
 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags61
Transporting children safely63
Rollover protection system67
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory69
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock70
Starting the engine70
Switching off the engine72
Parking brake72
Manual transmission73
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*74
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher77
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*78
Cruise control*79
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer81
Tachometer81
Energy control81
Fuel gauge82
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge82
Service interval display83
Check Control83
Clock84
Computer85
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*87
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)*88
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)*90
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)*92
Flat Tire Monitor*93
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams96
Instrument lighting97
High beams/Standing lamps97
Fog lamps*98
Interior lamps98
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning100
Automatic climate control*104
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Glove compartment109
BMW Universal Transmitter*110
Storage compartments112
Cellular phone*113
Ashtray, front*113
Ashtray, rear*114
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag*115
Cargo loading116
Roof-mounted luggage rack for 
the hardtop*118
 
Controls and features
 
handbook.book  Page 9  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

 
18
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
Technology that monitors itself
 
Indicator and warning lamps that are 
identified by 
 
●
 
 are tested for proper 
functioning whenever the ignition key is 
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these 
systems, the corresponding lamp does 
not go out after the engine is started, or 
it lights up while the vehicle is moving. 
You will see how to react in the follow-
ing section.
 
Red: stop immediately
 
Battery charge current
 
●
 
The battery is no longer being 
charged. Indicates a defective 
alternator drive belt or a problem with 
the alternator's charge circuit. Please 
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop 
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and seri-
ous engine damage. If the drive belt is 
defective, increased steering effort is 
also required.
 
<
 
Engine oil pressure
 
●
 
Stop the vehicle immediately 
and switch off the engine. 
Check the engine oil level; top off as 
required. If the oil level is correct: 
please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
Do not continue driving, as the 
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.
 
<
 
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)/Flat 
Tire Monitor
 
●
 
In addition, an acoustic signal is 
sounded: a tire failure has occurred. 
Reduce vehicle speed immediately and 
stop the vehicle. Avoid hard brake 
applications. As you steer the vehicle, 
use caution to avoid overcorrecting.
For additional information: refer to 
pages 92, 93
Brake warning lamp
 
●
 
If the lamp comes on when the 
parking brake is not engaged: 
check the brake fluid level. Before driv-
ing further, be sure to comply with the 
instructions on pages 124 and 139.
Parking brake warning lamp for 
Canadian models.
 
Red: an important reminder
 
Brake warning lamp
Comes on when the parking 
brake is engaged – an additional 
acoustic signal sounds when you start 
off.
For additional information: refer to 
page 72
Parking brake warning lamp for 
Canadian models.
Lock backrest/Fasten safety 
belts 
 
●
 
Comes on together with an 
acoustic signal until the safety belts are 
fastened. Flashes if the backrest is not 
locked. 
For additional information on safety 
belts: refer to page 56
Airbags
 
●
 
Please have the system 
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 61
 
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21
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated: ready for oper-
ation via the steering wheel with multi-
function buttons.
For additional information: refer to 
page 79
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch 
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to 
page 98
 
Blue: for your information
 
High beams
Comes on when the high beams 
are on or the headlamp flasher 
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to 
pages 77, 97
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
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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
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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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35
Luggage compartment lidThe lockOnly the master keys fit in the lock for 
the luggage compartment lid, refer to 
page 30.To secure separatelyLock the glove compartment using the 
master key.
This locks the luggage compartment lid 
and disconnects it from the central 
locking system. This feature can be 
used to prevent unauthorized access to 
the luggage compartment when you 
surrender the door and ignition key 
only, refer to page 30. This can be 
advantageous for valet parking, for 
example.
To open from the outsidePress the button in the handle recess – 
see arrow: the luggage compartment lid 
opens slightly.
The luggage compartment is lit when 
the luggage compartment lid is opened.Manual operationIn the event of electrical malfunction
Turn the master key all the way to the 
left – the luggage compartment lid will 
open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked 
again as soon as you close the lid.
To open from the inside*If the luggage compartment lid has not 
been locked separately, you can open it 
with this button in the footwell on the 
driver's side when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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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
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42
To open the convertible top
Never attempt to open or close 
the convertible top unless the 
vehicle is completely stationary. To pre-
vent vehicle damage the top compart-
ment lid's lock will not disengage 
unless the luggage compartment lid is 
closed.<
1. Flip the locking handle out – refer to 
illustration – and turn it as far as the 
end stop will allow
2. Raise the convertible top a little bit, 
release the tension
3. To unlock, press the button with the 
ignition key in position 1 or higher. 
The top compartment lid's lock dis-
engages and the lid itself rises a 
small distance. The side windows 
will lower slightly
If the indicator lamp lights up 
when the button is pressed, the lid 
cannot be unlocked because the top 
compartment panel is raised, refer to 
page 37. Lower the top compartment 
panel and close the tailgate.<
Manual convertible top
handbook.book  Page 42  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM