BMW X3 2004 User Manual

Owner's Manual

Contents

A to Z

for Vehicle

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

X3 2.5i

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

X3 3.0i

We are very glad that you have decided to purchase a
BMW.

The more familiar you are with it, the more secure you will
be on the roads. This is why we ask you:

Please read the information we have gathered for you in
this owner's manual before you set off with your new BMW.
You receive important information on vehicle operation
that enables you to make full use of the technical benefits
of your BMW. You will also find information on mainte­nance that serves to retain the operating and road safety as
well as the best possible value retention of your vehicle.
You will find supplementary information in other brochures.

This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent
part of this vehicle. It should stay with the vehicle when
sold to provide the next owner with important operating,
safety and maintenance information.

We wish you good and safe driving.
BMW AG

© 2003 Bayerische Motoren Werke

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprints, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 157 631
US English VIII/03
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.

Contents

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The fastest way to find specific topics is to
use the index, refer to page 119.

Using this Owner's Manual

4 Notes

At a glance

10 Cockpit

Controls

18 Opening and closing
27 Adjustments
34 Transporting children safely
37 Driving
45 Everything under control
49 Technology for comfort, convenience

and safety

57 Lamps
60 A congenial climate
66 Practical interior accessories

Driving tips

76 Things to remember when driving

Mobility

84 Refueling
86 Wheels and tires
92 Under the engine hood
97 Maintenance
98 Laws and regulations
99 Replacing components
107 Giving and receiving assistance

Reference

114 Technical data
117 Everything from A to Z

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Notes

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Using this Owner's Manual

Notes

We have made every effort to ensure that
you are able to find what you need in this
Owner's Manual as quickly as possible.
The fastest way to find certain topics is by
using the detailed index at the end. For a
brief initial overview, please refer to the first
chapter.
Should you sell your BMW some day,
please remember to hand over the Owner's
Manual as well; it is an important compo­nent of your vehicle.

Additional sources of information

If you have additional questions, your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center is always
happy to advise you.

You can find information on BMW, e.g.
technology, on the Internet at
www.bmwusa.com.

Symbols used

Indicates precautions that must be

followed precisely in order to avoid
the possibility of personal injury and seri­ous damage to the vehicle.

Contains information that will assist

you in gaining the optimum benefit
from your vehicle and enable you to care
more effectively for your vehicle.

Refers to measures that can be taken

to help protect the environment.

<

Marks the end of a specific item of infor-

mation.

*

Indicates special equipment, country­specific equipment and optional extras
when available.

Vehicle Memory, Key Memory, refer

to page 33. Identifies functions that
can be specifically adapted for a particular
key or vehicle. These adjustments can be
performed either by yourself or by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

Symbols on vehicle components

Indicates that you should consult the

relevant section of this Owner's Man­ual for information on a particular part or
assembly.

4

The individual vehicle

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

On buying your BMW, you have decided in
favor of a model with individualized equip­ment and features. This Owner's Manual
describes all models and equipment that
BMW offers within the same group.

We hope you will understand that equip­ment and features are included that you
might not have chosen for your vehicle.
Sections describing options and special

*

equipment are marked by asterisks
assist you in identifying possible differ­ences between the descriptions in this
manual and your own vehicle's equipment.

Should your BMW be equipped with fea­tures or accessories not described in this
manual, e.g. car radio or portable phone,
please consult the enclosed supplemen­tary owner's manuals.

to

Editorial notice

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived to
ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced, state­of-the-art technology. For this reason, the
features described in this Owner's Manual
may differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely ruled
out. You are therefore asked to appreciate
that no claims can be entertained on the
basis of the data, illustrations or descrip­tions in this Owner's Manual.

5

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

For your own safety

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Fuels

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels

Notes

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 indi­cated 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 driveability,
starting and stalling problems especially
under certain environmental conditions,
such as high ambient temperature and high
altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob­lems which 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 recommenda­tions may result in unscheduled mainte­nance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when you
are handling gasoline.

<

Maintenance and repair

Advanced technology, e.g. the use of

modern materials and high-perfor­mance electronics, requires specially
adapted maintenance and repair methods.
Therefore, only have corresponding work
on your BMW carried out by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop that
works according to BMW repair proce­dures with correspondingly trained person­nel. If work is carried out improperly, there
is a danger of consequential damage and

<

the related safety risks.

Parts and accessories

For your own safety, use genuine

parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Genuine BMW
Parts, you simultaneously acquire the
assurance that they have been thoroughly
tested by BMW to ensure optimum perfor­mance 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 dam­ages 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 occu­pants.
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on using
these items, are available from all BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Centers.
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 phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna – or transceiver equipment, for
instance, CBs, walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar accessories, 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 Sports
Activity Vehicle Center for additional infor­mation.

systems may be performed by any automo­tive repair establishment or individual using
any certified automotive part.

<

Maintenance, replacement, or repair

of the emission control devices and

<

6

Service and warranty

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

This manual is supplemented by a Service
and Warranty Information Booklet for US
models or a Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.

We recommend that you read this publica­tion thoroughly.

Your BMW is covered by the following war­ranties:

>

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

>

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty

>

Federal Emissions System Defect War­ranty

>

Federal Emissions Performance War­ranty

>

California Emission Control System
Limited Warranty.

Detailed information about these warran­ties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or in the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.

Reporting safety defects

The following only applies to vehicles
owned and operated in the US.

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration NHTSA in addition to notify­ing BMW of North America, LLC, P.O. Box
1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675­1227, telephone toll-free
1-800-831-1117.

If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or BMW of North
America, LLC.

To contact NHTSA, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-800-424-9393 or 366-0123
in Washington, D.C. area, or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transporta­tion, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor vehi­cle safety from the Hotline.

7

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

At a glance

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

This overview of buttons, switches and

displays is intended to serve as a source

of orientation in your vehicle's operating

environment. The section will also assist

you in becoming acquainted with the

control concepts and options available

for operating the various systems.

Cockpit

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Controls

Cockpit

1

Parking lamps/low beams 57

2

>

Turn signal indicators 41

>

Standing lamps 58

>

High beams 58

>

Headlamp flasher 41

>

Computer 47

3

Fog lamps 58

10

4

Horn

5

Washer/Wiper system/Rain sensor 41

6

Hazard warning flashers

7

Central locking system 18

8

Unlocking the engine hood 92

Instrument cluster

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

1

Speedometer

2

Indicator and warning lamps 12

3

Tachometer 45
with indicator and warning lamps 12

4

Coolant temperature gauge 45

5

Fuel gauge 45

6

Button for

>

Displaying the time 46

>

Service Interval Display 46

7

Selector lever and program display for
automatic transmission 40

8

Button for

>

Resetting trip odometer 45

>

Setting the time 46

9

Display for

>

Trip odometer/odometer 45

> Time 46
> Service Interval 46
> Computer 47

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobilityReference

11

Indicator and warning

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

lamps

Engine oil + 94

Technology that monitors itself

The indicator and warning lamps identified

+ symbol are subjected to an oper-

by the

Cockpit

ation check each time you switch on the
engine. They each light up once for differ­ent periods of time.

When a malfunction occurs in a monitored
system, the corresponding lamp will either
fail to go out when the engine is started, or
it will come on again during normal driving.
Detailed information is provided on the
specified pages.

Please fasten safety belt

Airbags

Brake system
With handbrake released 52/ 96
With handbrake set 38
With other warning lamps 52

Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models

+ 54

+

+ 30

Service Engine Soon

Service Engine Soon

+ 98

+ 37

warning lamp for Canadian
models.

Check Gas Cap

+

Engine electronics + 37

Battery charge current

+ 105

Topping up coolant 95

Topping up washer fluid 94

Lamp defective 57

Turn signal indicators 41

Driving stability control systems/
Antilock Brake System

+ 53

Antilock Brake System ABS/
Chassis control system for Cana­dian models

Brake pads

+ 96

Dynamic Stability Control DSC/

+ 50/ 52

xDrive

Flat Tire Monitor

Automatic transmission

+ 53

+ 39

12

Fog lamps 58

Headlamp flasher 41
High beams 58

Cruise control 43

Colors

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The indicator and warning lamps can light
up in different colors and combinations.

The following section explains the signifi­cance of the individual colors as well as
how you should respond when they
appear.

> Red:

Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder

> Yellow:

Have the system inspected as soon as
possible
or
for your information

> Green:

For your information

> Blue

For your information.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobilityReference

13

Buttons in steering wheel*

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The buttons integrated in the steering
wheel are provided so that you can operate
a number of accessories quickly and with­out being distracted from traffic conditions.
You may operate:

Cockpit

> selected audio source functions
> Recirculating air mode/steering wheel

heating

> the cruise control
> some telephone functions
> the voice command system.

on.<

Telephone/voice command system

*

In order to operate a system, the cor­responding system must be switched

Cruise control

Cruise control: calling up

Cruise control: storing and accelerating
as well as braking and storing

Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deacti­vate

–

Recirculated-air mode/steering
wheel heating

Depending on the equipment, there is

a button for the recirculated-air mode
or steering wheel heating.<

+

Press briefly:
Accept incoming call, start dialing, termi­nate call.
Extended pressure:
Switch voice command system on and off

Telephone/audio sources

Switching between telephone and radio,
cassette, CD or MD

Fast forward/reverse

> Radio

Press briefly: next station

> CD

Press briefly: skipping tracks
Maintain pressure on the button: fast
forward/reverse

> Telephone

Browse name directory

Volume

Switching the recirculated-air mode and
automatic recirculated-air control on and
off

Steering wheel heating: switching on/off,
refer to page 31.

14

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobilityReference

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

15

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Controls

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

This chapter is intended to provide you

with information for complete control

of your vehicle. Its extensive array of

features and accessories, both for driving

and for your own safety, comfort and

convenience, are described here.

Opening and closing

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Key set

1 Master keys with remote control deter-

Opening and closing

mine the functions of the Key Memory,
refer to page 33.
You can mark the keys using the col­ored decals you received on taking
delivery of the vehicle

There is an extended-life battery

in every master key which is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
If you have any master keys that are not
being used on a regular basis, you
should therefore remember to recharge
these units by using them to drive the
vehicle for an extended period at least
once a year.<

2 Spare key for storage in a safe place,

such as in your wallet.
This key cannot be used to open the
lock for the glove compartment. This is
an advantage, e.g. at a hotel. The 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 engages or releases
the locks on the

> doors
> tailgate

> fuel filler door.

The central locking system can be oper­ated from the outside

> via the remote control
> via the driver's door lock

and from inside via the button for the cen­tral locking system.

When the system is locked from inside, the
fuel filler door remains unlocked, refer to
page 20.

The anti-theft system is automatically acti­vated whenever you activate the central
locking system from outside the vehicle.
This prevents the doors from being
unlocked via the safety lock buttons or
door handles. The alarm system is also
armed or disarmed.

In an accident, the central locking system
automatically unlocks the vehicle. In addi­tion, the hazard warning flashers and inte­rior lamps switch on.

You can have an acknowledgment
signal set to confirm that the vehicle is

correctly locked.<

Opening and closing – from outside

Using the remote control

The remote control provides two additional
functions for the central locking system:

> Switching on the interior lamps, refer to

page 19.
You can also use this function to locate
your vehicle in parking garages etc.

> Opening the tailgate, refer to page 19.

The tailgate will open slightly, regard­less of whether it was previously locked
or unlocked.

18

In addition, the remote control offers you

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

another function:

> Panic mode

In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.

When you engage/release the vehicle
locks, you simultaneously activate/deacti­vate the anti-theft system, arm/disarm the
alarm system, and switch the interior lamps
on/off.

As a reminder that the ignition key is

still in the ignition lock after you open
the driver's door, you can have a sound sig­nal set.<

Protect the remote control against

unauthorized use by handing over
only the spare key, for example when using
hotel valet parking.<

Because any persons or animals left

unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always take the vehicle's keys with you so
that the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.<

Unlocking

Press the button.
Press the button once to unlock the driver’s

door only; press a second time to unlock all
remaining doors as well as the tailgate and
the fuel filler door.

Switching off the tilt alarm sensor*
and interior motion sensor*

Press the button once again directly
after locking.
For details, refer to page 25.

Switching on the interior lamps

If the vehicle is locked, press the
button.

Panic mode*

By pressing and holding the button for
more than approx. two seconds, you can
trigger the alarm system in response to any
impending danger.

To switch off the alarm: press any of the
buttons.

Unlocking tailgate

Press the button.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of

whether it was previously locked or
unlocked.

Before and after a trip, ensure that the

tailgate has not been opened uninten­tionally.
A previously locked tailgate is also locked
after closing.<

If you desire, the tailgate can only be

opened using the remote control if the
vehicle is unlocked. This can be adjusted.<

Convenience opening mode

Press and hold the button. The windows
and the sliding panel of the panorama glass
roof are opened.

Press the button a second time and hold.
The panorama glass roof is opened.

If you desire, you can have this spe­cial feature activated/deactivated on

a vehicle-specific basis.<

Locking and securing

Press the button.

If you desire, the vehicle locks auto-

matically if no door or lid is opened
after unlocking. You may have this function
set on a vehicle-specific basis if you wish.<

Malfunctions

The remote control system may be affected
by other units or equipment operating in
the immediate vicinity of your vehicle.
Should the remote control fail to operate
owing to interference of this kind, you can
respond by using the master key to unlock
your vehicle at one of the doors.

In case of faults, please contact your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. You can
also obtain replacement keys there.

If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle
via the remote control, the battery is dis­charged. Use this remote control during an
extended drive; this will recharge the bat­tery, refer to page 18.

19

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

For US owners only

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The transmitter and receiver units comply
with part 15 of the FCC – Federal Commu­nications Commission – regulations. Oper­ation is governed by the following:

FCC ID: LX8EWS

LX8FZVS

LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the

FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol­lowing two conditions:

> This device may not cause harmful

interference, and

> this device must accept any interfer-

Opening and closing

ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.

Any unauthorized modifications or

changes to these devices could void
the user's authority to operate the equip­ment.<

Using the door lock

> To open:

With the door closed, turn the key to the
Unlock position and hold it there.

