2004 BMW 325CI COUPE power steering

Contents

Notes

About this Owner's Manual4
Additional sources of
information4
Symbols used4
Your individual vehicle5
Status at time of printing5
For your own safety5
Service and warranty6
Reporting safety defects7

Overview

Cockpit14
Instrument cluster16
Indicator and warning lamps18
Buttons in steering wheel*21
Hazard warning triangle*22
First-aid kit*22
Refueling23
Fuel specifications24

Controls and features

Opening and closing:

Keys28
Central locking system28
Opening and closing – via the
remote control29
Opening and closing – via the
door lock31
Opening and closing – from the
inside32
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment35
Alarm system*36
Electric power windows38
Glass sunroof, electric*39

Adjustments:

Safe seating position41
Seats42
Manual seat adjustment42
Power seat adjustment*44
Lumbar support*44
Head restraints45
Entering the rear45
Safety belts46
Seat and mirror memory*47
Seat heating*48
Mirrors49
Steering wheel50

114
Inclines:
To prevent overheating and, as a
result, diminished braking effec-
tiveness, drive down long or steep
downhill grades in a gear which
requires the least braking. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.<
The braking power of the engine can be
further enhanced by downshifting the
automatic transmission in manual
mode, if necessary, into first gear. This
helps avoid placing excessive loads on
the brake system.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in Neutral. Do not
coast with the engine switched off. Oth-
erwise, the engine provides no braking
effect while the transmission is in idling
position, and there is no power-assist
for braking or steering when the engine
is off.
Floor mats, floor carpets or other
objects must not be in the area near the
brake or accelerator pedal, as this
could impair the movement of the ped-
als.<
Corrosion on the brake rotorsLimited vehicle use, extended periods
with the vehicle parked or in storage,
and operating conditions in which brak-
ing is restricted to gentle, low-pressure
applications will all increase the ten-
dency for corrosion to form on the
rotors and contamination to accumulate
on the brake pads. This occurs because
the minimal pressure which must be
exerted by the pads to clean the rotors
by brake applications is not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect that even extended
brake applications will fail to cure.
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
released for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suitable for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<
Portable phone in the vehicle
BMW advises against using
mobile equipment, e.g. cellular
phones, inside the vehicle without con-
necting them directly to an outside
antenna. Otherwise, it cannot be ruled
out that vehicle electronics and the
mobile equipment interfere with one
another. In addition, it is not ensured
that the radio waves emitted during
transmission are directed outside of the
vehicle interior.<
General driving notes

149
Towing and tow-starting the vehicle
Always observe all applicable
towing laws and regulations.<
Using the towing eyeletThe screw-in towing eyelet is located in
the luggage compartment under the
floor panel; be sure that it remains with
the vehicle at all times. It can be
attached at the front or rear of your
BMW.
Observe the following instruc-
tions in order to avoid damaging
the towing eyelet or the vehicle: use
only the towing eyelet supplied with the
vehicle, and screw it in firmly until it
stops. Use the towing eyelet for towing
on paved roads only. Avoid subjecting
the towing eyelet to lateral loads, e.g.
do not lift the vehicle using the towing
eyelet.<
Access to the threaded socketPress out the cover in the front or rear
bumper with a screwdriver at the top of
the recess.Being towed
Make sure that the ignition key is
in position 1, because the steering
lock could otherwise engage and the
vehicle could no longer be steered.
There is no power assist while the
engine is off. Therefore, you will need to
exert more force to brake and steer the
vehicle.<
Turn on the hazard warning flashers, if
required by national regulations. If the
electrical system has failed, clearly
identify the vehicle being towed, e.g. by
placing a sign or a warning triangle in
the rear window.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
gearshift lever in idling position.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
selector lever in position N.
Do not exceed a towing speed of
45 mph / 70 km/h, nor a towing
distance of 90 miles/150 km, because
the automatic transmission could other-
wise be damaged.<
Vehicles with sequential manual gear-
box SMG: selector lever in position N.Towing methodsIn some countries, it is not permitted to
tow the vehicle with a tow bar or tow
rope on public roads.
Familiarize yourself with the applicable
towing regulations for the country in
which you are driving.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to ZSafety belts 46
sitting safely 41
warning lamp 18
Safety feature
glass sunroof 40
Safety systems, refer to
Antilock Brake
System 115
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) 81
Screwdriver, refer to
Onboard tool kit 136
Seat adjustment 42
BMW sports seat 43
mechanical 42
power 44
Seat belt tensioner, refer to
Safety belts 46
Seat heating 48
Seat memory, refer to Seat
and mirror memory 47
Seat positions, storing 47
Seats 42
Securing cargo 108
Securing the vehicle
from inside 32
from outside 29, 31
Selector lever
automatic transmission 67
sequential manual gear-
box SMG 63Selector lever lock, refer to
Shiftlock 63, 67
Selector lever positions
automatic transmission 67
sequential manual gear-
box SMG 63
Sequential manual gearbox
SMG 63
indicator lamp 19
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet 130
Service Engine Soon
warning lamp 19
Service interval display
76, 130
Shift paddles 64
Shifting gears
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 67
sequential manual gear-
box SMG 64
Shiftlock 63
Shiftlock, refer to Range
selection 67
Side airbags 51
Side turn signal indicators
bulb replacement 139
Sitting safely
with airbags 41
with safety belts 41
Size 155
Ski bag 105Sliding/tilt sunroof, refer to
Electric glass sunroof 39
SMG sequential manual
gearbox 63
indicator lamp 19
Smokers' package, refer to
Ashtray 102
SOS, refer to Emergency
call 146
Space-saver spare tire 144
changing a wheel 141
Spare key 28
Spare tire 141
Spare wheel 144
Special oils 127
Specified oils 127
Speed gauge, refer to
Speedometer 16
Speedometer 16
SPORT button 66
Sport program
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 68
Sports seat 43
Stability control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) 81
Standing lamps 87
Starting difficulties
jump-starting 147
temperature 59
Starting help DSC 81Starting the engine 59
Starting, refer to Starting the
engine 59
Status of the Owner's Man-
ual 5
Steering wheel lock 59
Steering wheel, adjusting 50
Steptronic, refer to Manual
operation 68
Storage compartments 100
Storage nets 100
Storage, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Storing seat positions,
refer to Seat and mirror
memory 47
Storing tires 122
Sun blind 98
Sun blind, refer to Roller sun
blind 98
Surface ice, refer to Ice
warning 78
Switches, refer to
Cockpit 14
Switching off
vehicle 61
Symbols 4
Synthetic oils 127
T
Tachometer 74