Contents
9
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags52
Transporting children safely54
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory58
Driving:
Ignition lock59
Starting the engine59
Switching off the engine61
Parking brake61
Manual transmission62
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*63
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher66
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*67
Cruise control*69
Everything under control:
Odometer71
Tachometer71
Energy control71
Fuel gauge72
Engine coolant temperature
gauge72
Service interval display73
Check Control73
Clock74
Computer*75
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)*77
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)*78
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)*80
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) –
BMW 325xi82
Hill Descent Control (HDC)*84
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)*85
Flat Tire Monitor*86
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams89
Instrument lighting90
High beams/Standing lamps90
Fog lamps*91
Interior lamps91
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Air conditioning92
Automatic climate control*96
Interior conveniences:
Premium sound system*101
Glove compartment101
Storage compartments102
Cellular phone*103
Ashtray, front*104
Ashtray, rear*104
Socket105
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag*106
Cargo area107
Cargo loading109
Roof-mounted luggage
rack*111
Controls and features
handbook.book Page 9 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
19
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts
●
Comes on together with an
acoustic signal until the safety
belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 47
Airbags
●
Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 52
Orange: consult the nearest BMW
center
Automatic transmission
The transmission has
responded to a malfunction by
reverting to operation in its emergency
default program. Please consult the
nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 63
Yellow: check as soon as possible
Engine oil level
If the lamp comes on during
normal vehicle operation: the
engine oil level has fallen to the abso-
lute minimum; refill as soon as possible.
Do not drive more than approx. 30
miles/50 km before refilling.
For additional information: refer to
page 126
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been switched off: add engine
oil at the earliest opportunity – next time
you stop to refuel.
For additional information: refer to
page 126
Brake pads
●
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 116
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)/Flat
Tire Monitor
●
Check tire inflation pressures.
Refer to pages 25, 85, 86
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)
●
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
The ASC+T has been switched off via
the button, ADB is operational; or DSC
has been switched off using the button,
DTC is operational.
Please contact the nearest BMW center
in case of a malfunction.
Additional information beginning on
page 78
BMW 325xi:
DSC has been switched off manually or
there is a system malfunction.
ADB-X is operational. If the warning
lamp fails to go out when you press the
DSC button again, this indicates a sys-
tem malfunction affecting both DSC
and ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
For additional information: refer to
page 82
Indicator and warning lamps
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 19 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
61
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 transmission:
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 Park.<
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.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 61 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
62
If exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction – fishtailing
– at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
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 Park.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake
lightly from time to time when coasting
to a standstill – at a traffic signal, for
instance – provided that it is safe to do
so.<
Manual transmission
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead.
Riding the clutch leads to severe and
premature clutch wear.<
ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Press the shift lever to the left to
overcome the slight resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will
light up automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Parking brake
handbook.book Page 62 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
63
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from
the D position to the left into the M/S
range, the performance-oriented shift
programs of the automatic transmission
are engaged. Steptronic enters the
manual selection mode and executes
the desired shift whenever you tap the
selector lever in the direction indicated
by + or –. Whenever you want to use
the automatic mode again, just move
the selector lever toward the right to
position D. Under normal operating
conditions, fuel consumption is lowest
when driving in position D.
Selector lever positionsP R N D M/S + –Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever positions P – for Park – or N –
for Neutral.Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts to
the Reverse or Park selector lever posi-
tions. To disengage the detent, press
the button on the front side of
the selector lever button – see arrow.
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of Park or Neu-
tral, depress the footbrake in order to
disengage the selector lever's lock
mechanism – Shiftlock.
Hold the footbrake down until starting
off. The vehicle will otherwise "creep"
when a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from start-
ing off on its own, always move
the selector lever to position P and
engage the parking brake before leav-
ing your vehicle with the engine run-
ning.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a safety hazard.<
PParkSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Transmission locks to prevent rear
wheels from turning.RReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 63 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
64
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*
handbook.book Page 64 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
84
Hill Descent Control (HDC)*The conceptBy reducing the vehicle's speed on
steep downhill stretches, HDC main-
tains predictable vehicle handling
response to provide you with control of
your BMW during extreme descents.
The vehicle slows to a pace just slightly
faster than walking speed.
HDC is available for activation at vehi-
cle speeds below approx. 22 mph /
35 km/h. When driving down steep
hills, the vehicle reduces speed auto-
matically down to about double walking
speed – approx. 7.5 mph / 12 km/h –
and then maintains this speed at a con-
stant.
You can use the accelerator or brakes
to vary this speed within a range from
approx. 3 mph / 5 km/h to approx.
15 mph / 25 km/h.
In conjunction with the multifunction
steering wheel you can use the +/–
button to set the cruise control to a tar-
get speed in the range from approx.
3 mph / 5 km/h to approx. 15 mph /
25 km/h.
HDC is automatically deactivated once
vehicle speed again exceeds approx.
37 mph / 60 km/h.
To activate the systemPress the HDC button; the green indi-
cator lamp integrated within the button
comes on.
The indicator lamp flashes whenever
the system is actively intervening to
control your speed with automatic
brake applications.To deactivate the systemPress the button again, the indicator
lamp goes out.
HDC is automatically deactivated once
the vehicle accelerates to more than
37 mph / 60 km/h, as well as whenever
you switch off the ignition.
To use HDCWith manual transmission:
You should always ensure that either
reverse or first gear is engaged before
using HDC, as the engine's braking
effect is most pronounced in these
gears, and only reduced engine braking
is available in higher gears.
With automatic transmission: HDC is
available for use in all ranges.System malfunctionsSignaled by the indicator lamp, which
responds to problems by going out
while HDC is in operation or by failing
to come on when you activate the sys-
tem:
HDC is temporarily not available if
brake temperature is too high.
If the DSC indicator lamp comes
on at the same time:
There is a fault in the HDC and
DSC systems. Have your BMW center
inspect this system as soon as possi-
ble.
handbook.book Page 84 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM
127
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts/1 liter. Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine.
Adding engine oilWait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
However, you should never let the oil
drop below the lower mark.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This also applies to the
manual transmission, the automatic
transmission, the differential, and the
power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed
by your BMW center.
Continuous exposure to used oil
has caused cancer in laboratory
testing. For this reason, any skin areas
that come into contact with oil should
be thoroughly washed with soap and
water.
Always store oil, grease, etc., out of
reach of children. Comply with all warn-
ing labels and information on contain-
ers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of used oil.<
Specified engine oilsThe quality of the engine oil is
extremely important for the function
and service life of an engine. Based on
extensive testing, BMW has approved
only certain grades of engine oil.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.
If an approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil should be unavailable, you
may use small volumes of other syn-
thetic oils for topping up between oil
changes. Use only oils with the specifi-
cation API SH or higher.
Engine oil
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 127 Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:36 PM