
Opening and closing
44 point and holding it limits the response of
the safety feature. The sunroof only opens
a short distance.
If you again press the switch past the pres-
sure point and hold it in position within
about 1.5 seconds, the safety feature will
be deactivated.<
When you close the sliding/tilt-
sunroof it will slow down as it
approaches the end of its travel path; this is
to allow the safety feature to respond more
precisely to any obstructions encountered
in this critical range.<
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply Following interruptions in electrical power
(for instance, when the battery is discon-
nected), it is possible that the sliding/tilt-
sunroof will extend to its tilt-up position,
but fail to respond to other commands.
Should this occur, please have the sunroof
reinitialized at your BMW center.Malfunctions In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can operate the sliding/tilt sunroof
manually:
1.Remove the interior lamp and reach into
the opening to press out the cover 2.Insert the Allen wrench supplied with
the onboard tool kit, refer to page 181, in
the opening provided, note the position of
the arrow. Turn to slide the sliding/tilt
sunroof in the desired direction.

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45
Adjustments Correct sitting position
The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving.
The correct sitting position also works
together with the safety belts and airbags
to provide occupants with maximum levels
of passive safety in an accident. To ensure
that the safety systems operate with
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to
observe the instructions contained in the
following section.
For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 57. Correct sitting position with airbags
Always maintain an adequate
distance between yourself and the
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel by
its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock and
3 o'clock positions, to minimize the risk of
injuries to your hands and arms in the event
of airbag deployment. No one and nothing
is to come between the airbags and the
seat occupant.
To prevent possible leg injuries should the
knee airbag deploy in an accident, ensure
that the front passenger assumes a correct
sitting position. Do not use the cover of the
front airbag on the front passenger side as
a storage area for objects, or as a rest for
feet or legs.<
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 55.
Correct sitting position with safety
belts For the safety of all vehicle occupants,
please comply with the following instruc-
tions for wearing 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 hips and
shoulder. Wear it as snugly against your body as possible. Do not allow the belt to
rest against hard or fragile objects.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or jammed.
Avoid wearing loose or bulky clothing that
would prevent the belt from resting
securely against your body; pull on the
shoulder strap periodically to keep it
tensioned. In the event of a frontal impact,
a loose lap belt could slide over your hips,
leading to abdominal injury. In addition, the
safety belt's restraint effectiveness is
reduced if the belt 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 pressure against the abdom-
inal area.<
For putting on safety belts, refer to
page 50.
Seats For your personal safety when adjusting
the seat position, please follow the instruc-
tions below carefully.
Never attempt to adjust your seat
while operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident.
Never recline the backrest to an extremely
horizontal position while the vehicle is
underway Ð this precaution is especially
important for front passengers and the
occupants of electric power rear seats to
remember. Failure to observe these
precautions can prevent the belts from
providing effective protection against
injury, as passengers could slide under the
belts in an accident.<
Please observe the information on using
safety belts provided on page 50 and the

Adjustments
48
Head restraints Adjustment information
Head restraints can reduce the risk of
spinal injury in the event of an acci-
dent.
Adjust the head restraints so that they are
centered roughly at the level of your ears.<
Electric power seat, comfort seat
Height adjustment The head restraint automatically adjusts to
the standard height for the seat's current
forward/backward adjustment.
You can then adjust the height of the
head restraint by hand or using the
electric switch as required.<
To adjust head restraint tilt angle: adjust by
tilting the head restraint. To adjust side extensionsYou can fold the side extensions on the
head restraint forward for increased lateral
support.
Front head restraints, active*
When necessary, the system will respond
to a rear impact by automatically triggering
the active head restraints.
To ensure that the active head
restraints afford maximum protection,
and to avoid unnecessary risks to personal
safety, we request that you read and
comply with the following.
>Adjust the head restraints so that they
are centered at roughly ear height
>Do not install seat or head-restraint
covers
>Never use the head restraints as
supports for suspending objects of any
kind, such as clothes hangers. Refrain from
mounting accessories on either the seat or
the head restraint.
>To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
push down the head restraint.
To remove head restraints, refer to
page 49. Adjusting the center head restraint
If the head restraint has been
lowered, pull it back up, continuing
until the detent engages, before allowing a
passenger to ride in the rear center posi-
tion. Failure to observe this precaution can
reduce the level of occupant protection.<

