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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sequential M gearbox* SMG IIThe warning stops after approx.
10 seconds. If you move the selector
lever into a forward or reverse position
during this time, a gear is automatically
engaged.
The SMG II has no park position
for securing the vehicle against
rolling.
The ignition key can be removed in any
selector lever position.<
Always engage the parking brake
when parking on downhill roads.
Engaging a gear may not sufficiently
secure the vehicle against rolling.<
Display in instrument clusterThe selector lever position, currently
engaged gear and selected driving
program are displayed in the instrument
cluster.
1 Engaged gear
2 Selected driving program
(corresponds to the number of illumi-
nated fields), refer to page 64
3 Tapping the selector lever to the right
switches over into the displayed shift
mode
4 "A" indicates an activated automated
mode.
R Ð Reverse positionOnly engage with the vehicle stopped
or at low speed, e.g. for "rocking free"
in deep snow.0 Ð Position 0Always engage before starting the
engine.
If the driving situation requires, e.g.
when downshifting on slippery roads,
the SMG II automatically disengages
and reengages the clutch, i.e. it is not
necessary to manually engage
position 0. S Ð Sequential modeIn the sequential mode all forward
gears are to be shifted by the driver.
Changeover from automated to
sequential mode:
>Tap the selector lever to the right
toward "S"
or
>change gears with the selector lever
or the shift paddles on the steering
wheel.
You do not need to reduce the throttle
for shifting.
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Washer/Wiper system/Rain sensor
*
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent operation or rain sensor
2 Normal wipe speed
3 Fast wipe speed
4 Brief wipe
5 Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensorIntermittent operation(not on vehicles with rain sensor)
You can set the wipe interval at four
stages with rotary dial 5. In addition, the
wipe interval is varied automatically
depending on road speed.
Rain sensor
The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield directly behind the rearview
mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>With the ignition key in position 1
or higher, move the lever to
position 1. The wipers will make at
least one sweep across the wind-
shield
>You can leave the lever in position 1
at all times. With the ignition key in
position 1 or higher, all you then need
to do to activate the rain sensor is
briefly turn the rotary dial 5.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor: turn rotary dial 5.
To deactivate the rain sensor: return
lever to position 0.
Deactivate the rain sensor in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by
undesired wiper activation.<
Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers switch automatically to intermit-
tent wipe (not on vehicles with rain
sensor).Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers operate at normal speed (not on
vehicles with rain sensor).
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer/Wiper system/Rain sensor
*
0 Wipers retracted
1 Clean the windshieldCleaning the windshieldThe system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
Do not use the washers if there is
any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield. If you do so,
your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use an antifreeze agent, refer to
page 109.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage
to the washer pump.<
Cleaning the headlamps
*
When the vehicle's lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps will also be
cleaned every fifth time the automatic
windshield washer is activated.Windshield washer jetsThe windshield washer jets are warmed
automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
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Cruise control You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control is available whenever
the engine is running and the system
has been activated.
To activate the systemFrom ignition key position 2:
Press the button and the indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster (refer to
page 20) will come on. You can now
use the cruise control.
Do not use cruise control on
twisting roads, when high traffic
density prevents driving at a constant
speed, when the road surface is slick
(snow, rain, ice), or when the road
surface is loose (rocks or gravel,
sand).
to until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when
the ignition key is in position 0.
The speed stored in memory is deleted.
To maintain and store speed
or to acceleratePress button (+) briefly:
The system maintains and stores the
current vehicle speed. Every time you
tap the button, the speed increases by
0.6 mph (1 km/h).
Press and hold button (+):
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the button, the system
maintains and stores the current speed.
If, on a downhill gradient, the
engine's braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed can be
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.<
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1 Odometer
2 Trip odometer
OdometerYou can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the button in the
instrument cluster (arrow).Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the button (arrow) with the igni-
tion key in position 1 or higher.
Variable pre-warning zoneThe yellow pre-warning zone displays
current permissible engine speed,
depending on the engine temperature.
As the engine temperature climbs,
some of the sectors for this pre-warning
zone will go out one after the other.
Avoid engine speeds in the pre-warning
zone if possible.
Absolutely avoid engine speeds in the
red warning zone.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted when you approach this
sector.
The general operating temperature is
between 175 7 (80 6) and 250 7
(120 6). During performance-oriented
driving, do not exceed the maximum
temperature of 300 7 (150 6).
Odometer Tachometer Temperature gauge
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Fuel gauge Temperature gauge Service Interval Display Once the indicator lamp stays on
continuously, there are still approx.
2 gallons (8 liters) of fuel in the fuel
tank.
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 16.6 gal.
(63 liters).
If the tilt of the vehicle varies (when you
are driving in mountainous areas, for
example), the needle may fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.<
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly as a
functional check.
BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at
moderate engine and vehicle speeds. RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to
confirm that the system is operational.
If the lamp comes on while operating
the vehicle, the engine has overheated.
Switch off the engine immediately and
allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to
page 112.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle
may rise as far as the edge of the red
sector in normal operation.
Remaining distance for serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or after the
engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OILSERVICE or INSPECTION,
together with the distance remaining
before the next scheduled service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the
preceding driving style.
A flashing message and a "Ð" in front of
the number mean that the service
interval has already been exceeded by
the distance shown on the display.
Please contact your BMW center for an
appointment.
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DisplayThe following information or conditions
are displayed from ignition key posi-
tion 2 on, until the cause has been
corrected:
1 Inspect the low beams and the high
beams, as well as the parking lamps
2 Door open
3 Luggage compartment lid open
4 Check brake and tail lamps.
After completion of a trip and upon
opening the driver's door, an acoustic
signal will sound yet not be displayed,
as a reminder that the low beam head-
lamps have not been turned off.
Mode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 and
higher, you can use the button in the
turn signal lever to retrieve information
from the computer for display in the
instrument cluster. By pressing the
button briefly in the direction of the
steering column, you can call up a new
function for display.
The displays appear in the following
order:
Time of day, outside temperature,
average fuel consumption, cruising
range, average vehicle speed.
From ignition key position 1, the last
active setting is displayed.
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time
display, you can make this adjustment
in the car radio display (refer to the
Radio Owner's Manual).
You can set the time of day, and the
display for the car radio, as follows:
Check Control
Computer
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ComputerAdjustments From ignition key position 1 the time of
day appears in the display.
To set ahead: turn the knob to the right.
To set back: turn the knob to the left.
The adjustment speed will increase the
longer you continue to hold the knob.
To change the display mode: press the
knob briefly. Every time you press the
knob, the clock display alternates
between the 12-hour or 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is
displayed for a few seconds after you
press the left knob (refer to "Odom-
eter", page 70).
Outside temperature You can change the units of measure
(6/7) for the outside temperature
display by pressing the right-hand reset
knob in the instrument cluster while the
temperature display is active.
Ice warning If the outside temperature drops to
about 37.5 7 (+3 6), then the
computer will automatically switch to
show the outside temperature. In addi-
tion, a signal sounds as a warning and
the display flashes for a brief period.
The ice warning does not alter the
fact that surface ice can form at
temperatures above 37.5 7 (+3 6), on
bridges or shaded road surfaces, for
instance.<