
 
Contents
 
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke 
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order No. 01 41 0 156 213
US English VIII/2001
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper 
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling). 
Overview
Controls and features
 
Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps19
Steering wheel with multifunction 
buttons22
Warning triangle23
First-aid kit23
Refueling24
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure26
 
Locks and security systems:
 
Keys32
Central locking system32
Opening and closing Ð via the 
door lock33
Opening and closing Ð via the 
remote control34
Opening and closing Ð from the 
inside37
Luggage compartment lid/
Tailgate38
Rear window40
Luggage compartment42
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Sliding/tilt sunroof46
 
Adjustments:
 
Correct sitting posture48
Seats48
Manually-adjusted seat49
Electric power seats50
Head restraints52
BMW actice seat52
Safety belts53
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory54
Seat heating55
Adjusting steering wheel56
Heated steering wheel56
Mirrors57
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags58
Transporting children safely61
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory64
 
Driving:
 
Steering/Ignition lock66
Starting the engine66
Switching off the engine68
Parking brake68
Manual transmission69
Automatic transmission70
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic73
Indicator/Headlamp flasher76
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor76
Cruise control78
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer, outside temperature 
display80
Tachometer81
Energy control81
Fuel gauge81
Coolant temperature gauge82
Service Interval Display82
Check Control83
Computer86
Multi-Information Display 
(MID)87
Digital clock in the MID89
Computer in the MID91
 
Contents 

43n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Alarm systemTo arm and disarm the alarm 
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
with the key or the remote control, the 
alarm system is also simultaneously 
armed or disarmed.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm 
arming and disarming.<
You can also open the luggage 
compartment lid/tailgate when the 
system is armed by pressing the button 
on the remote control (refer to page 35). 
When you close the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, the luggage compart-
ment is secured again.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously: 
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during 
arming: door(s), the hood or luggage 
compartment lid/tailgate are not 
completely closed. Even if you do not 
secure the indicated area, the system 
begins to monitor the remaining 
areas, and the indicator lamp flashes 
continuously after 10 seconds. 
However, the interior motion sensor 
is not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out when 
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed390de020
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is 
disarmed: an attempted entry has 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the 
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor may be switched off at the same 
time. To prevent a false alarm from 
being triggered (in garages with 
elevator ramps, for instance), or when 
the vehicle is transported by trailer or 
train:
Lock the vehicle (arm the alarm system) 
twice in succession: press button 2 on 
the remote control transmitter twice 
(refer to page 35), or turn the key in the 
door lock to the right (lock) twice in 
succession (refer to page 33).
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor 
are deactivated as long as the system is 
armed. 

55n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory Seat heating
*
Your BMW center can adjust your 
vehicle's systems in such a 
manner that your personalized settings 
are automatically called up for the seat, 
mirror and steering wheel positions 
when you unlock the vehicle with your 
personal remote control key.<
Before using the key memory 
feature to unlock the vehicle 
always ensure that no objects are 
stored in the footwell behind the 
driver's seat. If you fail to do so, 
persons or objects could be injured or 
damaged if the seat should move back-
ward.<
Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt 
function(automatic curb monitor)
1 Move the mirror selector switch 
(arrow) to the "driver's mirror" posi-
tion
2 When the selector lever is placed in 
"Reverse," the passenger-side mirror 
tilts downward to help the driver 
monitor the area directly adjacent to 
the vehicle during parking (curbs, 
etc.). 
You can deactivate this automatic 
feature by setting the mirror selection 
switch to the "passenger-side" posi-
tion.390de720
The seat cushion and backrest can be 
heated with the ignition key in 
position 2.
You can select from different heating 
modes by repeatedly pressing the keys.
You can also switch the higher heating 
modes off directly:
Press the key and hold it slightly longer.390us729 

57n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
MirrorsExterior mirrors1 Mirror switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Left/right selection switchTo adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted by 
hand: 
Press the edge of the lens.
To store mirror settings, refer to "Seat, 
mirror and steering wheel memory" on 
page 54.390us733
Curved-lens mirror
The passenger-side mirror 
features a convex lens. When esti-
mating the distance between yourself 
and other traffic, bear in mind that the 
objects reflected in the mirror are closer 
than they appear.< 
Self-defrosting mirrorsBoth mirrors are defrosted automati-
cally when the ignition key is in 
position 2.
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce glare from vehicles behind 
you after dark, tilt the mirror by moving 
the small lever.390de713 

65n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Vehicle Memory, Key MemoryThe system then relies on a bilateral 
data exchange to identify the individual 
user and dial in the selected settings 
whenever the remote control unit is 
used to disengage the door locks.
In order for you to distinguish between 
different keys, colored decals are 
supplied together with the keys.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with 
details on the capabilities of the Vehicle 
Memory and Key Memory systems. A 
few examples follow below:
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgment 
when locking or unlocking your 
vehicle
>Activates/deactivates the "Follow me 
home" function.Examples for Key Memory:
>Locks the vehicle when you start off
>Automatically adjusts the driverÕs 
seat, the exterior mirrors and the 
steering wheel position to your 
personal programmed settings when 
you unlock the vehicle
>The automatic climate control 
assumes your preset comfort settings 
when you unlock the vehicle.
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to 
remind you at appropriate places of the 
settings that are available to you.<  

Everything from A to Z
179n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
I 
Ice warning80 
Identification, tires135 
Ignition lock66 
Immoblizer function94 
activating code94 
deactivating code94 
selecting code94 
Important in the engine 
compartment138 
Imprint4 
Independent ventilation 
system112 
Indicator and warning 
lamps19 
Inflation pressure26t 
monitoring99 
Inflation pressure, 
tires26, 133 
INSPECTION82 
Instrument 
cluster15, 16, 17 
Instrument displays15 
Instrument lighting102 
Instrument panel16, 17 
Instrument panel switch76 
Instruments15 
Intensive cleaning139 Interior lamps103 
Interior mirror58 
Interior motion sensor42 
avoiding unintentional 
alarms44 
deactivate35 
Interior rearview mirror57 
automatic dimmer58 
Interlock66 
J 
Jack157 
Jump-starting162t K 
Key Memory64 
Key with remote control32 
Keys32 
Kickdown71, 74 L 
Lamps and bulbs151t 
LATCH child-restraint 
system63 
LATCH child-restraint 
system, sport wagon64 Leather care, refer to the 
"Caring for your vehicle" 
manual 
Length of vehicle169 
Level control system21, 99 
inactive99t 
License plate lamps 
bulb replacement156t 
Liftgate, refer to tailgate40 
Light switch101 
Lighter118 
LIGHTS ON warning101 
LIMIT91 
Load-securing devices126 
Louvers104, 107 
Low beams101 
bulb replacement151t 
Low-fuel warning lamp81 
Lug bolts158 
Lug wrench157t 
Luggage 
compartment38, 42, 123 
capacity171 
manual operation38t 
Luggage compartment 
lid38 
electrical malfunction38 
emergency release from 
luggage compartment's 
interior41 opening from the 
outside39 
opening separately38 
remote control35 
secure separately38 
Luggage compartment's 
interior, emergency 
release41 
Luggage net42 
Luggage straps42 
Lumbar support50 
M 
M+S tires136 
Maintenance82, 144t 
Malfunction displays83t 
Manual operation 
doors33 
fuel filler door24 
luggage compartment 
lid38 
sliding/tilt sunroof47 
tailgate39 
Manual transmission69 
Manually controlled 
recirculated-air110 
Manually-adjusted seat50 
Master key32 
Maximum cooling110 
Memory settings