5
Notes
Status at time of printing
BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development conceived to
ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, the features described in this
Owner's Manual could differ from those
in your vehicle. Nor can errors and
omissions be entirely ruled out. You are
therefore asked to appreciate that no
claims can be recognized on the basis
of the data, illustrations or descriptions
in this Owner's Manual.
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 – that is,
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent – will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality – volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc. among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result
in driveability, starting and stalling
problems, especially under certain
environmental conditions, such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which 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 recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Obey all applicable safety rules when
handling gasoline.
<
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
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 thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product on the
market to determine whether it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
handbook.book Page 5 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
Contents
Notes
About this Owner's Manual4
Symbols used4
Your individual vehicle4
Status at time of printing5
For your own safety5
Symbol on vehicle parts6
Service and warranty6
Reporting safety defects6
Overview
Cockpit14
Instrument cluster16
Indicator and warning lamps18
Steering wheel with multifunction
buttons*22
Hazard warning triangle*23
First-aid kit*23
Refueling24
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure25
Controls and features
Opening and closing:
Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing – via the
remote control31
Opening and closing – via the
door lock33
Opening and closing – from the
inside34
Luggage compartment lid35
Luggage compartment37
Alarm system*38
Electric power windows40
Manual convertible top41
Fully-automatic convertible
top*46
Wind deflector*50
To adjust:
Safe seating position52
Seats52
Adjusting electric power
seats53
Lumbar support*53
Head restraints54
Entering the rear55
Safety belts56
Seat and mirror memory*57
Seat heating*58
Steering wheel59
Mirrors59
handbook.book Page 8 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
30Opening and closing
KeysThe key set1Master keys with remote control –
determine the functions of the Key
Memory, refer to page 69.
You can mark the individual keys for
subsequent identification by apply-
ing the colored 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 master keys
that are not being used otherwise, use
those keys approximately once a year
while driving for an extended period to
charge the battery.<
2Spare master key – for storage in a
safe place, such as in your wallet.
This key is not intended for constant
use
3Door and ignition key – the locks for
the luggage compartment lid and the
glove compartment cannot be oper-
ated with this key. This is useful for
valet parking, for example
Central locking systemThe conceptThe central locking system engages
and releases the following locks at the
same time
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door
>glove compartment.
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed.
The central locking system can be
operated
>from outside via the door lock as well
as via the remote control
>from inside by pressing a button.
The fuel filler door is not locked when
the central locking system is activated
from the inside, refer to page 34.
When the system is actuated from the
outside, the anti-theft system is also
activated. This prevents the doors from
being unlocked via the lock buttons or
the release handle. The alarm system is
also armed or disarmed.
The central locking system is automati-
cally deactivated in the event of an
accident. In addition, the hazard warn-
ing flashers and interior lamps come on.
handbook.book Page 30 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
31
Opening and closing – via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control gives you an excep-
tionally convenient method for unlock-
ing and locking your vehicle. Further-
more, it provides two additional
functions:
>To switch on interior lamps, refer to
page 32.
With this function you can also
search for the vehicle when parked in
an underground garage, for instance
>To open the luggage compartment
lid, refer to page 32.
The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly, regardless of whether it
was previously locked or unlocked.
Whenever you unlock or lock the vehi-
cle, you simultaneously deactivate/acti-
vate the anti-theft system, disarm/arm
the alarm system and switch the interior
lamps on/off.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the vehicle's locks have
engaged securely.<
Master keys with remote control
Persons or animals inside the
vehicle may be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this reason,
you should 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.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the
spare key or the door and ignition key
when leaving the vehicle for valet park-
ing, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You
can also obtain replacement keys
there.<
1Unlock, disarm alarm system
2Lock and secure, arm alarm system,
activate interior lamps, disarm tilt
alarm sensor and interior motion sen-
sor
3Open the luggage compartment lid,
Panic mode – trigger alarmTo releasePress the button once to unlock the
driver's door.
Press the button a second time to
disengage all vehicle locks.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 31 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
32
To lock and securePress the button.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press the but-
ton.To deactivate the tilt alarm* and
interior motion sensors*Press the button a second time imme-
diately after locking.
For additional information, refer to
page 39.To open the luggage
compartmentPress the button.
The luggage compartment lid will open
slightly, regardless of whether it was
previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure
that the luggage compartment lid
has not been opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode – trigger alarmProvided that the alarm system is
armed, you can respond to imminent
danger by holding down the button for
more than seconds.
To switch off the alarm:
Press the button.External systemsThe remote control system's operation
may be affected by other units or
equipment operating in the immediate
vicinity of your vehicle.
If this should occur, you can still open
and close the vehicle using the master
key in either the door or luggage com-
partment lid locks.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with part 15 of the FCC Federal
Communications Commission regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the fol-
lowing:
FCC ID:
>LX8EWS
>LX8FZVS
>LX8FZVE.
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference
>This device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to
these devices could void the
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<
Opening and closing – via the remote control
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38
Before lowering the convertible
top, refer to page 41 or 46, always
check to ensure that the luggage com-
partment panel has returned to its origi-
nal position. Attempts to lower the top
with the panel folded up can lead to
vehicle damage.<
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle –
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle
such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow
the vehicle – tilt alarm sensor
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>The acoustic alarm sounds for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
via the driver's door lock or with the
remote control, the alarm system is also
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
arming and disarming.<
You can open the luggage compart-
ment lid when the system is armed by
pressing the remote control button,
refer to page 32. The lid is once again
secured when it is closed.
Luggage compartment
handbook.book Page 38 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
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*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 39 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
60
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce glare from vehicles behind
you when you are driving at night, tilt
the mirror by turning the button.
Vehicles without alarm system:
Tilt the small lever forward.
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature*This mirror automatically dims through
an infinitely-variable range. It returns to
its clear, undimmed mode whenever
you engage Reverse.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate efficiently, ensure that the pho-
tocells remain clear and unobstructed.
One photocell is integrated in the mir-
ror's lens – see arrow – while the other
is located at an offset position on the
rear of the mirror. Refrain from attach-
ing stickers or other objects to the
windshield in the area immediately
behind the rearview mirror.
Mirrors
handbook.book Page 60 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM