
 
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 

48n
For relaxed and fatigue-free driving you 
should select a sitting position that 
reflects your personal requirements. 
Correct posture combines with safety 
belts and airbags to enhance occupant 
safety in the event of an accident. To 
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems 
provide you with optimal protection, we 
request that you direct your careful 
attention to the following section.
For additional information on trans-
porting children, refer to page 61.
Sitting correctly with airbags
Always maintain an adequate 
distance between yourself and the 
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel 
by the rim to keep any chance of injury 
to hands or arms to an absolute 
minimum should the airbag be 
deployed. Never allow any objects, 
individuals or animals to obstruct the 
areas between passengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a 
storage tray or support for objects of 
any kind. Never allow front passengers 
to rest their feet or legs on the airbag 
cover.<
For airbag locations and additional 
information on airbags refer to page 58.
Safe with safety belts
Never allow more than one person 
to wear a single safety belt. Never 
allow infants or small children to ride in 
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the 
belt while routing it firmly across the 
pelvis and shoulder, wear it as snugly 
against your body as possible. Do not 
allow the belt to rest against hard or 
fragile objects in your pockets. Do not 
route the belt across your neck, or run it 
across sharp edges. Avoid wearing 
bulky clothing and pull on the lap belt 
periodically to retention it over your 
shoulders. In the event of a frontal 
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over 
the hips, leading to abdominal injury. In 
addition, the safety belt's restraint 
effectiveness is reduced if it is worn 
loosely. Expectant mothers should 
always wear their safety belts, taking 
care to position the lap belt against the 
lower hips, where it will not exert pres-
sure against the abdominal area.<
For information on using the safety 
belts refer to page 53.
When adjusting your seat, always 
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while 
operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with an unexpected 
movement, and the ensuing loss of 
vehicle control could lead to an acci-
dent. Never ride with the backrest 
reclined to an extreme horizontal angle 
(important for front passengers to 
remember), otherwise, there is a risk 
that you will slide under the safety belt 
in an accident, thus negating the 
protection the safety belt provides.
Do not move the seats to the rear when 
the vehicle is at an extreme angle (on 
garage ramps or steep slopes, for 
example). If you do so, the automatic 
safety belt height adjustment can be 
disengaged.<
Seat adjustment>Manually-adjusted seat, refer to 
page 49
>Electric power seats, refer to page 50
>Head restraints, refer to page 52
>BMW active seat, refer to page 52
Correct sitting posture Seats 

49n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Manually-adjusted seatSeat adjustment1 Backward/Forward adjustment
Pull the lever and slide the seat to the 
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the 
seat forward or backward slightly to 
engage the detent
2 Cushion height
Pull the lever and apply weight to 
or remove weight from the seat as 
required390us731
3 Backrest angle
Pull the lever and apply weight to or 
remove weight from the backrest as 
required.
Comply with the adjustment 
instructions on page 48. Failure to 
do so could result in diminished 
personal safety.< 390us732 

50n
Electric power seats
*
1 Tilt angle (driver's seat only)
2 Backward/Forward adjustment
3 Cushion height
4 Backrest angle
5 Head restraint height
Adjust the tilt angle of the head restraint 
manually by rotating it. 
Read and comply with the adjust-
ment instructions on page 48. 
Failure to do so could result in dimin-
ished personal safety.< 380de023
Adjusting BMW sports seat
*
With this seat, you can also adjust the 
thigh support: 
Press the front/rear of the switch to 
adjust the thigh support for your 
maximum personal comfort.390de696
Adjusting BMW comfort seat
*
This seat allows you to make additional 
adjustments for
1 Lumbar support
2 Shoulder support
Lumbar support:
You can adjust the backrest's contour 
for additional support in the curvature 
of your spine's lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column 
receive supplementary support to help 
you maintain a relaxed, upright posture.380de024 