Adjustments
50
Safety beltsDespite the presence of airbags, you
should always remember to fasten your
safety belt before starting off; airbags are
intended to enhance the protection
provided by the safety belts, and not to
replace them. To fastenMake sure you hear the latch plate engage
in the belt buckle.
Warning lamp: Please fasten safety
belts. Accompanied by a signal
and/or a message in the Check
Control display. Remains on until the safety
belts are fastened. To releasePress the red button in the buckle. Hold the
belt and guide it back into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will
be in the correct position for seat occu-
pants of every build if the seat is correctly
adjusted, refer to page 45.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
in the rear seat are for passengers sitting
on the left and right. The belt buckle embossed with the word CENTER is
intended exclusively for use by passengers
riding in the center position.
Please remember to observe the instruc-
tions for seat adjustment found on
page 45.
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the tensioning
mechanisms and any installed child-
restraint systems, replaced at your BMW
center. Have the belt anchorage points
inspected for damage at the same time.
Failure to observe this precaution may
prevent the safety belts from effectively
providing optimal protection when
needed.<
Rear seats
When the rear center position is not
occupied, the latch on the safety belt
can be inserted in the slot between the
seat's upholstery and the backrest.<
Heated seats*Front The system regulates the temperatures of
the seat cushion and backrest.
The temperature setting progresses one
step through its control sequence each
time you press the button.
To switch off :
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.

Adjustments
52
Active seat* "Active" adjustment of the seat cushion's
contours reduces muscular tension and
fatigue to help prevent lower back pain.
To activate: press the button, the indicator
lamp comes on. MirrorAdjusting exterior mirrors 14-way adjustment
2To select mirror for adjustment
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this
vehicle from being damaged, always
fold them in by hand before entering an
automatic car wash.<
You can also adjust the mirrors manually by
pressing against the outer edges of their
lenses.
Storing the mirror positions, refer to seat,
mirror and steering wheel memory on
page 54.
The mirror on the passenger's side
features a lens with a more convex
surface than the mirror installed on the
driver's side. When estimating the distance between yourself and other traffic, bear in
mind that the objects reflected in the mirror
are closer than they appear. This means
that estimations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as precise.<
Self-defrosting mirrors The mirrors are automatically heated
whenever the ignition is switched on. Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
These mirrors automatically respond to
ambient light and headlamp glare from
following vehicles by automatically
dimming through an infinitely-variable
range. There are two photocells located in
the interior rearview mirror for this purpose.
One is integrated within the mirror's lens
(arrow), while the other is located at an
offset position on the rear of the mirror
housing.
The mirrors automatically revert to their
clear, undimmed mode whenever you
place the selector lever into reverse.
For trouble-free operation, keep the
photocells clean and do not cover the
area between the interior rearview mirror
and the windshield. Do not attach any kind
of stickers on the windshield in front of the
mirror, either.<

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55
1.Select the driver's door mirror with the
switch
2.When you tap the selector lever to select
reverse, the door mirror on the passenger
side tilts downward. This allows the driver
to see the area immediately adjacent to the
vehicle Ð such as a curb Ð when parking,
etc.
You can deactivate this automatic feature:
Slide the mirror selection switch to the
"passenger's side" position.
Airbags 1Front airbags for driver and front
passenger
2Head airbags in front and rear
*
3Side airbags in front and rear*
4Knee airbags for driver and front
passenger
Airbags are located under the upholstery
covers on the steering wheel, in the instru-
ment panel, in the door trim panels in front
and rear
*, on the roof pillars and the sides
of the headliner.
Protective effect The front airbags protect the front passen-
gers by responding to frontal impacts in
which safety belts alone cannot provide
adequate restraint. When needed, the head
and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The side airbags
help restrain the side of the occupant's
upper torso, and the head airbags help
support the head while also helping
provide protection against any objects
penetrating into the passenger compart-ment. The knee airbags help protect the
legs against impact against the cockpit.
The side airbags in the rear
passenger area of your vehicle may
already have been deactivated either at the
time of manufacture or by a BMW center.
You may have them activated if you desire
to do so. Please contact your BMW center
for additional information.<
For information on the proper sitting posi-
tion, refer to page 45.
The airbags do not deploy in
response to minor collisions or rear
impacts, nor do they respond to certain
kinds of vehicle rollover.<
Even when all safety guidelines are
observed, there is a small residual risk that
passengers will sustain facial, hand or arm
injuries in isolated instances. The ignition
and inflation noise may provoke a mild
temporary hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals.

