
 
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. 

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 

76n
Indicator/Headlamp flasher
Washer/Wiper system
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher 
(blue indicator lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator 
(green indicator lamp accompanied 
by periodic clicking sound from the 
relay)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond 
the detent. It then returns to the center 
position when released.
If the indicator lamp and the 
clicking from the relay are both 
faster than normal, one of the turn 
signal indicators has failed.<390de722
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Clean the windshield
6 Intensive cleaning
*
7 Rotary dial for controlling sweep 
intervals in the intermittent mode and 
for setting the rain sensor's sensitivity 
level
*
394de730
Intermittent mode or rain sensor
*
Intermittent mode:
You can set the wipe interval to four 
stages with rotary dial 7. 
In addition, the wipe interval is varied 
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:
Move the lever to position 1 with the 
ignition key in position 1 or higher. The 
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather 
conditions.
You can leave the lever permanently in 
position 1. Whenever the ignition key is 
in position 1 or 2, all you then need to 
do to activate the rain sensor is briefly 
turn the rotary dial 7.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain 
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Deactivating the rain sensor:
Move lever to position 0. 

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  

Everything from A to Zfor seat, mirror and 
steering wheel54 
related to individuals ("Key 
Memory")64 
related to the vehicle 
("Vehicle Memory")64 
Microfilter106, 112 
MID (Multi-Information 
Display)87 
Mirrors57 
adjusting57 
defrosting57 
memory setting54 
Modifications, 
technical10, 145 
Monitoring inflation 
pressure, tires99 
Moonroof47 
Multifunction buttons, 
steering wheel22 
Multi-Information Display 
(MID)87 N 
Non-smoker's 
equipment118 O 
OBD interface socket146 
Odometer16, 80 
Oil additives140 Oil change interval, refer to 
the Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet (US 
models) or to the Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet 
(Canadian models) 
Oil consumption140 
Oil dipstick140t 
Oil level, indicator lamp20 
Oil pressure, indicator 
lamp19 
Oil specifications141t 
Oil viscosity141 
Oils, disposal141t 
OILSERVICE82 
Old batteries160 
Onboard computer, refer to 
the "Owner's Manual for 
Onboard Computer" 
Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) 
system146 
Onboard tool kit150t 
Opening and closing 
from the inside37 
from the outside33 
using the key33 
using the remote 
control33 
Opening the rear 
window40 Operating range86 
Outlets, 
ventilation104, 107 
Outside temperature 
display80, 86 
P 
Park Distance Control 
(PDC)96 
Parked-car ventilation 
system112 
for additional information 
refer to the "Owner's 
Manual for Onboard 
Computer" 
Parking aid96 
Parking brake20, 68 
Parking lamps101 
bulb replacement152t 
Partition net123 
Passenger-side mirror tilt 
function55 
PDC (Park Distance 
Control)96 
Pocket light116 Pollen filter106, 112 
Power windows45 
safety switch45 
Power-slip control, refer to 
ASC+T/DSC97 
Q 
Quality Grades, tires134 R 
Rain sensor76 
RDC (Tire Pressure 
Monitor)99 
Reading lamps103 
Rear ashtray118 
Rear window40 
defroster105, 110 
sun blinds112 
wiper77 
Rear window cleaning77 
Rear-seat backrest 
folding119 
remove119 
Rearview mirror57 
Recirculated-air mode105 
Reclining seat48 
Refueling24 
Releasing hood137