2003 BMW 325xi TOURING Owner's Manual

105
SocketA fold-out power socket – 12 volts – is
located in the cargo area.
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106Loading and transporting
Ski bag*The ski bag allows the safe and clean
transport of up to 4 pairs of standard
skis or up to two snowboards.
The length of the ski bag and the addi-
tional space provided in the cargo area
make it possible to carry skis up to
6 ft 10 in / 2.10 m long. Because of the
tapered shape of the bag, only two
pairs of skis longer than 6 ft 10 in /
2.10 m can be carried.
Loading1. Fold the center armrest outward.
Loosen the trim from the upper
Velcro® fastener and place it on the
armrest
2. Press the button – see arrow 1, from
inside the passenger compartment:
the cargo hatch drops onto the floor
of the cargo area
3. Press down the detent lever – see
arrow 2 – and fold the cover forward
4. Extend the ski bag between the front
seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to the inside of the bag,
and can also be left open to promote
drying.
To store the ski bag, perform the above
steps in reverse sequence.
Securing cargo
Secure skis and any other objects
stored in the bag by tightening the
retaining strap at the buckle.<
Be sure that your skis are clean
before loading them into the bag.
Avoid damage from sharp edges during
loading.<
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107
Cargo areaFolding rear backrestReach into the recess and pull forward
– see arrow.
When you fold back the backrest,
be sure that the catch engages
securely. The red warning indicator dis-
appears in the recess when the retainer
is locked.<
Cargo area cover
Never use the cover to carry
heavy or hard objects, as such
objects could pose a hazard to the
vehicle's occupants during sudden
braking maneuvers.
Guide the cover back into place; do not
allow it to snap back, as it could sustain
damage.<
Pull out the cover and suspend it by
attaching it to the holders.
You can carry light objects such as arti-
cles of clothing on the cover.
Partition net*Use the loop to pull out the partition
net, then grasp both sides of the rod
and insert it into its holder. It is easiest
to do this from the back seat.
Do not allow the partition net to
snap back. Doing so could pose a
risk of injury and the partition net could
be damaged.<
If the backrests are folded forward, the
partition net's case can be stored on
the backrests; you can then extract the
partition net and hold it in place by
inserting the retainers into the front
holders, refer to next page.
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108
To remove cargo cover and
partition net1. Press the buttons on the sides – see
arrow 1
2. Extract the case by pulling to the rear
– see arrow 2.InstallationSimply slide the case forward in the two
side holders until it engages.
Storing with backrests folded
forwardSupports for the case are provided on
the rear sides of the backrests – see
arrow 1.
Insert the case from the right as shown
in the illustration, continuing until the
detent engages – see arrow 2. Ensure
that the cargo cover points toward the
front of the vehicle, with the partition
net's loop on the top.
You can pull the partition net out and
insert it into the holders above it in the
upper roof area.
To ensure that the case is properly
positioned, remember to insert it
on both guides from the right side,
always continuing until the detents
snap into place. Failure to observe the
prescribed insertion procedure could
also result in damage to the door's
upholstery.<
Cargo area
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109
Lifting the floor panel1. Lift up the floor panel slightly at
loop 1
2. Release the loop end from the under-
side of the floor panel; see arrow
3. Hook the loop end with the tab onto
the rubber weather-stripping.
Before folding the floor panel back
down, attach the loop end to the
holder on the underside of the floor
panel.<
Side coversOpen the side covers by pressing the
button.
Cargo loading
Always position and secure loads
correctly. If you do not, the load
can endanger the passengers during
braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the approved gross
weight or the approved maximum axle
loads, refer to page 154, otherwise the
vehicle's operating safety is no longer
assured and you are in violation of the
law.
Do not stow heavy or hard objects in
the passenger compartment without
securing them. Otherwise they would
be thrown around during braking and
evasive maneuvers and could endanger
the passengers.<
Cargo area
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110
Stowing cargo>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible – directly behind the back-
rests or the cargo area partition – and
as low as possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest
>Pull out the partition net*, refer to
previous page, taking care to ensure
that there is no danger that any of the
objects stored in the cargo area will
protrude through the net*
>For very heavy loads when the rear
seat is not occupied, secure each
safety belt in the opposite buckle.
Securing cargo>Small and light luggage and cargo
can be secured with the aid of flexi-
ble straps or a cargo area net*, refer
to page 36
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices*. Lashing fittings located in
the cargo area can be used for fas-
tening the load-securing devices; see
arrow.
Read and comply with the instructions
enclosed with the load-securing
devices.
Cargo loading
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111
Roof-mounted luggage rack*A special roof-rack system is available
as an optional extra for your BMW.
Please observe the precautions
included with the installation instruc-
tions.AnchoragesAccess to the anchorages:
To fold up the covers – see arrow –
please use the tool provided with the
roof-rack system.Loading and driving notesRoof-mounted luggage racks raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle when
they are loaded. For this reason, they
exercise a major effect on the vehicle's
handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember
not to exceed the approved roof load
capacity, the approved gross vehicle
weight or the axle loads when loading
the rack. These weights are listed under
Technical data on page 154.
Make sure that the load is not too bulky,
and attempt to distribute it evenly.
Always load the heaviest pieces first so
that they are at the bottom. Be sure that
adequate clearance is maintained for
raising the sliding/tilt sunroof, and that
objects do not project into the opening
path of the tailgate.
Secure the roof-mounted luggage cor-
rectly and securely to prevent it from
shifting or being lost during driving.
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden
acceleration and braking. Do not corner
at high speeds.
The roof-mounted luggage rack and the
roof load increase the aerodynamic
resistance: increased fuel consumption
and additional stress on the vehicle's
body are the result.
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