> To close:

With the door closed, turn the key to the
Lock position and hold it there.

Watch during the closing process to
be sure that no one is injured. Releas-

ing the key stops the operation.<

Manual operation

In the event of an electrical defect:
You can turn the key all the way to the
right or left in the door lock to lock or
unlock the driver's door.

Opening and closing – from inside

One turn of the key in the driver's door lock
unlocks the driver's door only.
Turning the key a second time unlocks all of
the remaining doors, the tailgate and the
fuel filler door.

You can have a signal set to confirm

that the vehicle's locks have engaged
securely.<

Convenience operation

You also have the option of operating the
windows and the panorama glass roof from
the driver's door lock.

20

You can use this button to operate the cen­tral locking system when the front doors
are closed. With this button, only the doors
and the tailgate are unlocked or locked.
The anti-theft system is not activated.

If only the driver's door was unlocked

from the outside and you press the
button, then, with the driver's door still
open, the passenger-side door, the tailgate
and the fuel filler door will also unlock.
If the driver's door is closed, it will be
locked.<

The central locking system locks

automatically after driving off. This
can be adjusted to be vehicle-specific or
key-specific.<

Unlocking and opening the doors

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

1. Press the button for central locking sys-

tem

2. Pull the respective door handle above

the armrest

or
individually pull on the door handle of each

door twice to unlock and open.

Engaging the locks

> Press button for central locking system

or

> press down the individual safety lock

buttons.

To prevent you from being locked

out, the opened driver's door can­not be locked using the safety lock but­ton.<

Because any persons or animals left

unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always take the vehicle's keys with you so
that the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.<

Manual unlocking

In the event of an electrical defect:

1. Fold up the floor cover in the cargo area

2. Press the lever to the right.

The tailgate is locked again as soon as you
close it.

Closing

Tailgate

Opening from outside

Press the button in the handle strip. The
tailgate is unlocked and opens somewhat.

During opening, the tailgate pivots

upward and to the rear. Ensure that
adequate clearance is available before
opening.<

When the tailgate is open, the cargo area
and interior are lit up.

The handle recesses on the interior trim of
the tailgate make it easier to pull down.

To avoid injuries, be sure that the

travel path of the tailgate is clear
when it is closed, as with all closing proce­dures.<

Operate the vehicle only when the

tailgate is completely closed. Other­wise, exhaust fumes could penetrate the
interior of the vehicle.<

If special circumstances should make it
absolutely necessary to operate the vehicle
with the tailgate open:

1. Close all windows and the glass roof

2. Greatly increase the air supply of the air

conditioner or automatic climate con­trol, refer to page 60 or 63.

21

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Electric power windows

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Opening and closing windows

As of ignition key position 1:

> Press the switch up to the resistance

point:

Opening and closing

The window continues to move as long
as you continue to press the switch

> Press the switch beyond the resistance

point:
The window moves downward auto­matically. Briefly press the switch again
to stop the opening movement.

You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.

After switching off the ignition

You can operate the electric power win­dows for up to 15 minutes as long as nei­ther of the front doors has been opened.

When leaving the vehicle parked,

always remove the remote control
from the ignition lock and close the doors;
this precaution prevents children from
operating the electric power windows and
injuring themselves, etc.<

For convenience operation with the door
lock, refer to page 20.

Anti-trapping mechanism

If the closing force rises beyond a pre­defined threshold during closing, the sys­tem will immediately stop moving the win­dow prior to lowering it slightly.

Despite the anti-trapping mechanism

you should always inspect the win­dow's travel path prior to closing it, as the
safety system might fail to detect certain

kinds of obstructions, such as very thin
objects, and the window would continue
closing.
You can disable the anti-trapping mecha­nism by pressing the switch beyond the
resistance point and holding it.<

Following interruptions in electrical
power supply

After disconnecting the battery, the anti­trapping mechanism must be reinitialized.
To do this, open and close the windows
once and continue pull the switch for 2 sec­onds after closing.

Safety switch

With the safety switch, you can prevent the
rear windows from being opened or closed
via the switches in the rear passenger area,
by children, for example. The indicator
lamp lights up when this safety feature is
activated.

Press the safety switch whenever

children are riding in the rear of the
vehicle. Careless use of the electric power
windows can lead to injury.<

You can deactivate the function again

as of ignition key position 1.<

Accessories in the window area

After installing any accessory – such as a
clamp-on antenna for a portable phone –
within the window's travel range, you will
need to have the system reinitialized for
use under the new conditions. Please con­tact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen­ter.

22

Panorama glass roof*

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

To prevent injuries, exercise care

when closing the panorama glass roof
and keep it in your field of vision until it is
shut.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the remote control and close the doors to
prevent children from operating the glass
roof and injuring themselves, etc.<

Raising, opening, closing

The glass roof and sliding panel are opera­tional as of ignition key position 1.

After the ignition has been switched off:
You can operate the panorama glass roof
for up to 1 minute as long as neither of the
doors has been opened.

Opening the glass roof and sliding
panel together

Within 2 seconds, push the switch back­ward twice beyond the resistance point.
The glass roof moves to the convenience
position and the sliding panel opens com­pletely. To open the glass roof fully at a
standstill, slide the switch backward
beyond the resistance point.

Sliding the switch again stops the motion.

Closing the glass roof and sliding
panel together

Within 2 seconds, push the switch forward
twice beyond the resistance point.
The glass roof and sliding panel close com­pletely.

Sliding the switch again stops the motion.

Operating sliding panel

> Opening, closing:

Slide the switch up to the resistance
point in the desired direction.

The motion continues for as long as the
switch is held

> Automatic opening, closing:

Slide the switch beyond the resistance
point in the desired direction.

Sliding the switch again stops the
motion.

Operating glass roof

> Opening, closing:

Slide the switch up to the resistance
point in the desired direction.

The motion continues for as long as the
switch is held

> Automatically in convenience position:

Slide the switch beyond the resistance
point in the desired direction.

In the convenience position, the glass
roof is not fully opened.

Sliding the switch again stops the
motion.

> Automatic opening and closing:

Slide the switch beyond the resistance
point in the desired direction. The glass
roof moves initially into the conven­ience position. To open or close fully at
a standstill, slide the switch beyond the
resistance point in the desired direc­tion.

Sliding the switch again stops the
motion

> To raise: slide switch

To lower: slide switch forward.
Sliding the switch again stops the

motion.

Ventilation setting

In the ventilation setting, the glass roof is
raised and the sliding panel opens to a gap:
Press the switch twice within 2 seconds.

Pressing the switch again stops the
motion.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

If the glass roof and sliding panel are

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

closed:

Press the switch once.<

Anti-trapping mechanism

If the glass roof and sliding panel encoun­ter resistance when closing from roughly
one third of the roof opening or when clos­ing from the raised position, the closing
action is interrupted and the glass roof and
sliding panel reopen a little.

Despite the anti-trapping mechanism

you should always inspect the roof's
travel path prior to closing it, as the safety
system might fail to detect certain kinds of
obstructions, such as very thin objects, and
the window would continue closing.
The anti-trapping mechanism for closing

Opening and closing

the panorama glass roof is deactivated if
the switch is pressed beyond the resis­tance point and held there. The closing
action is interrupted when you release the
switch.<

Following interruptions in electrical
power supply

Following interruptions in electrical power,
for instance, when the battery is discon­nected, it is possible that the glass roof will
extend to its tilt-up position, but fail to
respond to other commands. For initializa­tion, please contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.

Manual operation

In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can operate the glass roof manually:

1. Pull the cover downward

2. Insert the Allen key from the compart-

ment beneath the cargo area floor, refer
to page 103, in the proper opening and
turn the panorama glass roof in the
desired direction. Direction of rotation
for closing, refer to arrow.

Alarm system*

The concept

The vehicle alarm system responds:

> When a door, the hood, or the tailgate is

opened

> To movement in the vehicle's 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:

> An acoustic alarm, which lasts for a

period of approx. 30 seconds

> The hazard warning flashers for approx.

5 minutes

24

> The high beams, which flash on and off

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

in the same rhythm.

Arming and disarming the alarm
system

When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
with the key or the remote control, the
alarm system is also simultaneously armed
or disarmed.

If the alarm system has been properly
armed, the hazard warning flashers light up
once.

You can have different acknowledg­ment signals set to confirm arming

and disarming.<
You can also open the tailgate with the sys-

tem armed using the button on the
remote control, refer to page 19. When you
close the tailgate, the system is rearmed.<

Switching off the alarm

> Unlock the vehicle using the remote

control, refer to page 19

> Turn the ignition key to position 1.

Indicator lamp displays

> If the indicator lamp goes out when the

system is disarmed: no manipulation or
attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the system
was armed

> If the indicator lamp flashes for 10 sec-

onds after the system is disarmed: an
attempted entry has been detected in
the period since the system was armed.

Following triggering of an alarm, the indica­tor lamp will flash continuously.

Avoiding unintentional alarms

The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm from being triggered in garages with
elevator ramps, for instance, or when the
vehicle is transported by trailer or train:

Lock twice:

> Press the button on the remote

control twice consecutively

> Lock using the door lock twice.

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.

If you wish, the tilt alarm sensor and

interior motion sensor are perma­nently switched off. You can have this set
at your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen­ter.<

> The indicator lamp below the interior

rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed

> The indicator lamp flashes during arm-

ing: door(s), the hood or tailgate are not
completely closed. Even if you do not
close the alerted area, the system
begins to monitor the remaining areas,
and the indicator lamp flashes continu­ously after 10 seconds. However, the
interior motion sensor is not activated

Interior motion sensor

In order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and pan­orama glass roof must be completely
closed.

However, be sure to switch off the interior
motion sensor – refer to Avoiding uninten­tional alarms – when you

> leave children or animals in the vehicle
> the windows or panorama glass roof

are to remain open.

The tilt alarm sensor and interior

motion sensor are switched off inad-

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

vertently if convenience closing of windows

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

and panorama glass roof is interrupted
within the first 10 seconds and then reiniti­ated. If this has occurred, the system must
be disarmed and then rearmed.<

Opening and closing

26

Adjustments

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Sitting safely

The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed driving that is as
fatigue-free as possible. The sitting posi­tion plays an important role together with
the safety belts and airbags in providing
occupants with maximum levels of passive
safety in an accident. Therefore, observe
the following instructions, as otherwise the
protective function of the safety systems
may be impaired.

For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 34.

Sitting safely with 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 storage area.
Make sure that the front passenger is cor­rectly seated, i.e. feet or legs not resting on
the instrument panel, as otherwise leg inju­ries can result if the knee and 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 or fatal injury.<

Even if you adhere to all the instructions
injuries resulting from contact with airbags
cannot be fully excluded, depending 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 page 54.

Sitting safely with safety belts

Even though there is an airbag, wear a
safety belt every time you get in the vehi­cle. Although airbags enhance safety by
providing added protection, they are not a
substitute for safety belts.

Your vehicle has five seats that are all
equipped with a safety belt.

Occupants should sit upright and be

properly restrained at all times:
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdomi­nal area.
Never allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants and
small children to ride in a passengers lap.
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.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it firmly
across the hips and shoulder. Do not allow
the belt to rest against hard or fragile
objects. Otherwise, in the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal injury.
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly and pull the lap
belt periodically to readjust the tension
across your shoulder in order to avoid a
reduction in the retention effect of the
safety belt.<

For fastening safety belts, refer to page 30.

Seats

Note before adjusting

Never try to adjust your seat while

operating the vehicle. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

the ensuing loss of vehicle control could

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

lead to an accident.
Especially on the passenger's side, do not
incline the backrest too far to the rear while
the vehicle is being driven, as otherwise
there is a danger in the event of an accident
of sliding under the safety belt, eliminating
the protection normally provided by the
belt.<

Please observe the information on using
safety belts provided on page 30 and the

Adjustments

information on the head restraints on
page 28.

Seat adjustment

To ensure that the safety systems

continue to provide optimized protec­tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions above.<

1 Longitudinal direction

Pull the lever and slide the seat into the
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so
that it engages fully

2 Height

Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the seat as
required

3 Backrest angle

Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the backrest as
required

Adjusting the BMW sports seat*

You can also adjust the tilt and the thigh
support:

1 Upward tilt:

Pull the lever as many times as required
to set the desired tilt

2 Downward tilt:

Press the lever as many times as
required to set the desired tilt

3 Thigh support:

Pull the lever and move the thigh sup­port in the longitudinal direction

Head restraints

Align the head restraints so that their

center is approximately at ear level,
as otherwise the risk of spinal injuries is
increased in the event of an accident.<

28

Adjustments

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Height adjustment: pull or press.

To reach the lowest positions, press
button 1.<

To adjust the front head restraint tilt angle:
adjust by tilting.

Removal – front

1. Pull the head restraint upward to the

stop

2. Press button 1 and remove the head

restraint.

Installation – front

1. Press button 1 and slide the head

restraint into its supports

2. Adjust the head restraint.

Set the head restraint manually, refer to left
column.

Lumbar support*

You can also adjust the contours of the
backrest to obtain additional support in the
lumbar region.

The upper hips and spinal column receive
supplementary support to help you main­tain a relaxed, upright sitting position.

> Press the front or rear of the switch:

Increase or decrease curvature

> Press the upper or lower end of the

switch:
Increase the upper or lower curvature.

Seat and mirror memory*

Power seat*

To ensure that the safety systems

continue to provide optimal protec­tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions on page 27.<

1 Angle
2 Longitudinal direction
3 Height
4 Backrest angle

You can store and select three different
adjustment settings for the driver's seat
and exterior mirrors.

The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.

Storing

1. Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2

2. Set the desired seat and exterior mirror

position

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

3. Press MEMORY button:

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The indicator lamp in the button lights
up

4. Press the desired memory button 1, 2

or 3:
The indicator lamp goes out.

