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
20n
Indicator and warning lamps
Red: as important reminder
Parking brake
*
Comes on when you engage the
parking brake.
For additional information: refer to
page 68
Parking brake warning lamp
*
for
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts
l
Accompanied by warning tone
and message
*
in the Check
Control panel. Remains on until the
safety belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 53.
Airbags
l
Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 58
Yellow: please have checked at
your earliest opportunity
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
l
ABS has been deactivated in
response to system malfunction.
Conventional braking efficiency is avail-
able without limitations. Please have
the system inspected by your BMW
center.
For additional information: refer to
page 131
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Engine oil level
*
Comes on while driving: the
engine oil level has fallen to the
absolute minimum; refill as soon as
possible. Do not drive more than
approx. 30 miles (50 km) until you do.
For additional information: refer to
page 140
Engine oil level
*
Comes on after the engine has
been shut off: add engine oil at
your earliest opportunity (when you
stop to refuel).
For additional information: refer to
page 140
Automatic transmission
*
Because of a malfunction, the
automatic transmission shifts
only in the emergency program. Please
consult the nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
pages 72 and 75
Brake pads
*
l
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 132
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
*
l
Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking efficiency
is available without limitations.
Have the system repaired by your BMW
center at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.
For additional information: refer to
page 98
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
*
l
Check the tire inflation pressure.
Refer to pages 26, 98
48n
For relaxed and fatigue-free driving you
should select a sitting position that
reflects your personal requirements.
Correct posture combines with safety
belts and airbags to enhance occupant
safety in the event of an accident. To
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems
provide you with optimal protection, we
request that you direct your careful
attention to the following section.
For additional information on trans-
porting children, refer to page 61.
Sitting correctly with airbags
Always maintain an adequate
distance between yourself and the
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel
by the rim to keep any chance of injury
to hands or arms to an absolute
minimum should the airbag be
deployed. Never allow any objects,
individuals or animals to obstruct the
areas between passengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a
storage tray or support for objects of
any kind. Never allow front passengers
to rest their feet or legs on the airbag
cover.<
For airbag locations and additional
information on airbags refer to page 58.
Safe with 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
pelvis and shoulder, wear it as snugly
against your body as possible. Do not
allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects in your pockets. Do not
route the belt across your neck, or run it
across sharp edges. Avoid wearing
bulky clothing and pull on the lap belt
periodically to retention it over your
shoulders. In the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
the hips, leading to abdominal injury. In
addition, the safety belt's restraint
effectiveness is reduced if it 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 pres-
sure against the abdominal area.<
For information on using the safety
belts refer to page 53.
When adjusting your seat, always
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with an unexpected
movement, and the ensuing loss of
vehicle control could lead to an acci-
dent. Never ride with the backrest
reclined to an extreme horizontal angle
(important for front passengers to
remember), otherwise, there is a risk
that you will slide under the safety belt
in an accident, thus negating the
protection the safety belt provides.
Do not move the seats to the rear when
the vehicle is at an extreme angle (on
garage ramps or steep slopes, for
example). If you do so, the automatic
safety belt height adjustment can be
disengaged.<
Seat adjustment>Manually-adjusted seat, refer to
page 49
>Electric power seats, refer to page 50
>Head restraints, refer to page 52
>BMW active seat, refer to page 52
Correct sitting posture Seats
53n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Safety beltsDrive with your safety belt onAlways fasten your safety belt before
starting off. As supplemental restraint
devices, the airbags are designed to
enhance the effectiveness of the safety
belts, and not to replace them.To closeMake sure you hear the catch engage in
the belt buckle.To open1. Press the red button in belt buckle
2. Hold the end of the belt
3. Guide belt back into the inertia reel.
The shoulder belt anchor automatically
adjusts to continue providing an
optimum fit when you move the seat
forward or back.390de653
The rear belt buckle with the word
"CENTER" is intended exclusively
for the passenger sitting in the middle.
Sedan with through-loading system
*:
please comply with the instructions for
the center safety belt on page 119.
sport wagon: if it is not possible to
extract the center belt, this indicates
that the detent for the larger backrest is
not securely engaged, refer to
page 123.<
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
to ensure that the safety belts continue
to provide effective protection, always
have the entire safety belt mechanism
replaced and the belt anchorages
inspected at your BMW center.
