Contents
Contents
Notes
6About this Owner's Manual
6Symbols used
6Symbol on vehicle parts
6Your individual vehicle
6Status at time of printing
7For your own safety
7Service and warranty
8Reporting safety defects
Overview
12Cockpit
13Instrument cluster
14Indicator and warning lamps
Opening and closing
18Keys
18Central locking system
18Remote control
20Door lock
20Interior
21Luggage compartment lid
22Luggage compartment
22Electric power windows
23Manual convertible top
24Fully automatic convertible top*
26Wind deflector*
27Alarm system*
Adjustments
29Safe seating position
29Seats
30Seat memory*
31Seat heating*
31Safety belts
32Steering wheel
32Mirrors
33Airbags
34Transporting children safely
37Vehicle Memory, Key Memory
Driving
38Ignition lock
38Engine
39Parking brake
40Manual transmission
40Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
42Electric Power Steering EPS
42Drivelogic*
42Turn signal indicators/Headlamp
flasher
43Washer/wiper system and
rain sensor*
44Cruise control*
Lamps
45Parking lamps/Low beams
46High beams/Standing lamps
46Instrument lighting
46Fog lamps
46Interior lamps
© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 897
US English VIII/02
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper –
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
7
For your own safety
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including 10 %
ethanol or other oxygenates with up to
2.8 % oxygen by weight – i.e. 15 % MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of
co-solvent – will not void the applicable
warranties respecting defects in materials
or workmanship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel quality –
i.e. volatility, composition, additives, etc. –
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of poor
quality fuels may result in drivability, start-
ing and stalling problems especially under
certain environmental conditions, such as
high ambient temperature and high alti-
tude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems that you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when you
are handling gasoline.<
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use parts and
accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original BMW
Parts, you simultaneously acquire the
assurance that they have been thoroughly
tested by BMW to ensure optimum perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for dam-
age resulting from installation of parts and
accessories not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk to
either the vehicle, its operation, or its occu-
pants.Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on using
these items, are available from all BMW
retailers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels,
suspension components, brake dust
shields, telephones – including operation of
any portable cellular phone from within the
vehicle without using an externally mounted
antenna – or transceiver equipment – e.g.
C.B., walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar –
may cause extensive damage to the vehicle,
compromise its safety, interfere with the
vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. See
your BMW center for additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to lock
doors or luggage compartment with any-
one inside the car. Refer to the Owner's
Manual for more details.<
Maintenance, replacement or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any automo-
tive repair establishment or individual using
any certified automotive part.
and Warranty Information Booklet for US
models or a Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
We recommend that you read this publica-
tion thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following war-
ranties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect
Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance
Warranty
>California Emission Control System
Limited Warranty.
Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Keys
The key set
1Master keys with remote control –
determine the functions of the Key
Memory, refer to page 37.
You can mark individual keys for subse-
quent identification by applying the col-
ored 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
with remote control that is otherwise
not used, use that key approximately
once a year while driving for an
extended period to charge the bat-
tery.<
2Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet.
This key does no open the lock of the
luggage compartment lid – useful for
valet parking, for example.
This key is not intended for constant
use
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is closed. The system simultaneously
engages and releases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door
>storage compartment between the
backrests
>opened manual convertible top.
The central locking system can be oper-
ated
>from outside using the remote control
or via the driver's door lock
>from inside via the central locking sys-
tem button.
If it is operated from inside, the fuel filler
door will not be locked. Refer to page 20.
The anti-theft system is automatically acti-
vated whenever you activate the central
locking system from outside the vehicle. It
prevents the doors from being unlocked
with the lock buttons or release handles.
The alarm system is also armed.
The central locking system unlocks auto-
matically in the event of an accident. In
addition, the hazard warning flashers and
interior lamps come on.
Remote control
The concept
The remote control provides two additional
functions for central locking.
>Switching on interior lamps. Refer to
page 19.
With this function, you can also search
for the vehicle when parked in an
underground garage, for instance
>Opening the luggage compartment lid
separately. Refer to page 19. The lug-
gage compartment lid will open slightly,
regardless of whether it was locked or
unlocked.
At a glance
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Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
19
Whenever you unlock or 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 a signal set to confirm
that the vehicle's locks have engaged
securely.<
Since persons or animals in the vehi-
cle could lock the doors from the
inside, always take the vehicle keys with
you so that the vehicle can be opened
again from the outside at any time.<
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
recharge the battery.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You can
also obtain replacement keys there.<
1To unlock
2To lock and secure, activate interior
lamps, disarm tilt alarm sensor and inte-
rior motion sensor
3To open the luggage compartment
To unlock
1.Press the button to unlock the driver's
door and the fuel filler door
2.Press the button a second time to dis-
engage all vehicle locks.
To lock and secure
Press the button.
To switch on the interior lamps
With the vehicle locked:
Press the button.
To deactivate the tilt alarm* and
interior motion sensors*
Press the button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to
page 28.
To open the luggage compartment
Press the button.
The luggage compartment lid will open
slightly, regardless of whether it was
locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure that
the luggage compartment lid has not
been opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode – triggering alarm
By pressing the button for 2 to 5 seconds,
the alarm can be sounded in the event of
danger. The alarm is turned off by pressing
button 1 again – for unlocking.
External systems
External systems or devices may cause
local interference in the functions of the
remote control.
Should this occur, you can still open and
close the vehicle using the master key in
either the door or luggage compartment
locks.
