
 
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 

 
22n
Steering wheel with multifunction buttonsThe controls integrated within the multi-
function steering wheel (MFL) and the 
sports steering wheel
* have been 
designed to allow you to operate a 
number of accessories both quickly and 
safely, without taking your eyes from 
the road:
>selected control functions for the 
radio along with CD, MD and 
cassette player
>recirculated-air control of the air 
conditioner system or the heated 
steering wheel
* (MFL only)
>the cruise control
>various phone functions
* and
>voice entry
*.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.< 
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
Extended pressure:
Activate/deactivate voice entry.
Switch between phone and radio, 
cassette, CD and MD.
Forward:
>Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: search function
>CD/MD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: stop track scan or fast 
forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind: functions as forward.
Volume
Cruise control: to select a stored 
setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate (+) 
or decelerate and store (Ð).
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.
Recirculated-air mode and automatic 
recirculated-air control (AUC) or heated 
steering wheel: activate/deactivate. 

32n
Keys Central locking system1 Master key with remote control unit, 
for information on programming the 
key memory refer to page 64.
You can mark individual keys for 
subsequent identification by applying 
the colored decals that you received 
when accepting delivery of your 
vehicle
There is an extended-life battery 
in every master key that is 
charged automatically in the ignition 
lock as you drive. 
For this reason, if you have a master 
key that is not in regular use, you 
should use that key approx. once every 
year while driving for an extended 
period. This will charge the battery. 
Refer also to page 34.< 463de023
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place, 
such as in your wallet. This key is not 
intended for continuous use
3 Door and ignition key
The locks for the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, rear backrest and 
glove compartment cannot be oper-
ated with this key. This is recom-
mended for valet parking, for 
instance
The conceptThe central locking system is ready for 
operation as soon as you close the front 
doors. The system engages and 
releases the locks on the 
>doors
>luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
and rear window
*
>fuel filler door. 
The central locking system can be 
operated 
>from outside via the driver's door lock 
as well as via the remote control
>from inside via the central locking 
system button. 
Activation from inside does not lock the 
fuel filler door (refer to page 37). Activa-
tion from outside simultaneously arms 
the anti-theft system. The alarm system 
is also activated or deactivated.
When you use the central locking 
system to lock the doors from inside 
the vehicle, it will automatically disen-
gage the locks if an accident occurs, 
except on doors that have been locked 
individually using the lock buttons, refer 
to page 37. The accident response 
routine also includes automatic activa-
tion of the hazard warning flashers and 
the interior lamps. 

37n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð from the insideYou can operate the central locking 
system with this button when the 
driver's door is closed. With this button, 
only the doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate and rear window are 
unlocked or locked. The anti-theft 
system is not activated. Also, the fuel 
filler door remains unlocked to allow 
refueling.
The central locking system can be 
locked automatically as soon as 
you begin to drive if you desire. You 
may also have this function 
programmed into individual keys.< 390de691
If only the driver's door was 
unlocked from the outside and 
you press the button
>all other doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate, rear window and 
the fuel filler door will be unlocked if 
the driver's door is open
>the driver's door will be locked again 
when it is closed.< 
To unlock and open the doors>Either unlock the doors together with 
the button for the central locking 
system and then pull the door handle 
above the armrest or
>pull the release handle for each door 
twice: the first pull unlocks the door, 
and the second one opens it.
To engage the locks>Use the central locking button to lock 
all of the doors simultaneously, 
or
>press down the individual door lock 
buttons. As an added design feature 
to prevent the driver from being inad-
vertently locked out of the vehicle, 
the driver's door lock button will not 
engage as long as the door is open.
When the vehicle is moving, you 
should not lock the doors with 
their lock buttons since doors locked in 
this manner would not open automati-
cally in the event of an accident.
Since passengers or animals remaining 
in the vehicle might be able to lock the 
doors from the inside, take the vehicle's 
keys with you so that the vehicle can be 
opened again from the outside at any 
time.<  

