Contents
© 2004 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts,
only with the written consent of
BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 158 286
US English III/04
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.
Notes
Overview
Controls and features
About this Owner's Manual8
Symbols used8
Your individual vehicle8
Status at time of printing9
For your own safety9
Symbol on vehicle parts10
Service and Warranty10
Reporting safety defects10Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps19
Buttons on steering wheel23
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling24
Fuel specifications26
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing:
from outside31
Opening and closing:
from inside34
Liftgate35
Tailgate36
Alarm system38
Windows39
Panorama glass roof41
Adjustments:
Sitting safely43
Seats44
Mechanical seat adjustment45
Power seat adjustment46
Head restraints47
Power rear-seat backrest
adjustment48
Safety belts49
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory50
Heated seats52
Steering wheel52
Steering wheel heater53
Mirrors54
Contents
5n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Controls and features
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags57
Transporting children safely59
Vehicle Memory,
Key Memory63
Driving:
Ignition lock64
Starting engine64
Switching off engine65
Handbrake66
Manual transmission66
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic67
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher70
Washer/wiper system/
rain sensor71
Cruise control73
Everything under control:
Odometer, outside temperature
display75
Tachometer76
Energy control76
Engine oil thermometer77
Fuel gauge77
Temperature gauge78
Service Interval Display78
Check Control79
Computer82
MID Multi-Information
Display83Digital clock in MID84
Computer in MID87
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
PDC Park Distance Control92
Antilock Brake System93
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control94
xDrive95
HDC Hill Descent Control96
Self-leveling suspension97
2-axle self-leveling
suspension97
Brake Force Display99
Flat Tire Monitor100
Lamps:
Parking lamps/low beams102
Adaptive Head Light103
High beams/roadside parking
lamps103
Front fog lamps104
Instrument lighting104
Interior lamps104
Controlling climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioner106
Automatic climate control109
Roller sun blinds115
Independent ventilation115
Cabin convenience:
Integrated universal remote
control116
Telephone118
Glove compartment119
Storage compartments119
Cup holders120
Ashtray, front121
Ashtray, rear121
Cigarette lighter, rear122
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag123
Cargo area
Folding rear backrests
down124
Roll-up cover125
Partition net125
Cover panels in cargo
area127
Power outlets128
Pull-out cargo floor128
Cargo loading130
Roof-mounted luggage rack132
14n
1Parking lamps/low beams102
2Fog lamps104
3>
Turn signals70
>
Roadside parking lamps103
>
High beams103
>
Headlamp flasher70
>
Computer824Washer/wiper system/rain sensor71
5Rear window defroster107, 112
6Central locking system307Hazard warning flashers
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting steering wheel52
Cockpit
530de328
20n
Indicator and warning lamps
Transmission temperature
*
+
The transmission is overheated.
Reduce speed immediately and
stop at a suitable location so that the
system can cool down again. Have the
system checked immediately.
Yellow: stop immediately
Flat Tire Monitor
+
An acoustic signal also sounds:
there is a flat tire or extensive
inflation pressure loss. Reduce speed
immediately for stopping while avoiding
extreme braking and steering maneu-
vers.
For additional information, refer to
page 101
Red or yellow: continue to drive
cautiously
The red brake warning lamp
lights up together with the warn-
ing lamps for ABS and DSC/
xDrive. In addition, a warning
signal sounds:
ABS, DSC, HDC and xDrive
have failed. Drive may then only
be carried out via the rear axle.
Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 93, 94
Proceed cautiously and defen-
sively. When driving on poor
roads, refrain from using full throttle
and avoid pressing the accelerator
beyond the kickdown point, heavy and
panic braking. Otherwise the drive train
may be damaged or accidents can
occur.<
If the brake warning lamp lights up yel-
low in the described combination, the
EBV Electronic brake-force distribution
is still available.
Display of the previously
described malfunction on Cana-
dian models.
22n
Indicator and warning lamps
DSC Dynamic Stability Control/
xDrive
+
The warning lamp lights up con-
tinuously and a warning signal sounds:
DSC and HDC or the xDrive all-wheel
system has failed.
The stabilizing interventions of DSC or
the xDrive all-wheel drive system are no
longer available. Drive may then only be
carried out via the rear axle.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 94
Proceed cautiously and defen-
sively. When driving on poor
roads, refrain from using full throttle
and avoid pressing the accelerator
beyond the kickdown point, heavy and
panic braking. Otherwise the drive train
may be damaged or accidents can
occur.<
Engine electronics
*
Fault in the engine electronics.