51n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Electric power seats
*
>Press the front/rear of the switch: 
Increase/decrease curvature
>Press the upper/lower end of the 
switch: 
Increase the upper/lower curvature.
Shoulder support:
Press the front/rear of the switch: the 
support angle of the upper backrest 
section is adjusted.
You can use the adjustable upper back-
rest for supplementary support in the 
shoulder region. This provides a 
relaxed sitting posture and helps relieve 
stress on the shoulder muscles.
To obtain the optimal shoulder support 
position, we recommend:
Driver and front passenger:
1. Adjust the upper backrest section to 
its extreme rear position
2 Adjust for the optimal sitting position 
as described on page 48
3. Bring the upper backrest section 
forward until your shoulders enjoy 
firm support.
530de252
Front passenger's seat adjusted for 
relaxed traveling:
1. Adjust the upper backrest section 
to its extreme rear position
2. Lower the backrest slightly to 
increase the tilt angle
3 Bring the upper backrest section 
forward until your shoulders enjoy 
firm support.
Make corrections in the forward/
backward adjustment of the seat 
to ensure that the safety belt still fits 
firmly against your body. Failure to 
observe this precaution can reduce the 
amount of protection provided by your 
safety belt.<  

116n
Glove compartment Storage compartmentsTo openPull the handle and the lamp comes on.To closeFold the cover up.
To prevent injury in the event of an 
accident, close the glove 
compartment immediately after use.< 390de738
To lockUse one of the master keys. A master 
key is also required for unlocking.
For example, if you turn over only 
your door and ignition keys for 
valet parking (refer to page 32), access 
to the glove compartment is not 
possible.< Rechargeable flashlight
*
Located on the left-hand side of the 
glove compartment.
Features integral overload-protection, 
so it can be left in its holder continu-
ously.
Be sure that the flashlight is 
switched off when it is inserted 
into its holder. To avoid completely 
discharging and possibly damaging the 
lamp, always ensure that it is switched 
off before inserting it in the socket.< 
The cover of the storage compartment 
on the vertical surface of the center 
console can be pushed open or closed 
(illustration). If your vehicle is equipped 
with a cassette holder
*, open each 
cassette compartment by pressing on 
the small button.
Storage compartment on the center 
console between the front seats: to 
open, reach into the recess at the front 
and pull upward.
You will find a coin holder in the door 
pocket on the driver's side.
You will find additional storage 
compartments in all of the doors as well 
as on the backrests of the front seats.
390de739 

121n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Ski bag
*
Loading1. Press the release button (arrow 1) to 
unlock the cover panel in the luggage 
compartment
2. Press the detent levers (arrows 2) 
inward and fold the cover to the front
3. Extend the ski bag between the front 
seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to the inside of the bag, 
and can also be left open to promote 
drying394de749
4. Use the magnetic retainers to attach 
the cover panel to the upper surface 
(metal surface below rear tray) of the 
luggage compartment.
To store the ski bag, perform the above 
steps in reverse sequence.
An unsecured ski bag could lead 
to loss of vehicle control and in 
case of an accident to personal injury.< 394de750
Securing the load
Secure the bag's contents by 
tightening down the retaining 
strap at the buckle.< 
Please ensure that the skis are clean 
before loading them into the bag. Take 
care to avoid damage from sharp 
edges.
530de284 

123n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Luggage compartment Ð sport wagonFold the rear backrests downReach into the recess and pull upward 
(arrow).
The rear backrest is divided into two 
sections (one-third and two-thirds of 
the width of the seat). You can fold 
either section of the backrest down 
separately in order to increase the 
capacity of the cargo area.
When you close the backrest, be 
sure that the catch engages 
securely. The red warning indicator 
disappears in the recess when the 
retainer is locked.
The center safety belt can be retracted 
only when the larger backrest is 
engaged.<392de753
Roll-up coverPull the roll-up cover out and hook it 
into the rear bracket.
The cover will support light objects 
such as items of clothing.
Do not place heavy or bulky 
objects on the roll-up cover, 
otherwise, they could endanger occu-
pants while braking hard, during 
evasive maneuvers, or in an accident, 
for example.
Do not allow the cover to snap back, 
since this could damage it.<
For storing the case, refer to the next 
page.392de754
Partition netPull out the partition net by the strap 
and hold the bar firmly in the other 
hand. Then grasp the bar on both sides, 
pull it up and engage it in the holders. It 
is easiest to do this from the back seat.
Do not allow the partition net to 
snap back. Doing so could pose a 
risk of injury and the partition net could 
be damaged.<
When the rear backrests are folded 
down, you can store the case in front of 
the rear seats, pull the partition net out 
from there and insert it in the front 
holders (refer to the next page).392de163