Contents© 2004 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts,
only with the written consent of
BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 158 701
US English IX/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 defects11Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps19
Buttons on steering wheel23
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling24
Fuel specifications26Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing:
from outside31
Opening and closing:
from inside34
Liftgate35
Tailgate36
Alarm system38
Windows39
Panorama glass sunroof41
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
19n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps Technology that monitors itself Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by
+ are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of the
monitored systems, the corresponding
lamp does not go out after the engine is
started or it lights up while the vehicle is
moving. You will see how to react to
this in the following section.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
+
The battery is not being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator drive belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Have
the system checked immediately.
If the drive belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
drive belt is defective, increased steer-
ing effort is also required.<
Engine oil pressure
+
Stop immediately and switch off
the engine. Check the engine oil
level; top up as required. If the oil level
is correct: have the system checked
immediately.
Do not continue driving. The
engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication.<
Handbrake
*/
brake hydraulic system
+
Lights up with handbrake
engaged.
For additional information, refer to
page66
Comes on although the handbrake is
released: stop immediately. The brake
fluid in the reservoir has fallen to below
the minimum level. At the same time, a
considerably longer brake pedal travel
may be noticeable. Have the system
checked immediately.
During continued driving
increased brake pedal pressure
may be necessary, and considerably
longer braking distances may result.
Please remember to adapt your driving
style accordingly.<
Before continuing your journey, be sure
to read the notes on pages140
and153.
Also comes on in the Check Control
with the message CHECK BRAKE
LININGS.
Indication of the malfunction in
Canadian models described
above.
21n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps Red: an important reminder
Handbrake
*
Lights up with handbrake
engaged.
For additional information, refer to
page66
Handbrake warning lamp
* for
Canadian models
Please fasten safety belts +
Indicator lamp flashes or lights
up. In addition, a signal sounds
and, depending on the equipment, a
message* appears in the Check Con-
trol. Please check safety belts for cor-
rect placement.
The belt memory is activated when the
safety belt on the driver's side has not
yet been fastened.
The belt memory is also active from a
speed of approx. 5 mph/8 km/h when
the passenger belt has not yet been
fastened, heavy objects are placed on
the front passenger seat or passengers
sitting in the front remove their safety
belts.
For additional information on safety
belts, refer to page49
Airbags
+
Malfunction in airbag system.
Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page57
Yellow: check as soon as possible
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
+
Malfunction in the DBC system.
Please have the system
checked as soon as possible.
For details on DBC, refer to page94
Indication of the above-
described malfunction in Cana-
dian models.
Engine oil level
Comes on while driving: the oil
level is at the absolute minimum;
refill as soon as possible. Do not drive
more than approx. 30 miles/50 km until
you do.
For additional information, refer to
page150
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been switched off: add engine
oil at your earliest opportunity, e.g.
when you stop to refuel.
For additional information, refer to
page150
Automatic transmission
*
The automatic transmission
switches into the emergency
program due to a fault. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page69
Brake pads
* +
Have the condition of the brake
pads checked.
For additional information, refer to
page140
Self-leveling suspension
* +
The self-leveling suspension is
inactive. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page98
43n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
The ideal sitting position can make a
vital contribution to relaxed driving that
is as fatigue-free as possible. In con-
junction with the safety belts, the head
restraints and the airbags, the seat
position also plays an important role for
the passive safety of the occupants in
an accident. To ensure that the safety
systems operate with optimized effi-
ciency, we strongly urge you to observe
the instructions contained in the follow-
ing section.
For additional information on transport-
ing children safely, refer to page59.Airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel
by its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock
and 3 o'clock positions to minimize the
risk of injuries to your hands and arms
in the event of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between
the airbags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag
on the front passenger side as a stor-
age area. Make sure that the front pas-
senger is correctly seated and does not
rest feet or legs on the instrument
panel, otherwise leg injuries can occur
if the front airbag is triggered. Never let
an occupant's head rest near or on a
side airbag because the inflating airbag
could cause a serious injury.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions
injuries resulting from contact with air-
bags cannot be fully excluded, depend-
ing on the circumstances. The ignition
and inflation noise may provoke a mild –
usually temporary – hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals.
For airbag locations and additional
information on airbags, refer to
page57.Safety belt For every trip, use the safety belt on all
occupied seats. Airbags complement
the safety belt as an additional safety
device, but they do not represent a sub-
stitute.
Your vehicle has five seats that are all
equipped with a safety belt.At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained
– infants and small children in appropri-
ate child-restraint systems; larger chil-
dren and adults using the safety belts.
Each safety belt should always be used
by only one person, babies and children
may not ride on the lap of another pas-
senger.
Pregnant women should also always
wear a safety belt and take make espe-
cially sure that the belt rests low on the
hips in the lap area, and does not press
against the abdomen.
