2003 BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE steering wheel

72
Switching off the engineTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
You should never remove the igni-
tion key when the vehicle is in
motion, as the steering lock could
engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key and engage the
steering lock.<
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces. Placing the lever in gear may not
provide adequate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
place the selector lever in P.<
Parking brakeThe parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked. It operates on the rear wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically and
the indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition key
is in position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the
button – see arrow – and lower the
lever.
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123
Driving notes
Brakes: do not drive with your foot
resting on the brake pedal. Even
light but consistent pedal pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear
and possibly even brake failure.
Hydroplaning: when driving on wet or
slushy roads, reduce vehicle speed. If
you do not, a wedge of water may form
between the tires and the road surface.
This phenomenon can lead to partial or
complete loss of contact between the
tires and road surface, as well as loss of
vehicle control and braking ability.
Driving through water: do not drive
through water on the road if it is deeper
than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at walk-
ing speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.
Clothes hooks, with hardtop: when
hanging clothing from the hooks, be
sure that they will not obstruct the
driver's vision. Do not hang heavy
objects on the hooks. If you do so, they
could cause personal injury during
braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS keeps the wheels from locking
during braking, thereby enhancing
active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of ABS system if you apply maximum
pedal pressure – panic stop.
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is included in the DSC, refer to
page 90. The system responds to sud-
den, high-intensity applications of force
to the brake pedal by automatically
braking the vehicle with maximum
boost to achieve the shortest possible
braking distances during panic stops.
This system also exploits the benefits of
ABS. Do not reduce the pressure exerted against the brake pedal until
the braking maneuver has been com-
pleted. DBC is deactivated when you
release the brake pedal.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering devel-
opment of ABS. When braking during
cornering with high lateral accelera-
tion, or when braking during a lane
change, vehicle stability is improved
and the steering response is enhanced.
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127 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressureInformation for your safetyThe factory-approved tires are matched
to your vehicle and have been selected
to provide optimum safety and driving
comfort when used properly.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all else
– driving safety that depend on the con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire inflation pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is
a frequent cause of tire damage.
Tire pressure also has a major effect on
your BMW's handling response. Be
sure to check the tire inflation pressure,
including the space-saver spare tire or
the spare tire, on a regular basis, at
least twice a month and before every
extended journey, refer to page 25.
Otherwise, incorrect tire pressure can
lead to poor handling, to tire damage
and accidents.<
Tire conditionTire tread – tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 1/8 in / 3 mm, even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is 1/16 in / 1.6 mm.
Below 1/8 in / 3 mm tread depth, there
is a great risk of hydroplaning, even at
relatively moderate speeds and with
only small amounts of water on the
road. Tread wear indicators in the
tread-groove base – see arrow – are
distributed around the wheel circumfer-
ence and are labeled on the tire side-
wall with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. At
a tread depth of 1/16 in / 1.6 mm, the
indicators signal that the legally permis-
sible wear limit has been reached.
Do not drive on a deflated – flat –
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle. Avoid overloading the vehi-
cle so that the permitted load on the
tires is not exceeded. Overloading can
lead to overheating and internal tire
damage.
The ultimate result can assume the
form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate a
flat tire or some other vehicle malfunc-
tion. This type of problem can be
caused by contact with curbs, etc. This
is also true for irregularities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a
pronounced tendency to pull to the left
or right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
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130
Wheel and tire combinationsThe right choice
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
approved by BMW for your particular
vehicle model, as otherwise body con-
tact and serious accidents can result
despite the use of the same nominal
size, e.g. due to manufacturing toler-
ances. BMW cannot evaluate all tires
and wheels on the market, and is thus
unable to guarantee that the vehicle will
continue to perform safely if unap-
proved tires and/or wheels are
mounted.<
For each tire size, BMW has assessed
the safe performance of specific tire
brands and approved them for use.
Consult any BMW center for details.
Comply with any local/national regula-
tions, for example by recording the tire
type in the vehicle documents.
The correct wheel and tire combi-
nation affects various systems
that would otherwise be impaired, for
example ABS, ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/DBC.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same manufacture and tread configura-
tion. In the event of a flat tire, for exam-
ple, remount the approved wheel and
tire combination as soon as possible.<
StorageStore tires in a cool, dry place, protect-
ing them against light whenever possi-
ble. Protect the tires against contact
with oil, grease and fuel.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires – M+S
tires – for operation under inclement
winter driving conditions. While all-sea-
son tires – M+S designation – provide
better winter traction than the corre-
sponding summer tires, they generally
do not achieve the performance of win-
ter tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels.
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by trained
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
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151
License plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left – see arrow – to
release the lens
2. Replace the bulb.
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions in the event of
a flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, sur-
face. Switch on the hazard warning
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position and engage the
steering lock. Shift into 1st or Reverse,
or if you have an automatic transmis-
sion position the selector lever in Park,
and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area – behind a guardrail,
for example.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface which is not slippery. Avoid
jacking the vehicle on a soft or slippery
support surface – snow, ice, loose
gravel, etc. – as either the vehicle or the
jack could slip sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. They could pre-
vent the jack from extending to its full
height and reduce its support capacity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack. There is otherwise a risk of
fatal injury.<
Lamps and bulbs
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154
13. Wheels with full wheel covers*:
place the wheel cover with the
valve opening – see arrow – over
the valve. Use both hands to press
the cover securely onto the rim
14. Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitor
(TPM)/Flat Tire Monitor:
After mounting the spare tire or
correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reinitialize the system, refer to
page 92.
