Contents
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures106
Driving notes107
Antilock Brake System107
Brake system108
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure109
Tire condition109
Tire replacement110
Wheel and tire
combinations111
Special characteristics of winter
tires112
Snow chains112
In the engine compartment:
Hood113
Engine compartment
essentials114
Washer fluids115
Engine oil115
Coolant117
Brake fluid118
Maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System119
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications120
California Proposition
65 Warning120
OBD interface socket121
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit124
Windshield wiper blades124
Lamps and bulbs124
Repairing a flat tire128
Battery131
Fuses132
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting133
Towing the vehicle135
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Status at time of printing
BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development designed 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, it is possible that the features
described in this Owner's Manual could
differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely
ruled out. We therefore request your
understanding for the fact that we are
unable to recognize any legal claims
based on the data, illustrations or
descriptions in this 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 Ð i.e.
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent Ð will
not void the applicable warranties
covering defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality Ð 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 that you suspect could be related
to the fuel you are using, we recom-
mend that you respond by switching to
a recognized high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Obey pertinent safety rules when you
are 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
optimum 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
damages resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if 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.
Status at time of printing
Your individual vehicle
Notes
80n
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as enhancing
traction. In addition, the system recog-
nizes unstable vehicle conditions
(understeering or oversteering, for
example) and holds the vehicle on a
sure course by intervening via the
engine and by braking at the individual
wheels.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine.Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition.
Refer to page 17.
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or if it comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
There is a system malfunction or the
system was deactivated with the button.
You can continue to drive the vehicle
normally, but without DSC. Please con-
sult your BMW center for repairs.
To deactivate the systemPress the button, the indicator lamp
lights up and remains on continuously.
When DSC is deactivated, you are
driving with conventional power
transfer.
In the following exceptional circum-
stances, it may be effective to deacti-
vate the DSC for a short period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.39mde124
To reactivate the systemPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An
appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
Do not use the extra safety margins fur-
nished by these systems as an excuse
for taking unnecessary risks.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the
brake pedal by automatically braking
the vehicle with maximum boost to
achieve the shortest possible braking
distances during "panic stops." This
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure exerted
against the brake pedal until the
braking maneuver has been completed.
DBC is deactivated when you release
the pedal.
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Flat Tire MonitorFlat tireIn the event of a flat tire, the message,
"TIRE DEFECT" will appear in the
Check Control. This visual alert will be
accompanied by a gong.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed
immediately and stop the vehicle. Avoid
hard braking and overcorrecting at the
steering wheel.
Correct the flat tire using the M Mobility
system (refer to page 128).
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert
you to severe and sudden tire
damage caused by external factors.
Another factor which the Flat Tire Mon-
itor does not recognize is the balanced
and very gradual pressure loss that
takes place in all tires over an extended
period of time.<
Check the tire inflation pressure
on a regular basis and correct if
necessary. Refer to page 22.
Do not carry out any kind of system
activation when using snow chains.
Under these kinds of conditions, false
warnings and unidentified losses in
pressure are possible.
In certain circumstances, when driving
on snow-covered or slippery road sur-
faces, there may be a delay in identi-
fying any loss in inflation pressure.
Performance-oriented driving (slip at
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral
acceleration) can also delay the appear-
ance of status messages in the Flat Tire
Monitor's display panel.<
System malfunctionsThe message "TIRECONTROL INAC-
TIVE" appears in the Check Control
and remains on until the problem is cor-
rected.
The same message is displayed if there
is a system malfunction.
Please refer the problem to your BMW
center.
88n
Automatic climate control 10 Temperature control Ð right-hand
side89
11 Defrost windows and remove
condensation89
12 Air conditioning9013 Automatic recirculated-air control
(AUC)90
14 Rear window defroster90
15 Air supply8916 Maximum cooling90
or residual heat mode90
17 Air grill for interior temperature
sensor Ð please keep clear and
unobstructed
39mus006
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic climate controlTips for pleasant drivingUse the automatic system (switch on
with AUTO button 6). Select an interior
temperature that you find comfortable.
The following description will lead you
through additional individual settings.
Your BMW center can program
the settings of your vehicle in such
a manner that, when you unlock the
vehicle with your individualized key,
your own personalized setting for the
automatic climate control is initiated.
assumes the adjustment of
the air distribution and the air supply for
you and Ð in addition to that Ð adapts
the temperature to external influences
(summer, winter) to meet preferences
you can specify.
