Contents
Contents
Notes
6Using this Owner's Manual
6Symbols used
7The individual vehicle
7Editorial notice
8For your own safety
9Service and warranty
9Reporting safety defects
Cockpit
12Driver's side Ð controls and displays
16Comfort and convenience Ð controls
and displays
18Buttons in steering wheel
Control Center
19The concept
19Controller
19Control Display
20Symbols and lists
22Menus in Control Display
23Assistance window
*
24Top and bottom status lines
24Control Center in rear
*
Voice command
26Voice command system
26Voice commands
28Notices
28The notebook
29Short commands
Opening and closing
34Key/remote control
35Central locking system
35Opening and closing Ð from outside 37Opening and closing Ð from inside
38Doors
38Luggage compartment lid
40Luggage compartment
41Alarm system
42Electric power windows
43Sliding/tilt sunroof
*
Adjustments
45Sit safely
45Seats
47Head restraints
50Safety belts
51Heated seats
*
51Active seat ventilation
*
52Active seat
*
52Mirrors
53Steering wheel adjustment
54Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory
55Airbags
57Transporting children safely
59LATCH
*
child-restraint system
59Child-safety locks
60Vehicle Memory, Key Memory
Driving
61Ignition lock
62Starting the engine
62Switching off the engine
62Parking brake
67Automatic transmission with L mode
69Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
*
© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with
the written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 157 197
US English XII/2002, 6 096
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
Ð bleached without chlorine, suitable for
recycling.
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45
Adjustments
Sit safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed driving that is as
fatigue-free as possible. The sitting posi-
tion plays an important role together with
the safety belts and airbags in providing
occupants with maximum levels of passive
safety in an accident. To ensure that the
safety systems operate with optimal effi-
ciency, we strongly urge you to observe the
instructions contained in the following sec-
tion.
For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 57.
Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the air-
bags. Always hold the steering wheel by
its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock and
3 o'clock positions, to minimize the risk of
injuries to your hands and arms in the event
of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the
airbags and the seat occupant.
To prevent possible leg injuries should the
knee airbag deploy in an accident, ensure
that the front passenger assumes a correct
sitting position. Do not use the cover of the
front airbag on the front passenger side as
a storage area for objects, or as a rest for
feet or legs.<
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 55.
Safe sitting position with safety belts
For the safety of all vehicle occupants,
please comply with the following instruc-
tions for wearing safety belts.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a pas-
senger's lap.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it firmly
across the hips and shoulder. Wear it as snugly against your body as possible. Do
not allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or jammed.
Avoid wearing loose or bulky clothing that
would prevent the belt from resting
securely against your body; pull on the
shoulder strap periodically to keep it ten-
sioned.
In the event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over your hips, leading to
abdominal injury. In addition, the safety
belt's restraint effectiveness is reduced if
the belt is worn loosely.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdom-
inal area.<
For putting on safety belts, refer to
page 50.
Seats
For your personal safety when adjusting
the seat position, please follow the instruc-
tions below carefully.
Never attempt to adjust your seat
while operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle con-
trol could lead to an accident.
Never recline the backrest to an extremely
horizontal position while operating the
vehicle Ð this precaution is especially
important for front passengers and the
occupants of electric power rear seats to
remember. Failure to observe these pre-
cautions can prevent the belts from pro-
viding effective protection against injury, as
passengers could slide under the belts in
an accident.<
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47
Rear comfort seat* adjustment
You can use the control knob to adjust var-
ious functions after first selecting them with
the buttons.
1Forward/backward:
Tilt angle:
Backrest:
This button is always ready for opera-
tion
2Lumbar support, refer to page 46
3Shoulder support:
Head restraint height:
Backrest:
It is not possible to adjust the comfort
seats if the safety switch for the
power windows has been depressed, refer
to page 43.<
Adjusting passenger seat from the
rear
The front passenger's seat can be adjusted
from the rear seating positions, for
instance, when a rear passenger desires
more legroom.
Press the button to activate this function,
see arrow. You can use the control knob to adjust the
settings after selecting the desired function
with the buttons.
1Forward/backward:
Height:
Backrest:
2Head restraint height:
Press the button again, see arrow, to deac-
tivate this function.
Resetting to standard adjustment
position
You can use the button to return the rear
seats to their standard or default positions.
Maintain pressure on the button until the
system completes the adjustment.