You can continue to drive with
reduced engine output or engine
speed. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Service Engine Soon
+
If the indicator lamp lights up
continuously or intermittently,
there is a fault in the exhaust-relevant
electronic systems. Although the vehi-
cle continues to be operational, have
the systems checked as soon as possi-
ble.
For additional information: refer to
page 153
Display of the previously
described malfunction on Cana-
dian models.
Check Gas Cap
* +
Warning lamp lights up. Fuel
filler cap is not properly closed
or is missing. Check whether the fuel
filler cap is properly closed. For addi-
tional information, refer to page 25
Green: for your information
Turn signals
Flashes when the turn signals
are operated. Rapid flashing
indicates a system malfunction.
For additional information, refer to
page 70
Cruise control
*
Lights up when system is
switched on: ready for operation
using the buttons on the steering
wheel.
For additional information, refer to
page 73
Fog lamps
Lights up when fog lamps are
switched on. For additional
information, refer to page 104
Blue: for your information
High beams
Lights up when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information, refer to
page 70, 103
35n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
LiftgateOpening from outside Press the button, refer to arrow:
The liftgate opens slightly.
The cargo area is illuminated whenever
the liftgate is opened, refer also to
page 104.
With the liftgate open, the dis-
tance from the ground to the
upper edge is more than 6.6 ft/2 m.
Please consider this, e.g. when opening
the liftgate in a garage.<530de245
Opening from inside Press this button to open the liftgate
when the vehicle is stationary.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear win-
dow could be damaged.<
For information on the cargo area cover
and on other details in the cargo area,
refer to Cargo area, beginning on
page 124.530de221
Manual release In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can release the liftgate manually:
1. Remove the plastic plug from inside
the cargo area and pull toward the
interior, refer to arrow. The liftgate
will be released
2. Reinstall the plug. 530de316
38n
Alarm system The concept The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate
is opened
>To movement in the vehicle interior:
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle tilt angle
such as occur during attempts to
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming alarm
system When you lock or unlock the vehicle,
either with the remote control or at the
door lock, the alarm system is armed or
disarmed at the same time.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
arming and disarming.<
The liftgate can also be opened with the
system armed using the button on the
remote control, refer to page 31. The
liftgate is locked again when closed.
Pressing the button longer triggers the
alarm: panic mode, refer to page 32.
Indicator lamp displays >The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when the
vehicle is locked: door(s) or liftgate
are not completely closed. Even if
you do not close the alerted area, the
system begins to monitor the remain-
ing areas, and the indicator lamp
flashes continuously after 10 sec-
onds. However, the interior motion
sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out when the
vehicle is unlocked: no manipulation
or attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed530us241
40n
Windows After the ignition has been switched off:
>You can still operate the windows as
long as neither of the front doors has
been opened. To open the windows,
press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point.
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key and close
the doors, as otherwise children could
operate the windows and injure them-
selves etc.<
For the convenience operation via the
remote control or the door lock, refer to
pages 31, 33. Anti-trapping mechanism A contact strip is integrated into the
inner side of each of the upper window
frame sections. If pressure is exerted
against this contact strip while a win-
dow is being raised, the system will
respond by stopping the window and
then retracting it a small distance.
Despite the anti-trapping mecha-
nism, be extremely careful that the
closing path of the window is not
obstructed whenever it is closed.
Otherwise, an object might not touch
the contact strip in some situations,
with very thin objects, for instance.
You can disable the anti-trapping
mechanism by pulling the switch
beyond the resistance point and hold-
ing it.
Because the power windows are sealed
at high pressure to prevent wind noise
when closed, a powerful motor is
required for efficient closing. When
closing the windows, always ensure
that they are not obstructed in any way.
Unsupervised use of these systems can
result in serious personal injury.
Remove the ignition key to deactivate
the power windows whenever you
leave the vehicle. Never leave the keys
in the vehicle with unsupervised chil-
dren. Never place anything that could
obstruct the driver's vision on or next to
the windows.<
Safety switch With the safety switch, you can prevent
the rear windows from being opened or
closed via the switches in the rear pas-
senger area, by children, for example.
You can also prevent adjustments of
the power rear-seat backrests from the
rear passenger area, refer to page 48.
Always press the safety switch
when children ride in the rear, as
otherwise unchecked closing of the
windows could lead to injuries.<530us209