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Cellular phone
*
Ashtray, front
*
Hands-free systemOn vehicles with telephone prepara-
tion
* or communication packet
* the
trim piece for the hands-free micro-
phone is located in the headliner near
the interior lamp.
For further information on the cellular
phone, refer to the separate Owner's
Manual.
To emptyPress on the edge of the open cover
(arrow): the ashtray comes upward and
can be removed.
Cigarette lighterPress the lighter 1 in. As soon as the
lighter springs back out, it can be
removed.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette
lighter by the knob only. Holding
or touching it in other areas could result
in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains opera-
tional when the ignition key has been
removed. For this reason, children
should never be left in the vehicle unat-
tended.
for flashlights, car vacuum cleaners,
etc., up to a rating of approx. 200 watts
at 12 volts. Avoid damage to the socket
caused by inserting plugs of different
shapes or sizes.
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Ashtray, rear
*
Clothes hooks
To emptyPress on the edge of the raised cover to
open (arrow): the ashtray comes
upward and can be removed.
To open, press on the upper edge. For
additional information: refer to page 99.
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Through-loading systemPull the corresponding lever to release
(arrow).
The backrest moves forward slightly
when released. Reach into the gap and
fold it down.
When folding the backrest back
into its original position always
ensure that the detent engages
securely. A loose backrest might fail to
prevent cargo from entering the
passenger compartment during sudden
braking or evasive maneuvers, posing a
potential hazard to occupants.<
To secure your luggage, use the
luggage nets
* or flexible straps that you
can attach to the fittings at the inner
corners of the luggage compartment.
Refer also to Cargo loading on page 93.
Rear center 3-point belt
*
You can roll up the rear 3-point belt
before folding back the through-loading
system:
>Release the belt and insert its latch in
the recess provided for this purpose
in the rear tray (arrow).
Always use the outer safety belts
to install child-restraint systems.
The center seat belt should only be
used when it is necessary to secure
three child-restraint systems.
Do not attempt to modify child-restraint
systems. If you do this, the protection
provided by these systems could be
impaired.<
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Ski bag
*
The ski bag allows the safe and clean
transport of up to 4 pairs of standard
skis or up to two snowboards.
The length of the ski bag and the addi-
tional space provided in the luggage
compartment make it possible to carry
skis up to 6.8 ft (2.1 m) long. Because
of the tapered shape of the bag, the ski
bag can only accommodate two pairs
of skis up to 6.8 ft (2.1 m) long.
Loading1 Fold the center armrest outward.
Loosen the trim from the upper
Velcro¨ fastener and place it on the
armrest
2 Press button 1 downward and swing
the cover forward
3 Extend the ski bag between the front
seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to stored items. It may
be opened to allow the ski bag to dry
4 Press knob 2: the cover in the
luggage compartment is unlocked.
To store the ski bag, perform the above
steps in reverse sequence.
Securing cargo
Secure skis and any other objects
stored in the bag by tightening the
retaining strap at the buckle.<
Be sure that your skis are clean
before loading them into the bag.
Avoid damage from sharp edges during
loading.<
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Cargo loadingStowing cargoIf you are transporting a load in your
BMW:
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible Ð directly behind the back-
rests or the luggage compartment
partition Ð and as low as possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest
>For transporting very heavy loads
when the rear seat is not occupied,
secure the outer safety belt in the
opposite buckle (refer to the
illustration).
Securing cargo>For small, light items, use the rubber-
lined, non-skid side of the floor mat
or secure using the luggage compart-
ment net
* or elastic straps, refer to
page 35
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices*. Anchorages (arrow) are
provided at the inner corners of the
luggage compartment for attaching
these load-securing devices.
Comply with the information enclosed
with the load-securing devices.
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Cargo loading Roof-mounted luggage rack
*
Always position and secure the
load correctly. If you do not, it can
endanger the passengers during
braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the approved gross
weight or the approved maximum axle
loads, refer to page 134, otherwise the
vehicle's operating safety is no longer
assured and you are in violation of the
law.
Do not stow heavy or hard objects in
the passenger compartment without
securing them. Otherwise they would
be thrown around during braking and
evasive maneuvers and endanger the
passengers.<
A special roof-rack system is available
as an optional extra for your BMW.
Please observe the precautions
included with the installation instruc-
tions.AnchoragesAccess to the anchorages:
To fold up the cover (arrow), please use
the tool provided with the roof-rack
system.Loading and driving notesRoof-mounted luggage racks raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle when
they are loaded. For this reason, they
have a major effect on the vehicle's
handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember
not to exceed the approved roof load
capacity, the approved gross vehicle
weight or the axle loads when loading
the rack. These weights are listed under
Technical Data on page 134.
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
luggage compartment lid.
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 luggage rack and the roof load
increase aerodynamic resistance:
increased fuel consumption and addi-
tional stress on the vehicle's body are
the result.
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