
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
Everything under control
47Odometer
47Tachometer 
47Fuel gauge 
47Coolant temperature gauge 
48Service interval display
48Outside temperature
48Clock
49Computer*
Technology for safety and driving 
convenience
51Dynamic Stability Control DSC
52Brake Force Display
53Antilock Brake System ABS
53Flat Tire Monitor
Controlling the climate for pleasant 
driving
55Air conditioning
57Automatic climate control*
Interior conveniences
60Glove compartment
60Storage compartments
61Beverage holder
61Preparations for the cellular phone*
61Ashtray*
Special operating instructions
64Break-in procedures
65Driving notes
65Brake system
66Cargo loading
67Hardtop preparation*
Refueling
70Fuel filler door
70Fuel specifications
Wheels and tires
71Tire inflation pressure
73Tire condition
73Tire replacement
74Wheel and tire combinations
75Run Flat tires
76Winter tires
76Snow chains*
In the engine compartment
77Hood
78Engine compartment
79Washer fluids for washer systems
79Engine oil
80Coolant
81Brake fluid
Maintenance
82The BMW Maintenance System
82Care
Laws and regulations
83California Proposition 65 warning
83OBD interface socket
Replacement procedures
84Onboard tool kit
84Windshield wiper blades
84Lamps and bulbs
87Changing a wheel
87Battery
Giving and receiving assistance
89Warning triangle*
89First-aid kit*
89Jump-starting
90Towing and tow-starting the vehicle
Technical data
94Engine data 
94Weights 
95Dimensions
96Capacities
Everything from A - Z
97Index 

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. 

Overview
14
Indicator and warning 
lamps
Technology that monitors itself 
Indicator and warning lamps that are iden-
tified by 
+ are tested for proper functioning 
whenever the ignition key is turned. They 
each light up once for different periods of 
time.
If a fault should occur in one of these sys-
tems, the corresponding lamp does not go 
out after the engine is started or it lights up 
again while the vehicle is moving. The indi-
cated pages provide information on what 
measures to take.
Please fasten safety belts 
+31
 Airbags 
+33
Battery charge current 
+87
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil level/
Engine oil sensor
 +79
Parking brake/Chassis control sys-
tem/Dynamic Brake Control/Brake 
fluid 
+39/ 51/ 52/ 81
Brake warning lamp for Canadian 
models
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control system 
+53/ 51
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control system for Canadian 
modelsDynamic Stability Control DSC
 +51
Dynamic Traction Control DTC 
+51
Flat Tire Monitor 
+53
Automatic transmission 
+41
Brake pads 
+66
Add coolant80
Check Gas Cap 
+
Service engine soon +83
Service engine soon 
+
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Defective bulbs45
Turn signal indicators42
Fog lamps46
Headlamp flasher/
High beams42/ 46 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
 39
the ignition key immediately when the 
engine starts.<
Extended starting attempts, charac-
terized by excessively frequent or 
long periods with the starter engaged, can 
damage the catalytic converter.<
If the engine fails to start on the first 
attempt – if it is very hot or cold, for 
instance: 
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down.
Cold starts at very low temperatures – 
starting at approx. +57 / –156
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down while engaging the starter
>On the first start attempt, engage the 
starter for a longer period – 
approx. 10 seconds.
Manual transmission
1.Engage the parking brake
2.Gearshift lever in idling position
3.Depress clutch pedal
4.Start the engine.
Automatic transmission
1.Depress footbrake
2.Place selector lever in position P or N
3.Start the engine.
Before leaving the vehicle with the 
engine running, place the selector 
lever in position P and pull the parking 
brake.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with 
the engine running. An unattended vehicle 
with a running engine poses a safety haz-
ard.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the ignition key while 
the vehicle is still moving. If you did so, 
the steering lock would engage when the 
steering wheel is turned. 
When you leave the vehicle, always remove 
the ignition key and engage the steering lock.
Always engage the parking brake when park-
ing on downhill roads.<
Manual transmission
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Automatic transmission
Place the selector lever in position P and 
turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Parking brake 
The parking brake is designed primarily to 
prevent the vehicle from rolling when 
parked. It operates against the rear wheels.
The brake warning lamp lights up 
when the parking brake is engaged; 
if you start driving, an acoustic sig-
nal is heard as well. 
Brake warning lamp for Canadian 
models
To engage
The detent engages automatically and the 
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster 
comes on when the ignition key is in posi-
tion 2.
To release
Pull up slightly on the lever, press the but-
ton and lower the lever.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it 
should be necessary to engage the 
parking brake while the vehicle is in motion, 
do not pull it with excessive pressure. Keep 
your thumb pressed against the release 
button while carefully pulling up the lever.
Excessive pressure can lead to overbraking 
and loss of traction – fishtailing – at the rear 
axle. 

