
 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags57
Transporting children safely59
Rollover protection system63
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory65
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock66
Starting engine and driving 
off67
Switching off the engine69
Parking brake69
Manual transmission70
Sequential M gearbox 
SMG II*71
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher76
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*77
Cruise control78
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer80
Tachometer80
Temperature gauge80
Fuel gauge81
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge81
Service interval display82
Check Control82
Clock83
Computer84
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*86
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)87
Flat Tire Monitor88
M Engine dynamics control91
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams92
Instrument lighting93
High beams/Standing lamps93
Fog lamps94
Interior lamps94
Reading lamps94
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Automatic climate control96
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Glove compartment101
Storage compartments101
Cellular phone*102
Ashtray, front*102
Ashtray, rear*103
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag*104
Cargo loading106
Roof-mounted luggage rack for 
the hardtop*107
 
Operation, maintenance
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures110
Driving notes111
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)111
Brake system112
Hardtop*113
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressure115
Tire condition115
Tire replacement116
Wheel and tire 
combinations118
Winter tires118
Snow chains*119
 
In the engine compartment:
 
Hood120
Engine compartment 
essentials122
Washer fluids124
Engine oil124
Coolant126
Brake fluid127
 
Maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System128
 
Laws and regulations:
 
California Proposition 65 
warning130
OBD interface socket130
 
Controls and features
 
handbook.book  Page 9  Tuesday, July 30, 2002  9:28 AM 

36
To closeThe handle recesses – see arrows – in 
the interior trim panel of the luggage 
compartment lid make it easier to pull 
the lid down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage com-
partment lid is clear when it is closed, 
following the same precautions as with 
all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid is com-
pletely closed. Otherwise, exhaust 
fumes could penetrate the interior of 
the vehicle.<
Nevertheless, should it be absolutely 
necessary to operate the vehicle with 
the luggage compartment lid open, with 
closed convertible top:
1. Close all windows
2. Greatly increase the quantity of air 
from the automatic climate control 
system, refer to page 98.
Emergency releaseThis lever releases the luggage com-
partment lid from the luggage compart-
ment's interior.
Luggage compartment lid
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96Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
Automatic climate control
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97
1Air onto the windshield and the side 
windows
2Air for the upper body area99
3Air to the footwell
4Outside air/Automatic recirculated-
air control (AUC)/Recirculated 
air99
5Air supply/Blower98
6Temperature98
7Automatic air distribution and 
supply98
8Individual air distribution98
9Interior temperature sensor – please 
keep clear and unobstructed
10 Display for temperature and air 
supply98
11 To defrost windows and remove 
condensation98
12 Air conditioning98
13 Rear window defroster99Automatic climate control
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book  Page 97  Tuesday, July 30, 2002  9:28 AM 

98
Tips for pleasant drivingUse the automatic mode – switch on 
with AUTO button 7. Select the desired 
interior temperature.
Detailed setting options are described 
for you in the following sections.
You can make the settings of your 
vehicle in such a manner that, 
when you unlock the vehicle with the 
remote control of your personal key, 
your own personalized setting for the 
automatic climate control is initiated.
The AUTO program adjusts the 
air distribution and the air sup-
ply for you and in addition adapts the 
temperature to external influences – 
summer, winter – to meet preferences 
you can specify.
Individual air distribution
You can cancel the AUTO pro-
gram by selecting specific dis-
tribution patterns to suit your 
own individual requirements. 
While the AUTO program is then deacti-
vated, the automatic airflow control 
remains in operation. Air flows onto 
the windows  , toward the upper 
body  , and into the footwell  . You 
can reactivate the automatic air supply 
by pressing the AUTO button.Temperature
The interior temperature that 
appears in the display panel is a 
general figure intended for reference 
purposes. We recommend 727/+226 
as a comfortable setting, even if the air 
conditioning is on. When you start the 
vehicle, the system ensures that the 
selected temperature is reached as 
quickly as possible. It then maintains 
this temperature, regardless of the sea-
son.
To select the units of measure 6/7 
of the display, refer to page 84.
Air supply/Blower
By pressing the left or right half 
of the button, you can vary the 
air supply. This deactivates the auto-
matic air supply – the AUTO display dis-
appears from the panel. Nevertheless, 
the automatic air distribution remains 
unchanged. You can reactivate the 
automatic air supply by pressing the 
AUTO button.
When the lowest blower speed is set 
and you press the left half of the button, 
all of the displays are canceled: the 
blower, heating and air conditioner are 
switched off, and the air supply is 
stopped. You can reactivate the system 
by pressing any button for the auto-
matic climate control.To defrost windows and remove 
condensation
This program quickly removes 
ice and condensation from the 
windshield and the side windows.
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the 
temperature setting – rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the 
engine is started. Air conditioning helps 
prevent the windows from fogging up.
Condensation forms during opera-
tion of the air conditioning system, 
which then exits under the vehicle. 
Traces of condensed water of this kind 
are thus normal.<
Automatic climate control
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99
Outside air/Automatic 
recirculated-air control (AUC)/ 
Recirculated air
You can respond to unpleasant 
external odors or pollutants by 
temporarily stopping the flow of outside 
air. The system then recirculates the air 
currently within the vehicle.
By repeatedly pressing the button, you 
can select one of three different operat-
ing modes.
>Indicator lamps off: outside air always 
flowing into the vehicle
>Left-hand indicator lamp on – auto-
matic mode: the system detects pol-
lutants in the outside air and 
responds by deactivating the outside 
airflow as required. The system then 
recirculates the air currently within 
the vehicle.
Depending on air quality require-
ments, the system automatically 
switches between outside air supply 
and recirculation of the air already 
within the vehicle
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: the 
flow of outside air is permanently 
blocked. The system recirculates the 
air already within the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the 
recirculated-air mode, switch the 
recirculated-air mode off and increase 
the air supply as required.<
Rear window defroster
With the convertible top closed 
or with the hardtop* mounted, 
press the button. The indicator lamp 
remains on. The rear window defroster 
switches off automatically.
You can have your vehicle pro-
grammed in such a way that the 
rear window defroster switches on 
automatically. This occurs within 5 min-
utes after starting the engine when out-
side temperatures are below approx. 
397/+46.<
Draft-free ventilationYou can adjust the blower controls for 
the upper body area to obtain the opti-
mum airflow rates and directions for 
your personal requirements:
1Rotary dials for opening and closing 
the vents at any setting desired
2Lever for adjusting airflow direction
3With the rotary dial you can adjust the 
temperature of the outgoing air:
>Turn toward blue – colder
>Turn toward red – warmer
Automatic climate control
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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100
Microfilter, activated-charcoal 
filterThe built-in microfilter removes dust 
and pollen from the incoming air. The 
activated-charcoal filter provides addi-
tional protection by filtering gaseous 
pollutants from the outside air. Your 
BMW center will replace the combined 
filter as a standard part of your sched-
uled maintenance. A substantial reduc-
tion in airflow indicates that the filter 
needs to be replaced early.Automatic climate control
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116
ceed carefully to the nearest BMW cen-
ter or professional tire center, or have 
the vehicle towed in to have it, its 
wheels or its tires inspected.
Tire damage, up to and including blow-
outs, can endanger the lives of both the 
vehicle occupants and other road 
users<
Tire replacementDOT quality grades>Treadwear
>Traction AA A B C
>Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test 
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would 
wear one and one-half – 1 
1/2 – times as 
well on the government course as a tire 
graded 100. The relative performance 
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may 
depart significantly from the norm due 
to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.
TractionThe traction grades, from highest to 
lowest, are AA, A, B and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability 
to stop on wet pavement as measured 
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of 
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C 
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to 
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does 
not include acceleration, cornering, 
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.
tire's resistance to the generation of 
heat and its ability to dissipate heat 
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory 
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause 
the material of the tire to degenerate 
and reduce tire life, and excessive tem-
perature can lead to sudden tire failure. 
The grade C corresponds to a level of 
performance which all passenger car 
tires must meet under the Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. 
Tire condition
handbook.book  Page 116  Tuesday, July 30, 2002  9:28 AM