Selecting a stored setting

Do not call up a position from the

Adjustments

memory while the vehicle is moving,
as otherwise there is a risk of accident from
unexpected seat movement.<

Convenience mode

1. Open the driver's door after unlocking

or turn the ignition key to position 1

2. Briefly press the desired memory but-

ton 1, 2 or 3.
The system immediately cancels the
adjustment procedure when you press
one of the seat adjustment buttons or
use one of the memory buttons.

Safety feature

1. Close the driver's door and turn the

ignition key to position 0 or 2

2. Press the desired memory button 1, 2

or 3 and maintain pressure until the
adjustment process has been com­pleted.

If you press the

accidentally:
Press the button a second time — the indi­cator lamp goes out.<

You can have your vehicle pro-

grammed to automatically dial in your
own individual adjustment settings for the
seat and exterior mirror position whenever
you use your personal remote control to
unlock the vehicle.<

If you make use of this adjustment, be

sure that the footwell behind the
driver's seat is unobstructed before
unlocking the vehicle. If you fail to do so,
any persons, animals or objects behind the
seat could be injured or damaged by a
rearward movement of the seat.<

MEMORY button

Heated seats*

The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated when the ignition key is in
position 2.

To call up different temperature levels:
Press the button repeatedly.

To switch off from a higher heat setting:
Press the button and hold it slightly longer.

Safety belts

Even though there is an airbag, wear a
safety belt every time you get in the vehi­cle. Although airbags enhance safety by
providing added protection, they are not a
substitute for safety belts.

Fastening

Make sure you hear the latch plate engage
in the belt buckle.

Please fasten safety belt warning
lamp:

Lights up for a few seconds or until
safety belts are fastened. Depending on
you vehicle version, a signal
simultaneously.

* sounds

30

Releasing

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1. Press the red button in the buckle

2. Hold the belt

3. Guide the belt back into its reel.

The upper shoulder strap's anchorage
point will be in the correct position for seat
occupants of every build if the seat is cor­rectly adjusted, refer to page 27.

The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
in the rear seat are for passengers sitting
on the left and right. The belt buckle
embossed with the word CENTER is
intended exclusively for use by passengers
riding in the center position.<

1. Fold the clamping lever downward

2. Adapt the steering wheel in the longitu-

dinal direction and height of the seat
position

3. Fold the clamping lever back up.

Damage to safety belts

If the safety belts are damaged or

stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the tensioning
mechanisms, replaced at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Have the belt
anchorage points inspected for damage at
the same time. Failure to observe this pre­caution may prevent the safety belts from
effectively providing optimal protection
when needed. If a child-restraint system
was in the vehicle during an accident, con­sult the manufacturer's instructions regard­ing replacement.<

Steering wheel

Adjustments

Do not adjust the steering wheel while

the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement.<

Steering wheel heating*

The button for steering wheel heating is
located in the steering wheel, refer to
page 14.

Steering wheel heating: switching on/off.
The steering wheel heating operates from

ignition key position 2.
Press the button to activate or deactivate

this system.
The indicator lamp within the button lights

up when the steering wheel heating is in
operation.

Mirrors

Adjusting exterior mirrors

1 Mirror switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Left/right selector switch

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

To prevent the exterior mirrors on this

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

vehicle from being damaged, always
fold them in by hand before entering an
automatic car wash.<

Adjusting manually

You can also adjust the mirrors manually:
Press the edges of the mirror glass.

Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat
and mirror memory on page 29.

Adjustments

Convex mirror

The mirror on the passenger's side

features a lens with a more convex
surface than the mirror installed on the
driver's side. When estimating the distance
between yourself and other traffic, bear in
mind that the objects reflected in the mirror
are closer than they appear. This means
that estimations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as precise.<

Electric heaters

Both mirrors are heated automatically in
ignition key position 2.

Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt
function

You can have the angle of downward
tilt set in dependence on the key

used.<

Interior rearview mirror

To reduce the dazzle effect of following
vehicles at night, turn the knob.

Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*

Automatic curb monitor*

1. Select the driver's exterior mirror with

the switch 1

2. When you engage reverse gear or

selector-lever position R, the exterior
mirror on the front passenger side tilts
downward slightly. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adja­cent to the vehicle – such as a curb –
when parking, etc.

32

These mirrors automatically dim through an
infinitely-variable range. They automatically
revert to their undimmed mode whenever
the transmission is placed in reverse gear
or selector lever in position R.

For trouble-free operation, keep the

photocells unobstructed and clean
and do not cover the area between the
interior rearview mirror and the windshield.
Do not attach any kind of stickers on the
windshield in front of the mirror, either.<

Vehicle Memory,

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

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 developing your vehicle,
BMW has incorporated a number of
options for personal adjustment. You can
have these programmed at your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

There are vehicle-related and person­related adjustments: Vehicle Memory and
Key Memory. You can configure up to four
different basic adjustments for four differ­ent persons. The only requirement is that
each person uses his or her own master
key with remote control.

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 adjust­ments accordingly.

In order for you to distinguish between the
remote control master keys, colored decals
are supplied together with the keys.

What the system can do

Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
can provide you with details on the capabil­ities of the Vehicle Memory and Key Mem­ory systems.

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.<

Examples of Vehicle Memory
functions

> Different acknowledgment signals to

confirm locking/unlocking of the vehi­cle, refer to page 18

> Activate/deactivate function for path-

way lighting, refer to page 57

> Activate/deactivate daytime driving

lamps, refer to page 57

> Setting measurement units for displays

in the instrument cluster of the time,
outside temperature, distance driven
and fuel consumption, refer to page 47

> Active PDC is indicated by an acoustic

sound signal when reverse gear or
selector-lever position R is engaged,
refer to page 49

> The rear window defroster switches on

automatically, refer to page 61

> Different acknowledgment signals to

confirm arming/disarming the alarm
system, refer to page 25

> After an ice warning has been issued,

the display of the computer returns to
the previous adjustment, refer to
page 47

> Acoustic warning if the ignition key

remains in the ignition lock after the
driver's door has been opened, refer to
page 21.

Examples of Key Memory functions

> On unlocking, first unlock the driver's

door, then the entire vehicle, refer to
page 19

> Locking the vehicle after moving off,

refer to page 20

> Automatic adjustment of the driver's

seat and exterior mirror position for
each person when unlocking the vehi­cle, refer to page 30

> Angle of downward tilt of mirror on pas-

senger side, refer to page 32.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Transporting children safely

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The right place for children

Children always in the rear

Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in a vehicle is in the rear
seat.

Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have outgrown
a booster seat that is appropriate for their
age, height and weight.

A child sitting in the rear seat and not

properly restrained may place his or
her head on or near the airbag, if so
equipped. For example, a child — even
though belted — may fall asleep with his or
her head against the side airbag. It may be
difficult for a driver to ensure that children
in the rear seat will remain properly posi­tioned at all times and do not place their
heads on or near the side airbag. There-

Transporting children safely

fore, we recommend that the rear side air­bags, if provided, be deactivated if you plan
to transport children in the rear seat.<

Deactivation of the rear seat side
airbags

The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Labels in the rear
door opening should indicate the status of
your rear seat side airbags. If you are
uncertain of their status, or wish to have the
airbags activated or deactivated, please
contact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center.

Child-restraint system in rear

Children under 13 years of age and

children less than 5 ft/150 cm tall
should always ride in the rear and the
restraint systems should be properly
adjusted.<

Younger children should be secured in an
appropriate forward-facing child-restraint

system that has first been properly secured
with a safety belt.

All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE J1819,
an industry-recommended practice for
securing child-restraint systems in motor
vehicles.

Exception for the front passenger
seat

Should it become necessary to use a

child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, the airbags on the passen­ger's side must be deactivated. The pas­senger airbag indicator lamp above the
interior rearview mirror must light up con­tinuously. Otherwise, the front passenger
airbags remain active and there is consid­erable risk of injury to children if the airbags
are triggered, even with a child-restraint
system. In this case, children should be
seated in the rear and the system should be
checked at your BMW Sport Activity Vehi­cle Center.<

Never install a rearward-facing child-

restraint system in the front passen­ger seat of this vehicle if the passenger air­bag is not deactivated. If you do so, the
child could be severely injured when the
airbag is triggered.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front
passenger. Because the backrest on any
rearward-facing child-restraint system – of
the kind designed for infants under 1 year
and 20 Ibs/9 kg – would be within the air­bag's deployment range, you should never
mount such a system in the front passenger
seat, since the impact of the airbag against
the child restraint's backrest could lead to
serious or fatal injuries.<

More information on automatic deactiva­tion of the front passenger airbags, refer to
page 55.

34

Installing child-restraint

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systems

Before installing any child-restraint system
or child seat, read the following:

Observe the child-restraint system

manufacturer's instructions for instal­lation and use. Otherwise the degree of
protection can be reduced.
After an accident, have all parts of the rele­vant vehicle safety belt system checked by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center and
replaced if necessary.<

Commercially-available child-restraint sys­tems are designed to be secured with a lap
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi­nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions that
come with the system.

Child seat security

To unlock the safety belt

Release the buckle, remove the child­restraint system and allow the belt retractor
to reel the belt completely in.

Child-restraint system with tether
strap

If you use a child-restraint system with a
tether strap, three additional tether anchor­age points have been provided, refer to the
arrows in the illustration. Depending on the
location selected for seating in the rear
passenger area, attach the tether strap to
the corresponding anchorage point to
secure the child-restraint system, as
shown in the illustration below.

All of the rear belt retractors and the front
passenger's safety belt can be locked for
mounting and securing child-restraint sys­tems.

Information regarding this is located near
the buckle latch of each safety belt.

To lock the safety belt

Pull the entire length of the belt from the
belt retractor. Allow the reel to retract the
belt somewhat and engage the buckle,
then tighten the belt against the child­restraint system. The retraction mechanism
is now locked.

Each seating position is fitted with a head
restraint.

Outer seating positions:
Lift the head restraint and pass the tether
strap between the head restraint and the
seat back. It is recommended to readjust
the head restraint into the lowest possible
position.

Center seating position:
The head restraint must be adjusted into
the lowest possible position. Pass the
tether strap over the head restraint.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Adjust the tether strap according to

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

the child-restraint manufacturer's

instructions.<

1. Engage the center safety belt into the

belt buckle

2. Pull the belt away from the area of the

child seat fixing.

LATCH* child-restraint fixing

LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for
CHildren.

The rear outer seating positions are pro­vided with anchors for a LATCH child­restraint fixing.

Access to anchorage points

For driving

With side airbags in the rear, make

sure that children do not lean out of
the child's seat toward the door panel, as
otherwise major injuries can result if the
side airbags are triggered.<

You can have the rear side airbags perma­nently deactivated.
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
will be happy to advise you.

Child-safety lock of rear doors

The illustrations show the left rear seat as
an example. The anchorage points for the

Transporting children safely

LATCH child seat fixing are located behind
the cover caps.
Remove the cover caps toward the front.
Press on to remount.

Canadian models only:
The anchorage points for the LATCH child­restraint fixing are identified by buttons.

To fit the child seat fixing LATCH, fol­low the operating and safety instruc-

tions of the manufacturer.<
Before mounting the LATCH child-restraint

fixing, remove the cover caps.

36

Slide down the safety levers on the rear
doors:

The door can now be opened from the out­side only.

Safety switch for power windows

Always press the safety switch for the elec­tric power windows, refer to page 22, when
children are in the rear of the vehicle.

Driving

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Ignition lock

0 Steering locked

The key can only be inserted or removed in
this position.

After removing the key, turn the steering
wheel slightly to the left or right until you
hear the lock engage.

Vehicles with automatic transmission:

Only move the selector lever from
position P with the engine running. To turn
the key back to position 0 or to remove it,
first place the selector lever in position P:
Interlock.<

1 Steering unlocked

A slight steering wheel movement often
makes it easier to turn the key from 0 to 1.

Individual current consumers are ready for
operation.

2 Ignition switched on

All vehicle systems are ready for operation.

3 Engine start

Engine

Do not allow the engine to warm up while
idling. Drive off immediately at moderate
engine speed.

Engine idle speed is controlled by the
engine computer system. Increased
speeds at startup are normal and should

decrease as the engine warms up. If engine
speed does not decrease, service is
required.

To prevent the battery from discharging,
always switch off electrical devices which
are not in use and the ignition when the
vehicle is not being driven.

Do not run the engine in closed

rooms, as otherwise inhaling toxic
exhaust gases can cause unconsciousness
and death. The exhaust gases contain car­bon monoxide, an odorless and colorless,
but highly toxic gas. Do not leave the vehi­cle unattended with the engine running,
since an unattended vehicle with a running
engine represents a safety hazard.
When driving, standing at idle and while
parking take care to avoid possible contact
between a hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead
to a fire, resulting in serious personal injury
and property damage.<

Indicator lamps

If the Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp comes on either continuously

or intermittently, this indicates a
fault in the emissions-related electronic
systems. Although the vehicle remains
operational, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center at the earliest possible
opportunity.

The illuminated indicator informs you of the
need for service, not that you need to stop
the vehicle. However, the systems should
be checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center at the next opportunity.

If the indicator blinks or flashes, this indi­cates a high level of engine misfire. Reduce
speed and contact the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center immediately.
Severe engine misfiring over even a short
period of time can seriously damage emis-

37

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

sion control system components, espe-

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

cially the catalytic converter.

Service Engine Soon indicator lamp
for Canadian models.

Driving

reduced engine output or engine speed.
Please have it checked by your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

Malfunction in the engine electron­ics.
You can continue to drive with

Starting the engine

When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.

Vehicles with manual transmission:

Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine from
starting if the clutch is not depressed.<

Do not actuate the starter for too

short a time. Do not turn it for more
than approx. 20 seconds. Release the igni­tion key immediately as soon as the engine
starts.<

If the engine fails to start on the first
attempt, for instance, if it is very hot or cold:

> Press the accelerator pedal halfway

down while engaging the starter.

During a cold start at very low tempera­tures, as of approx. +57/–156, at high
altitudes over 3,300 ft/1,000 m:

> For the first attempt, run the start for

longer, approx. 10 seconds

> Press the accelerator pedal halfway

down while engaging the starter.

