
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).

Cockpit
18
Buttons in steering wheel Buttons are integrated within the steering
wheel to allow convenient control of the
following systems, with minimal driver
distraction from road and traffic conditions:
>The automatic transmission's L mode
>Selected radio functions
>Selected mobile phone functions
>The voice command system.
The buttons in the steering wheel are
only operational when the corre-
sponding systems are switched on.<
Cellular phone:
Receive an incoming call, initiate dialing
and end a call
Volume
Voice command system:
To switch on and off
Fast forward/reverse:
>Radio
Press briefly: scans for stations in FM band
Extended pressure: Search
>CD / MD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: fast forward within
track
>Cassette deck
Press briefly: stop track skip or fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
Available for individual programming:
You can program the function for this
button by selecting "MFL" in the "Settings"
menu, refer to page 53. L mode:
Press briefly to alternate between the auto-
matic program and the L mode, refer to
page 68.
Steptronic Ð Canadian models only:
Press briefly to proceed through a selec-
tion sequence consisting of the automatic
program, the Sport program and the
manual mode, refer to page 69.

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.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
69
To deactivate the L mode >Press the L/D button or
>press the selector lever into position D
once again. Automatic transmission
with Steptronic Canadian models only While you can drive as with any conven-
tional automatic transmission, you also
enjoy the option of shifting manually at the
steering wheel, refer to the next column. Transmission rangesP R N D Program displayS or M1 Ð M6Buttons on steering wheel S/M/D + Ð To select a transmission range The procedure for selecting transmission
ranges is the same as that employed in the
L mode, refer to page 67.
Sport program and manual operationWhen you press the S/M/D button on the
steering wheel once, the system responds
by activating the transmission's Sport
program, as indicated by the letter S in the
Info Display, refer to previous column. We
recommend this program for performance-
oriented driving.
When you press the S/M/D button a
second time the transmission switches to
its manual mode; press again to return to
the automatic program.
You can also return to the standard auto-
matic program by reselecting D.
In the manual mode the transmission
upshifts when you briefly tap the buttons
on the rear of the steering wheel. You
downshift by briefly pressing the buttons
on the front of the steering wheel. The Info
Display shows the manual ranges M1
through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are excecuted
only when they will result in a plausible
combination of engine and vehicle speed;
thus (for example) a downshift that would
cause the engine to overrev will not be
executed by the system. The selected gear
appears briefly in the Info Display, followed
by the current gear.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
92 Active stabilizers at the front and rear axles
form the basis for Dynamic Drive. Suspen-
sion compliance adapts to suit driving
conditions, varying from performance-
oriented during cornering to smooth and
comfort-oriented when the vehicle is
proceeding in a straight line.
The system assumes operational status
each time you start the engine.
Driving with Dynamic Drive During vehicle operation, the system
continuously runs through closed-loop
control cycles lasting only fractions of a
second. In case of malfunction
The symbol will light up, accompa-
nied by a status message in the
Check Control panel. Please take
note of the additional information in the
Control Display panel.
You can find more detailed information on
the Check Control starting on page 80.
If the Dynamic Drive system switches
off in response to malfunction, please
remember to adapt your speed accord-
ingly, especially in curves.
The suspension will be noticeably softer
and the vehicle will display a greater
tendency to tilt during cornering and in
crosswinds.
If a status message appears in the Check
Control panel, accompanied by a red
symbol, the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir
may have fallen to below the minimum
level, possibly owing to leakage in the
hydraulic system. Stop the vehicle and
switch off the engine immediately.
Please observe the additional instructions
provided in the Control Display panel.<
EDC Electronic Damping
Control*
The suspension responds to changes in
factors such as road surface, or operating
conditions such as steering and braking, by
adapting to the new conditions within frac-
tions of a second.Comfort program The system automatically assumes opera-
tion in its Comfort mode each time you start
the engine; this mode is suitable for use
throughout the vehicle's entire speed range
and regardless of load. Sport programActivate in "Settings" menu with the igni-
tion on.
You should select the Sport program for
consistently performance-oriented
response from shock absorbers and
steering. RDC Tire Pressure Monitor*The conceptRDC monitors inflation pressures in all four
tires while you drive. The system provides
an alert whenever the inflation pressure
drops significantly below the specified
pressure in one or more tires.
To initialize RDC, start by checking the
inflation pressures in all four tires and
comparing them with those specified in the
chart on page 171, correcting them as
necessary. Then proceed to initialize the
system.

Everything from A to Z
202 Sampling
Ð CD changer 149
Ð MD player 152
Satellite 124
Scan
Ð CD player 147
Ð MiniDisc 152
Ð radio 143
Scan, station sampling
Ð radio 143
Scan audio sampling
Ð CD 147
Scan mode
Ð radio 144
"SCAN" with CD
changer 149
"SCAN" with CD player 147
"SCAN" with MD
player 152
Seat heating 50
Seat memory 54
Seats
Ð adjusting 45
Ð correct position 45
"Seat temp." 51, 103
Seat ventilation, see Active
seat ventilation 51
Securing cargo, see
Cargo 120
Securing the load 114
Selecting new route with
navigation system 133
Selecting new scale for
navigation system
display 132
Selecting stored radio
stations 145
Selector lever, automatic
transmission 67
Select "Route" 133
"Service" 78, 179
Ð "Emissions inspection" 79
Ð "Spark plugs" 78
Ð "State inspection" 79
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US
models) 179
Service brakes 119
Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models) 179Service Interval
Display 78, 179
Service Requirement Dis-
play, see Service Interval
Display 179
"SET", refer to Setting
speed limit 84
Set time 106
"Settings" 19, 22
Setting time and date 86
Shifting, refer to Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic 69
Shiftlock 67
"Shortest route" 131
Shortest travel
distance 131
Shoulder support 46
"Side" in sound system
operation 153
Side window blind, see Sun
blinds 109
Sitting correctly 45
Ski bag 114
Sliding/tilt sunroof 43
Ð closing in the event of an
electrical defect 44
Ð convenience mode 37
Snow chains 173, 174
Soft Close Automatic
Ð doors 38
Ð luggage compartment
lid 39
SOS call
Ð using SOS button 161
Sound system
Ð switching on and off 140
Ð volume 141
Sound system adjustments
Ð balance 141
Ð bass 141
Ð default settings 142
Ð fader, front/rear 141
Ð left/right 141
Ð treble 141
Sound system "AUTO"
function 145
Sound system "Balance"
adjustment 141
Sound system "Bass"
adjustment 141Sound system "Dolby..."
feature 153
Sound system "Fader"
adjustment 141
Sound system "MANUAL"
selection mode 144
Sound system "Memorize"
feature 144
Sound system "Memory"
feature 141, 144
Sound system "Reset"
function 142
Sound system "Speed Vol."
feature 142
Spare fuses 186
Spare key 34
Ð adapter 34
Spare tire 184
"Spark plugs" 78, 179
Specifications for engine
oil 177
Speed limit
Ð "Limit" 84
Speed limit selection,
revision 84
Speedometer 14
"Sport"
Ð "EDC" 92
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control 89
Standing lamps 97
Start/stop button 61
Starting 62
Starting assistance 187
Starting problems 62, 188
Starting the engine 62
"State inspection" 79
Station
Ð sample 143
Ð scan mode 144
Status lines in Control
Center 24
Steering column
Ð adjustment 53
Steering wheel 18
Ð individual button assign-
ment options 53
Steering wheel adjustment,
automatic 53
Steering wheel heater 53
Steering wheel memory 54