Page 70 of 159

70n
Washer/Wiper system 0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Rotary dial for control of the wipe 
interval or the sensitivity of the rain 
sensorIntermittent operation(not on vehicles with rain sensor)
You can select any of four sweep inter-
vals with rotary dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval varies 
automatically depending on road 
speed.
Rain sensor
* 
The rain sensor is positioned on the 
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>From the ignition key in position 1 
or higher, move the lever to position 
1. The wipers will make at least one 
sweep across the windshield.
You can leave the lever in position 1 at 
all times. With the ignition key in posi-
tion 1 or higher, all you then need to do 
to activate the rain sensor is
>briefly turn the rotary dial 5, or
>clean the windshield 1, refer to 
page 71.To adjust the sensitivity of the rain 
sensor: 
Turn rotary dial 5.
To switch off the rain sensor:
Return lever to position 0.
Deactivate the rain sensor in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to 
observe this precaution could result in 
damage caused by undesired wiper 
activation.<
Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the 
wipers switch automatically to intermit-
tent wipe (not on vehicles with rain 
sensor).Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the 
wipers operate at normal speed (not on 
vehicles with rain sensor). 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 71 of 159
71n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer/Wiper system0 Wipers retracted
1 Clean the windshieldCleaning the windshield
Do not use the washers if there is 
any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield, as your vision 
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold 
weather, refer to page 120.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage 
to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period.
Cleaning headlamps
*
When the vehicle's lighting system is 
switched on, the headlamps will also be 
cleaned every fifth time the automatic 
windshield washer is activated.Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer nozzles are 
heated automatically
* when the ignition 
key is in position 2. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 72 of 159

72n
Cruise control
*
You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above 
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control is available whenever 
the engine is running and the system 
has been activated.
To activate the systemFrom ignition key position 2:
Press the button and the indicator lamp 
in the instrument cluster will come on, 
refer to page 20. You can now use the 
cruise control.
Do not use cruise control on 
twisting roads, when high traffic 
density prevents driving at a constant 
speed, or when the road surface is slick 
(snow, rain, ice) or loose (rocks or 
gravel, sand).
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when 
the ignition key is in position 0.
The speed stored in memory is deleted.
To maintain and store speed 
or to acceleratePress button (+) briefly:
The system maintains and stores the 
current vehicle speed. Every time you 
tap the button, the speed increases by 
0.6 mph (1 km/h).
Press and hold button (+):
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When 
you release the button, the system 
maintains and stores the current speed.
If, on a downhill gradient, the 
engine braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the preset speed can be 
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill 
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.< 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 74 of 159
74n
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.
Do not operate the engine 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). This allows you to see whether 
your current driving style is conducive 
to fuel economy with minimum exhaust 
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the 
display goes to "Maximum" (zero on 
Canadian models). 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 75 of 159

75n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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 147.
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. Shut off the engine immediately 
and allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to 
page 123.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. 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 operating 
conditions in the preceding period.
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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 76 of 159

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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 77 of 159

77n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
ComputerSettingsFrom ignition key position 1 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 setting 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 74.
Outside temperatureYou can change the units of measure 
(6/7) for the outside temperature 
display by pressing the right-hand reset 
button in the instrument cluster while 
the temperature display is active.
Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to 
about 37.5 7 (+3 6), then the 
computer will automatically switch to a 
display of the outside temperature. In 
addition, a signal sounds as a warning 
and the display flashes for a brief 
period.
The ice warning does not alter the 
fact that surface ice can form at 
temperatures above  37.5 7 (+3 6), on 
bridges or shaded road surfaces, for 
instance.< 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 79 of 159

79n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*
The conceptPDC provides extra safety and conve-
nience during parking and all backing 
operations by providing an acoustic 
signal to indicate the distance between 
your rear bumper and the nearest 
object. The system features four ultra-
sonic sensors mounted in your rear 
bumper. The monitoring range for the 
two corner sensors extends outward 
roughly 2 ft (60 cm), while two centrally 
located sensors detect objects at 
distances of up to approx. 5 ft (1.50 
meters).
The system starts to operate automati-
cally approx. one second after you 
select reverse or move the selector 
lever into the "R" position with the igni-
tion key in position 2. PDC is deacti-
vated when you shift back out of 
reverse.
Acoustic signalsThe distance to the nearest object is 
indicated by a tone sounding at various 
intervals. As the distance between 
vehicle and object decreases, the inter-
vals between the tones become 
shorter. A continuous tone indicates the 
presence of an object less than 1 ft 
(30 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after 
approx. three seconds if the distance to 
the obstacle remains constant during 
this time (if you are moving parallel to 
a wall, for instance).
System malfunctions will be indicated 
by a continuous high-pitched tone 
when the system is activated the first 
time. Please refer the problem to your 
BMW center.The PDC does not remove the 
driver's personal responsibility for 
evaluating the distance between the 
vehicle and any obstacles. Always 
remember that the sensors can neither 
detect nor provide warnings of obsta-
cles located within their blind angles. 
This applies especially in those cases 
where the system approaches the 
physical limits of ultrasonic measure-
ment, as occurs with tow bars and 
trailer couplings, and in the vicinity of 
thin or wedge-shaped objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a 
loud radio, could drown the PDC signal 
tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free 
of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the 
sensors for a prolonged period of time. 
Always maintain a distance of more 
than 4 in (10 cm).<