Avoid frequent starting is quick suc-

cession or repeated start attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise,
the fuel is not burned or inadequately
burned and there is a danger of overheat­ing and damaging the catalytic converter.<

Manual transmission

1. Engage the handbrake

2. Gearshift lever in idle position

3. Press the clutch pedal

4. Start the engine.

Before leaving the vehicle with the

engine running, place the gearshift
lever in idle position and apply the hand­brake.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre­sents a potential safety hazard.<

Automatic transmission

1. Press the brake pedal

2. Place the selector lever in position P

or N

3. Start the engine.

To prevent the vehicle from rolling,

always select position P and engage
the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
with the engine running.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre­sents a potential safety hazard.<

Switching off the engine

Do not remove the ignition key when

the vehicle is moving, as otherwise
the steering could lock.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and lock the steering.
When parking on downward inclines, apply
the handbrake.<

Manual transmission

Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.

Automatic transmission

Engage selector-lever position P, turn igni­tion key to position 1 or 0.

Handbrake

The handbrake is primarily intended to pre­vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it
brakes the rear wheels.

Indicator lamp

The indicator lamp lights up from
ignition switch position 2 with the
handbrake set – an acoustic signal

also sounds when starting off.

38

Indicator lamp for Canadian mod-

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

els.

To engage

The lever engages automatically.

To release

Pull up slightly on the lever, press the but­ton and lower the lever.

If exceptional circumstances should

make it necessary to engage the
handbrake while the vehicle is in motion,
do not pull it too strongly. In doing so, con­tinuously press the button of the handbrake
lever.
Strong application of the handbrake can
lead to overbraking of the rear axle and
associated 'fishtailing' of the vehicle rear
end.
The brake lamps do not light up when the
handbrake is applied.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
When parking on inclines, apply the hand­brake, as even engaging the first or reverse
gear might not under certain circum­stances secure the vehicle against moving.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Engage selector-lever position P.<

To prevent corrosion and one-sided

braking action, occasionally apply the
handbrake lightly when the vehicle is
slowly coming to a standstill at a traffic light
if the traffic conditions are suitable.<

Manual transmission

While shifting gear in the 5th/6th gear

level, make sure that you press the
gearshift lever to the right to prevent inad­vertently selecting a gear in the 3rd/4th
gear level.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on slopes
by slipping or riding the clutch. Use the
handbrake instead, since a slipping clutch
increases clutch wear.<

Reverse

Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
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.

Automatic transmission with Steptronic*

You can drive as with a normal automatic
transmission. In addition, you can also shift
manually.

If you move the selector lever from position
D to the left into gearshift gate M/S, this
activates the sports-style shift programs of
the automatic transmission. As soon as you
move the selector lever slightly towards +
or –, the Steptronic shifts gear and manual
operation is activated. When you wish to
use the automatic transmission mode
again, move the selector lever to the right
into the D position.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Selector lever positions

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Driving

P R N D M/S + –

Engine started

The engine can only be started in selector­lever positions P – Park – or N – Neutral.

N – Neutral

Select only if your journey is interrupted for
a longer period.

D Drive – Automatic shift program

This position is designed for driving under
all normal operating conditions. All forward
gears are available.

Kickdown

A kickdown provides you with maximum
acceleration and the maximum road speed
in position D.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full­throttle position.

Range selection

An interlock prevents inadvertent gear­shifts into selector-lever positions R and P.
To cancel the interlock, press the button on
the front of the selector-lever knob.

Shiftlock

Press the brake pedal before shifting

out of P or N; the shift command will
not be executed unless the brake is applied
– Shiftlock.<

To prevent the vehicle from 'creeping'

after you select a range, maintain
pressure on the brake pedal until you are
ready to start. If you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, engage selector-lever
position P and apply the handbrake. If you
fail to do this, the vehicle could move.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with
the engine running, as such a vehicle rep­resents a potential safety hazard.<

P Park

Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
The transmission locks to prevent the rear
wheels from turning.

R — Reverse

Select only when the vehicle is stationary.

M/S Manual mode and
Sport Program

Shifting from D into M/S activates the Sport
program and this is indicated with SD in the
gear display. The Sport Program is
designed for performance-oriented driving.

The first time the selector lever is even
slightly touched, the automatic transmis­sion shifts from the Sport program into
manual operation.
If you start to move the selector lever
towards
upwards; moving it towards
wards. The gear display shows M1 through
M5.

Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combi­nation of engine and vehicle speed; thus,
for example, a downshift that would cause
the engine to overrev will not be executed
by the system. The gear selected will

+, the transmission shifts

– shifts down-

40

appear briefly in the instrument cluster fol-

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

lowed by the current gear.

To obtain maximum acceleration, for

passing maneuvers, etc., during
operation in the manual mode, use the
kickdown or downshift manually.<

Shifting from M/S to the selector-lever
positions P, R and N is only possible by
going through D.

Possible displays

P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Turn signal indicators/ headlamp flasher

1 High beams – blue indicator lamp
2 Headlamp flasher – blue indicator lamp
3 Turn signal indicators – green indicator

accompanied by periodic clicking
sound from the relay

If the flashing indicator lamp and the

clicking from the relay are both faster
than normal, this indicates that one of the
turn signal indicator bulbs is defective.<

Malfunctions

If the indicator lamp lights up, there
is a function fault in the transmis-

sion system.
While it will remain still possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position,
the transmission will revert to operation in
its default mode with only a limited number
of forward gears.
Avoid high loads and drive to the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

Never work in the engine compart-

ment with any of the forward or
reverse gears engaged, as the vehicle
could start to move.<

Information on jump-starting and towing
starts on page 108.

Signaling briefly

Press the lever up to but not beyond the
resistance point. It then returns to the cen­ter position when released.

Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*

0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent or rain sensor operation
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

5 Serrated dial for adjustment of the wipe

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

interval or the sensitivity of the rain sen­sor

> Cleaning windshield 1, refer to next

section.

Adjust sensitivity: turn the serrated dial 5.

Retracted position

The right wiper is partially concealed by the

Driving

hood.
To move the wipers into a vertical position:

1. Switch on wipers in lever position 1

2. When the wipers are approximately

vertical, move the ignition key to
position 0.

For changing the wiper blades, refer to
page 99.

Fold the wipers back down onto the

windshield before you turn the igni­tion key to position 1 or 2 again. If you do
not, they could be damaged.<

Intermittent mode

Not on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can set the wipe interval to four stages

with the serrated dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied auto­matically depending on road speed.

Rain sensor*

The rain sensor is positioned on the wind­shield, directly in front of the interior rear­view mirror.

Deactivate the rain sensor when

passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in dam­age caused by undesired wiper activa­tion.<

Activating

> Move the lever to position 1 with the

ignition key in position 1 or higher. The
wipers travel once across the wind­shield, regardless of the weather condi­tions.

You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1 and then only need to activate
the rain sensor as of ignition key position 1.
To do so:

> Briefly turn the serrated dial 5 or

Deactivating

> Move lever to position 0.

Normal wipe

The system switches automatically to inter­mittent mode when the vehicle is not mov­ing, not on vehicles with rain sensor.

Fast wipe

The wipers operate at normal speed when
the vehicle is not moving, not on vehicles
with rain sensor.

Cleaning windshield, rear window
and headlamps*

0 Wipers retracted
1 To clean windshield and headlamps
2 Rear window wiper intermittent mode
3 Clean the rear window

Do not use the washers if there is any

danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield. If you do so, your vision could
be obscured. To avoid freezing, use a
washer fluid antifreeze, refer to page 94.
Do not use the washers when the reservoir
is empty. This could cause damage to the
washer pump.<

Cleaning the windshield

The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a
brief period.
The windshield washer nozzles are auto-

42

matically heated as of ignition key

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

position 2.

snow, rain, ice, loose road surface – that do
not permit a constant speed.<

Cleaning headlamps*

When the vehicle lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps are cleaned at
regular and appropriate intervals.

Rear window wiper

Rear window wiper in intermittent mode.
When reverse gear is engaged, the wiper
operates continuously.

You can also program the interval:

1. Briefly move the wiper lever from posi-

tion 0 to position 2

2. Wait for desired interval; maximum of

30 seconds

3. Move the wiper lever from position 0 to

position 2 again

To change the wiper blades, refer to
page 99.

Cruise control*

The vehicle maintains and stores the speed
that you set as of a speed of approx.
20 mph/30 km/h.

You can use cruise control whenever the
system is active while the engine is run­ning.

Indicator lamp

Indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up green:
System ready for operation using

the buttons in the steering wheel.

Activating the system

From ignition key position 2:
Press button in steering wheel; the indica­tor lamp in the instrument cluster comes
on. You are able to use the cruise control.

Do not use the cruise control when
driving on winding roads, in heavy

traffic or in poor road conditions – e.g.

Deactivating system

Press the button repeatedly until the indi­cator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out.
The cruise control is also deactivated when
the ignition key is turned to position 0. The
speed stored in the memory is deleted in
the process.

Maintaining and storing speed or
accelerating

Briefly press button +:
The system maintains and stores the cur­rent vehicle speed. Every time you briefly
press the button, the vehicle's speed
increases by roughly 1–mph/1 km/h.

Press and hold button
The vehicle accelerates without pressure
on the accelerator pedal. When you release
the button, the system maintains and
stores the current speed.

If, on a downhill gradient, the engine's

braking effect is not sufficient, the
controlled speed can be exceeded. Speed
can drop on uphill grades if the engine out­put is insufficient.<

+:

Decelerating

Briefly press button –:
Every time you briefly press the button,
the vehicle's speed decreases by roughly
1 mph/1 km/h if you are already driving
with cruise control.

Press and hold button
With the cruise control active, the system
automatically reduces the throttle opening
to slow the vehicle. When you release the
button, the system maintains and stores
the current speed.

–:

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Interrupting the cruise control

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

When the system is activated, press but­ton. The indicator lamp stays on. You can
use the cruise control again whenever

Driving

required by calling up the speed that was
stored last.

In addition, the system is automatically
interrupted in response to the following
conditions:

> When you apply pressure to the brake

pedal

> When you apply pressure to the clutch

pedal or when you move the automatic
transmission selector lever from D to N

> If you exceed or fall below the con-

trolled speed for an extended period,
by pressing the accelerator, for exam­ple.

Recalling the stored speed

Press button:
The vehicle accelerates to and maintains
the last speed stored.

44

Everything under control

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Odometer

1 Odometer
2 Trip odometer

Odometer

You can activate the displays shown in the
illustration in ignition key position 0 or with
the ignition key removed by pressing the
button in the instrument cluster.

Trip odometer

To reset to zero:

1. Ignition key in position 1

2. Press the button until the trip odometer

is reset to zero.

Fuel gauge

If the indicator lamp 1 starts to light up con­tinuously, there are approx. 2 gallons/
8 liters of fuel in the tank.

Fuel tank capacity:
approx. 17.7 gallons/67 liters.

If the tilt of the vehicle varies, when you are
driving in mountainous areas, for example,
the indicator may fluctuate slightly.

Refuel well before the tank is empty,

as otherwise engine functions will not
be ensured and damage can occur if you
drive down to the last drop.<

When you switch on the ignition, the indi­cator lamp comes on briefly to confirm that
the system is operational.

Tachometer

Engine speeds in the red warning field
must be avoided.

In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted
to protect the engine.

Coolant temperature gauge

Blue

The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate
engine and vehicle speeds.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Between the blue and red fields

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Normal operating range. The dial may wan­der into the red field.

Red

Comes on while driving:
The engine is overheated. Switch off the
engine immediately and allow it to cool
down.

Checking coolant level, refer to page 96.
When you switch on the ignition, the warn-

ing lamp 1 comes on briefly to confirm that
the system is operational.

Service Interval Display

Everything under control

Remaining distance until next
service due

The displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds as of ignition key
position 1 or after starting the engine.

Together with the lettering OILSERVICE or
INSPECTION, the next scheduled service
and remaining distance to this service is
shown in miles/kilometers.
The remaining distance is determined on
the basis of the past driving style.

A flashing display and a – before the
numerical value mean that the service
interval has been passed by the displayed
number of miles/kilometers. Please make
an appointment with your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.

Replacing brake fluid

You can have the month and year for the
scheduled brake fluid replacement dis­played by pressing the right button in the
instrument cluster while the next sched­uled service is being displayed. With each
button touch, the display switches
between the scheduled service and
scheduled brake fluid replacement.

When the brake fluid replacement is due,
the clock symbol also lights up. Please
make an appointment with your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

into account by the display. Please remem­ber that brake fluid should be changed
every two years at the latest, even if the
display does not yet indicate that service is
required, refer to page 96.<

Clock

If you want to have a permanent clock dis­play, you can also have the time displayed
in the display of the car radio, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio.

You can adjust the clock, also for display in
the radio, as follows.

Immobilization periods in which the
battery is disconnected are not taken

46

Setting the time

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

As of ignition key position 1:

Computer*

Mode selection

Hours

1. Hold button 2 pressed for a few sec-

onds until the hours are displayed and
the colon flashes

2. Press button 1 repeatedly until the

desired hour is set

Minutes

3. Press button 2 to change to the minute

display

4. Press button 1 repeatedly until the

desired minutes are set

5. Press button 2 to confirm the time.

The set time is transferred to the display of
the radio or displayed in the instrument
cluster.

Display mode

Ignition key in position 0 or removed:
Press button 1.
The time and display of the miles/kilome-

ters appear for a few seconds.

As of ignition key position 1, you can call
up information from the computer using the
button in the turn signal indicator lever. By
pressing the button briefly in the direction
of the steering column, you can call up a
new function for display.

The displays appear in the following order:
Time, outside temperature, average fuel
consumption, cruising range, average
speed.

As of ignition key position 1, the last active
setting is displayed.

If you desire, you can display the fol­lowing functions in a different unit.<

Outside temperature

Changing the unit of measure 7/6

During the display, hold down the button in
the turn indicator lever until the display
changes.