Driving
40 The brake lamps do not come on when the 
parking brake is engaged.<
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake 
when parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces, since shifting into 1st gear or reverse 
may not provide adequate resistance to 
rolling. Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion: place the selector lever in 
position P.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided 
braking, apply the parking brake 
lightly from time to time when coasting to a 
standstill – at a traffic signal, for example – 
provided that it is safe to do so.<
Manual transmission 
6-gear transmission*
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, it is 
important to press the gear shift lever to the 
right to avoid accidentally engaging 3rd or 
4th gear.
Reverse 
Select reverse only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary. Press the gearshift lever to the left 
to overcome the resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will turn 
on automatically when the ignition key is in 
position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on 
slopes by slipping or "riding" the 
clutch. Use the parking brake instead, oth-
erwise, the ensuing friction to the clutch 
plates will cause a great deal of wear and 
tear on the clutch.<
Automatic transmission 
with Steptronic*
You can drive as with a normal automatic 
transmission. In addition, you can also shift 
manually.
When you move the selector lever from the 
D position to the left into the M/S range, the 
performance-oriented shift programs of the 
automatic transmission are engaged. As 
soon as you briefly tap the selector lever in 
the "+" or "–" direction, Steptronic changes 
the gear. The manual mode is engaged. 
When you wish to use the automatic trans-
mission mode again, move the selector 
lever to the right to position D.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Engine started
The engine can only be started in selector 
lever positions P – Park – or N – Neutral.
Range selection
A detent prevents inadvertent shifting into 
selector lever positions R and P. To disen-
gage the detent, press the button on the 
front of the selector lever button, see 
arrow.
While the vehicle is stationary and 
before shifting out of P or N, depress 
the footbrake in order to disengage the 
selector lever's lock mechanism – Shift-
lock.
Hold the footbrake down until starting off. 
The vehicle will otherwise "creep" when a 
drive position is engaged.< 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
 41
If you leave the vehicle with the 
engine running, move the selector 
lever to the P position and apply the park-
ing brake. If you fail to do this, the vehicle 
could move.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with 
the engine running. An unattended vehicle 
with a running engine poses a safety haz-
ard.<
PPark
Select reverse only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary. The transmission locks to prevent 
the rear wheels from turning.
RReverse
Select reverse only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
NNeutral – idling
Select only when stopping for an extended 
period.
DDrive – automatic shift program
This position is designed for driving under 
all normal operating conditions. All forward 
gears are available.
Kickdown
In the kickdown mode, you achieve maxi-
mum acceleration in position D.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-throt-
tle position.
M/S Manual mode and 
Sport program
When you change from D to M/S, the Sport 
program is activated. This is indicated in the gear indicator by SD. The M/S mode is 
recommended for performance-oriented 
driving.
With the first brief touch, the automatic 
transmission shifts from the Sport program 
to the manual mode.
When you tap the selector lever in the "+" 
direction, the transmission shifts up. When 
the lever is tapped in the "–" direction, the 
transmission shifts down. M1 to M 5 appear 
in the gear indicator.
The Adaptive Transmission Control ATC 
executes upshifts or downshifts only when 
the new gear will provide a suitable combi-
nation of engine and road speed, i.e. ATC 
will not execute downshifts if the engine 
speed is too high. The desired gear will 
appear briefly in the instrument cluster, fol-
lowed by the actual gear.
If you are driving in the manual mode 
and wish to accelerate rapidly – to 
pass another vehicle, for example – shift 
down manually or with the kickdown func-
tion.<
Shifting from M/S to selector lever posi-
tions P, R and N is possible only by going 
through position D.
Available indicators 
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
Electronic transmission control 
module
If the indicator lamp comes on, 
there is a malfunction in the trans-
mission system.
All of the selector lever positions can con-
tinue to be engaged; in the forward drive  

Driving
44
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated 
automatically
* when the ignition key is in 
position 2.
Cruise control* 
1To maintain and store speed/to accel-
erate
2To decelerate
3To recall the stored setting
4To deactivate the system
To store and maintain speed or to 
accelerate
You can maintain and store any desired 
vehicle speed above approx. 20 mph / 
30 km/h.
Press the lever briefly in direction 1:
The system maintains and stores the cur-
rent vehicle speed. Every time you tap the 
lever, the speed increases by approx. 
0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Hold the lever in position 1:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure 
on the accelerator pedal. As soon as you 
release the lever, the system stores and 
maintains the current speed.
If, on a downhill grade, the engine 
braking effect is not sufficient, the 
controlled speed can be exceeded. Speed 
can drop on uphill grades if the engine out-
put is insufficient.<
To decelerate
Press the lever briefly in direction 2:
When the cruise control is active, vehicle speed is reduced by approx. 0.6 mph / 
1 km/h every time you tap the button.
Hold the lever in position 2:
With the cruise control active, the system 
automatically reduces the throttle opening 
to slow the vehicle. As soon as you release 
the lever, the system stores and maintains 
the current speed.
To recall the stored setting
Press the lever briefly in direction 3:
The vehicle accelerates to and maintains 
the last speed stored.
To deactivate the system 
Press the lever briefly in direction 4:
The cruise control is deactivated immedi-
ately.
Cruise control is also deactivated when the 
ignition key is turned to position 0.
In addition, the system is automatically 
deactivated in response to the following 
conditions:
>When you apply the brakes
>When you depress the clutch or move 
the automatic selector lever from D to N
>If you exceed or fall below the preset 
speed for an extended period – by 
depressing the accelerator, for exam-
ple.
The stored speed is cleared in all three 
cases.