
 
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 

33n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the door lockUsing the keyOne 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/tailgate and the fuel 
filler door.
You can have a signal set to 
confirm that the vehicle's locks 
have engaged securely.< 390de723
Convenience operationYou can also operate the windows and 
sliding/tilt sunroof via the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Unlock" position and 
hold it
>To close: with the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Lock" position and 
hold it.
Watch the closing process care-
fully and be sure that no one is 
trapped by the closing motion. The 
closing process stops immediately 
when you release the key.< Manual operationin the event of an electrical malfunction
Turn the key to the extreme left or right 
to unlock/lock the driver's door. 

35n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlTo unlockPress button.
Press the button once to unlock the 
driver's door only; press a second time 
to unlock all remaining doors as well as 
the luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
and fuel filler door.Convenience opening modePress and hold button to open the elec-
tric power windows and sliding/tilt 
sunroof.
To lock and securePress button.
Vehicles without armored glass: 
do not lock the vehicle if anyone 
will be remaining inside, as it would 
then be impossible for the occupant(s) 
to disengage the locks from the 
inside.< To deactivate the tilt alarm sensor 
and interior motion sensorPress button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to 
page 43.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press button.
To open the luggage 
compartment lid/tailgatePress button.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
will open slightly, regardless of whether 
it was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate has not been opened uninten-
tionally.< Panic modeProvided that the alarm system is 
armed, you can respond to imminent 
danger by holding down the button for 
between two and five seconds. 
To cancel alarm 
Press button. 

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Luggage compartment lid/TailgateClosing Ð sport wagonYou can pull the tailgate down by 
placing both hands in the handle 
recesses (arrows).
To close the tailgate, merely press it 
down gently. The closing process will 
then be carried out automatically.392de689
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage 
compartment lid/tailgate is clear when 
it is closed, observing the same precau-
tions as with all closing procedures.
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid/tailgate or 
rear window is completely closed. 
Otherwise, exhaust fumes could pene-
trate the interior of the vehicle. Should it 
be absolutely necessary to operate the 
vehicle with the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate or rear window open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Increase the air supply for the air 
conditioner or automatic climate 
control to a high level. Refer to 
page 105 or 109.< 
Emergency release Ð sedan onlyThis lever releases the luggage 
compartment lid from the luggage 
compartment's interior.390de792 

44n
Alarm system Electric power windowsInterior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and 
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely 
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate 
the interior motion sensor (refer to 
"Avoiding unintentional alarms") if you
>leave children or animals in the 
vehicle
>intend to leave the windows or 
sliding/tilt sunroof open.
To open and close windowsFrom ignition key position 1:
>Depress the rocker switch until you 
feel resistance:
The window continues moving for as 
long as you maintain pressure on the 
switch
>Press the rocker switch beyond the 
resistance point:
The window moves automatically. 
Press the switch a second time to 
stop the window.390de055
After the ignition has been switched off:
>You can still operate the windows as 
long as neither of the front doors has 
been opened. To open the window, 
press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point.
When leaving the vehicle, always 
extract 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 the convenience mode via the door 
lock or the remote control, refer to 
pages 33 or 35.Safety featureA contact strip is integrated into the 
inner side of each of the upper window 
frame sections. If pressure is exerted 
against this contact strip while a 
window is being raised, the system will 
respond by stopping the window and 
then retracting it a small distance. 

46n
Sliding/tilt sunroof
*
To prevent injuries, exercise care 
when closing the sliding/tilt 
sunroof and keep it in your field of 
vision until it is shut.
Before leaving the vehicle, switch off 
the electric sunroof mechanism by 
taking out the ignition key. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle with 
access to vehicle keys. The key could 
be used to start the engine and operate 
vehicle systems such as the power 
sunroof, etc. Unsupervised use of these 
systems can result in serious personal 
injury.< 
For the convenience mode via the door 
lock or the remote control, refer to 
page 33 or 35.
Raising Ð Opening Ð ClosingWith the ignition key in position 1 or 2, 
press the switch or slide it in the 
desired direction until you feel resis-
tance.
When lifting, the headliner retracts 
several inches.
The headliner insert can not be 
closed with the sunroof in its 
raised position.< 
After the ignition has been switched off, 
you can still operate the sliding/tilt 
sunroof as long as neither of the front 
doors has been opened.390de724
Automatic
* opening and closing
Press the switch past the resistance 
point and then release it.
Other automatic operations are:
>With the sunroof open, press the 
switch briefly toward "Lift:" the 
sunroof automatically extends to its 
fully-raised position
>With the sunroof lifted, press the 
switch briefly toward "Open:" the 
sunroof automatically opens all the 
way.
Pressing the switch again briefly stops 
the motion.Safety featureIf the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters 
resistance at a point roughly past the 
middle of its travel when it is closing, 
the closing cycle is interrupted and the 
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again 
slightly. 

47n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sliding/tilt sunroof
*
Despite this safety feature, be 
extremely careful that the travel 
path of the sunroof is not obstructed 
whenever it is closed. Remember that 
the safety mechanism may not be able 
to detect obstructions under all circum-
stances (with very thin objects, for 
instance). You can disable this safety 
feature by pressing the switch beyond 
the pressure point and holding it.<
Sliding/tilt sunroof with glass 
moonroof
*
The options and control procedures are 
essentially the same as those previ-
ously described for the sliding/tilt 
sunroof. In order to open the raised 
roof, press the control switch towards 
"Open" and maintain pressure until the 
roof has reached the desired position.
The headliner insert slides back some-
what when you raise the sunroof, and 
retracts along with the sunroof panel 
when you slide it back. The insert then 
remains open, and you can slide it back 
and forth to adjust it whenever the 
sunroof is not fully retracted.
Interruption in the electrical 
supplyAfter interruptions in the electrical 
supply (when the battery is discon-
nected, for instance), the sunroof may 
only lift. To reinitialize the mechanism:
1. Raise the sliding/tilt sunroof fully
2. Press and hold the switch for approx 
twenty seconds.390de725
Manual operationIn the event of an electrical malfunction, 
you can also operate the sliding/tilt 
sunroof manually:
1. Remove the interior lamp, then reach 
into the exposed opening and press 
out the cover
2. Use the Allen key from the onboard 
tool kit (refer to page 150) to turn the 
sliding/tilt sunroof in the desired 
direction.390de376 

127n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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 
vehicle weight or the permissible axle 
weights (refer to page 171). If you do, 
the operating safety of the vehicle is no 
longer ensured and you are in violation 
of the law. 
Do not carry hard or heavy objects 
unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment. If you do so, they may be 
projected through the air during braking 
and evasive maneuvers, thus endan-
gering vehicle occupants.< 
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 
exercise a major effect on the vehicle's 
handling and steering response.394de757
You should therefore always remember 
not to exceed the approved roof 
weight, the approved gross vehicle 
weight or the axle weights when 
loading the rack. You will find the spec-
ifications under "Technical data" on 
page 171.
Make sure that the load is not too bulky, 
and attempt to distribute it evenly. 
Always load the heaviest pieces first (on 
the bottom). Ensure that adequate room 
remains for the tilt sunroof to extend 
upward and that no objects protrude 
into the tailgate's travel range on the 
sport wagon.
Always ensure that roof-mounted 
loads are tightly secured, as loose 
loads can shift or even fly off the roof, 
posing a serious hazard for following 
traffic.<
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden 
acceleration and braking. Do not corner 
at high speeds.