Ice warning

If the outside temperature falls below
approx. +37.57 /+36, the computer
switches automatically to the outside tem-

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

perature display. In addition, an acoustic

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

signal sounds and the display flashes for a
short time.

After an ice warning has been issued,

the display returns to the previous
setting. You can have this activated/deacti­vated.<

Please bear in mind that the ice warn-

ing does nothing to alter the fact that
glare ice may be present on roads at tem­peratures higher than +37.57/+36, for
instance, on bridges and shaded roads.<

Clock

Cruising range

The cruising range is determined on the
basis of the past driving style and the
present volume of fuel.

below 30 miles/50 kilometers, as other­wise engine functions are not ensured and
damage can occur.<

Average speed

If you press the button in the turn signal
indicator lever for a longer period, the cur­rently displayed average value for speed is
recalculated from that moment onwards.

Everything under control

12 or 24 hour mode

If your vehicle is equipped with a computer,
you can have the time displayed in the 12
or 24 hour mode.

During the display, hold down the com­puter button in the turn indicator lever until
the display changes.

Always refuel as soon as possible
once your cruising range falls to

Average fuel consumption

If you press the button in the turn signal
indicator lever for a longer period, the cur­rently displayed average value for fuel con­sumption is recalculated from that moment
onwards.

48

Technology for comfort, convenience

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

and safety

Park Distance Control PDC*

The concept

PDC provides extra safety and conven­ience during parking maneuvers. Signal
tones indicate the current distance to an
object behind or in front of your vehicle.
Four ultrasonic sensors in both the
bumpers monitor the distance to the near­est object.
The front and rear sensors on the corners
have a range of approx. 2 ft/60 cm. The
two rear middle sensors have a range of
approx. 5 ft/1.50 m and the two front mid­dle sensors of approx. 2.6 ft/80 cm.

PDC is a parking aid that can indicate

objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching objects too fast, other­wise the system may give warning of phys­ical obstacles too late.<

If you are driving with a trailer, the rear sen­sors are unable to make proper measure­ments – so they do not switch on.

Automatic mode

As of ignition key position 2, the system
automatically assumes operational status
after a few seconds each time you engage
reverse gear or selector-lever position R.

Wait this short period before park-

ing.<

You can have a signal tone pro-

grammed into the system to verify
that the PDC is active.<

Automatic deactivation

After driving a distance of more than
approx. 160 ft/50 m or exceeding a speed
of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h, the system
switches off and the indicator lamp goes
out. You can reactivate the system manu­ally as needed.

Manual mode

Press the button; the indicator lamp comes
on.

Manual deactivation

Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.

Signal tones

The distance to an object behind the vehi­cle is signaled in accordance with the posi­tion by an intermittent tone from a loud­speaker in the rear-end.
The distance to an object in front of the
vehicle is signaled by an intermittent tone
from a loudspeaker beneath the instrument
cluster.
As the distance between vehicle and object
decreases, the intervals between the tones
become shorter. The signal tone becomes
continuous once the distance to the near­est object falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.

The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds when the distance to an
object remains constant during this time,
if you are moving parallel to a wall, for
instance.

Malfunction

The indicator lamp flashes and a short
steady signal tone is sounded.

Switch the system off and have the cause
of the malfunction corrected by your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Limits of the system

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Even with PDC, final responsibility for

estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always
remains with the driver. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in which
objects cannot be detected. The system is
also subject to the physical limits that apply
to all forms of ultrasonic measurement,
such as those encountered with tow bars
and trailer couplings, or thin and wedge­shaped objects etc. Low objects already
displayed, e.g. a curb, can also disappear
from the detection area of the sensors
again before a continuous tone sounds.
Loud sources of sound, inside and outside
the vehicle, could drown out the PDC sig­nal tone.<

Keep the sensors clean and free of ice

or snow in order to ensure that they
will continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Keep the spray at least 4 in/10 cm away
from the sensors.<

Driving stability control
systems

Your BMW is equipped with an extended
array of systems designed to enhance and
maintain vehicle stability under extreme
conditions. The following section describes
these functions based on ABS, DSC, HDC
and xDrive.

Antilock Brake System ABS

ABS enhances active safety by preventing
the wheels from locking under braking. The
vehicle continues to be steerable during
hard braking.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety

ABS also includes Electronic brake-force
distribution EBV.
Safe braking, refer to page 77.

Electronic brake-force distribution
EBV

EBV controls the brake system's applica­tion pressure at the rear wheels to ensure
stable deceleration.

Dynamic Brake Control DBC

The Dynamic Brake Control actively sup­ports the driver in dangerous braking situa­tions. Quickly pumping the brake pedal
increases the braking effect with low pedal
pressure so that the shortest possible
braking distance is achieved. This system
exploits all of the benefits provided by ABS.

Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica­tion. DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.

Dynamic Stability Control DSC

The concept

DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.

The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine.

The system optimizes the driving stability
during acceleration and when starting from
a standstill. The system recognizes any
tendency for the vehicle to assume an
unstable attitude such as oversteer or
understeer; it then counteracts this ten­dency with a combination of graduated
reductions in engine torque and selective
braking intervention at individual wheels.
DSC provides optimal stability within the
limits defined by the laws of physics.

The laws of physics cannot be

repealed, even with DSC. An appro­priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unneces­sary risks.

Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Never allow anyone other than
authorized professional technicians to
carry out service or repairs on the system.<

50

Indicator lamp

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out soon after you start

the engine.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC is active and is regulating the drive
and braking forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off using the but­ton and the stabilizing interventions are no
longer available.

Switching off DSC

Press the button; the indicator lamp comes
on and stays on.
Stabilizing interventions of the chassis con­trol system DSC are no longer available.
However, the braking interventions that
simulate the function of the differential lock
continue to be active.

In the following exceptional circumstances,
it may be effective to switch off the DSC for
a short period:

> When rocking the vehicle and starting

off in deep snow or on loose road sur­faces

> On sandy road surfaces
> On poor surfaces with deep ruts
> If the wheels churn on muddy surfaces
> When driving with snow chains.

As a result of the braking interven-

tions, the brakes may be subjected to
additional loads when the system is
switched off. In order to limit the brake tem­perature, brief automatic masking of the
brake activation is possible.
To maintain vehicle stability, always drive

with the system switched on when possi­ble.<

Switching DSC on

Press the DSC button again; the indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
DSC is now activated.

xDrive

xDrive is the all-wheel drive system of your
BMW X3. The combined effects of xDrive
and DSC further optimize the traction and
dynamic driving characteristics. The all­wheel drive system xDrive variably distrib­utes the drive torque to the front and rear
axle depending on the driving situation and
prevailing road conditions.

Hill Descent Control HDC

The concept

HDC is a system for hill descent assistance
that reduces the speed on steep downward
inclines and makes it even easier to control
the driving characteristics of your BMW
under these conditions.
The vehicle moves at slightly more than
walking speed without active intervention
from the driver.

HDC is available for activation at vehicle
speeds below approx. 20 mph/35 km/h.
When driving down steep hills with a speed
below approx. 20 mph/35 km/h, the vehi­cle reduces speed automatically down to
slightly more than walking speed, approx.
5 mph/8 km/h, and then maintains this
speed at a constant.

You can use the accelerator or brakes to
vary this automatically controlled speed
within a range extending from approx.
3 mph/5 km/h to 15 mph/25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed within the
same range by using the +/– buttons of the
cruise control in the steering wheel.

HDC is automatically deactivated once
vehicle speed again exceeds approx.
35 mph/60 km/h.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Activating the system

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Press the button; the indicator lamp comes
on.

The indicator lamp flashes when the brakes
are applied automatically.

checked by the nearest BMW Sports Activ­ity Vehicle Center.

Proceed cautiously and defensively.

When driving on poor roads, refrain
from using full throttle and avoid pressing
the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
Otherwise the drive train may be damaged
or accidents can occur.<

If the brake warning lamp lights up yellow in
the described combination, the Electronic
brake-force distribution EBV is still avail­able.

Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.

Deactivating the system

Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.

Above approx. 35 mph/60 km/h HDC is
immediately deactivated, and when the
ignition is switched off after approx.
10 seconds.

Using HDC

On manual transmission vehicles:
Use HDC in first gear and in reverse gear,
as in the higher gears the engine braking
effect diminishes.

On automatic transmission vehicles:
You can use HDC in every drive position.

Malfunction

If the indicator lamp in the button goes out
in the HDC mode or fails to light up when
the button is pressed:
HDC is temporarily not available, as the
brake temperature is too high.

Malfunctions of the driving stability
control systems

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety

The red brake warning lamp lights
up together with the warning lamps
for ABS and DSC/xDrive. In addi­tion, a warning signal sounds:
ABS, DSC and xDrive have failed.
Drive may then only be carried out
via the rear axle. Please have it

defective. Have the system checked and
repaired at your BMW Sports Activity Vehi­cle Center as soon as possible.

has failed.
The stabilizing interventions of DSC or the
all-wheel drive system xDrive are no longer
available. Drive may then only be carried
out via the rear axle. Please have it
checked by the nearest BMW Sports Activ­ity Vehicle Center.

from using full throttle and avoid pressing
the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
Otherwise the drive train may be damaged
or accidents can occur.<

The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in yellow.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC is

Warning lamp for Canadian models.

The warning lamp lights up continu­ously and a warning signal sounds:
DSC or the xDrive all-wheel system

Proceed cautiously and defensively.

When driving on poor roads, refrain

The warning lamp lights up:
Malfunction in the driving stability
control systems. HDC is no longer

52

available. See your BMW Sports Activity

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Vehicle Center to have the system
repaired.

Flat Tire Monitor

The concept

The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in the four fitted tires as
you drive. The system provides an alert
whenever the inflation pressure drops sig­nificantly in relation to the pressure another
tire.

The check of the tire inflation pressure is
based on monitoring the relative speeds of
the wheels. A flat tire is detected and
reported on the basis of a deviation in cer­tain speed ratios.

Functional requirement

So that the Flat Tire Monitor can learn the
correct inflation pressure, please perform
the following:

1. Check the inflation pressures in all tires

2. Compare with the inflation pressure

table on page 87 and correct if neces­sary

3. Initialize the system.

Limits of the system

The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate

sudden severe tire damage caused
by outside factors and does not detect a
natural, even pressure drop in all four
tires.<

In the following situations, on the other
hand, there can be delays in detecting tire
pressure losses, and even system failure:

> When driving on snow-covered or slip-

pery road surfaces

> In the case of performance-oriented

driving: slip on the drive wheels, high
lateral acceleration

> False alarms and undetected loss of

pressure may occur when you are driv­ing with snow chains fitted

> When driving with a compact wheel, the

Flat Tire Monitor cannot operate.

Initializing the system

Perform the initialization immediately

every time you correct the inflation
pressure, change a tire or change a wheel
or all wheels. A drive is required for this
purpose.<

1. Before the start of driving, start the

engine, but do not drive off

2. Press the button until the yellow indica-

tor lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up for a few seconds

3. Drive off.

It takes a few minutes until the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect and indicated a flat tire.

Do not initialize the system when driv-

ing with snow chains or with a com­pact wheel.<

Flat tire

Indicator lamp

The symbol in the instrument clus­ter lights up in yellow.

1. Reduce speed and stop the vehicle

carefully. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers

2. Identify damaged tire

If identification is not possible,
contact your BMW Sports Activity

Vehicle Center.<

3. Replace the damaged tire, refer to

Changing a wheel on page 103.

53

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Brake force display

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The brake force display indicates the inten­sity with which you are applying your
brakes to drivers of following vehicles.

The display consists of two stages:

> Normal braking:

Brake lamp 1 lights up on both sides of
the vehicle together with the center
brake lamp

> Heavy braking and braking with ABS:

Brake lamps 1 and 2 light up on both
vehicle sides together with the center
brake lamp.

Airbags

The following airbags are located beneath
the marked covers:

1 Front airbags for driver and front pas-

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety

senger

2 Head airbags in front and rear
3 Side airbags in front and rear

*

Protective effect

The front airbags help protect the driver
and front passenger by responding to fron­tal impacts in which safety belts alone can-

not provide adequate restraint. When
needed, the head and side airbags help
provide protection in the event of side
impact. The relevant side airbag supports
the side upper body area. The relevant
head airbag supports the head and pro­vides protection against objects entering
the vehicle.

The airbags are deliberately not triggered
in every impact situation, e.g. less severe
accidents, certain roll-over situations or
rear-end collisions.

The rear seat side airbags may

already have been deactivated by a
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Labels in the rear door opening should indi­cate the status of your rear seat side air­bags. If you are uncertain of their status, or
wish to have the airbags activated or deac­tivated, please contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.<

For information on the correct sitting posi­tion, refer to page 27.

Do not apply adhesive materials to

the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag reten­tion system from the vehicle. Never modify
or tamper with either the wiring or the indi­vidual components in the airbag system.
This category includes the upholstery in the
center of the steering wheel, on the instru­ment cluster, the side trim panels on the
doors, and the roof pillars along with the
sides of the headliner. Do not attempt to
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig­gered, because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system mal­function, if you desire to have an airbag
deactivated, or if the airbag retention sys­tem is triggered in response to an accident,
you should always entrust all inspection,
repair and dismantling operations to your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the sys­tem could lead to failure in an emergency
or undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury.

54

To ensure compliance with official safety

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

regulations, please also entrust disposal of
airbag generators to a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.<

Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun visors.

Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags

Your BMW has a seat occupation detection
system. By evaluating the weight on the
front passenger's seat, the system detects
whether or not the seat is occupied by a
child in the child-restraint system or an
adult.

> When a child is seated in the child-

restraint system or with an empty seat,
the front and side airbags are deacti­vated on the passenger's side

> When an adult is traveling in the front

seat, the front and side airbags remain
active on the passenger side.

