
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Contents
Notes
6Using this Owner's Manual
6Symbols used
7The individual vehicle
7Editorial notice
8For you own safety
9REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
Cockpit
12Driver's side Ð Controls and displays
16Comfort and convenience Ð Controls
and displays
18Buttons in steering wheel
Control Center
19The concept
19Controller
19Control Display
20Symbols and lists
22Menus in Control Display
23Assistance window*
Voice command
25Voice command system*
25Voice commands
27Notices
27The notebook
29Brief commands
Opening and closing
34Keys
35Central locking system
35Opening and closing Ð from outside
37Opening and closing Ð from inside
38Doors
38Luggage compartment lid 40Luggage compartment
40Alarm system
42Electric power windows
43Sliding/tilt sunroof*
Adjustments
45Correct sitting position
45Seats
48Head restraints
50Safety belts
50Heated seats*
51Active seat ventilation*
52Active seat*
52Mirror
53Steering wheel adjustment
54Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory
55Airbags
57Transporting children safely
58LATCH child-restraint system
59Child-safety locks
59Car Memory, Key Memory
Driving
61Ignition lock
62Starting the engine
62Switching off engine
62Parking brake
66Automatic transmission with L mode
69Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
71Turn signal indicators/headlamp
flasher
71Wiper system
73Washer fluid
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprints, in whole or part, approved
exclusively with written permission of
BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 40 0 156 097
US X/2001
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for
recycling).

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15
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
The indicator and warning lamps identified
by the
l
symbol are subjected to an oper-
ation check each time you switch on the
ignition or start the engine. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored
system, the corresponding lamp will either
fail to go out when the engine is started, or
it will come on again during normal driving.
For information on how you should respond
when this happens, please refer to the
pages indicated.
Please fasten safety belts
l
50
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
l
89
DTC Dynamic Traction Control89
ABS Antilock Braking System
l
91
Parking brake/Brake system
hydraulic circuits/DBC Dynamic
Brake Control
l
62/ 91/ 178
Parking brake/Brake hydraulic
sytems/DBC Dynamic Brake
Control for Canadian models.
Parking brake62,65
Parking brake62,65
Automatic parking brake Ð Auto-
matic Hold
l
63,65 Engine
l
180
Airbags
l56
Turn signal indicators71
High beams/headlamp flasher97
Front fog lamps97
ColorsThe indicator and warning lamps can light
up in different colors and combinations.
The following section explains the signifi-
cance of the individual colors as well as
how you should respond when they
appear.
>Red:
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
To drive; drive cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system inspected at the earliest
opportunity
or
for your information
>Green
For your information
>Blue:
For your information.

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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
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.

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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

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161
Hands-free system On vehicles prewired for installation of a
mobile phone, the hands-free microphone
is located on the front headliner.
The hands-free system is automatically
activated whenever you establish or
receive a call using the following:
>Button in the steering wheel
>Control Display
>Key Pad
>Voice command system.To make SOS call The emergency SOS call function is avail-
able only when the mobile phone receiver/
handset is in its tray.To make call manually Maintain pressure on button, see arrow, for
at least 1 second. The system automatically triggers an
emergency SOS call >when an airbag deploys
>in response to severe rear impact >if the vehicle rolls over.
The indicator lamp in the button flashes.
If the vehicle is not equipped with a naviga-
tion system the phone system will automat-
ically establish contact to the standard 911
emergency number.
If the vehicle is equipped with a navigation
system, the phone system will automati-
cally establish contact with the BMW
ASSIST emergency call center. The system
also transmits the vehicle's current location
to the center at the same time. Following
transmission of the data a confirmation
message will appear in the Control Display.
The emergency call center can initiate
immediate action for emergency assis-
tance.
If conditions allow, remain in the
vehicle until the connection has been
established. You will then be able to
provide a detailed description of the situa-
tion.
If the indicator lamp flashes, but you are
unable to hear the emergency call center
through the hands-free system, this could
indicate (for instance) that the hands-free
system is no longer operational. Under
these conditions you may be able to
continue the call using your BMW mobile
phone.
Misuse of the emergency call system is
forbidden under penalty of law.<
Initial operationPress button 1 and insert the plug in the
mobile phone.