If a child-restraint system was in the
vehicle during an accident, consult the
manufacturer's instructions regarding
replacement.c
58n
Mirrors AirbagsInterior and exterior mirrors with
automatic dimming feature
*
These mirrors automatically respond to
glare from following vehicles by
dimming through an infinitely-variable
range. The mirrors automatically revert
to their clear, undimmed setting when-
ever you select reverse.
The dimming function is regulated by
two photocells; one is integrated in the
mirror's lens (arrow), while the other is
located at an offset position on the rear
of the mirror.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate efficiently, ensure that the
photocells remain clear and unob-
structed. Refrain from attaching
stickers to the windshield in the area
immediately in front of the mirror.390de031
1 Front airbags on the driver and
passenger sides
2 Head protection airbags on driver
and passenger side (front and rear
*)
3 Side airbags on driver and passenger
side (front and rear
*)
Protective effectThe front airbags protect the driver and
passenger in the event of a head-on
collision where the protection provided
by the safety belt alone would not be
adequate. The head protection airbags
and side airbags help provide protec-
tion in the event of a collision from the
side. Each of the side airbags is
designed to help support the upper
body.380de643
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 acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please
contact your BMW center for additional
information.c
For information on the correct sitting
position, refer to page 48.
The airbags will not be triggered in
the event of a minor accident, a
vehicle rollover or a collision from the
rear.<
59n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Airbags
Never apply stickers or adhesive-
backed objects of any kind to the
airbag covers. Never attempt to reup-
holster the covers or modify them in any
way. If the airbags deploy in response
to an accident, if you note any signs of
system malfunction, or if you wish to
have any parts of the airbag passenger-
restraint system deactivated, always
contact your BMW center, to whom we
strongly urge you to entrust all testing,
repair and dismantling operations.
Never attempt to modify or tamper with
either the system's electrical wiring or
any of its individual components.
System components include the uphol-
stered surfaces on the steering wheel,
instrument panel, the trim panels on the
front and rear doors (with rear airbags)
and the roof braces as well as the sides
of the headliner above the doors.
Never attempt to remove or dismantle
the steering wheel.
To ensure compliance with official
safety regulations, always entrust
disposal of airbag generators to your
BMW center. Attempts to carry out
service procedures undertaken by
anyone other than specially-trained
professionals can result in system
failure or undesired airbag deployment,
both of which can lead to personal
injury. If the airbags deploy in response
to an accident, always remember to
avoid all contact with system compo-
nents, as they are hot and can cause
burns in the period immediately
following deployment.<
All vehicle occupants should
always sit upright and be properly
restrained (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: 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 location.
Accident research shows that the
safest place for children in an automo-
bile 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 side airbag, if installed. For
example, a child Ð even though belted Ð
may fall asleep with his or her head
against the side airbag. It may be diffi-
cult 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 recommend that the
rear-seat 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
followed, there is still a small residual
risk of injuries to the face, hands and
arms occurring in isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild temporary hearing loss
in extremely sensitive individuals.
Airbag warning information is also
provided on the sun visors.
60n
AirbagsThis is the right way for a child to sit in a
child restraint when rear side airbags
(arrow) are provided.380de637
This is the right way for a larger child to
sit wearing the safety belt when rear
side airbags (arrow) are provided.380de638
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates the
operational status of the airbag
system from ignition key posi-
tion 1.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting up
again.
Please respond to any malfunctions in
the system by immediately having it
inspected at your BMW center; other-
wise the airbag could fail to respond to
an accident in which both the angle and
the severity of the impact would
normally trigger airbag deployment.
61n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Transporting children safelyCommercially-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.380us123
If you use a child-restraint system with
a tether strap, three additional tether
anchorage points (refer to the arrows Ð
the illustration shows the sport wagon)
have been provided. 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.
Remove the cover first on the middle
location.
If the respective seating position is
fitted with a headrest, lift the headrest
and pass the tether strap between the
headrest and the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child-restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.392au001
Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat,
please read the following:
Never install a rear-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 rear-facing child-restraint
system (of the kind designed for infants
under 1 year and 20 Ibs./9 kg) 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 (not an infant) to ride in the
front seat, certain precautions should
be taken. First, move the passenger
seat as far away from the dashboard as
possible. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance
between the airbag and the child.