With heavier children, the front pas-

senger airbags can remain active, or
with very light adults or teenagers the front
passenger airbags can be deactivated
unintentionally.
The condition of the front passenger air­bags is indicated via the telltale lamp, refer
to Indicator lamps in the following. In this
case transport the corresponding persons
on the rear seat.
Except when persons to be transported, do
not increase the load on the front passen­ger seat with additional items. Do not fit
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the front passenger
seat unless they are specifically recom­mended by BMW. Do not place any items
under the seat. Otherwise, the function of
the seat occupation detection could be
impaired.<

Indicator/warning lamp

Airbag system operational

The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness
of the entire airbag system and the safety
belt tensioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few
seconds.

The telltale lamp above the interior rear­view mirror indicates whether the passen­ger airbag system is activated or deacti­vated as of ignition key position 1.

The telltale lamp refers exclusively to
the passenger airbag system.<

> The telltale lamp goes out after a few

seconds.
The front passenger airbags are active,
e.g. when transporting an adult

> The telltale lamp lights up continuously.

The front passenger airbags are deacti­vated, e.g. when a child is traveling in
the vehicle in the child-restraint system
or when the seat is empty.

For more information on the operating prin­ciple of the front passenger airbag system
and seat occupation detection, refer to
Automatic deactivation of the front passen­ger airbags.

55

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Airbag system malfunction

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

A system malfunction could prevent

the system from responding in the
expected manner to an impact occurring
within its normal response range.
Please have the airbag system checked
immediately by a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.<

There is a fault in the airbag system
if the airbag indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster behaves as fol-

lows:

> Indicator lamp does not light up as of

ignition key position 1

> Indicator lamp remains lit continuously
> Indicator lamp lights up while the vehi-

cle is being driven.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety

56

Lamps

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Parking lamps/low beams

Parking lamps

The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can use

the parking lamps for parking. For
lighting on one side for parking as an addi­tional feature, refer to page 58.

Low beams

When you switch on the ignition

with the headlamps on, the head-

lamps go out and only the parking
lamps remain on.

Lamp defective

The indicator lamp lights up:

At least one bulb of the exterior

lighting on the vehicle is defective.
Replacing the bulbs, refer to page 99.

Pathway lighting

When you activate the headlamp flasher
after parking the vehicle and switching off
the lamps, the low beams will come on for
a brief period.

You may also have this function deac­tivated if you wish.<

Lights on warning

If you turn the ignition key to position 0, an
acoustic signal sounds when you open the
driver's door for a few seconds to remind
you that the light has not yet been switched

.

off

Daytime driving lamps*

You can leave the light switch in the second
position: all external lamps go out when
you switch off the ignition.

Always observe all applicable laws govern­ing the use of daytime driving lamps.

You can switch on the parking lamps when
needed using the standard procedure
described under Parking lamps.

You can have the daytime driving
lamp circuit activated on your vehi-

cle.<

Automatic headlamp control*

When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates and

switches on and off the low beams
in response to changes in ambient light
conditions, for instance, in tunnels, at dawn
and dusk, and in rain and snow.

Following automatic activation the
vehicle's external lighting remains on

when you switch on the fog lamps.<

Automatic headlamp control cannot

serve as a substitute for the driver's
judgment in determining when the vehicle
lamps should be switched on. For example,
the system cannot detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on
the lamps manually under these condi­tions.<

You can have the sensitivity of the

headlamp control adjusted.<

Adaptive Head Light*

The concept

Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumi­nation of the road surface. Depending on
the steering angle and other assumptions,
the light from the headlamp follows the
course of the road.

57

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Activating the Adaptive Head Light

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

In ignition key position 2, turn the
light switch to the position 'Auto­matic headlamp control'.

Lamps

When the vehicle is backing up, the

Adaptive Head Light is inactive; when
the vehicle is at a standstill, it is only active
in one direction.<

Malfunction

The LED above the symbol for automatic
headlamp control flashes. Please have it
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.

Instrument lighting

Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina­tion intensity.

Standing lamps, left or right*

You also enjoy the option of lighting up just
one side of your vehicle when parking.
When using this function, comply with
national regulations:

In ignition key position 0 or with ignition key
removed:
Allow the lever to engage in the corre­sponding turn signal indicator position.

Fog lamps*

A green indicator lamp appears in
the instrument cluster to indicate
that the front fog lamps are on.

If the automatic headlamp control is

activated, the low beams will come on
automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.<

High beams/standing lamps

1 High beams – blue indicator lamp
2 Headlamp flasher – blue indicator lamp
3 Standing lamps

58

Interior lamps

The interior lamps operate automatically.

If you desire, the interior lamps are

switched on after mechanical unlock­ing of the vehicle. You may have this func­tion activated/deactivated if you wish.<

Switching the interior lamps on and

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

off

Briefly press button 1.
If you want the interior lamps to remain off

all the time, press and hold the button for
approx. 3 seconds.

Press the button briefly to revert to normal
operation.

You can have soft dimming of the
interior lamps set.<

Front reading lamps*

Switch on and off with the buttons 2.

Rear reading lamps*

Switch on and off with the button.

59

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

A congenial climate

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Air conditioner

A congenial climate

1 Airflow directed toward the windshield

and side windows

2 Airflow for the upper body 61
3 Front footwell ventilation 61
4 Air supply/blower 61

60

5 Outside air/recirculated-air mode 61
6 Temperature 61
7 Air distribution 61
8 Rear window defroster 61
9 Air conditioner 61

Air supply/blower

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

You can select blower speeds 1
to 4. The heating and ventilation
become more and more effec­tive as the air supply settings

are increased. In position 0, the
blower and heater are switched off. The air
supply is blocked in position 0.

Temperature

To increase the temperature of

the interior, turn to the right.

Air distribution

You can direct air to flow onto

the windows , toward the

upper body and into the

footwell . All intermediate

settings are possible. In the

setting, there is a low flow of air onto the
windows to keep them free of condensa­tion.

Rear window defroster

When the rear window
defroster is activated,

the indicator lamp comes on.
The rear window defroster switches off
automatically.

You can have your vehicle pro-

grammed in such a way that the rear
window defroster switches on automati­cally. It is then switched on at outside tem­peratures of less than approx. +46/397
within 5 minutes of the engine start.<

Air conditioning

The air is cooled and dehumidi­fied and — depending on the

temperature setting — warmed
again. Depending on the weather, the
windshield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. You can reduce conden­sation forming on the windows by switch­ing on the air conditioning.

During air conditioning condensation
forms, which then exits under the

vehicle. Traces of condensed water of this
kind are thus normal.<

Outside air/recirculated-air mode

You can respond to unpleasant
odors outside the vehicle by

temporarily switching off the
outside air supply. The system then recir­culates the air currently within the vehicle.

If condensation starts to form on the

inside window surfaces during opera­tion in the recirculated-air mode, you
should switch it off while also increasing air
supply as required. The recirculated-air
mode should not be used over a sustained
longer period of time, as the air quality
inside the vehicle deteriorates.<

Ventilation

The air vents for the upper body area can
be adjusted:

1 Serrated dials 1 for steplessly opening

and closing the air vents

2 Selector levers for airflow direction
3 Use the serrated dial 3 to adjust the

amount of cool air that is added to the
airflow emerging from the vent outlets
for the upper body

Ventilation for cooling

Adjust the vents to direct the flow of cool
air in your direction, for instance, if the inte­rior has become too warm, etc.

Draft-free ventilation

Set the vent outlets so that the air flows
past you and is not directed straight at you.

61

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Microfilter

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

The built-in microfilter removes dust and
pollen from the incoming outside air. it is
replaced when maintenance is performed
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen­ter. A substantial reduction in air supply
indicates that the filter must be replaced
before normal maintenance.

Defrosting windows and removing
condensation

A congenial climate

1 Fan blower rotary switch for air supply

at setting 4

2 Turn the rotary temperature switch as

far to the right as it will go

3 Rotary switch for air distribution in posi-

tion

4 Switch on the rear window defroster to

defrost the rear window

62

Automatic climate control*

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

1 Airflow directed toward the windshield

and side windows

2 Airflow for the upper body 65
3 Air to footwell 65
4 Individual air distribution 64
5 Temperature 64
6 Display for temperature 64

and air supply 64

7 Air supply/blower 64

8 Defrosting windshield and windows

and removing condensation 64

9 Rear window defroster 65
10 Air conditioner 64
11 Outside air/AUC Automatic recircu-

lated-air control/Recirculated-air
mode 64

12 Automatic air distribution and

supply 64

63

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

A congenial climate

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Use the automatic facility by operating the
AUTO button 12. Select an interior tem­perature that is comfortable for you.

Detailed setting options are described for
you in the following section.

Your vehicle has been designed to

automatically select your personal cli­mate-control settings whenever you unlock
the doors using your individually pro­grammed remote control.<

If you want, you can have this function

deactivated.<

Automatic air distribution and supply

A congenial climate

preselected temperature setting as the
basis for adjusting the interior climate to
adapt to external influences – summer, win­ter.

The AUTO program adjusts the
airflow and distribution patterns
for you while also using your

Air supply/blower

You can vary the air supply by
pressing the upper or lower
button. This switches off the
automatic program for the air

supply, and the word AUTO
goes out in the display. The automatic
mode for air distribution remains in opera­tion as before. You can reactivate the auto­matic air supply mode by selecting the
AUTO button.

If you press the lower button when at the
lowest blower speed, all displays go out:
the blower, heating and air conditioner are
switched off. The outside air supply is
closed. You can restart the automatic cli­mate control by pressing any of its buttons.

Defrosting windows and removing
condensation

This program quickly removes

ice and condensation from the

windshield and door windows.

Individual air distribution

You can cancel the AUTO pro­gram by selecting specific air
distribution patterns for your
personal comfort, the auto­matic air supply remains in

operation. You can direct air to
flow onto the windows , toward the
upper body , and into the footwell .
You can reactivate the automatic air distri­bution mode by selecting the AUTO button.

Temperature

The figures in the display pro-

vide a general indication of inte-

rior temperature. When you

start the vehicle, this system

ensures that the selected tem-

perature is achieved as quickly
as possible. It then maintains this tempera­ture, regardless of the season.

Air conditioner

The air is cooled and dehumid­ified and — depending on the

temperature setting — warmed
again. Depending on the weather, the
windshield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. The window mist is
reduced during A/C operation.

The air conditioner comes on automatically
when you select the AUTO program.

During air conditioning condensation

forms, which then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water of this
kind are thus normal.<

Outside air/AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control/
Recirculated-air mode

You can respond to unpleasant
odors or pollutants in the imme-

diate environment by tempo­rarily suspending the supply of outside air.
The system then recirculates the air cur­rently within the vehicle. Press the button

64

repeatedly to run through the following

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

control sequence:

> Indicator lamps off: outside air flows

into the vehicle

> Left-hand indicator lamp on – AUC

mode: the system recognizes pollutants
in the outside air and blocks the flow of
air when necessary. The system then
recirculates the air currently within the
vehicle.
Depending on the air quality, the auto­matic system then switches back and
forth between outside air supply and
recirculation of the air within the vehicle

> Right-hand indicator lamp on: the out-

side air supply into the vehicle is com­pletely blocked. The system then recir­culates the air currently within the
vehicle.

If condensation starts to form on the

inside window surfaces during opera­tion in the recirculated-air mode, you
should switch it off while also increasing air
supply as required. The recirculated-air
mode should not be used over a sustained
longer period of time, as the air quality
inside the vehicle deteriorates.<

Rear window defroster

When the rear window
defroster is activated,

the indicator lamp comes on.
The rear window defroster switches off
automatically.

You can have your vehicle adjusted in

such a way that the rear window
defroster switches on automatically. It is
then switched on at outside temperatures
of less than approx. +46/397within
5 minutes of the engine start.<

Ventilation

The air vents for the upper body area can
be adjusted:

1 Serrated dials for opening and closing

the vent outlets through an infinitely­variable range

2 Selector levers for airflow direction
3 Use the serrated dial 3 to adjust the

amount of cool air that is added to the
airflow emerging from the vent outlets
for the upper body

Ventilation for cooling

Adjust the vents to direct the flow of cool
air in your direction, for instance, if the inte­rior has become too warm, etc.

Draft-free ventilation

Set the vent outlets so that the air flows
past you and is not directed straight at you.

Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter*

The built-in microfilter removes dust and
pollen from the incoming air. The activated­charcoal filter provides additional protec­tion by filtering gaseous pollutants from the
outside air. This combined filter is replaced
when maintenance is performed by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. A
substantial reduction in air supply indicates
that the filter must be replaced before nor­mal maintenance.

65

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Practical interior accessories

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Integrated universal remote control*

The concept

The integrated universal remote control
replaces up to three different hand-held
transmitters for various items of radio-con­trolled equipment such as door openers
and house alarm systems. The integrated
universal remote control recognizes and
learns the transmitted signal of each of the
original hand-held transmitters.

The signal of an original hand-held trans­mitter can be programmed on one of the
three memory buttons 1. Following that,
each of the devices can be actuated with
the appropriately programmed memory
button 1. The indicator lamp 2 flashes to
confirm transmission of the signal.

If the vehicle is sold, the memory of the
memory buttons 1 should be cleared, refer

Practical interior accessories

to page 67.

To prevent possible damage or injury,

before programming or using the inte­grated universal remote control, always
inspect the immediate area to make certain
that no people, animals or objects are
within the travel range of the device. Also,
comply with the safety precautions of the
original hand-held transmitter.<

Checking the compatibility

If you see this symbol on the pack­aging or in the manual supplied with

the original hand-held transmitter, it
is safe to assume that it is compatible with
the integrated universal remote control.

If you have additional questions,

please consult your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center or call
1-800-355-3515.
You can also visit these websites:
www.bmwusa.com or
www.homelink.com.

HomeLink is a registered trademark owned
by Johnson Controls, Inc.<

Programming

1 Memory buttons
2 Indicator lamp

Fixed-code hand-held transmitter

1. Turn the ignition key to position 2

2. For initial use:

Press both outer buttons 1 for approx.
20 seconds, maintaining pressure until
the indicator lamp 2 starts to flash. The
three memory buttons 1 are cleared

3. Hold the original hand-held transmitter

at a distance of approx. 2 in/5 cm to
8 in/20 cm to the memory buttons 1

The required distance between

the hand-held transmitter and
memory keys 1 depends on the relevant
system of the original hand-held trans­mitter used.<

4. Simultaneously press the transmit but-

ton on the original hand-held transmit­ter and the desired memory key 1 of the
integrated universal remote control. Ini­tially, the indicator lamp 2 flashes
slowly. Release both buttons as soon
as the indicator 2 lamp flashes rapidly. If
the indicator lamp 2 does not flash rap­idly after approx. 15 seconds, change
the distance

5. To program other original hand-held

transmitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.

66

The corresponding memory button 1 is now

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

programmed with the signal of the original
hand-held transmitter.

The equipment can be used as of ignition
key position 2.

If the device cannot be operated after

repeated programming, check
whether the original hand-held transmitter
uses an alternating-code system. To do so,
either read the instructions of the original
hand-held transmitter or press and hold
down the programmed memory button 1 of
the integrated universal remote control. If
the indicator lamp 2 on the integrated uni­versal remote control flashes rapidly for a
short time then lights up for approx. 2 sec­onds, this indicates that the original hand­held transmitter uses an alternating-code
system. In the case of an alternating-code
system, program the memory buttons 1 as
described at the section on alternating­code transmitters.<

Alternating-code transmitters

Consult the operating instructions of the
unit you wish to set when programming the
universal remote control. You will find infor­mation there on the possibilities for syn­chronization.
When programming hand-held transmitters
that employ an alternating code, please
observe the following supplementary
instructions:

Programming will be easier with the

aid of a second person.<

1. Park your vehicle within the range of the

remote-controlled device

2. Program the integrated universal

remote control as described above at
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters

3. Locate the button at the receiver of the

equipment to be set, e.g. on the drive

4. Press the button on the receiver of the

device you want to set up. After step 4,
you have approx. 30 seconds for step 5

5. Press the programmed memory

button 1 of the integrated universal
remote control three times.

The corresponding memory button 1 is now
programmed with the signal of the original
hand-held transmitter.

If you have questions, please contact
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle

Center.<

Clearing the memory buttons

Press both outer buttons 1 of the inte­grated universal remote control for approx.
20 seconds, maintaining pressure until the
indicator lamp 2 starts to flash. All three
memory buttons are cleared.

The memory of individual memory
buttons 1 cannot be cleared.

Beverage holders

Front

Depending on your optional equipment, the
center console contains either one or two
beverage holders.

Passenger's side*

The beverage holder for the front passen­ger is located beneath the air/heating vent.

67

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

1. Press the trim piece below the air/heat-

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

ing vent, arrow 1

2. Insert beverage

3. Adapt the holding arm to the size of the

beverage container, refer to arrow 2.

If you only hand over the spare key,

e.g. in a hotel for valet parking, refer
to page 18, the glove compartment cannot
be accessed.<

Rear

Storage compartments

Front center armrest*

A beverage holder is located in the center
armrest at the rear:
Press the button to open.

Glove compartment

Opening

Practical interior accessories

The center armrest contains two storage
compartments.

> CD storage compartment:

Press button 1

> Coin and oddments compartment:

Press button 2.

Rear center armrest

Pull the handle. The lamp inside the glove
compartment comes on.

Closing

Fold the cover up.

To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, close the glove compart-

ment immediately after use.<

Locking

Use one of the master keys. A master key is
also required for unlocking.

68

A storage compartment holder is located in
the center armrest at the rear:

To open, pull the cover upward.

Storage package*

Your convenience is enhanced by:

> Sliding lashing eyes in luggage com-

partment, refer to page 73

> Floor cover in luggage compartment

that can be used on both sides, refer to
page 72

> Nets in the luggage compartment and

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

on the rear of the front seats.

Front ashtray*

Press the edge of the opened cover:
The ashtray moves up and can be
removed.

On vehicles with the non-smoking pack­age, the insert is removed in the same way.

Cigarette lighter, front*

Press the lighter 1 in.
The lighter can be removed as soon as it
retracts.

Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter

by the knob only. Holding or touching
it in other areas could result in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains operational
when the ignition key has been removed.
For this reason, do not leave unsupervised
children in the vehicle.<

Lighter socket

The socket can be used to plug in hand
flashlights, car vacuum cleaners, etc., with
power ratings of up to approx. 200 W at
12 V. Avoid damage to the socket caused
by inserting plugs of a different shape or
size.

Non-smoking package

On vehicles with the non-smoking pack­age, the socket is located in the same
position.
Access to the socket: lift off cap.

Sockets

You will find additional power outlets in the
cargo area, refer to page 73.

Ashtray, rear*

Remove the insert tray.

Cigarette lighter, rear*

Depending on your optional equipment, the
lighter can be located on the top or end
face of the center console.

Press the lighter in.
The lighter can be removed as soon as it
retracts.

Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter

by the knob only. Holding or touching
it in other areas could result in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains operational
when the ignition key has been removed.
For this reason, do not leave unsupervised
children in the vehicle.<

69

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Car phone preparation*

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Hands-free system

On vehicles with car phone preparation*
the hands-free microphone is located on
the headliner near the interior lamp.

For more information on the car phone,
refer to Owner's Manual for Telephone.

Ski bag*

The ski bag allows the safe and clean
transport of up to four pairs of standard skis
or up to two snowboards.

Practical interior accessories

The ski bag itself plus the additional capac­ity provided by the luggage compartment
make it possible to transport skis with a
length of up to 2.10 m. When skis of 2.10 m
in length are loaded the ski bag will tend to
contract, reducing its overall capacity.

also opens the cover in the luggage
compartment

3. Extend the ski bag between the front

seats. The zipper allows more conve­nient access to stored objects and can
also be left open to allow the ski bag to
dry

4. Insert the belt tongue of the ski bag belt

in the center safety belt buckle.

Please ensure that the skis are clean before
loading them into the bag. Take care to
avoid damage from sharp edges.

Securing the load

Loading

1. Pull down the center armrest, press the

button and take out the cover

2. Press the button again; the cover in the

luggage compartment opens. If you
press the button firmly the first time, this

70

Secure the bag's contents by tightening
down the strap at the buckle.

Secure the ski bag in this way. If you

fail to do so, it could move around and
endanger occupants during braking or eva­sive maneuvers.<

To store the ski bag, perform the above
steps in reverse order.

Removing the ski bag

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Cargo area cover

Pull the handle forward and remove the ski
bag upward.

Do not position cargo at the opening.

If you do, it can endanger the passen­gers during braking or evasive maneu­vers.<

Cargo area

When loading, observe the information on
page 78.

Folding rear seat back

Reach into the opening and pull forward,
refer to arrow.

When you fold back the backrest, be

sure that the catch engages securely.
The red warning indicator disappears in the
recess when the catch is engaged.<

Pull the cargo area cover out by the handle
and hook it in the rear holders.

You can carry light objects such as articles
of clothing on the cargo area cover.

Do not place heavy and hard objects

on the cover. If you do so, they could
endanger occupants during braking
maneuvers. Do not allow the cover to snap
back into place, as otherwise it could be
damaged.<

Removal

1. Press the side buttons, refer to arrow 1

2. Pull the cassette towards the rear, refer

to arrow 2.

Installation

Push the cassette forward into the two side
holders until it locks in place.

Ski bag*

To create a flat load area floor, you can
remove the ski bag before folding the rear
seat back and replace it with a cover. You
will find the cover in the cargo area under
the floor cover.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Loading cargo with the rear seat

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Behind the side trim panel

back folded down

Press the button to open.
Holders for the cassette are fitted to the
backs of the rear seat backs, refer to
arrow 1.

Guide in the cassette from the right side
until it locks in place, refer to arrow 2. Here,
the cargo area cover must always point in
the direction of travel and the loop of the
partition net must point upward.

You can pull out the partition net and insert
it in the holders in the roof area above.

Floor cover

Opening

Partition net*

Practical interior accessories

For access to the compact wheel etc.

To open, raise the cover by the handle,

refer to arrow.

If required, you can remove or raise the

floor cover.

Pull the partition net by the loop from the
cassette; hold the bar on both sides and
insert in the holder.

Do not allow the partition net to snap

back into place, as otherwise there is
a danger of injury and the partition net
could be damaged.<

72

Raising

Swing up the floor cover and hook it onto
the handle of the cargo area cover with its
catch.

Lashing eyes, rail*

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You can secure load-securing devices to
the lashing eyes on the cargo area floor.

To shift the lashing eyes, press the button.
The lashing eyes can be removed at the
openings in the rails.

Read and comply with the information
enclosed with the load-securing

devices.<

Sockets

When the cover is folded up, you have
access to another socket.

The sockets can be used to plug in hand
flashlights, car vacuum cleaners, etc., with
power ratings of up to approx. 200 W at
12 V. Do not damage the socket with
unsuitable plugs, also refer to page 69.

73

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Driving tips

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

This section is designed to provide you

with extra support by supplying information

useful in dealing with specific driving and

operating conditions.

Things to remember when driving

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Break-in procedures

To ensure that your vehicle provides maxi­mum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you observe the fol­lowing instructions:

Engine and differential

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
During this initial period you should attempt
to avoid constant, steady-state operation
and vary both vehicle and engine speeds
as often as possible. Until the break-in
period has been completed you should
also refrain from exceeding the following:

> 4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h.

Always obey all official speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid

pressing the accelerator beyond the kick­down point.

Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine and vehicle speeds
can be gradually increased.

You should also comply with these break-in

Things to remember when driving

procedures should the engine or one of the
differentials be replaced later in the course
of the vehicle's service life.

Brake system

Approx. 300 miles/500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors achieve
the optimal pad-surface and wear patterns
required for trouble-free operation and
long service life later on.

To break in the separate handbrake drums,
apply the handbrake lightly when coasting
to a standstill – at a traffic signal, for
instance; use caution to avoid posing a
danger to other road users.

To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure
from time to time.

The brake lamps do not come on when the
handbrake is set.

Vacuum for the brake system servo

unit on your BMW is available only
when the engine is running. When you
move the vehicle with the engine off – e.g.
by towing – substantially higher levels of
pedal force will be required to brake the
vehicle.<

Clutch

The function of the clutch is also only at its
optimized level after a distance driven of
approx. 300 miles/500 km. During this
break-in period, engage the clutch gently.

Tires

Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. For this reason, drive with
extra care during the initial 200 miles/
300 km.

Obey your local and state maximum speed
limits.

When the vehicle is operated on wet

or slushy roads, a wedge of water
may form between the tire and the road
surface. This phenomenon is referred to as
hydroplaning and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<

General driving notes

High temperatures

Extreme temperatures occur at the

catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari­ous sections of the exhaust system, and
never apply undercoating to them. When
driving, standing at idle and while parking
take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead

76

to a fire, and with it the risk of serious prop-

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

erty damage as well as personal injury.<

Parking the vehicle

Condensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water under the vehicle are thus normal.

Before driving into the car wash

Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to
page 31, as otherwise they could be dam-
aged due to the width of the vehicle.
Deactivate the rain sensor as otherwise
damage could result from undesired wiper
activation, refer to page 42.

Hydroplaning

When driving on wet or slushy roads,

reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires and
road surface. This phenomenon is referred
to as hydroplaning, and is characterized by
a partial or complete loss of contact
between tires and road surface, ultimately
undermining your ability to steer and brake
the vehicle.<

Driving through water

Do not drive through water on the

road if it is deeper than 20 in/50 cm,
and then only at walking speed. Otherwise,
the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems
and the transmission may be damaged.<

Safe braking

Emergency stops

The best way to brake is to apply maximum
pressure to the brake pedal during emer­gency – panic stops. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you
can nevertheless avoid possible obstacles
with a minimum of steering effort.

Pulsation at the brake pedal combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits indicates
to the driver that ABS is in its active mode.

Do not drive with your foot resting on

the brake pedal. Otherwise, even light
but consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possi­bly even brake failure.<

Wet conditions

While driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles. Watch traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat which is gener­ated by the brake applications helps to dry
the brake pads and rotors. The required
braking force will then be available when
you need it.

On a grade

You can retain full and unimpaired braking
efficiency by downshifting to a gear in
which only minimal brake applications are
needed when descending long or steep
downhill stretches.

You can further enhance the engine's brak­ing effect by selecting a lower gear in the
automatic transmission's manual mode,
downshifting as far as first gear on
extremely steep stretches, refer to
page 38. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake sys­tem.
During slower downhill driving, use the Hill
Descent Control HDC, refer to page 51.

Never drive with the clutch pressed,

with the transmission in Neutral or
with the engine switched off, as otherwise
there is no engine braking when the trans­mission is in Neutral, and no power-assist
for brakes and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct
their movement.<

Corrosion

When the vehicle is driven only occasion­ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

less frequent, there is an increased ten-

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

dency for corrosion to form on rotors, while
contaminants accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal
pressure which must be exerted by the
pads during brake applications to clean the
rotors is not reached.

Should corrosion form on the brake rotors,
the brakes will tend to respond with a pul­sating effect that even extended applica­tion will fail to cure.

Cargo loading

To avoid loading the tires beyond

their approved carrying capacity,
never overload the vehicle. Overloading
can lead to overheating and increases the
rate at which damage develops inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume the
form of a sudden air loss.<

Determining the load limit

4. The resulting figure equals the available

amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs and there will be five 150-lbs
passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs:
1,400 lbs minus 750 lbs = 650 lbs

5. Determine the combined weight of lug-

gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight should never
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4

6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,

part of the load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult the
manual for transporting a trailer to
determine how this may reduce the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.

Load

The permitted load is the total of the weight
of occupants and cargo/luggage. The
greater the weight of occupants, the less
cargo/luggage can be transported.

Things to remember when driving

1. Locate the following statement on the

driver's door pillar:

The combined weight of occu-

pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX lbs or YYY kg. Failure to
observe this can compromise your
vehicle's driving stability and cause
vehicle damage.<

2. Determine the combined weight of the

driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle

3. Subtract the combined weight of the

driver and passengers from XXX
pounds or YYY kilograms

78

Stowing cargo

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

> Load heavy cargo as far forward and as

low as possible, placing it directly
behind the bulkhead behind the rear
seats

> Cover sharp edges and corners
> Pull out the partition net, refer to

page 72, making sure that objects can-
not penetrate the partition net

> For very heavy cargo when the rear seat

is not occupied, secure each safety belt
in the opposite buckle.