54n
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memoryYou can store and call up three different 
seat, exterior mirror and steering wheel 
positions. The illustration shows the 
buttons on the driver's door for making 
these position adjustments.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is 
not stored in the memory.390de032
To store1 Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2
2 Adjust to the desired positions for the 
seat, exterior mirror and steering 
wheel
3 Press the 
M
EMORY button: the indi-
cator lamp in the button comes on
4 Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as 
desired: the indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored settingConvenience function:
1 Open the driver's door after 
unlocking the vehicle or turn the igni-
tion key to position 1
2 Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3, 
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when 
one of the seat-adjustment or 
memory buttons is activated during 
the adjustment process. 
Security function:
1 With the driver's door closed and the 
ignition key either removed or in posi-
tion 0 or 2
2 Maintain pressure on the desired 
memory button (1, 2 or 3) until the 
adjustment process is completed.
If you press the 
M
EMORY button 
accidentally: press the button a second 
time; the indicator lamp goes out.
Do not select a new stored 
memory setting while the vehicle 
is moving. There is a risk of accident 
from unexpected movement of the seat 
or steering wheel.<  

87n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Multi-Information Display (MID)
*
Central displayThe MID serves as the central display 
and operation for the following onboard 
systems:
>Digital clock (e. g. time display, date)
>Audio systems (radio, cassette, CD)
>Computer ( e.g. fuel consumption, 
cruising range)
>Cellular phone ( e.g. dialing).
You will find explanations and informa-
tion on operating the digital clock and 
the computer on the following pages. 
Please refer to the separate Owner's 
Manual instructions for operating the 
audio systems, the cellular phone and 
the computer.
The system rejects implausible 
numerical entries. 
Any interruption in the supply of elec-
trical power from the battery will result 
in the loss of all stored data. Once the 
power has been restored, you will need 
to reset the clock and re-enter any 
times for activating the auxiliary heater/
parked-car ventilation. Distance and 
vehicle speed data must also be 
entered again.<
1 Function button for audio systems
2 Function button for the cellular 
phone
*
3 Indicator lamp for independent 
ventilation
*
>remains on if switch-on time is 
active
>flashes while operating
4 Function button for the digital clock 
and computer
5 Indicator display for the various 
computer systems390us705
6 Display for the entry and display 
buttons. Depending on the operating 
mode, the functions and alternatives 
which can be selected at the buttons 
are displayed here
7 Entry and display buttons for oper-
ating the various computer systems 

89n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Digital clock in the MID
*
Reminder signalYou can program a reminder signal 
(Memo) to be heard every hour, so that 
you are sure not to miss a news broad-
cast, for example.
Press the left side of the button.
Press:
MEMO OFF appears in the display for 
entry and query buttons, and the tone 
symbol will appear in the upper right of 
the display.
A signal is then heard 15 seconds 
before each hour.
TimerPress the left side of the button.
Press.
Display shows:
To start the stopwatch function:
Press the right side of the button.
To take an intermediate time reading:
Press.
Press:
The stopwatch display can be seen 
counting up; the stopwatch continues 
to run.
To halt the stopwatch:
Press the right side of the button.
The stopwatch is halted when the 
ignition switch is turned back to 0, 
but starts to run again when the ignition 
key is turned to 1.< 

91n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Computer in the MID
*
Only make entries when the 
vehicle is standing still to avoid 
endangering yourself or other road 
users.<
Computer calculations begin at the 
start of the journey.
Information can also be accessed for 
display by remote control, refer to 
page 95.
Speed limitSpeed limit entry:
You can enter the road speed at which 
you wish to hear and see a reminder 
signal: a signal will sound, the word 
LIMIT will flash, and for a moment, the 
speed limit warning stored in the 
memory will appear on the instrument 
cluster as an alphanumeric display
*, 
along with the Check Control. 
The speed limit reminder is only 
repeated if the vehicle has in the 
meantime been driven at least 3 mph 
(approx. 5 km/h) slower.
Press the right side of the button.
Press.
Press the right side of the button.
Display shows:
Enter the limit by pressing the function 
buttons.
To correct an entry:
Press the left side of the button and 
repeat the entry.
To store the entry:
Press the right side of the button.