
 
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 

 
14n
1 Parking lamps/Low beams87
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators69
 
>
 
Standing lamps88
 
>
 
High beams88
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher69
 
>
 
Computer763 Wiper/Washer system/Rain 
sensor70
4 Hazard warning flashers
5 Central locking system286 Rear window defroster91, 95
7 Horn: the entire surface
8 Adjusting the steering wheel54
9 Fog lamps88
 
Cockpit 

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 luggage 
compartment lid and the fuel filler door.
Do not lock the vehicle if there are 
passengers still inside, because 
they would not be able to unlock the 
doors.<
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 fully-automatic 
convertible top 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 to the extreme left or right 
to unlock/lock the driver's door. 

34n
Luggage compartment lidTo closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim 
panel of the luggage compartment lid 
(arrows) make it easier to pull the lid 
down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage 
compartment lid is clear when closing 
it, following the same precautions as 
with all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid is 
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes 
could penetrate into the interior of the 
vehicle. Should it be absolutely neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the 
luggage compartment lid open (with 
closed convertible top):
>Close all windows
>Turn up the blower to increase the air 
supply from the air conditioning or 
automatic climate control, refer to 
page 90 or 93.<
Emergency releaseThis lever releases the luggage 
compartment lid from the luggage 
compartment's interior. 

38n
Electric power windowsTo open and close windowFrom ignition key position 1:
>Press the switch up to the pressure 
point: the window retracts as long as 
you maintain pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point (only on driver's door): the 
window moves automatically. 
Pressing the switch again stops the 
opening cycle.
You can close the window in the same 
manner by pulling the switch.
To operate all the side windows>Press the switch up to the pressure 
point: the windows retract as long as 
you maintain pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the windows move auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again 
stops the opening cycle.
You can close all windows in the same 
manner by pulling the switch.
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still use the electric power 
windows for up to 15 minutes, as long 
as no one opens any of the front doors.
When leaving the vehicle, always 
remove the ignition key from the 
lock and remember to close the doors 
to prevent children from operating the 
power windows and injuring them-
selves, etc.< 
For convenience closing via the door 
lock refer to page 31. 

39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Manual convertible topThe fabric top offers the perfect protec-
tion against weather and one person 
can open and close it easily and simply.
So that you will get the most out of 
enjoying your convertible, here are a 
few tips: it is advisable to close the 
convertible top when the vehicle is 
being parked. The closed convertible 
top not only protects the passenger 
compartment from unforeseeable 
damage from the weather, it also 
provides a certain degree of theft 
protection.
In addition, keep valuables only in the 
locked luggage compartment, even 
with the convertible top closed.
Never mount a roof-mounted luggage 
rack on the convertible top.
Closing the electric power 
windows: to help ensure that the 
windows seal securely, you should 
either close the rear windows first or 
close all four windows at the same 
time.<
To open the convertible top
Never attempt to open or close 
the convertible top unless the 
vehicle is completely stationary. To 
prevent vehicle damage the top 
compartment's lock will not disengage 
unless the luggage compartment lid is 
closed.<
1. Flip the locking handle out (refer to 
illustration), and turn it as far as the 
end stop will allow 
2. Raise the convertible top a little bit 
(release the tension)
3. To unlock, press the button with igni-
tion key in position 1. The top 
compartment lid's lock disengages 
and the lid itself rises a small 
distance. The side windows will 
lower slightly
If the indicator lamp lights up 
when you press the button, this 
indicates that the top compartment's 
floor panel has been raised, preventing 
the lock from disengaging, refer to 
page 35. You should respond by folding 
the top compartment panel back to its 
original position and then reclosing the 
luggage compartment lid.< 

40n
Manual convertible top4. Position the rear convertible top 
frame vertically and grip it firmly
You can make it easier to raise the 
rear convertible top frame by 
pressing the area indicated by the 
arrow.<
5. Reach into the recess created when 
the convertible top compartment is 
lifted and pull it all the way by hand 1
6. Lay the rear convertible top frame in 
the convertible top compartment 2
Let go of the rear convertible top 
frame before laying the convert-
ible top down, otherwise, the side trim 
panel could be damaged.<
7. Raise the front of the top and pull it 
back for storage
Now finish pushing the convertible 
top all the way down into the 
convertible top compartment. This 
makes it easier to close the convertible 
top compartment lid, especially at 
lower temperatures.<
8. Press down slightly on the convert-
ible top compartment lid from above 
(arrow). The closing process will then 
be carried out automatically
9. Either close the slightly lowered side 
windows or put them at the desired 
height.
To prevent finger injuries, always 
grip the convertible top compart-
ment lid from above.
An interlock device helps avoid damage 
to the vehicle by preventing the 
luggage compartment lid from opening 
unless the convertible top compartment 
lid is completely closed.< 

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Manual convertible topAs soon as the top convertible 
compartment lid closes the central 
locking system will release the lock to 
allow renewed access to the luggage 
compartment.
To avoid fabric damage stemming 
from extended exposure to mois-
ture, you should never retract the 
convertible top when it is wet, refer also 
to the "Caring for your vehicle" 
manual.<
To close the convertible top1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
2. Press the button to unlock it. The 
convertible top will be unlocked and 
the side windows will lower slightly
3. Open the convertible top compart-
ment lid all the way
4. Lift the convertible top out by the 
lateral guide section 1 and the front 
convertible top frame 2, swinging it 
forward until you encounter percep-
tible resistance
To avoid damaging the side trim, 
always fold the convertible top 
forward before folding the rear frame 
brace up into its vertical position.<
5. Either close the slightly lowered side 
windows or put them at the desired 
height
6. Press down slightly on the convert-
ible top compartment lid from above 
(arrow). The closing process will then 
be carried out automatically, refer to 
page 40
Operate the convertible top 
compartment lid from above only 
in order to avoid any pinching.<
As soon as the top convertible 
compartment lid closes the central 
locking system will release the lock to 
allow renewed access to the luggage 
compartment.<
7. Holding on to the locking handle, pull 
the front part of the convertible top 
frame up onto the windshield frame, 
and lock the convertible top by 
turning the handle until you hear the 
convertible top engage and lock.
The system automatically presses the 
top's rear frame against the convertible 
top compartment lid, pretensioning it to 
ensure that it seals tightly.