you move the
automatic transmission selector lever
from D to N
>If you exceed or fall below the
programmed speed for an extended
period (by depressing the acceler-
ator, for example).
To call up the stored speedPress the button:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored.
76n
Check Control ComputerWhen you turn the ignition key to posi-
tion 2, any of the following symbols may
appear to call your attention to problem
areas; the symbols remain in the
display panel until the problem is
corrected:
1 Check the low and high beams as
well as the parking lamps
2 Door open
3 Luggage compartment lid open
4 Check tail or brake lamps
When you open the driver's door after
completing a journey, an acoustic
warning signal will sound if the head-
lamps are still on.
Mode selectionFrom ignition key position 1, you can
call up information from the computer
using the button in the turn signal lever.
The information is displayed in the
instrument cluster. By pressing the
button briefly toward the steering
column, you can call up a new function
for display.
The displays appear in the following
order:
Time of day, outside temperature,
average fuel consumption, cruising
range, average vehicle speed.
When the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 1 or higher the last active setting is
displayed.
ClockIf 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.
80n
Automatic Stability Control plus Traction (ASC+T)
The conceptThis system optimizes vehicle stability
and traction, especially when you are
starting off, accelerating or when going
through curves.
ASC+T recognizes the danger present
in traction loss and will increase driving
stability and traction by reducing the
engine's output, and if necessary, by
applying the brakes to the rear wheels.
ASC+T is ready each time you start the
engine.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition,
refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
ASC+T is actively controlling drive
torque and braking intervention.
The indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or it comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
There is a system malfunction or the
system was deactivated with the
button. Consequently, interventions to
increase driving stability (as described
in the preceding column) are no longer
available. You can still drive the vehicle
perfectly well without ASC+T
In the event of a fault, please contact
your BMW center, refer to
pages 18, 19.
Switch off the ASC+TPress the button; the indicator lamp
comes on and stays on.
The illustration depicts the arrangement
of the buttons if the vehicle is fully
equipped. This may vary, depending on
the equipment actually installed.
In the following rare situations, it may
be effective to deactivate the ASC+T
for a brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the ASC+T acti-
vated whenever possible.<
81n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
ASC+T Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
*
Switch the ASC+T back onPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with ASC+T. An
appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
We therefore urge you to avoid using
the additional safety margin of the
system as an excuse for taking risks.<
The conceptThe Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
maintains vehicle stability, even in crit-
ical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
under- or oversteering, and, as far as is
possible within the laws of physics,
helps keeping the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing the engine speed
and brake applications to the individual
wheels.
DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC incorporates the func-
tionality of the Automatic Differential
Brake (ADB) and the Cornering Brake
Control (CBC).
The Automatic Differential Brake (ADB)
relies on selective braking applications
at the drive wheels to furnish the func-
tionality of a conventional limited-slip
differential for enhanced traction in crit-
ical driving conditions such as those
encountered on snow-covered road
surfaces, etc.
The ADB is in standby mode when DSC
is deactivated.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC is actively controlling drive torque
and braking intervention.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been deactivated manually;
ADB is operational.
ADB control intervention is not indi-
cated.
The indicator lamp and the
brake warning lamps will remain
on continuously:
The DSC, ADB and DBC have
been deactivated with the
button or are defective.
The vehicle will remain completely
operational, however, without DSC. In
the event of a fault, please consult your
BMW center, refer to pages 18, 19.
Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.
82n
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
*
To switch DSC off/activate ADBPress the DSC button briefly; the indi-
cator lamp comes on and stays on.
DSC is deactivated; ADB is operational.
In the following rare situations, it may
prove useful to deactivate the ADB for a
brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving on snow-covered
grades, in deep snow, or on a snow-
covered surface that has been
packed down from being driven on
>When driving with snow chains.
Under these special circumstances
traction is increased by deactivating the
control systems that enhance traction
under normal conditions.
To switch DSC and ADB offHold the DSC button down for at least
3 seconds. The indicator lamp and the
yellow brake warning lamps light up
and remain on continuously.
The systems for enhancing stability and
traction are deactivated, and there is no
active braking intervention or torque
control.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the DSC
switched on whenever possible.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An
appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
We therefore urge you to avoid using
the additional safety margin of the
system as an excuse for taking risks.
When ADB is in its standby mode, DSC
is deactivated; DSC does not intervene
to enhance vehicle stability under these
conditions.
Do not make any modifications to the
DSC system. Allow only authorized
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.<
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is an integral component of the
DSC system.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the
brake pedal by automatically braking
the vehicle with maximum boost to
achieve the shortest-possible braking
distances during "panic stops." This
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure exerted
against the brake pedal until the
braking maneuver has been completed.
DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.