Contents
Overview
Controls and features
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Hazard warning flashers24
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling25
Fuel quality26
Tire inflation pressure26
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Opening and closing Ð from the
outside32
Using the key32
Using the remote control33
Opening and closing Ð from the
inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Alarm system38
Electric power windows40
The automatic convertible
top41
Adjustments:
Seats45
Steering wheel47
Mirrors47
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory49
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts50
Airbags51
Transporting children safely53
Driving:
Ignition and steering lock55
Starting the engine56
Switching off the engine57
Parking brake57
Manual transmission58
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher58
Washer/Wiper system59
Rear window defroster60
Cruise control61
Everything under control:
Odometer62
Tachometer62
Fuel gauge62
Coolant temperature gauge63
Service Interval Display63
Clock64
Multi-Information Radio (MIR)64
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)65
Dynamic Performance
Control66
Flat Tire Monitor67
Contents
28n
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Opening and closing Ð from the
outside32
Using the key32
Using the remote control33
Opening and closing Ð from the
inside36
Luggage compartment lid37
Alarm system38
Electric power windows40
The automatic convertible
top41
Adjustments:
Seats45
Steering wheel47
47
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory49
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts50
Airbags51
Transporting children safely53
Controls
39n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Alarm systemIndicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located in the
inside rear view mirror's rotary knob.
>The indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously: the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during
arming: a door, the hood or luggage
compartment lid is not completely
closed. Even if you do not respond by
securing the affected area, the system
starts to monitor all other points and
the indicator lamp reverts to contin-
uous, uninterrupted operation once
ten seconds have elapsed. The inte-
rior motion sensor remains off
>The indicator lamp goes out during
disarming: no manipulation or
attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the
system was armed520de014
>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 alarms The 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:
Lock the vehicle twice (= arm the
system) by pressing button 2 on the
remote control twice in succession
(refer to page 34), or lock the vehicle
twice with the key (refer to page 32).
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
remain deactivated for as long as the
system is armed.
Interior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and the
luggage compartment lid must be
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate
the interior motion sensor (refer to the
previous column) if
>children or animals are left in the
vehicle
>windows should remain open.
For US vehicles only:
The interior motion sensor is not
installed on US models as it has not
received FCC (Federal Communica-
tions Commission) approval.<
40n
Electric power windowsTo open and close the windowsFrom ignition key position 1:
>Depress the rocker switch 1 until you
feel resistance:
The window remains in motion for as
long as you maintain pressure on the
switch
>Briefly press rocker switch 1 to just
beyond the initial point of resistance
(one-touch mode):
The window automatically remains in
motion until it reaches the end of its
travel. Briefly press the switch a
second time to stop the window.
The one-touch mode cannot be
used to close the passenger-side
window.<520de015
Use switch 2 to select the window you
wish to open or close:
>Driver's window
Push the switch all the way to the left
>Passenger-side window
Push the switch all the way to the
right
>To activate both windows at the
same time:
Move the switch to the center posi-
tion.
The switch on the passenger-side door
activates the window for that side only.
After the ignition has been switched off:
Provided that no door is opened in the
intervening period, the electric power
windows remain available for operation
for up to 15 minutes. Because the power windows are
sealed at high pressure to prevent
wind noise when closed, a powerful
motor is required for efficient closing.
When closing the windows, always
ensure that they are not obstructed in
any way. Unsupervised use of these
systems can result in serious personal
injury. Remove the ignition key to deac-
tivate the electric power windows
whenever you leave the vehicle. Never
leave the keys in the vehicle with unsu-
pervised children.
Never place anything that could
obstruct the driver's vision on or next to
the windows.<
To use the convenience mode via the
door lock or the remote control, refer to
page 32 or 34.
50n
Drive with your safety belt onFasten your safety belt at the beginning
of every trip.
To fasten:
Make sure you hear the lock engage in
the belt buckle.
To release:
Press the red button in the buckle. Hold
the belt and guide it back into its reel. 520de020
For your safety, please comply
with the following instructions for
wearing safety belts. Otherwise, your
personal safety will be diminished, and
the safety belts' protective function
impaired. The following information also
applies to your passengers:
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Infants or
small children should never be held on
the lap of a passenger.
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. Never route the belt across
your neck, do not run it across sharp
edges and ensure that the belt does not
become caught or jammed.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and pull
on the belt periodically to retension it
over your shoulder. In the event of a
frontal impact, a loose lap belt could
slide over your hips, leading to abdom-
inal injury. In addition, the safety belt's
restraint effectiveness is reduced if the
belt 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 pressure against
the abdominal area.<
For care instructions, refer to page 121.
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or damaged in any other
way, have the complete mechanism
replaced by your BMW center,
including the safety belt tensioner and
the belt anchorages checked. If a child-
restraint system
* is in the vehicle
during an accident, consult the manu-
facturer's instructions regarding
replacement.<
Child-restraint systems
*
Since your vehicle is equipped
with an airbag for the front
passenger, never use any rear-facing
child-restraint systems on the front
passenger seat, otherwise serious inju-
ries can occur if the airbag is triggered.
Never modify a child-restraint system in
any way, as the result could be reduced
protection for your child.<
Safety belts
52n
AirbagsSitting correctly with airbags
Comply with the following instruc-
tions for the airbags, otherwise,
the airbags may not be able to provide
their maximum protection, with
resulting risks to personal safety. All
passengers in the vehicle should be
aware of and comply with this informa-
tion:
The airbag is a supplemental restraint
device; it is not a substitute or replace-
ment for your safety belt, which you
should continue to wear at all times.
When adjusting your seat, assume a
comfortable driving posture allowing
comfortable and secure access to all of
the vehicle's controls. Avoid sitting too
close to the steering wheel.
Always hold the steering wheel by the
rim Ð hands in the "9 o'clock" and
"3 o'clock" positions Ð otherwise, your
hands or arms could be injured if the
airbag is triggered.
Never allow any other passengers,
animals or objects to intrude into the
area between the airbag and the driver
or front passenger.
Do not use the cover panel above the
front passenger airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, or cover or
modify them in any other way.
Do not use a rear-facing child seat in
the front passenger seat. If you use a
child-restraint system, carefully read
and comply with the instructions on
page 53.
Be sure that child seats are installed
correctly and with the greatest possible
distance between them and the side
airbag. Do not allow children to lean out
of the child's seat in the direction of the
side trim panels. If they do so, serious
injuries can occur if the airbag is trig-
gered.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual
risk of injury to the face, hands and
arms occurring from airbag deployment
in isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise may
cause a mild temporary hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals.
You will find the proper airbag safety
precautions on both sun visors and on
the instrument cluster (US models).
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to pages 123
and 150.The illustration shows the correct
seating position for a child in a child-
restraint system
* with sufficient
distance between the child and the side
airbag (arrow).
520de115
54n
Transporting children safelyChild seat securityThe safety belt on the passenger side
can be locked for mounting and
securing child-restraint systems.
A label with operating instructions is
attached to the belt next to the sliding
latch plate.520us003
To lock the beltExtract the entire length of the belt from
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the
reel to retract the belt somewhat and
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt
against the child-restraint system. The
retraction mechanism is now locked.
The belt cannot be retracted further.
Comply with the installation instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the
child-restraint system.To release the beltRelease the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the inertia
reel to retract the belt completely.
114n
Coolant Brake fluidAdding coolant To guard against the possibility of
scalding injuries, always wait until the
engine cools (temperature gauge
needle in blue sector) before
unscrewing the cap on the expansion
tank.
1. Turn the cap slightly counterclock-
wise in order to allow accumulated
pressure to escape. Then open
2. Slowly add coolant until the correct
level is reached Ð do not overfill.
The coolant is a mixture of water and
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. Always maintain the
prescribed all-season 50:50 mixture
ratio for year-round protection against
internal corrosion. No other additives
are required.
Replace the coolant every three years.The brake warning lamp comes on and
the parking brake has been released:
The brake fluid is too low.
For adding brake fluid or for deter-
mining and correcting the cause of
brake fluid loss, consult your BMW
center. Your BMW center is familiar
with the specifications for factory-
approved brake fluids (DOT 4).
Brake fluid loss can increase brake
pedal travel. For this type of situation,
refer to the notes on page 92.
520de157
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW center. Refer also to the Service
and Warranty Information Booklet
(US models) or the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet (Canadian
models). Brake fluid is toxic and attacks
the vehicle's paintwork. You should
always store it in its original container
and in a location that is inaccessible to
children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not fill the
brake fluid reservoir beyond the "MAX"
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of brake fluid.<