Individual air distribution
You also have the option of
individually configuring the
air distribution pattern to
suit your own personal pref-
erences. While the AUTO
program is then deactivated, the auto-
matic airflow control remains in opera-
tion. The system directs air to the win-
dows , the upper body and into
the footwells . You can reactivate the
automatic air distribution mode by
selecting the AUTO button.
Temperature
You can make individual
temperature settings on the
driver's side or the front
passenger side. The figures in the dis-
play provide a general indication of
interior temperature. We recommend a
setting of 72 7 (22 6) for a congenial
interior climate, even when the air con-
ditioner is in operation. When you start
the vehicle, the system ensures that the
selected temperature is achieved as
quickly as possible. It then maintains
this temperature, regardless of the
season.
Air supply
In the AUTO program, the
airflow is controlled auto-
matically. AUTO will appear in display 9,
refer to the overview on page 87.
Use "+" and "Ð" to vary the airflow.
Your setting is displayed with bars and
the automatic air supply is switched off.
The automatic air distribution setting is
maintained. You can reactivate the
automatic air supply by pressing the
AUTO button.
When you press "Ð" during operation at
the lowest blower speed, all displays
are canceled: the blower, heating and
air conditioning are switched off. The
outside air supply is deactivated. By
pressing the desired button on the
automatic climate control (except MAX
button 16), you can switch the system
back on.
To defrost windows and remove
condensation
This program quickly
removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and the side
windows.
90n
Automatic climate control Air conditioning
The air is cooled and
dehumidified and Ð
depending on the temperature setting Ð
warmed again when the air conditioning
is switched on.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. You can reduce con-
densation forming on the windows by
switching on the air conditioning.
Condensation forms in the air
condition system during opera-
tion, which then exits under the vehicle.
Traces of condensed water of this kind
are thus normal.<
Maximum cooling
At outside temperatures
above roughly 41 7 (5 6)
this program furnishes maximum
cooling whenever the engine is running.
The temperature displays 9 jump to
60 7 (16 6), the system reverts to
operating in the recirculated-air mode
and maximum airflow emerges from the
vent outlets only. That is why you need
to keep these open if you select this
program.
Automatic recirculated-air control
You can respond to
unpleasant external odors
by temporarily excluding the flow of
outside air. The system then recircu-
lates the air currently within the vehicle.
By repeated actuations of the button,
you can select one of three different
operation modes.
>Indicator lamps off: outside airflow
operational
>Left-hand indicator lamp on Ð AUC
mode: the system recognizes pollut-
ants in the outside air and blocks the
flow of air when necessary. The
system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle.
Depending on the air quality, the
automatic system then switches back
and forth between outside air supply
and recirculation of the air within the
vehicle
>Right indicator lamp on Ð recircu-
lated-air mode: the flow of external
air into the vehicle is permanently
blocked. The system then recirculates
the air currently within the vehicle.
If the windows should fog over in
the recirculated-air mode, switch
it off and increase the air supply as
required.<
Rear window defroster
When the rear window
defroster is activated, the
indicator lamp comes on. The rear
window defroster switches off automat-
ically.
Residual heating mode
The heat which is stored in
the engine is utilized for
heating the interior when the engine
has been switched off (while waiting at
a railroad crossing, for instance). In
ignition key position 1, you can alter the
settings of the automatic climate con-
trol. With the ignition key in posi-tion 0,
the system automatically directs heated
air to the windshield, side windows and
footwells.
This function is available for oper-
ation when the outside tempera-
ture is below approx. 59 7 (15 6),
with the engine warm from recent oper-
ation and an adequate charge in the
battery. The LED on the button will light
up when all conditions have been
met.<
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BMW Universal Transmitter
*
1. Program the BMW Universal Trans-
mitter as described on the previous
page under "Programming"
2. Press and hold the programming key
on the receiver of the device for
about two seconds or until the pro-
gramming lamp on the device comes
on
3. Press the desired channel key on the
BMW Universal Transmitter three
times.
If you have additional questions,
please consult your BMW center
or call 1-800-355-3515.<
Deleting the channel keys
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 93.<
Individual channel keys cannot be
deleted. However, the three channel
keys can be deleted together in the fol-
lowing manner:
>Press and hold the two outside
channel keys on the BMW Universal
Transmitter until the indicator lamp
flashes, then release the keys.
All channel keys are deleted.
User's informationDo not use this BMW Universal Trans-
mitter with any garage-door opener that
lacks safety "stop" and "reverse" fea-
tures as required by federal safety stan-
dards, (this includes any garage- door
opener model manufactured before
April 1st, 1982).
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) This device must accept any
interference received, including inter-
ference that may cause undesired
operation.