
 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags61
Transporting children safely63
Rollover protection system67
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory69
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock70
Starting the engine70
Switching off the engine72
Parking brake72
Manual transmission73
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*74
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher77
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*78
Cruise control*79
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer81
Tachometer81
Energy control81
Fuel gauge82
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge82
Service interval display83
Check Control83
Clock84
Computer85
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*87
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)*88
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)*90
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)*92
Flat Tire Monitor*93
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams96
Instrument lighting97
High beams/Standing lamps97
Fog lamps*98
Interior lamps98
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning100
Automatic climate control*104
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Glove compartment109
BMW Universal Transmitter*110
Storage compartments112
Cellular phone*113
Ashtray, front*113
Ashtray, rear*114
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag*115
Cargo loading116
Roof-mounted luggage rack for 
the hardtop*118
 
Controls and features
 
handbook.book  Page 9  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

 
17
1Fuel gauge82
2Indicator lamp for turn signals20
3Speedometer
4Indicator and warning lamps18
 to 21
5Tachometer and Energy Control81
6Engine coolant temperature 
gauge82
7Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21
8Control button for
 
>
 
Clock84
 
>
 
Units of measure for exterior tem-
perature display  85
9Selector lever and program display 
for automatic transmission19, 76
10 Display for
 
>
 
Trip odometer/Odometer81
 
>
 
Clock84
 
>
 
Service interval83
 
>
 
Computer85
11 Check Control83
12 Trip odometer, reset to zero81
13 Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21
 
Instrument cluster
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
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39
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 the 
luggage compartment lid are not 
completely closed. Even if you do not 
close the alerted area(s), the remain-
ing areas are secured, and the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously 
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out when the 
system is disarmed: no manipulation 
or attempted intrusions have been 
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is dis-
armed: an attempted entry has been 
detected in the period since the sys-
tem 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. You can do this to prevent a false 
alarm from being triggered in garages 
with elevator ramps, for instance, or 
when the vehicle is transported by train:
Lock the vehicle twice to arm the sys-
tem. Press the button on the remote 
control twice in succession or lock the 
vehicle twice with the key.
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*Deactivate the interior motion sensor – 
refer to Avoiding unintentional alarms – 
if persons or animals are to remain in 
the vehicle.
The system deactivates the tilt-
alarm sensor and the interior 
motion sensor if the convenience clos-
ing of windows is interrupted in the first 
10 seconds and then restarted. The 
alarm must then be disarmed and reac-
tivated before it will resume opera-
tion.<
Alarm system*
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68
3. Keep pressing down on the protec-
tive bar – see arrow 1 – from on top 
until you hear it click into place
4. Put the cover panel back in place 
and press down firmly
5. Push the back panel of the head 
restraint closed – see arrow 2.
Do the same for the second protective 
bar. If you are not familiar with any of 
the procedures, consult your BMW 
center.
Have the rollover protection system 
checked out by your BMW center after 
it has been inadvertently triggered.
Do not move the convertible top 
under any circumstances if the 
rollover protection system has 
extended.
Do not use the rear head restraints as 
storage shelves.
Absolutely no modifications are to be 
made to any of the rollover protection 
system's individual components or any 
of its wiring.
Only your BMW center is to carry out 
any work on the rollover protection sys-
tem.
Work done on the system that is carried 
out improperly could lead to failure in 
an emergency or accidental activation.
Regarding having the system checked 
to ensure long-term operation: be scru-
pulous in adhering to the Service inter-
val display for maintenance intervals. 
Every 2 years at the latest, the rollover 
protection system must be inspected at 
a BMW center.<
Rollover protection system
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69
Vehicle Memory, Key MemoryHow the system functionsNo doubt you have reflected at one 
time or another on how great it would 
be if you could permanently configure 
your vehicle's various features and 
adjustments to mirror your own individ-
ual preferences. In engineering your 
vehicle, BMW has provided for a num-
ber of options for personal adjustment 
that can be programmed into your vehi-
cle at your BMW center.
The available configuration data fall into 
two categories, according to whether 
their primary orientation is the vehicle – 
Vehicle Memory – or the individual – 
Key Memory. Provided that each per-
son has a separate remote-control key, 
you can have your BMW center enter 
basic adjustment data for up to four 
individuals in the system.
The system then relies on a bilateral 
data exchange to identify the individual 
user and executes the selected settings 
whenever the remote control unit is 
used to disengage the door locks.
Color-coded decals have been pro-
vided to help you distinguish individual 
keys with different settings.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with 
details on the capabilities of the Vehicle 
Memory and Key Memory systems.
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgment 
when locking or unlocking your vehi-
cle, refer to pages 31, 33
>Activates/deactivates the "Follow me 
home" function, refer to page 96
>Activates/deactivates daytime driv-
ing lamps, refer to page 96
>Sets the units of measure for display-
ing time, outside temperature, dis-
tance traveled and fuel consumption 
in the instrument cluster>Indicates via an acoustic tone that 
PDC has been activated, refer to 
page 87
>Switches on rear window defroster 
automatically, refer to 
pages 102, 107
>After giving an ice warning, the dis-
play returns to the previous setting, 
refer to page 85.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Unlocks driver's door first, then the 
vehicle's remaining locks, refer to 
page 33
>Locks the vehicle automatically after 
you start off, refer to page 34
>Automatically adjusts the driver's 
seat to the personal programmed 
settings when the vehicle is 
unlocked, refer to page 57
>Automatic tilting of the passenger-
side mirror, refer to page 58.
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to 
remind you at appropriate places of the 
settings that are available to you.<
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75
NNeutralSelect only when stopping for an 
extended period.DDrive – automatic shift programThis position is designed for driving 
under all normal operating conditions. 
All forward gears are available.KickdownIn the kickdown mode, you achieve 
maximum acceleration and top speed 
in position D.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
M/S manual operation and Sport 
ProgramMove the selector lever from D to M/S 
to activate the Sport Program; SD 
appears in the display panel. The M/S 
mode is recommended for perfor-
mance-oriented driving.
Once in the M/S mode you can tap the 
selector lever to switch the automatic 
transmission from the Sport Program to 
its manual selection mode.
This mode allows you to execute 
upshifts manually by tapping the lever 
toward +, while downshifts are selected 
by tapping in the "–" direction. The dis-
plays M1 through M5 appear in the dis-
play panel to indicate your current gear 
selection.
The Adaptive Transmission Control 
(ATC) executes upshifts and downshifts 
only when the new gear will provide a 
suitable combination of engine and 
road speed, i.e., ATC will not execute 
downshifts if the engine speed is too 
high. The desired, then the actual gear, 
briefly appear in the instrument cluster.
To accelerate quickly in the man-
ual mode for maneuvers such as 
passing another vehicle, shift down 
manually or employ the kickdown 
mode.<
Shifting from M/S to the selector lever 
positions P, R and N is possible only by 
going through D.
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*
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76
Available displaysP R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5Electronic transmission control 
module
If the indicator lamp comes on, 
there is a malfunction in the 
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the 
transmission selector lever to P. Set the 
parking brake and turn the engine off – 
ignition key to position 0.
Wait a few seconds, then start the 
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a 
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may 
continue to drive as usual.
If the indicator lamp does not go out, 
you can place the selector lever in all 
positions. However, the vehicle will now 
only operate in 3rd and 4th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine 
loads and consult the nearest autho-
rized BMW center.
Never work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear – for-
ward or reverse – is engaged. If you do 
this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing or jump-starting, refer to the 
information beginning on page 157.
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*
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81 Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in 
the illustration with the ignition key in 
position 0 by pressing the left button, 
see arrow, in the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero, 
press the left button – see arrow – with 
the ignition key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerNever allow the engine to operate with 
the needle in the red overspeed zone of 
the gauge – see arrow.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
interrupted when you approach this 
sector.
Energy controlIndicates the current fuel consumption 
in mpg – in liters/100 km on Canadian 
models. This allows you to see whether 
your current driving style is conducive 
to fuel economy with minimum exhaust 
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the dis-
play goes to Maximum – zero on Cana-
dian models.
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