
 
4
 
Notes
 
© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke 
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich. 
Order No. 01 41 0 156 806
US English VIII/02
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper –
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling. 
About this Owner's Manual
 
We have made every effort to ensure 
that you are able to find what you need 
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as 
possible. The fastest way to find spe-
cific topics is by using the detailed 
index at the end. If you wish to gain an 
initial overview of your vehicle, you will 
find this in the first chapter.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at 
some time in the future, please remem-
ber to hand over this Owner's Manual 
to the new owner; it is an important part 
of the vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, 
your BMW center will be glad to advise 
you.
 
Symbols used
 
Indicates precautions that must 
be followed precisely in order to 
avoid the possibility of personal injury 
and serious damage to the vehicle.
Contains information that will 
assist you in gaining the optimum 
benefit from your vehicle and enable 
you to care more effectively for your 
vehicle.
Refers to measures that can be 
taken to help protect the environ-
ment.
Marks the end of a specific item of 
information.
Indicates special equipment, coun-
try-specific equipment and optional 
extras.
Identifies systems or components 
which can be activated or adapted 
to suit an individual driver's require-
ments – Vehicle Memory, Key Memory. 
Refer to page 69. Activation and adjust-
ments on some of these systems can 
be performed at your BMW center.
 
Your individual vehicle
 
On purchasing your BMW, you have 
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This 
Owner's Manual describes all models 
and equipment that BMW offers within 
the same group.
We hope you will understand that 
equipment and features are included 
that you might not have chosen for your 
vehicle. You can easily identify any dif-
ferences with the aid of the asterisk   
used to identify all optional equipment 
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment which 
is not described in this Owner's Man-
ual, such as a car radio or telephone, 
supplementary Owner's Manuals are 
enclosed. We ask you to read these 
manuals as well.
 
handbook.book  Page 4  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

 
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 

 
6
 
Notes
 
dust shields, telephones – including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally mounted antenna – or trans-
ceiver equipment, such as a CB, 
walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar 
accessories, may cause extensive dam-
age to the vehicle, compromise its 
safety, interfere with the vehicle's elec-
trical system or affect the validity of the 
BMW Limited Warranty. Contact your 
BMW center for additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to 
lock doors or luggage compartment 
with anyone inside the vehicle. Refer to 
the Owner's Manual for more details.
 
<
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
Symbol on vehicle parts
 
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this 
Owner's Manual for information on a 
particular part or assembly.
 
Service and warranty
 
This manual is supplemented by a Ser-
vice and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian mod-
els.
We recommend that you read this pub-
lication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following 
warranties:
 
>
 
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
 
>
 
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
 
>
 
Federal Emissions System Defect 
Warranty
 
>
 
Federal Emissions Performance War-
ranty
 
>
 
California Emission Control System 
Limited Warranty.
Detailed information about these war-
ranties is listed in the Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet for US mod-
els or in the Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
 
Reporting safety defects
 
The following only applies to vehicles 
owned and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a 
defect which could cause a crash or 
could cause injury or death, you should 
immediately inform the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
NHTSA in addition to notifying BMW of 
North America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, 
Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, 
Telephone toll-free 1-800-831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it 
may open an investigation, and if it 
finds that a safety defect exists in a 
group of vehicles, it may order a recall 
and remedy campaign. However, 
NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your 
dealer, or BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call 
the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 
1-800-424-9393 or 366-0123 in the 
Washington, D.C. area, or write to: 
NHTSA, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Washington, D.C. 
20590. You can also obtain other infor-
mation about motor vehicle safety from 
the Hotline. 
 
handbook.book  Page 6  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

 
22
 
Steering wheel with multifunction buttons*
 
These buttons let you operate the fol-
lowing functions quickly and without 
being distracted from traffic conditions: 
 
>
 
Selected radio functions
 
>
 
The cruise control
 
>
 
Selected telephone functions.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.
 
<
 
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
Switch between phone, radio, cassette 
and CD.
Forward:
 
>
 
Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: station search
 
>CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or 
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind/reverse: same functions as for-
ward.
Volume.
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate + 
or decelerate and store –.
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.
handbook.book  Page 22  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

84
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time 
display, you can make this setting in the 
radio display, refer to the Owner's Man-
ual for Radio.
You can set the clock and the time dis-
play in the car radio as follows.
To adjustWith the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher and the time displayed in the 
instrument cluster.
To set ahead: turn the right button to 
the right.
To set back: turn the right button to the 
left.
The adjustment speed will increase the 
longer you continue to hold the right 
button.
To change the display mode: press the 
right button briefly.
Every time you press the button, the 
clock display alternates between the 
12-hour and 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is 
displayed for a few seconds after you 
press the left button, refer to Odometer 
on page 81.
handbook.book  Page 84  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

93
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed 
immediately and stop the vehicle in a 
safe location. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Do not oversteer. Replace the 
defective tire, refer to page 151.
The space-saver spare tire is pro-
vided for temporary use only in the 
case of a tire failure. It does not have 
TPM electronics and is not monitored. 
The spare tire that has the same dimen-
sions as the tires already mounted on 
the vehicle is equipped with the neces-
sary TPM electronics and will also be 
monitored once the tire has been 
mounted and the system initialized.<
The TPM cannot alert you to 
severe and sudden tire damage 
caused by external factors.<
Have the tires changed by your 
BMW center.
Your BMW center has the information 
needed for working with TPM and is 
equipped with the necessary special 
tools.
The yellow indicator lamp will come on 
during the malfunction.
The indicator lamp also comes on
>in the event of a system fault
>if a wheel is mounted without the 
appropriate TPM electronics
>if, in addition to the spare tire, addi-
tional wheels with TPM electronics 
are being carried on board.
Please refer the problem to your BMW 
center.
Flat Tire Monitor*The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor 
keeps track of pressure levels in all four 
tires in order to detect and warn of any 
substantial pressure loss.
The system actually detects pressure 
loss by monitoring differences in the 
relative speeds of the four wheels. It 
interprets variations outside specified 
limits as severe pressure loss, and then 
responds by generating a warning.
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book  Page 93  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