Do not route the belt across your neck,
or run it across sharp edges. Be sure
that the belt does not become caught
or jammed. Wear the safety belt without
twisting and tautly across the lap and
shoulders as close to the body as pos-
sible. Be sure not to route it over solid
or breakable objects, as otherwise the
belt can slip over the hips in the lap
area in a frontal impact and injure the
abdomen. Avoid wearing clothing that
prevents the belt from fitting properly
and pull the belt in the upper body area
periodically to readjust the tension, in
order to avoid a reduction in the
restraint of the safety belt.<
Sitting safely
44n
Sitting safely SeatsIf the middle safety belt in the rear is
used, the wider seatback must be
locked, refer to page126, as otherwise
the safety belt has no restraining action.
Fasten safety belt, refer to page49.
Note before adjusting
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident. On
the front passenger side as well, do not
tilt the backrest too far toward the rear
while driving. Failure to observe this
precaution can prevent the belt from
providing effective protection against
injury, as the passenger could slide
under the belt in an accident.<
Also observe the information on the
safety belts on page49 and on the
head restraints on page47.
Seat adjustment>Mechanical seat adjustment, refer to
following columns
>Power seat adjustment, refer to
page46
>Head restraints, refer to page47
>Power rear-seat backrest adjustment,
refer to page48
47n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Power seat adjustment
*
Head restraints
Shoulder support:
Move the switch in the direction of the
arrow to adjust the tilt angle of the
shoulder support.
You can use the adjustable upper back-
rest for supplementary support in the
shoulder region. This provides a relaxed
sitting position and helps relieve stress
on the shoulder muscles.
For optimum adjustment the following
is recommended:
Driver and front passenger:
1. Adjust the upper backrest section to
its extreme rear position
2. Adjust for the optimal sitting position
as described on page43
3. Bring the upper backrest section fur-
ther forward until your shoulders are
well supported.530de252
Front passenger's seat adjusted for
relaxed traveling:
1. Adjust the upper backrest section to
its extreme rear position
2. Tilt the backrest down to a slightly
more horizontal angle
3. Bring the upper backrest section for-
ward until your shoulders are well
supported.
Make corrections in the forward/
backward adjustment of the seat
to ensure that the safety belt still fits
firmly against your body. If you do not
do this, the protection provided by the
safety belt may be reduced.<
Head restraint height:
Move the switch in the desired direc-
tion.
Adjustments To adjust the angle of the front head
restraints, tilt the head restraint to the
desired angle.
To adjust the height of the front or rear
head restraints, pull the head restraint
up or push it down.
Power height adjustment, refer to
page46.
Head restraints reduce the risk
of spinal injury in the event of an
accident. Adjust the head restraints so
that their center is approx. at ear level.<530de250
49n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Safety belts
Comply with the instructions on
page43. Failure to do so could
result in diminished personal safety.<
For every trip, use the safety belts on all
occupied seats. Airbags complement
the safety belt as an additional safety
device, but they do not represent a sub-
stitute.
Closing Make sure you hear the latch plate
engage in the belt buckle.Unlocking1. Press the red button in the belt
buckle
2. Hold the belt firmly
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.530us034
In the back, the middle safety belt
buckle is provided for use exclu-
sively by the middle passenger.
If it is not possible to extract the center
belt, this indicates that the larger back-
rest is not securely locked, refer to
page126.<
Safety belt memory for front seat
Indicator lamp flashes or lights
up. In addition, a signal sounds
and, depending on the equip-
ment, a message
* appears in the
Check Control. Please check safety
belts for correct placement.
The belt memory is activated when the
safety belt on the driver's side has not
yet been fastened.
The belt memory is also active from a
speed of approx. 5 mph/8 km/h when
the passenger belt has not yet been
fastened, heavy objects are placed on
the front passenger seat or passengers
sitting in the front remove their safety
belts.
Safety belt height adjustment You can adjust the safety belts to fit
your own physical dimensions by using
the safety belt height adjustment:
Slide the button up or down as
required.
Also observe the instructions on adjust-
ing the seats on page43.530de259
50n
Safety belts Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
*
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the ten-
sioning mechanisms, replaced at your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center or
at a workshop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with corre-
sponding trained personnel. Have the
belt anchorage points inspected for
damage at the same time. Failure to
observe this precaution may prevent
the safety belts from effectively provid-
ing optimal protection when needed.
If a child-restraint system was in the
vehicle during an accident, consult the
manufacturer's instructions regarding
replacement.<
You can store and call up three different
seat, exterior mirror and steering wheel
positions. The illustration shows the
buttons on the seat for making these
position adjustments.
The adjustment of the lumbar sup-
port is not stored in the memory.<530us032
Storing 1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
or 2
2. Adjust the desired positions for the
seat, exterior mirror and steering
wheel
3. Press the
M
EMORY button: the indi-
cator lamp in the button comes on
4. Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as
desired: the indicator lamp goes out.