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
handbook.book Page 100 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
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
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