Everything from A to ZA
ABS Antilock Brake 
System 123
indicator lamp 19
Accessories 5
Activated-charcoal filter 108
ADB Automatic Differential 
Braking 88
Adding brake fluid 134, 139
Air conditioning 
100, 102, 106
Air distribution 102
automatic 106
individual 106
Air nozzles 100, 104
Air outlets 100, 104
Air pressure 127
check 25
Air supply 102, 106
Air supply/Blower
recirculated-air mode 107
Airbags 61
warning lamp 18
Alarm system 38
avoiding false alarm 39
indicator lamp 39
interior protection 38
tilt alarm sensor 38
Antifreeze 138
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS) 123
indicator lamp 19Anti-theft system 30, 38
Armrest 112
ASC+T Automatic Stability 
Control plus Traction 88
indicator lamp 19
Ashtray
front 113
rear 114
AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control 107
Automatic car wash, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Automatic climate 
control 104
Automatic cruise control 79
Automatic curb monitor 58
Automatic Differential Brak-
ing (ADB) 88
Automatic dimming, interior 
rearview mirror 60
Automatic headlamp 
control 96
Automatic recirculated-air 
control (AUC) 107
Automatic Stability Control 
plus Traction (ASC+T) 88
indicator lamp 19
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic 74
indicator lamps 19Auxiliary terminal for jump-
starting 134, 157
Average fuel 
consumption 86
Average speed 86
Avoiding unintentional 
alarms 39
Axle loads 164
B
Backrest
unlock 55
Backup lamps 73
replacing bulb 149
Battery 156
charge 156
charge current 18
charge indicator lamp 18
Belts 56
Beverage holder 113
Blower 100, 102, 106
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oils 137
BMW Maintenance 
System 140
BMW Universal 
Transmitter 110
Bore 162
Bottle holder, see Beverage 
holder 113
Brake
warning lamp 18Brake fluid level 124
warning lamp 18, 139
Brake hydraulics
warning lamp 18
Brake lamps
replacing bulb 149
Brake pads 124
indicator lamp 19
Brakes
driving notes 123
malfunctions 124
parking brake 72
Break-in procedures 122
Bulb, replacing 147
C
California Proposition
65 warning 141
Can holder, see Beverage 
holder 113
Capacities 165
Car care, refer to Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
Car radio
refer to the Owner's Man-
ual for Radio
Car telephone
refer to the separate 
Owner's Manual
Car vacuum cleaner, con-
necting 114
handbook.book  Page 168  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM 

Everything from A to Z
169
Car wash, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Cargo loading 116
Cassette player operation, 
refer to the Owner's Man-
ual for Radio
CBC Cornering Brake 
Control 123
indicator lamp 19
CD player operation, refer to 
the Owner's Manual for 
Radio
Cellular phone 113
Center armrest 112
Center high-mount brake 
lamp 150
Central locking system 30
button 34
Changing a wheel 151
Check Control 83
Check Filler Cap
indicator lamp 19
Checking coolant level 138
Checking oil level 136
Child seats 63
integrated 61
Child-restraint mounting 
system (LATCH) 66
Child-restraint system 63
Cigarette lighter 113
Clean headlamps 79Cleaning position, convert-
ible top 45, 50
Cleaning windshield 79
Clock 84
setting 84
Cockpit 14
Code, refer to the Owner's 
Manual for Radio
Coin box 113
Compartments 112
Compression ratio 162
Computer 85
Condensation
removing from windows 
103, 106
Consumption
display 82
fuel 86
Convertible top
cleaning position 45, 50
closing in an 
emergency 48
electrical fault 48
Convertible top activation
fully automatic top 46
manual top 41
Convertible top compart-
ment panel, folding 
down 37
Coolant 134, 138, 165
indicator lamp 19
Cooling system 165Copyright 4
Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC) 123
indicator lamp 19
Cruise control 79
indicator lamp 20
Cup holder, see Beverage 
holder 113
Curb weight 164
Cushion height 163
D
Data
dimensions 163
engine 162
technical 162
weights 164
Daytime driving lamps 96
DBC Dynamic Brake 
Control 123
warning lamp 19
Defrost position 103, 106
Defrosting rear window 
102, 107
Defrosting windows 
103, 106
Digital clock 84
Dimensions 163
Dipstick, engine oil 136
Disc brakes 124
Displacement 162
Display lighting 97Displays 16
Distance warning PDC 87
Door key 30
Door lock buttons 34
Doors
emergency operation 33
manual operation 33
remote control 31
unlocking and locking 
31, 33
Driving notes
braking 123
disc brakes 124
general information 123
hydroplaning 123
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control 90
indicator lamp 19
DTC Dynamic Traction 
Control 90
Dynamic Brake Control 
(DBC) 123
warning lamps 19
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC) 90
indicator lamp 19
Dynamic Traction Control 
(DTC) 90
E
Electric power windows 40
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book  Page 169  Wednesday, July 31, 2002  9:29 AM