Page 9 of 166

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
Page 15 of 166
15
1Parking lamps/Low beams92
2
>
Turn signal indicators76
>
Standing lamps93
>
High beams93
>
Headlamp flasher76
>
Computer84
3Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor77
4Hazard warning flashers
5Rear window defroster99
6Central locking system30
7Horn: the entire surface
8Steering wheel55
9Fog lamps94
Cockpit
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 15 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 21 of 166
21
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 76, 93
Indicator and warning lamps
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 21 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 38 of 166

38
When opening the convertible top,
refer to page 41, make sure that
the luggage compartment is set up for
this, otherwise you may damage some-
thing.<
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid are opened
>To movement inside the vehicle –
interior motion sensor
>Altering the vehicle tilt, e.g. as would
occur while attempting to steal the
wheels or tow the vehicle – tilt alarm
sensor system
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm for
30 seconds
>Activating the hazard warning flash-
ers for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
by using a key or with the remote con-
trol, the alarm system is also simulta-
neously armed or disarmed.You can have a signal set as
acknowledgment for both arming
and disarming the alarm.<
You can also open the luggage com-
partment lid when the system is armed
by pressing the button of the remote
control, refer to page 32. When it is
closed, the lid is once again secured.
Luggage compartment
handbook.book Page 38 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 76 of 166
76
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator
lamp
3Turn signal indicator – green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking
sound from the relayTo signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the resistance point. It then returns to
the center position when released.
If the flashing indicator lamp and
the clicking from the relay are
both faster than normal, one of the turn
signal indicators has failed.<
handbook.book Page 76 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 82 of 166

82
Service interval displayRemaining distance to next
serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OIL SERVICE or
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers
in Canada – before the next scheduled
service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a "–" in front of
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the
distance shown on the display. Please
contact your BMW center for an
appointment.
Check ControlDisplayWhen the ignition key is in position 2 or
higher, the following information or
conditions are displayed until the cause
has been corrected:
1Inspect the low-beam and high-beam
headlamps, as well as the parking
lamps
2Door open
3Luggage compartment lid open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after
completing a journey, an acoustic
warning signal will sound if you have
forgotten to turn off the headlamps.
handbook.book Page 82 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 93 of 166
93
Instrument lightingTurn the rotary dial to control the light-
ing when the parking or low beam
lamps are on.
High beams/Standing lamps1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator
lamp
3Standing lampsStanding lamps, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can illumi-
nate your vehicle on either side for
parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0, push
the lever in the appropriate direction.
The lever engages in the turn signal
position.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 93 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 135 of 166

135
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential
contributions to the safety of your vehi-
cle. Therefore, comply fully with the fol-
lowing instructions during bulb replace-
ment. If you are not familiar with any of
the procedures, consult your BMW
center.
Do not touch the glass portion of
a new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn in to the surface and reduce the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW center.
Before working on the electrical
system, switch off the electrical
accessory you are working on or dis-
connect the cable from the negative
terminal of the battery. Failure to
observe this precaution could result in
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage when
changing a bulb, be sure to comply with
any instructions provided by the bulb
manufacturer.<
Low beams and high beams>Low beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
>High beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with
this precaution could lead to injury if the
bulb is damaged.<
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.Parking lamps5 watt bulb
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
When cleaning the headlamps, please
follow the instructions in the Caring for
your vehicle brochure.Xenon lamps*The service life of these bulbs is very
long and the probability of a failure is
very low, provided that they are not
switched on and off an unusual number
of times. If one of these bulbs should
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using
the fog lamps, provided traffic laws in
your area do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high
voltages involved, any work on the
xenon lighting system, including bulb-
changing, should be carried out by
technically-qualified personnel only.
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal
injury.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 135 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM