Page 4 of 159

 
Contents
 
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order No. 01 41 0 156 190
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
Ð via the door lock31
Ð from the inside32
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment35
Alarm system36
Electric power windows38
Manual convertible top39
Fully-automatic convertible 
top42
Wind deflector46
 
Adjustments:
 
Correct sitting posture48
Seats48
Adjusting electric power 
seats49
Lumbar support50
Head restraints50
Entering the rear51
Safety belts52
Seat and mirror memory53
Seat heating54
Steering wheel54
Mirrors55
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags56
Transporting children safely59Rollover protection system61
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory63
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock64
Starting the engine64
Switching off the engine65
Parking brake66
Manual transmission66
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic67
Indicator/Headlamp flasher69
Washer/Wiper system/
Rain sensor70
Cruise control72
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer74
Tachometer74
Energy control74
Fuel gauge75
Temperature gauge75
Service Interval Display75
Check Control76
Computer76
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)79
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)80
 
Contents 
     
        
        Page 16 of 159
 
16n
 
Instrument cluster
 
7 Indicator and warning 
lamps17 to 20
8 Reset trip odometer to zero74
9 Indicator for Check Control7610 Display for
 
>
 
Trip odometer/Odometer74
 
>
 
Clock76
 
>
 
Service Interval75
 
>
 
Computer7611 Selector lever and program display 
for automatic transmission18, 69
12 Control button for the clock76
13 Indicator and warning 
lamps17 to 20 
     
        
        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 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 154 of 159

Everything from A to ZManual transmission66 
Manually controlled recircu-
lated-air95 
Master keys28 
MFL (Multifunction steering 
wheel)22 
Microfilter92, 96 
Mirror defrosting55 
Mirror memory53 
Mirrors55 
Mobile phone, refer to 
cellular phone100 
Modifications, 
technical10, 126 
Motion sensor, refer to 
interior motion sensor36 
Mounting the roof rack110 
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)22 O 
OBD interface socket127 
Odometer74 
Oil 
additives121 
capacity147 
consumption121 
quality122 
specifications122 
viscosity122 Oil change intervals, refer to 
the Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet (US 
models) or the Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet 
(Canadian models) 
Oil dipstick121 
Oil filter change147 
OIL SERVICE75 
Onboard computer76 
refer also to the "Owner's 
Manual for Onboard 
Computer" 
Onboard tool kit130 
Opening and closing 
from the inside32 
via the door lock31 
via the remote control29 
Original hand-held 
transmitter97 
Outside temperature 
display77 
P 
Paint care, refer to the 
"Caring for your vehicle" 
manual 
Park assistant79 
Park Distance Control 
(PDC)79 Parking aid79 
Parking brake66 
Parking lamps 
bulb replacement131 
PDC (Park Distance 
Control)79 
Phone, refer to cellular 
phone100 
Pocket light96 
Power windows38 
Q 
Quality Grades, tires114 R 
Radiator147 
Rain sensor70 
RDC (Tire Pressure 
Monitor)83 
Reading lamps 
front89 
rear89 
Rear fog lamps 
bulb replacement133 
Rear lamps133 
Rear reading lamps89 
Rear window 
defroster91, 95 Rearview mirror55 
Recirculated-air mode91 
Refueling22 
Remote control29 
Remove window 
condensation92, 94 
Replace windshield wiper 
blades130 
Replacement keys28 
Replacing lamps and 
bulbs130 
Reporting safety defects11 
Reverse66 
Rollover protection 
system61 
Roof weight146 
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack105 
S 
Safe with safety belts48 
Safety belts48, 52 
seat-integrated51 
Safety defects, reporting11 
Safety tires115, 138 
Seat heating54 
Seat memory53 
Seat-integrated safety belt 
system (SGS)51  
     
        
        Page 155 of 159

Everything from A to Z
155n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Seats48 
adjustment48 
adjustment 
precautions48 
Securing cargo103 
Securing child-restraint 
system59 
Selector lever, automatic 
transmission67 
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US 
models)125 
Service Interval 
Display75, 125 
Setting the temperature91 
Shiftlock67 
Side airbags56 
Sitting correctly with 
airbags48 
Ski bag102 
Socket for electrical 
appliances101 
Spare key28 
Spare tire135 
Speedometer15 
Sports seat, adjustment49 
Standing lamps88 
Starting the engine64 Steering wheel lock64 
Stopping the vehicle65 
Storage compartments99 
Stowing cargo103 
Stroke144 
Switching off the engine65 
Symbols8 
Synthetic oils122 
T 
Tail lamps 
bulb replacement133 
Tank capacity147 
Technical data144 
Technical 
modifications10, 126 
Telephone preparation100 
Temperature display 
outside temperature77 
Temperature gauge 
engine coolant75 
Temperature 
layering92, 95 
Temperature setting91, 94 
Third brake light134 Tilt alarm sensor37 
operating via remote 
control30 
switching off37 
Tire change135 
Tire condition113 
Tire inflation 
pressures24, 113 
checking24 
indicator83 
monitoring83 
Tire inflation pressures 
table25 
Tire Pressure Monitor 
(RDC)83, 115, 138 
Tire pressures24 
refer also to tire inflation 
pressures 
Tire replacement114 
Tire tread113 
Tires108 
Tools130 
Torque144 
Tow fittings141 
Towing the vehicle141 
Track145 
Transmission66 Transmitter keys28 
Transporting children 
safely59 
Tread depth, tires113 
Tread wear113 
Trip odometer74 
Trunk lid, refer to luggage 
compartment lid33 
Trunk, refer to luggage 
compartment35 
Turn signal 
indicators20, 69 
Turn signals 
bulb replacement132 
Turning radius145 
U 
Uniform Tire Quality 
Grading115 
Universal Transmitter97 
Use antifreeze, radiator123 V 
Vehicle keys28 
Vehicle Memory63 
Vehicle weight146 
Vehicle, starting64 
Ventilation90, 93 
draft-free92, 95