Adjustments
56
Important safety notes
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag
restraint system from the vehicle. If you
note any indication of system malfunction,
if you desire to have an airbag deactivated,
or if the airbags are triggered in response
to an accident, you should always entrust
all inspection, repair and dismantling oper-
ations to your BMW center.
Never modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in the
airbag system. This category includes the
upholstery in the center of the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, the side
trim panels on the front and rear doors, and
the roof pillars along with the sides of the
headliner. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel.
To ensure compliance with official safety
regulations, entrust disposal of airbag
generators to a BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either
of which could result in personal injury. Do
not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of
burns.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained Ð
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts. Never let an
occupant's head rest near or on a side
airbag because the inflating airbag could
cause a serious or fatal injury. Please note
that the word "Airbag" imprinted on the
door trim panel indicates the airbag's loca-
tion.
Never install a rear-facing child-restraint
device on the front passenger seat. If you
do so, the child could be injured when the
airbag is triggered.
Children should always ride in the rear and
the restraint systems should be secured
with the vehicle's belts.Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat. However, a child sitting in the
rear seat and not properly restrained may
place his or her head on or near the airbag,
if so equipped.
For example, a child Ñ even though belted
Ñ may fall asleep with his or her head
against the side airbag. It may be difficult
for a driver to ensure that children in the
rear seat will remain properly positioned at
all times and do not place their heads on or
near the side airbag. Therefore, we recom-
mend that the rear side airbags, if provided,
be deactivated if you plan to transport chil-
dren in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the time of
manufacture or by a BMW center. Labels in
the rear door opening should indicate the
status of your rear-seat side airbags. If you
are uncertain of their status, or wish to have
the airbags activated or deactivated,
please contact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual risk
of injuries to the face, hands and arms
occurring from airbag deployment in
isolated instances. The ignition and infla-
tion noise may provoke a mild temporary
hearing loss in extremely sensitive individ-
uals.
Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun blinds.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp shows the
airbag and belt-tensioner system's
operational status as soon as you
insert the remote control unit in the ignition
(radio mode).
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on or
>it remains on continuously.

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57
A system malfunction could prevent the
system from responding to an impact
occurring within its normal response range.
Please respond to any signs of malfunction
by having the airbag system inspected
immediately at a BMW center. Transporting children safely Commercially-available child-restraint
systems are designed to be secured with a
lap belt or with the lap belt portion of a
combination lap/shoulder belt. Improperly
or inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions that
come with the system. Child-restraint system with tether
strap If you use a child-restraint system with a
tether strap, three additional tether
anchorage points have been provided Ð
refer to the arrows in the illustration.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area, attach
the tether strap to the corresponding
anchorage point to secure the child-
restraint system, as shown in the illustra-
tion below. Each seating position is fitted with a head
restraint.
Outer seating positions:
Lift the head restraint and pass the tether
strap between the headrest and the seat
back. It is recommended to readjust the
head restraint into the lowest possible
position.
Center seating position:
The headrest must be adjusted into the
lowest possible position. Pass the tether
strap over the headrest.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child-restraint manufacturer's instructions.
Before installing any child-restraint
device or child seat, please read the
following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger seat
of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front
passenger. Because the backrest on any
rearward-facing child-restraint system Ð of
the kind designed for infants under 1 year
and 20 Ibs./9 kg Ð would be within the
airbag's deployment range, you should
never mount such a device in the front
passenger seat, since the impact of the
airbag against the child-restraint's backrest
could lead to serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child Ð not an infant Ð
to ride in the front seat, certain precautions
should be taken. First, move the passenger
seat as far away from the instrument panel
as possible. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance
between the airbag and the child. Older
children should be tightly secured with a