It will be necessary to return the rear
seats to their standard position before
using a child-restraint system, for instance,
refer to page 57.<
Head restraints
Adjustment information
Head restraints can reduce the risk of
spinal injury in the event of an acci-
dent.
Adjust the head restraints so that they are
centered roughly at the level of your ears.<
Electric power seat, comfort seat
You have the option of adjusting the head
restraint to the desired height, either using
the electric power assist, or manually,
depending upon the seat.
Adjustments
50
To set the side extensions
You can fold the side extensions on the
head restraint forward to increase lateral
support.
Safety belts
Despite the presence of airbags, you
should always remember to fasten
your safety belt before starting off; airbags
are intended to enhance the protection
provided by the safety belts, and not to
replace them.<
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage
in the belt buckle. Warning lamp Please fasten safety
belts
Accompanied by a signal or a mes-
sage in the Check Control display.
Remains on until the safety belts are fas-
tened.
Releasing
Press the red button in the buckle. Hold the
belt and guide it back into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will
be in the correct position for seat occu-
pants of every build if the seat is correctly
adjusted, refer to page 45.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
in the rear seat are for passengers sitting
on the left and right. The belt buckle
embossed with the word CENTER is
intended exclusively for use by passengers
riding in the center position.
Also observe the instructions on adjusting
the seats on page 45.
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the tensioning
mechanisms, replaced at your BMW
center. Have the belt anchorage points
inspected for damage at the same time.
Failure to observe this precaution may pre-
vent the safety belts from effectively pro-
viding optimal protection when needed. If a
child-restraint system was in the vehicle
during an accident, consult the manufac-
turer's instructions regarding replace-
ment.<
Rear seats
When the rear center position is not
occupied, the latch on the safety belt
can be inserted in the slot between the
seat's upholstery and the backrest.<
Adjustments
56
Protective effect
The front airbags help protect the front
passengers by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot
provide adequate restraint. When needed,
the head and side airbags help provide
protection in the event of side impact. The
side airbags help restrain the side of the
occupant's upper torso, and the head air-
bags help support the head while also
helping provide protection against any
objects penetrating into the passenger
compartment. The knee airbags help pro-
tect the legs against impact against the
cockpit.
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 information.<
For information on the correct sitting posi-
tion, refer to page 45.
The airbags do not deploy in
response to minor accidents or rear
collisions, nor do they respond to certain
kinds of vehicle rollover.<
Even when all safety guidelines are
observed, there is a small residual risk that
passengers will sustain facial, hand or arm
injuries in isolated instances. The ignition
and inflation noise may provoke a mild Ð
usually temporary Ð hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals.
Important safety notes
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag
restraint system from the vehicle. If you
note any indication of system malfunction,
if you desire to have an airbag deactivated,
or if the airbags are triggered in response
to an accident, you should always entrust
all inspection, repair and dismantling oper-
ations to your BMW center.
Never modify or tamper with either the wiring or the individual components in the
airbag system. This category includes the
upholstery in the center of the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, the side
trim panels on the front or rear doors, and
the roof pillars along with the sides of the
headliner. Do not attempt to remove or dis-
mantle the steering wheel.
To ensure compliance with official safety
regulations, entrust disposal of airbag gen-
erators only to a BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either
of which could result in personal injury.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of
burns.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained Ð
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children 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 indicates the airbag's location.
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system on the front passenger
seat. If you do so, the child could be
severely injured when the airbag is trig-
gered.
Children under 13 years of age and chil-
dren less than 5 ft (150 cm) tall should
always ride in the rear and the restraint sys-
tems should be secured with the vehicle's
safety belts.
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat. However, a child sitting in the
rear seat and not properly restrained may
place his or her head on or near the airbag,
if so equipped.
For example, a child Ñ even though belted
Ñ 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 do not place their heads on or
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57
near the side airbag. Therefore, we recom-
mend that the rear side airbags, if provided,
be deactivated if you plan to transport chil-
dren in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the time of
manufacture or by a BMW center. Labels in
the rear door opening should indicate the
status of your rear seat side airbags. If you
are uncertain of their status, or wish to have
the airbags activated or deactivated,
please contact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual risk
of injuries to the face, hands and arms
occurring from airbag deployment in iso-
lated instances. The ignition and inflation
noise may provoke a mild temporary
hearing loss in extremely sensitive individ-
uals.
Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun visors.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp shows the
airbag and belt-tensioner system's
operational status as soon as you
insert the remote control unit in the ignition.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on or
>it remains on continuously.
A system malfunction could prevent the
system from responding to an impact
occurring within its normal response range.
Please respond to any signs of malfunction
by having the airbag system inspected
immediately at a BMW center.
Transporting children safely
Commercially-available child-restraint sys-
tems are designed to be secured with a lap
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions that
come with the system.
Child-restraint system with tether
strap
If you use a child-restraint system with a
tether strap, three additional tether
anchorage points have been provided Ð
refer to the arrows in the illustration.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area, attach
the tether strap to the corresponding
anchorage point to secure the child-
restraint system, as shown in the illustra-
tion below.
Each seating position is fitted with a head
restraint.
Outer seating positions:
Lift the head restraint and pass the tether
strap between the head restraint and the
seat back. It is recommended to readjust
the head restraint into the lowest possible
position.
Center seating position:
The head restraint must be adjusted into
the lowest possible position. Pass the
tether strap over the head restraint.
Adjustments
58 Adjust the tether strap according to the
child-restraint manufacturer's instructions.
Before installing any child-restraint
system or child seat, please read the
following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger seat
of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front
passenger. Because the backrest on any
rearward-facing child-restraint system Ð of
the kind designed for infants under 1 year
and 20 Ibs. (9 kg) Ð would be within the
airbag's deployment range, you should
never mount such a system in the front
passenger seat, since the impact of the
airbag against the child restraint's backrest
could lead to serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child Ð not an infant Ð
to ride in the front seat, certain precautions
should be taken. First, move the passenger
seat as far away from the instrument panel
as possible. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance
between the airbag and the child. Older
children should be tightly secured with a
safety belt, after they have outgrown a
booster seat that is appropriate for their
age, height and weight. Younger children
should be secured in an appropriate for-
ward-facing child-restraint system that has
first been properly secured with a safety
belt. Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read and
comply with the instructions for installation
and use provided by the child-restraint's
manufacturer whenever you use such a
system.
Be sure that all occupants Ð of all ages Ð
remain properly and securely restrained at
all times. If your vehicle is equipped with
electric power seats at the rear, these will
need to be returned to their standard
adjustment setting position before a child-
restraint system is used, refer to page 47.
Always press the safety switch for the
power windows before transporting chil-
dren in the rear seats, refer to page 43. This switch also disables the power rear seat
adjustment. Incorrect or unsupervised
adjustment of the electric power seats
could lead to injuries or damage to the
child-restraint system(s) installed in the
rear.<
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE J1819,
an industry-recommended practice for
securing child-restraint systems in motor
vehicles.
Child seat security
All of the rear belt retractors and the front
passenger's safety belt can be locked for
mounting and securing child-restraint sys-
tems.
Information regarding this is located near
the buckle latch of each safety belt.
Lock the safety belt
Pull the entire length of the belt from the
belt retractor. Allow the reel to retract the
belt somewhat and engage the buckle,
then tighten the belt against the child-
restraint system. The retraction mechanism
is now locked.
Unlock the safety belt
Release the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the belt retractor
to reel the belt completely in.
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LATCH* child-restraint
system
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for
CHildren.
If the vehicle is equipped with electric
power seats, these must be returned
to their standard adjustment setting before
a LATCH child-restraint system can be
used, refer to page 47.<
Access to anchorage points
The rear outer seating positions are pro-
vided with anchors for a LATCH child-
restraint system. The illustrations show the
left rear seat as an example.
The outer anchorage points for the LATCH
child-restraint system are identified by
flags.
Canadian models only:
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint system are identified by buttons.You can obtain an installation guide
for mounting LATCH child-restraint
systems at your BMW center. The guide,
although not necessary for installation of a
LATCH child-restraint system, will facilitate
the installation and also help protect the
vehicle's seating surfaces. Always observe
all instructions for installation and use pro-
vided by the child-restraint's manufac-
turer.<
Engage the buckle on the center belt and
then pull the belt away from the child-
restraint's anchorage point.
Firmly press the installation guide into the
gap between the upholstery on seat and
backrest, continuing until the two funnel-
shaped guides snap into place in the
LATCH support braces in the seat.
Pull the installation guides to remove.
Child-safety locks
Slide down the safety levers on the rear
doors:
The door can now be opened from the out-
side only.