
Contents
Contents
Notes
6About this Owner's Manual
6Symbols used
6Symbol on vehicle parts
6Your individual vehicle
6Status at time of printing
7For your own safety
7Service and warranty
8Reporting safety defects
Overview
12Cockpit
13Instrument cluster
14Indicator and warning lamps
Opening and closing
18Keys
18Central locking system
18Remote control
20Door lock
20Interior
21Luggage compartment lid
22Luggage compartment 
22Electric power windows
23Manual convertible top
24Fully automatic convertible top*
26Wind deflector*
27Alarm system*
Adjustments
29Safe seating position
29Seats
30Seat memory*
 
31Seat heating*
31Safety belts
32Steering wheel 
32Mirrors 
33Airbags
34Transporting children safely
37Vehicle Memory, Key Memory 
Driving
38Ignition lock 
38Engine
39Parking brake 
40Manual transmission 
40Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*
42Electric Power Steering EPS
42Drivelogic*
42Turn signal indicators/Headlamp 
flasher 
43Washer/wiper system and 
rain sensor* 
44Cruise control* 
Lamps
45Parking lamps/Low beams
46High beams/Standing lamps
46Instrument lighting
46Fog lamps
46Interior lamps
© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 897
US English VIII/02
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper –
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling. 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
 7
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 – i.e. 15 % MTBE or 
3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of 
co-solvent – will not void the applicable 
warranties respecting defects in materials 
or workmanship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel quality – 
i.e. volatility, composition, additives, etc. –
among gasolines offered for sale in the 
United States and Canada. The use of poor 
quality fuels may result in drivability, start-
ing and stalling problems especially under 
certain environmental conditions, such as 
high ambient temperature and high alti-
tude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems that you suspect could be related to 
the fuel you are using, we recommend that 
you respond by switching to a recognized 
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when you 
are handling gasoline.<
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use 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 thoroughly 
tested by BMW to ensure optimum perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from 
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for dam-
age resulting from installation of parts and 
accessories not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by 
other manufacturers to verify if it can be 
used on a BMW safely and without risk to 
either the vehicle, its operation, or its occu-
pants.Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories 
and other products approved by BMW, 
together with professional advice on using 
these items, are available from all BMW 
retailers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, 
suspension components, brake dust 
shields, telephones – including operation of 
any portable cellular phone from within the 
vehicle without using an externally mounted 
antenna – or transceiver equipment – e.g. 
C.B., walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar – 
may cause extensive damage to the vehicle, 
compromise its safety, interfere with the 
vehicle's electrical system or affect the 
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. See 
your BMW center for additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to lock 
doors or luggage compartment with any-
one inside the car. Refer to the Owner's 
Manual for more details.<
Maintenance, replacement or repair 
of the emission control devices and 
systems may be performed by any automo-
tive repair establishment or individual using 
any certified automotive part.
and Warranty Information Booklet for US 
models or a Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. 
We recommend that you read this publica-
tion thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following war-
ranties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect 
Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance 
Warranty
>California Emission Control System 
Limited Warranty. 

Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Keys
The key set
1Master keys with remote control – 
determine the functions of the Key 
Memory, refer to page 37.
You can mark individual keys for subse-
quent identification by applying the col-
ored decals that you received when 
accepting delivery of your vehicle
There is an extended-life battery 
in every master key that is 
charged automatically in the ignition 
lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master key 
with remote control that is otherwise 
not used, use that key approximately 
once a year while driving for an 
extended period to charge the bat-
tery.<
2Spare key for storage in a safe place, 
such as in your wallet.
This key does no open the lock of the 
luggage compartment lid – useful for 
valet parking, for example.
This key is not intended for constant 
use
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for 
operation whenever the driver's door is closed. The system simultaneously 
engages and releases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door
>storage compartment between the 
backrests
>opened manual convertible top.
The central locking system can be oper-
ated
>from outside using the remote control 
or via the driver's door lock
>from inside via the central locking sys-
tem button.
If it is operated from inside, the fuel filler 
door will not be locked. Refer to page 20. 
The anti-theft system is automatically acti-
vated whenever you activate the central 
locking system from outside the vehicle. It 
prevents the doors from being unlocked 
with the lock buttons or release handles. 
The alarm system is also armed.
The central locking system unlocks auto-
matically in the event of an accident. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and 
interior lamps come on.
Remote control
The concept
The remote control provides two additional 
functions for central locking.
>Switching on interior lamps. Refer to 
page 19.
With this function, you can also search 
for the vehicle when parked in an 
underground garage, for instance
>Opening the luggage compartment lid 
separately. Refer to page 19. The lug-
gage compartment lid will open slightly, 
regardless of whether it was locked or 
unlocked. 

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Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
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Whenever you unlock or lock the vehicle, 
you simultaneously deactivate/activate 
the  anti-theft system, disarm/arm the alarm 
system and switch the interior lamps on/
off.
You can have a signal set to confirm 
that the vehicle's locks have engaged 
securely.<
Since persons or animals in the vehi-
cle could lock the doors from the 
inside, always take the vehicle keys with 
you so that the vehicle can be opened 
again from the outside at any time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock the 
vehicle via the remote control, the 
battery is discharged. Use this key while 
driving for an extended period in order to 
recharge the battery.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW center. You can 
also obtain replacement keys there.<
1To unlock
2To lock and secure, activate interior 
lamps, disarm tilt alarm sensor and inte-
rior motion sensor
3To open the luggage compartment
To unlock
1.Press the button to unlock the driver's 
door and the fuel filler door
2.Press the button a second time to dis-
engage all vehicle locks.
To lock and secure
Press the button.
To switch on the interior lamps
With the vehicle locked:
Press the button.
To deactivate the tilt alarm* and 
interior motion sensors* 
Press the button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to 
page 28.
To open the luggage compartment
Press the button.
The luggage compartment lid will open 
slightly, regardless of whether it was 
locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure that 
the luggage compartment lid has not 
been opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode – triggering alarm
By pressing the button for 2 to 5 seconds, 
the alarm can be sounded in the event of 
danger. The alarm is turned off by pressing 
button 1 again – for unlocking.
External systems
External systems or devices may cause 
local interference in the functions of the 
remote control.
Should this occur, you can still open and 
close the vehicle using the master key in 
either the door or luggage compartment 
locks. 

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Mobility
Reference
 27
Installation
Insert the wind deflector in the guides pro-
vided on the rollover bars. 
The wind deflector panels inserted in the 
rollover bars cannot be removed.
Clothes hooks
Located on the wind deflector panel in the 
rollover bars.
Do not hang heavy objects on the 
hooks. If you do so, personal injury 
could result during braking or evasive 
maneuvers, for example.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage 
compartment lid is opened
>When attempts are made to start the 
vehicle
>To movement inside the vehicle – inte-
rior motion sensor
>To alterations in the vehicle tilt, e.g. as 
would occur during attempts to steal 
the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The alarm produced by the system in the 
event of unauthorized vehicle entry and 
attempted theft depends on the country 
version:
>Sounding of an acoustical alarm for 
30 seconds
>Activation of the hazard warning flash-
ers for approx. five minutes.
Arming and disarming the alarm sys-
tem
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
either via the driver's door lock or with the 
remote control, the alarm system is simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.The hazard warning flashers blink once 
when the alarm system has been properly 
armed.
You can have different acknowledg-
ment signals set to confirm arming 
and disarming.<
You can open the luggage compartment lid 
when the system is armed by pressing the 
remote control button. Refer to page 19. 
When it is closed, the lid is once again 
secured.
Manual operation of the luggage 
compartment lid triggers the alarm. 
Refer to page 21.<
To cancel an alarm: 
Press the button on the remote control, 
refer to page 18, or turn the ignition key to 
position 1. Refer to page 38.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp beneath the interior 
mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when it is 
being armed: 
A door, the hood or luggage compart-
ment lid is not completely closed. Even 
if you do not close the area causing the 
alert, the remaining areas are secured 
and the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after 10 seconds. 
However, the interior motion sensor is 
not activated 