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
21
To unlock and open
>Either unlock the doors together with
the button for the central locking sys-
tem and then pull each of the release
handles above the armrests
or
>pull the release handle for each door
twice: the initial pull unlocks the door,
and the second one opens it.
To lock
>Either use the central locking button to
lock all doors at once
or
>press the individual door lock buttons
down.
To prevent the driver from being
inadvertently locked out of the
vehicle, the driver's door lock button
will not engage as long as the door is
open.<
Since persons or animals in the vehi-
cle could lock the doors from the
inside, always take the vehicle keys with
you so that the vehicle can be opened
again from the outside at any time.<
Luggage compartment lid
To open from the outside
Turn the master key to the left as far as it
will go. The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
If the alarm system is armed, opening the
luggage compartment with the key will trig-
ger an alarm; refer also to page 27.
To open from the inside
If the luggage compartment lid has not
been locked separately, you can open it
with this button in the footwell on the
driver's side when the vehicle is stationary.
To close
The handle recess in the interior trim panel
of the luggage compartment lid makes it
easier to pull the lid down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the luggage compart-
ment lid is clear when it is closed, following
the same precautions as with all closing
procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the
luggage compartment lid is closed,
since exhaust fumes could penetrate into
the interior of the vehicle. Should it be
absolutely necessary to operate the vehicle
with the luggage compartment lid open and
with the convertible top closed:
>Close all windows
>Increase the air supply from the air con-
ditioner or automatic climate control to
a high level. Refer to page 55 or 57.<
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
27
Installation
Insert the wind deflector in the guides pro-
vided on the rollover bars.
The wind deflector panels inserted in the
rollover bars cannot be removed.
Clothes hooks
Located on the wind deflector panel in the
rollover bars.
Do not hang heavy objects on the
hooks. If you do so, personal injury
could result during braking or evasive
maneuvers, for example.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage
compartment lid is opened
>When attempts are made to start the
vehicle
>To movement inside the vehicle – inte-
rior motion sensor
>To alterations in the vehicle tilt, e.g. as
would occur during attempts to steal
the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The alarm produced by the system in the
event of unauthorized vehicle entry and
attempted theft depends on the country
version:
>Sounding of an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds
>Activation of the hazard warning flash-
ers for approx. five minutes.
Arming and disarming the alarm sys-
tem
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
either via the driver's door lock or with the
remote control, the alarm system is simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.The hazard warning flashers blink once
when the alarm system has been properly
armed.
You can have different acknowledg-
ment signals set to confirm arming
and disarming.<
You can open the luggage compartment lid
when the system is armed by pressing the
remote control button. Refer to page 19.
When it is closed, the lid is once again
secured.
Manual operation of the luggage
compartment lid triggers the alarm.
Refer to page 21.<
To cancel an alarm:
Press the button on the remote control,
refer to page 18, or turn the ignition key to
position 1. Refer to page 38.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp beneath the interior
mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when it is
being armed:
A door, the hood or luggage compart-
ment lid is not completely closed. Even
if you do not close the area causing the
alert, the remaining areas are secured
and the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after 10 seconds.
However, the interior motion sensor is
not activated
Opening and closing
28 >If the indicator lamp goes out as soon
as the system is disarmed:
No manipulation or attempted intru-
sions have been detected in the period
since the system was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is being
disarmed:
An attempted entry has been detected
in the period since the system was
armed.
After an alarm has been triggered, the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously.
Interior motion sensor*
The system monitors the footwells and the
seating areas of the driver and passenger.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor
– refer to Avoiding unintentional
alarms – if children or animals are to remain
in the vehicle.<
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor can be deactivated at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm from being triggered, for instance in
garages with elevator ramps or when the
vehicle is transported by train.
Lock the vehicle twice = arm the system:
Press the button on the remote control
twice in succession,
or
lock the vehicle twice with the key. Refer to
page 20.
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.
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
33
For vehicles without an alarm system:
Tilt the small lever forward.
Interior and exterior mirrors with
automatic dimming feature*
This mirror automatically dims through an
infinitely variable range and switches auto-
matically to its clear, undimmed mode
whenever you engage reverse gear or
place the selector lever in position R.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate properly, keep the two photocells
clean and unobstructed. One photocell is
positioned in the mirror's lens, see arrow,
while the other is slightly offset on the
opposite side of the mirror. Do not obstruct
the area between the interior rearview mir-
ror and the windshield; do not apply stick-
ers to the area of the windshield in front of
the mirror.
Airbags
1Front airbags for driver and passenger
2Side airbags for driver and passenger
3Knee airbags for driver and passenger
Protective effect
The front airbags help 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 ade-
quate. The side airbags help provide pro-
tection in the event of a collision from the
side. Each of the side airbags is designed
to help support the seat occupant's upper
body. The knee airbags help provide addi-
tional protection in the event of a head-on
collision.
Do not remove or exchange the floor
mat on the passenger side. It is a
component of the safety system.<
For information on the correct seating posi-
tion, refer to page 29.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster shows the airbag system's
operational readiness when the
ignition key is in position 1 or higher.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when the ignition key is in position 1 or
higher.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine has been started, or it
comes on again during normal driving.
BMW recommends that you respond
to any malfunctions in the system by
immediately having it inspected at your
BMW center; otherwise the airbag could
fail to respond in an accident that would
normally trigger airbag deployment.<
For your safety, comply with the fol-
lowing instructions for the airbags. If
you do not, the airbags may not be able to
provide their full protection. All passengers
in the vehicle should be aware of and com-
ply with this information:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide additional
protection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags are intentionally not trig-