Protect valve stems and valves from dirt
using screw-on valve stem caps. Dirty
valve stems frequently lead to slow
pressure loss.
Do not place the full wheel cover
on the space-saver spare tire,
since this could damage the cover.<
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not
attempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any other type of load.
To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the
tightness of the torque bolts checked
with a calibrated lug wrench – torque
specification: 88.5 lb ft/120 Nm – at the
earliest opportunity.<
When storing a wheel in the spare tire
recess, take care to avoid bending the
threaded rod.
If light-alloy wheels other than original
BMW light-alloy wheels have been
mounted, it may be necessary to use
different lug bolts for those wheels.
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Be aware that vehicle handling may be
altered. Anticipate, e.g., reduced track-
ing during braking, longer braking dis-
tances and changed steering charac-
teristics when approaching limit
conditions. These handling characteris-
tics will be even more pronounced if
winter tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire
may be mounted at one time.
Mount a wheel and tire of the original
size at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.<
Changing a wheel
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155
Run Flat tires*Run Flat tires are labeled on the side-
wall with a circular symbol containing
the letters RSC. Run Flat tires consist of
self-supporting tires and special rims.
The tire reinforcement ensures that the
tire retains some residual safety in the
event of pressure drop and driving
remains possible to a restricted degree.
The vehicle is equipped with a Tire
Pressure Monitor (TPM) or Flat Tire
Monitor, which indicate a flat tire.
Because the sides of Run Flat
tires are reinforced, a drop in infla-
tion pressure usually cannot be
detected from the outside.<
Flat tireIf there is a tire failure, the red warning
lamp symbol lights up. This visual alert
is accompanied by an acoustic warning
signal.
Additional information on the Tire Pres-
sure Monitor (TPM) or Flat Tire Monitor
is found beginning on page 92.
Reduce vehicle speed carefully to
under 50 mph / 80 km/h, avoiding hard
brake applications and steering maneu-
vers.
If it cannot be determined immediately
from the outside which wheel is defec-
tive, check the tire inflation pressure at
all four wheels.
Have Run Flat tires replaced by
your BMW center. In the interest
of safety, Run Flat tires should not be
repaired. Your BMW center has the
information needed for working with
Run Flat tires and is equipped with the
necessary special tools.<
If appropriate, please consult your
BMW center to reequip your vehi-
cle from summer to winter tires – or vice
versa.<
Driving with a damaged tireRun Flat tires allow you to continue
driving to a restricted degree at a maxi-
mum speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h
depending on the cargo load and the
extent of tire damage. You can deter-
mine the distance you may continue
driving on the basis of the following val-
ues:
>Tire inflation pressure of 0 psi/
0 kilopascal (kPa):
approx. 100 miles/150 km
>Tire inflation pressure of approx.
7-15 psi/50-100 kPa:
approx. 300 miles/500 km
>Tire inflation pressure greater than
15 psi/100 kPa:
approx. 600 miles/1,000 km.
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h. Be
aware that vehicle handling will be
altered when there is a loss in inflation
pressure. Anticipate, e.g., reduced
tracking during braking, longer braking
distances and changed steering char-
acteristics.<
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Everything from A to Z
171
I
Ice warning 85
Ignition key 30
positions 70
Ignition lock 70
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18
Individual settings
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 69
Inflation pressure 25, 127
monitoring 92
INSPECTION 83
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 97
Instrument panel 14, 16
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD) 141
Interior lamps 32, 98
remote control 32
Interior motion sensor 38
remote control 32
switching off 32, 39
Interior rearview mirror 60
automatic dimming
feature 60
Interior temperature, adjust-
ment 106
Interlock 70
Intermittent mode 78J
Jack 151
Jump-starting 157
K
Key Memory 69
Keys 30
L
Labels, tires 130
Lamps
daytime driving lamps 96
fog lamps 98
interior lamps 98
panel lighting 97
parking lamps 96
reading lamps 98
replacing 147
standing lamps 97
Lashing fittings 117
LATCH child-restraint
mounting system 66
Length 163
License plate lamp
replacing bulb 151
Light switch 96
Lighter 113
Lighting, see Lamps
LIGHTS ON warning 96
Load-securing devices 116
Lock, steering wheel 70Low beams 96
replacing bulb 147
Lug wrench 151
Luggage compartment 35
capacity 164
enlarge volume 37
floor panel 37
folding down convertible
top compartment panel 37
opening from the inside 35
Luggage compartment lid 35
emergency release 36
manual operation 35
remote control 32
securing separately 35
Luggage compartment light-
ing 35
Luggage rack 118
Lumbar support 53
M
M+S tires 130
Maintenance 83, 140
Malfunction displays 83
Manual convertible top 41
closing 44
opening 42
operation 41
Manual operation of con-
vertible top during electri-
cal fault 48
Manual transmission 73Master keys 30
MC operation, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio
MD operation, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio
Memory 57, 69
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 69
Microfilter 103, 108
Microphone 113
Mirror
exterior 59
interior 60
Mirror defrosting 59
Mirror memory 57
Mirrors 59
Modifications, technical 5
Multifunction switch 77
N
Navigation System, refer to
the separate Owner's
Manual
Neckrest 54
O
OBD interface socket 141
Odometer 81
Oil
capacity 165
quality 137
viscosity 137
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