Opening and closing
28 >If the indicator lamp goes out as soon 
as the system is disarmed: 
No manipulation or attempted intru-
sions have been detected in the period 
since the system was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is being 
disarmed: 
An attempted entry has been detected 
in the period since the system was 
armed.
After an alarm has been triggered, the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously.
Interior motion sensor*
The system monitors the footwells and the 
seating areas of the driver and passenger.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor 
– refer to Avoiding unintentional 
alarms – if children or animals are to remain 
in the vehicle.<
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor can be deactivated at the same 
time. You can do this to prevent a false 
alarm from being triggered, for instance in 
garages with elevator ramps or when the 
vehicle is transported by train.
Lock the vehicle twice = arm the system:
Press the button on the remote control 
twice in succession,
or
lock the vehicle twice with the key. Refer to 
page 20.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor are 
deactivated as long as the system is 
armed. 

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Mobility
Reference
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4.Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as 
desired. The indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
Do not select a memory position while 
the vehicle is moving. If you do so, 
there is a risk of accident due to unex-
pected seat movement.<
Ignition key position 1:
>Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3, 
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when one 
of the seat adjustment or memory but-
tons is operated during the adjustment 
process.
With the driver's door closed and the igni-
tion key either removed or in position 0 
or 2:
>Press and hold the desired memory 
button – 1, 2 or 3 – until the adjustment 
process is completed.
If you press the 
MEMORY button 
accidentally: press the button again; 
the indicator lamp goes out.<
You can have your vehicle adjusted in 
such a way that your personal set-
tings are automatically set for the seat 
positions when you unlock the vehicle with 
your personal remote control.<
If you make use of this method of 
adjustment, be sure that the space 
behind the driver's seat is unobstructed 
before unlocking the vehicle. If you fail to 
do so, objects behind the seat could be 
damaged by a rearward movement of the 
seat.<
Seat heating*
The seat cushion and backrest can be 
heated with the ignition key in position 2.
You can call up different heating modes by 
repeatedly pressing the buttons.
The seat heating can also be switched off 
from the higher heating modes:
Press the button and hold it slightly longer.
Safety belts
Always fasten your safety belt before start-
ing off. As supplemental restraint devices, 
the airbags are designed to enhance the 
effectiveness of the safety belts, and not to 
replace them.
To close
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the 
belt buckle.
Please fasten safety belts warning 
lamp:
Lights up for several seconds.
An acoustic signal will sound at the same 
time. 

At a glance
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Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
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Vehicle Memory, 
Key Memory 
How the system functions
You have probably frequently wished that 
you could configure individual functions of 
your vehicle to reflect your own personal 
requirements. In engineering your vehicle, 
BMW has incorporated a number of 
options for personal adjustment that can be 
programmed into your vehicle at your BMW 
center. 
The available configuration data fall into 
two categories, according to whether their 
primary orientation is the vehicle – Vehicle 
Memory, or the individual – Key Memory. 
You can have up to four different basic set-
tings adjusted for four different persons. 
The only requirement is that each person 
uses his or her own remote control key. 
When your vehicle is unlocked with the 
remote control, the vehicle recognizes the 
individual user by means of a data 
exchange with the key, and makes adjust-
ments accordingly.
Colored decals were provided with the 
keys to help you distinguish between the 
different personal remote control keys.
What the system can do
You can learn about the entire array of fea-
tures this system offers at your BMW cen-
ter. A few examples follow below:
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgement 
when locking or unlocking your vehicle: 
refer to pages 18, 19>Activation/deactivation of the "Follow-
me-home" function: refer to page 45
>Activation/deactivation of daytime driv-
ing lamps: refer to page 45
>Setting the units of measurement for 
the temperature and distance traveled 
in the instrument cluster display.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Locking of the vehicle when you start 
off: refer to page 20
>Automatic adjustment of the driver's 
seat position to the personal pro-
grammed settings when the vehicle is 
unlocked: refer to page 30.
You will see this symbol throughout 
the Owner's Manual. It is to remind 
you at appropriate places of the settings 
that are available to you.<