61 Passenger safety systems
Airbags1Front airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides
2Side airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides front and rear*Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the safety
belts by providing additional protection
in the event of a severe frontal collision
in which the protection afforded by the
belts alone may no longer be sufficient.
The side airbags help provide protec-
tion in the event of a collision from the
side. Each of the side airbags is
designed to help support the seat
occupant's upper body.
For information on the correct sitting
posture, refer to page 52.
The side airbags in the rear pas-
senger area* of your vehicle may
already have been deactivated either at
the time of manufacture or by a BMW
center. You may have them activated if
you desire to do so. Please contact
your BMW center for additional infor-
mation.<
The airbags do not deploy in
response to minor collisions, rear
impacts and certain kinds of vehicle
rollover.<
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags,
cover them or modify them in any other
way. Do not remove the airbag restraint
system. In the event of a malfunction,
deactivation or triggered activation – as
a response to an accident – of the air-
bag restraint system, consult your BMW
center for inspection, repair or disas-
sembly. Do not modify or tamper with
either the wiring or the individual com-
ponents in the airbag system. These
include the upholstered covers on the
steering wheel, instrument panel, side
trim panels of the doors and front roof
pillars and on the sides of the headliner.
Also, do not attempt to remove the
steering wheel. Unprofessional
attempts to service the system could
lead to failure in an emergency or
undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury. Do
not touch the individual components
immediately after the system has been
activated, as this could result in per-
sonal injury.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained
– infants and small children in appropri-
ate child-restraint systems; larger chil-
dren and adults using the safety belts.
Never let an occupant's head rest near
or on a side airbag because the inflating
airbag could cause a serious or fatal
injury. Please note that the word Airbag
imprinted on the door trim panel indi-
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in an automobile
is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-
ting in the rear seat and not properly
restrained could place his or her head
on or near the airbag, if so equipped.
For example, a child — even though
belted in — may fall asleep with his or
her head against the side airbag. It may
be difficult for a driver to ensure that
children in the rear seat will remain
properly positioned at all times and not
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 61 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
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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handbook.book Page 75 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
132In the engine compartment
HoodTo releasePull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.
Do not attempt to service your
vehicle if you do not have the
required technical background. Failure
to work in an informed, professional
manner when servicing components
and materials constitutes a safety haz-
ard for vehicle occupants and other
road users. If you are not familiar with
the guidelines, please have the opera-
tions performed at your BMW center.<
To openPull the release handle and open the
hood.
To closeAllow the hood to fall from a height of
about 1 ft/30 cm so that it audibly
engages.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is closed, following the same
safety precautions used in all closing
procedures.
If you notice while driving that the hood
is not completely closed, stop immedi-
ately and close it securely.<
handbook.book Page 132 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
141 Laws and regulations
California Proposition 65 warningCalifornia laws require us to state the
following warning:
Engine exhaust, some of its con-
stituents, and certain vehicle com-
ponents contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain
fluids contained in vehicles and certain
products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds. Wash your hands after hand-
ling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that
have caused cancer in laboratory ani-
mals. Always protect your skin by
washing thoroughly with soap and
water.<
OBD interface socketThe interface socket for onboard diag-
nostics is located on the left-hand side
of the driver's side, behind a specially
marked cover located beneath the
instrument panel. The cover has the let-
ters OBD on it.
This interface makes it possible to
access data on emissions-related com-
ponents using special equipment.
An illuminated indicator informs
you of the need for service, not
that you need to stop the vehi-
cle. However, the systems should be
checked by your BMW center at the
next opportunity.
If the indicator blinks or flashes, this
indicates a high level of engine misfire.
Reduce speed and contact the nearest
BMW center immediately. Severe
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handbook.book Page 141 Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:29 AM
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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