
 
Contents
 
© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order no. 01 41 0 156 416
US English IX/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 lamps18 
Steering wheel with multifunction 
buttons22
Warning triangle23
First-aid kit23
Refueling24
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressures26
 
Locks and security systems: 
 
Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing 
Ð via the door lock31 
Opening and closing 
Ð via the remote control32
Opening and closing 
Ð from the inside35 
Liftgate36
Tailgate37
Alarm system39
Electric power windows40
Sliding/tilt sunroof with glass 
moonroof42
 
Adjustments: 
 
Correct sitting posture44
Seats44
Mechanical seat45
Power seat46
Head restraints47
Power rear-seat backrest 
adjustment48
Safety belt49
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory50
Seat heating51
Adjusting steering wheel52
Steering wheel heating53
Mirrors53
 
Passenger safety systems: 
 
Airbags55
Transporting children safely58
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory61
 
Driving: 
 
Ignition lock62
Starting the engine62
Switching off the engine64
Parking brake64
Manual transmission65
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic66
Indicator/Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor69
Cruise control71
 
Everything under control: 
 
Odometer, outside temperature 
display74
Tachometer75
Energy control75
Fuel gauge75
Coolant temperature gauge76
Service Interval Display76
Check Control77
Computer80
Multi-Information Display 
(MID)82
Digital clock in the MID83
Computer in the MID86
 
Inhalt 

25n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Refueling Fuel specifications As long as the filler nozzle is used prop-
erly, the fuel tank is full whenever the 
nozzle shuts off the first time.
To prevent damage to the cata-
lytic converter, do not drive until 
the fuel tank is empty.<
Tank capacity: approx. 24.6 gal. 
(approx. 93 liters), with a reserve 
capacity of
>6-cylinder engine: approx. 2.0 gal. 
(approx. 8 liters)
>8-cylinder engine: approx. 2.5 gal. 
(approx. 10 liters).
Close the filler cap carefully after 
refueling until a "click" is heard. 
While closing, be sure not to squeeze 
the strap which is fastened to the cap. 
A loose or missing cap will activate the 
message "CHECK FILLER CAP" in the 
Check Control
* or the "Check Filler 
Cap" lamp
*.< 
The engine uses lead-free gasoline 
only. 
Required fuel: 
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline, 
min. 91 AKI. 
AKI = Anti Knock Index
Do not use leaded fuels. The use 
of leaded fuels will cause perma-
nent damage to the system's oxygen 
sensor and the catalytic converter.<  

32n
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control offers you optimal 
convenience in using your vehicle's 
locking system while also providing 
three exclusive supplementary features: 
>Switch on the interior lamps, refer to 
page 33.
With this function, you can also 
"search for" your vehicle Ñ when 
parked in an underground garage, for 
instance
>Open the liftgate, refer to page 33.
The liftgate will open slightly, regard-
less of whether it was previously 
locked or unlocked
>Panic mode, refer to page 33.
In case of danger, you can trigger an 
alarm. 
Whenever you unlock (lock) the vehicle, 
you simultaneously deactivate (activate) 
the anti-theft system, disarm (arm) the 
alarm system and switch the interior 
lamps on (off).
You can have an acknowledgment 
signal set to confirm that the 
vehicle is correctly closed.< 
1 Unlock, convenience opening and 
alarm system
2 Lock and secure, interior lamp activa-
tion, switching off tilt alarm sensor 
and interior motion sensor
3 Open the liftgate, panic mode390de793
Master keys with remote control 
unit
Children might be able to lock the 
doors from the inside. For this 
reason, always take the vehicle's keys 
with you so that the vehicle can be 
opened again from the outside at any 
time.< 
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion since the battery in the key is 
charged automatically in the ignition 
lock as you drive.
If it is no longer possible to lock the 
vehicle via the remote control, the 
battery is discharged. Use this key 
while driving for an extended period in 
order to charge the battery, refer also to 
page 30.
To prevent unauthorized use of the 
remote control, surrender only the door 
and ignition key 3 or the spare key 2 
(refer to page 30) when leaving the 
vehicle for valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center. You can also 
obtain replacement keys there.<  

33n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlTo unlock Press button. 
Press the button once to unlock the 
driver's door only; press a second time 
to unlock all remaining doors as well as 
the tailgate/liftgate and fuel filler door. Convenience opening mode Press and hold button. The power 
windows and sliding/tilt sunroof are 
opened. 
To lock and secure Press button. To switch on the interior lamps After locking the vehicle, press button 
again. To switch off the tilt sensor alarm 
and interior motion sensorPress button a second time immedi-
ately after locking. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 40. 
To open the liftgate Press button. 
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the tailgate/liftgate was not 
opened unintentionally.< Panic modeBy pressing and holding the button for 
more than two seconds, you can trigger 
an alarm via the alarm system if there is 
an impending danger (the alarm system 
must be armed).
To switch off the alarm 
Press button. 

39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Alarm system The concept The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate 
is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>To variations in the vehicle tilt angle 
such as occur during attempts to 
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for 
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in 
the same rhythm. 
To arm and disarm the alarm 
system When the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
with the key or the remote control, the 
alarm system is also simultaneously 
armed or disarmed. 
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm 
system arming and disarming.< 
You can still open the liftgate after the 
system has been armed by pressing the 
button of the remote control, refer to 
page 33. When you close the liftgate, it 
is secured again.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously: 
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during 
arming: the door(s), the hood or lift-
gate are not completely closed. Even 
if you do not close the alerted area, 
the system begins to monitor the 
remaining areas, and the indicator 
lamp flashes continuously after 
10 seconds. However, the interior 
motion sensor is not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out when 
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed530us018 

40n
Alarm system  Electric power windows >If the indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is 
disarmed: an attempted entry has 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed. 
Following triggering of an alarm, the 
indicator lamp will flash continuously. Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor may be switched off at the same 
time. To prevent a false alarm from 
being triggered (in garages with 
elevator ramps, for instance), or when 
the vehicle is transported by trailer or 
train:
Actuate (= arm the system) the lock 
twice; in other words, press button 2 of 
the remote control twice in succession, 
refer to page 33. You may also actuate 
the locks twice with the key, refer to 
page 31.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor 
are deactivated as long as the system is 
armed. 
Interior motion sensor In order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and 
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely 
closed. 
However, be sure to switch off the inte-
rior motion sensor (see the previous 
column) when you
>leave children or animals in the 
vehicle
>intend to leave the windows or 
sliding/tilt sunroof open. 
Open and close windowsFrom ignition key position 1: 
>Press the switch up to the pressure 
point:
The window continues to move as 
long as you continue to hold the 
switch 
>Press the switch beyond the pressure 
point:
The window moves downward auto-
matically. Touch the switch again to 
stop the opening movement. 
You can close the windows in the same 
manner by pulling the switch.530us020 

69n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer/Wiper system 1 High beams (blue indicator) 
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator) 
3 Turn signal indicators (green indicator 
accompanied by periodic clicking 
sound from the relay)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond 
the pressure point. It then returns to the 
center position when released. 
If the indicator lamp and the 
clicking from the relay are both 
faster than normal, one of the turn 
signal indicators has failed.< 530de265
0 Wipers retracted 
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
* 
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe 
5 Clean the windshield
6 Special wash program
* 
7 Rotary dial for control of the wipe 
interval or the sensitivity of the rain 
sensor
* 
530de324
Wipers retracted (home position)The left wiper is partially concealed by 
the hood. In order to bring the wipers to 
roughly a vertical position (this is impor-
tant for changing the wiper blades or to 
fold the wipers out during frosty 
weather, for example):
>With the lever in position 1, switch off 
the ignition as soon as the wipers 
come to a stop.
If equipped with a rain sensor
*:
1. Switch on the wipers with the lever in 
position 1, 2 or 4
2. When the wipers are approx. vertical, 
switch the ignition off.
For changing the wiper blades, refer to 
page 152.
Fold the wipers back down onto 
the windshield before you turn the 
ignition key to position 1 or 2 again. If 
you do not, they could be damaged.<  

70n
Washer/Wiper system Intermittent mode or rain sensor
* 
Intermittent mode: 
You can set the wipe interval to four 
stages with rotary dial 7. 
In addition, the wipe interval is varied 
automatically depending on road 
speed. 
Rain sensor: 
The rain sensor is positioned on the 
windshield, directly in front of the inte-
rior rearview mirror. 
To activate the rain sensor:
Move the lever to position 1 with the 
ignition key in position 1 or higher. The 
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather 
conditions. 
You can leave the lever permanently in 
position 1. It is then only necessary to 
activate the rain sensor from ignition 
key position 1 and up. To do this, turn 
rotary dial 7 briefly.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain 
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Deactivating the rain sensor:
Move lever to position 0.Switch the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not, 
damage may occur if the wipers switch 
on unintentionally.< 
Normal wipe The system switches automatically to 
intermittent mode when the vehicle is 
not moving (not on vehicles with rain 
sensor
*). 
Fast wipe The wipers operate at normal speed 
when the vehicle is not moving (not on 
vehicles with rain sensor
*). 
Clean the windshield The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period. Special wash program
* 
As at 5; there are also several additional 
wash cycles, and the headlamps are 
cleaned
*. 
This program is recommended after you 
have driven on extremely dirty roads.
Clean the headlamps
* 
>With the special wash program 6
>With every fifth actuation of clean the 
windshield 5 when the vehicle's 
lighting is switched on. 
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 143.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage 
to the washer pump.< Windshield washer jetsThe windshield washer jets are warmed 
automatically when the ignition key is in 
position 2.