Cargo, securing

> Use the luggage net* to hold down

small and lightweight luggage and
cargo, refer to page 72

> For larger and heavier pieces, load

securing equipment
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen­ter. Lashing eyes for attaching these
heavy-duty straps have been provided
in your vehicle's luggage compartment,
refer to page 73

> Read and comply with the information

enclosed with the load-securing
devices.

* is available from

Always position and secure the load

correctly. If you do not, it can even
endanger the passengers during braking or
evasive maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross
vehicle weight or either of the approved
axle loads, refer to page 116, as excessive
loads can pose a safety hazard, and may
also place you in violation of freeway safety
laws.
You should never transport heavy or hard
objects unsecured in the passenger com­partment, as they could fly around and
pose a safety hazard to the vehicle's occu­pants even during abrupt braking or eva­sive maneuvers.<

Roof-mounted luggage rack*

Because roof racks raise the vehicle's cen­ter of gravity when loaded, they have a
major effect on its handling and steering
response.
You should therefore always remember not
to exceed the approved roof weight, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle
loads when loading the rack.

You can find the specified weights in the
Technical data section on page 116.

Make sure that the load is not too heavy,
and that it does not extend outward to
beyond the limits of the loading surface.
Always load the heaviest pieces first – on
the bottom. Be sure that adequate clear­ance is maintained for raising the glass
roof, and that objects do not project into
the opening path of the tailgate.

Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or being
lost during the trip.

Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners gen­tly.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Driving on bad roads

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Your BMW X3 is at home on all paved and
unpaved roads. It combines all-wheel drive
with the advantages of a normal passenger
car.

Driving on unpaved terrain can cause
damage to the vehicle.<

When you are driving on bad roads, there
are a few points which you should strictly
observe — for your own safety, for that of
your passengers, and for the safety of the
vehicle:

> Familiarize yourself with the vehicle

before you begin driving. Do not take
risks with the vehicle under any circum­stances

> Always adapt the driving speed to the

road conditions. The more steep and
uneven the roadway is, the lower the
speed should be

> You can operate your vehicle on uphill

and downhill gradients with a maximum
slope of 50%. If you wish to drive on
uphill and downhill grades of this
nature, make sure beforehand that the
engine oil and coolant levels are near
the max mark, refer to pages 94 and 96

Things to remember when driving

> For very steep downhill driving, use Hill

Descent Control HDC, refer to page 51.
Driving off is possible on upward
inclines of up to 33%.
The permitted side inclination is 50%

> While driving, watch carefully for obsta-

cles such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid
these obstacles whenever possible

> Avoid that the body makes contact with

the ground, e.g. on the crests of hills
and bumpy roads

> Do not drive in water that is deeper than

20 in/50 cm. If you must drive through
water up to that depth, drive at a walk­ing speed and do not stop.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake appli­cations will help to dry the brakes, thus
preventing a reduction in braking per­formance caused by the moisture.

For cleaning the handbrake, apply the
lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/40 km/
h and continue to drive for approx. 200
yards/200 meters, provided that traffic
conditions allow you to do so.

Please bear the following points in mind
after driving on poor roads, in order to pre­serve the road safety of your BMW:

> Clean the heavy dirt from the body
> Clean mud, snow, ice and other materi-

als from the wheels and tires. Check the
tires for damage.

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81

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Mobility

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

This section helps you maintain your

mobility by supplying important information

on vital topics including fuels and

lubricants, wheels and tires, service,

maintenance and how to deal with any

problems that may occur.

Refueling

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Fuel filler door

Refueling

To open and close: press the rear edge of
the fuel filler door.

Manual release

In the event of an electrical defect in the
system, you can release the fuel filler door
manually:

1. Open the cover flap in the luggage

compartment on the right-hand side
panel, refer to page 72

2. Pull the green button.

When handling fuels always observe
any safety guidelines posted at the

service station.<

Simple and environmentally friendly

Put the filler cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler door.

When handling fuels, comply with all
of the applicable safety precautions

posted at the service station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-

pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the filler
nozzle during refueling

> results in premature pump shutoff
> can lead to reduced efficiency in the

fuel-vapor recovery system.

The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle
clicks off the first time.

To close the fuel filler cap

Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you
clearly hear a click – bayonet fitting.

Close the filler cap carefully after refu-

eling, until a click is heard. While clos­ing, be sure not to squeeze the strap which
is fastened to the cap. A loose or missing
cap will activate the Check Gas Cap
lamp.<

Check Gas Cap
This indicator lamp comes on when

the fuel filler cap is loose or missing.
Close the fuel filler cap tightly as described
above.

84

Fuel tank capacity

> approx. 17.7 gallons/67 liters, of which
> approx. 2 gallons/8 liters are reserve.

Never attempt to continue driving

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

until the tank is completely empty, as
engine functions could be affected, and the
vehicle could sustain damage as a result.<

Fuel specifications

The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.
Required fuel:
Premium Unleaded Gasoline,

minimum 91 AKI
AKI = Anti Knock Index.

Do not use leaded fuels. The use of

leaded fuels will cause permanent
damage to the system's oxygen sensor and
the catalytic converter.<

85

Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Wheels and tires

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Tire inflation pressure

Information for your safety

It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – to a great extent
– driving safety that depend on the condi­tion of the tires and the maintenance of the
specified tire pressure.

Check the tire inflation pressure regu-

Wheels and tires

larly and correct it if necessary,
including compact wheel: at least every
two weeks and before beginning a longer
trip. If you fail to observe this precaution
you may be driving on tires with incorrect
tire pressures, a condition that cannot only
compromise your vehicle's driving stability,
but also lead to tire damage and the risk of
an accident.
Do not drive with a depressurized, i.e. flat
tire. A flat tire will seriously impair your
vehicle's handling and braking response.
Attempts to drive on a flat tire can lead to
loss of control over the vehicle.<

Checking the pressure

Only check tire inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. That means after a maximum
of 1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the
vehicle has been parked for at least 2
hours. When tires are warm, the tire infla­tion pressure increases.

After correcting the inflation pressure(s),
always reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page 53.

Checking inflation pressure

The inflation pressures for your standard
tires can be seen on the door pillar when
you open the driver's door.

After correcting the inflation pres­sure(s), always reinitialize the Flat Tire

Monitor, refer to page 53.<

Inflation pressure for other tire sizes

The table below provides all the correct
inflation pressures for the specified tire
sizes at ambient temperature.

For correct identification of the right

tire inflation pressure for your tires,
observe the specifications for the corre­sponding tire size.<

86

X3 2.5i/3.0i

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa

All pressure specifications in the
table are indicated in psi / kilopas­cal with cold tires – cold = ambient
temperature

215/60 R 17 96 H M+S

32/220 35/240 35/240 41/280
215/60 R 17 96 Q, T, H M+S
235/50 R 18 97 H M+S
235/50 R 18 97 V

235/55 R 17 99 H M+S

29/200 32/220 32/220 38/260
235/55 R 17 99 Q, T, H M+S

Front: 235/50 R 18 97 V
Rear: 255/45 R 18 99 V

Front: 235/45 R 19 95W
Rear: 255/40 R 19 96W

Compact wheel
T 135/90 R 17 104 M

32/220

–

32/220

–

–

32/220

–

35/240

35/240

–

35/240

–

61/420

More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page 116.

–

38/260

–

41/280

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Tire identification marks

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Knowledge of the labeling on the side of
the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.

Tire size

e.g.
Nominal width

in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Radial type
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating

Wheels and tires

(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)

Speed code letter

T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h

Tire Identification Number

Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transport.

DOT code:

e.g.
Manufacturer code

for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire age

Tire age

The tire's date of manufacture is indicated
on the sidewall:
DOT ... 3603 indicates that a tire was man­ufactured in week 36 of the year 2003.

BMW recommends that you replace all
tires after 6 years at the latest, indepen­dently of the fact that tires can reach an age
of 10 years.

205/60 R 1591W

DOT xxxx xxx 3603

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

Quality grades can be found where appli­cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width.
For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A

DOT Quality Grades

Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C

All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in

addition to these grades.<

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative rat­ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 g) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.

Traction

The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern­ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.

The traction grade assigned to this

tire is based on straight-ahead brak­ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.<

Temperature

The temperature grades are A – the
highest – B, and C, representing the tire's

88

resistance to the generation of heat and its

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre­sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.

The temperature grade for this tire is

established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load­ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<

M+S

Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.

Tire condition

Inspect your tires frequently for treadwear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread pat­tern depth.

Tire tread

The tread depth should not drop below

0.12 in/3 mm, although, for example, Euro­pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below 0.12 in/3 mm, there is an
increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,
even when only small amounts of water are
present on the road surface.
As winter tires display a noticeable loss in
their ability to cope with cold-weather driv­ing conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in/4 mm, to ensure continued

safety you should always have such tires
replaced.

Wear indicators at the tread-groove base,
refer to arrow, are distributed over the tire's
circumference and are marked on the tire
sidewall with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator.
At a tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm these
indicators, signal that the tires have
reached the legally permissible wear limit.

Tire damage

Unusual vibrations encountered dur-

ing normal vehicle operation can indi­cate tire failure or some other vehicle
defect. This can, for example, be caused by
driving over curbs. These kinds of prob­lems may also be signaled by other
changes in vehicle response, such as a
strong tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed. Proceed carefully to
the nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or professional tire center, or have
the vehicle towed in to have it, its wheels
and tires inspected.

Tire damage, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and
other road users alike.<

Replacing wheels/tires

Unprofessional attempts by laymen to

service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled pro­fessionals only. All BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Centers will be happy to help you

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

with specialized knowledge and corre-

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sponding equipment.<
The correct wheel and tire combination

affects various systems whose function
would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS,
DSC or xDrive.

Have the wheel and tire assemblies bal­anced every time either a wheel or a tire is
replaced.

BMW does not recommend the use of

retreaded tires, as otherwise driving
safety may be reduced. Possible variations
in the design and the age – which could be
substantial – of the carcasses can lead to

Wheels and tires

unusually rapid wear.<

The right wheels and tires

BMW recommends that you use only

wheel and tire combinations that
BMW has tested and approved for your
particular vehicle. Variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units – these
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents. If non­approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there­fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<

To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
After a flat tire, always remember to have
the specified wheel and tire combination
remounted on the vehicle as soon as pos­sible.

Recommended tire brands

BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. You can obtain a list of
these from your BMW Sports Activity Vehi­cle Center. Observe any country-specific
regulations, e.g. on making a correspond­ing entry in the vehicle documents.

The factory-mounted tires have been spe­cially selected to provide optimized perfor-

mance when installed on your vehicle; if
properly cared for, they will provide a com­bination of safety and excellent ride com­fort.

Special characteristics of winter
tires

BMW recommends winter tires for use in
cold winter driving conditions. Although all­season M+S tires provide better winter
traction than summer tires, they generally
fail to provide the same levels of cold­weather performance as winter tires.

When switching to winter tires, observe the
descriptions at Tire condition and Replac­ing wheels/tires, refer to page 89.

Observing speed ratings

Never exceed the maximum speed for

which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser­vice tires can lead to damage and acci­dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be
glad to assist you with the required profes­sional knowledge and specialized equip­ment.<

Storage

Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry place,
protecting them against light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against contact
with oil, grease and fuel.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure specified on the side of the tire.

Snow chains*

Do not exceed a vehicle speed of

30 mph/50 km/h with snow chains
mounted.<

Only certain snow chains have been tested
by BMW and classified and approved as
safe. You can obtain a list of these from
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
BMW recommends the use of approved
narrow-link snow chains only. These snow
chains are approved exclusively for use on

90

summer or winter tires in pairs on the rear

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions
when installing snow chains.

After mounting snow chains, do not

initialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
When you are driving with snow chains, it
can be beneficial to switch off DSC briefly,
refer to page 51.<

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Under the engine hood

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Never attempt to perform any service

or repair operations on your vehicle
without the required professional technical
training. If you are unaware of the regula­tions that need to be observed, BMW rec­ommends that you have this work per­formed at a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center, as otherwise unqualified handling
of parts and materials can lead to safety
risk for vehicle occupants and other road
users.<

Hood

Unlocking

Under the engine hood

Pull the lever located under the left side of
the instrument cluster.

Closing

Let the engine hood fall from approx. 1 ft/
30 cm so that it can be heard to engage.

Observe the same precautions that

apply to all closing operations by
ensuring that the hood's travel range is
clear and unobstructed before allowing the
hood to fall into position.
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving your vehi­cle, you should stop at once and close it
securely.<

Opening

Press the release handle and open the
engine hood.

92

Engine compartment

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1 Reservoir for windshield and headlamp

washer system 94

2 Body ground – negative terminal 108
3 Auxiliary terminal for jump-starting 108
4 Engine oil filler neck 95

5 Brake fluid reservoir 96
6 Dipstick for engine oil 94
7 Coolant expansion tank 96

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Washer fluid

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

Windshield and headlamp washer
system

Antifreeze agent for the washer sys-

tems is inflammable. For this reason,
keep it away from sources of flame and
store it only in its original containers. Store
it so that it is inaccessible to children.
Always observe the instructions for use
provided on the containers.<

We recommend that you mix the

washer fluid before adding it to the
reservoir.<

Under the engine hood

Capacity:
approx. 6.9 US quarts/6.5 liters.

Fill with water and, if required, with an anti­freeze additive according to manufac­turer's recommendations.

Engine oil level

The indicator lamp lights up yellow
while driving:

The oil level is at the absolute mini­mum. Add engine oil as soon as possible.
Until then, do not drive more than
approx. 30 miles/50 km.

The indicator lamp lights up yellow

after the engine is switched off:

Top up engine oil at the earliest
opportunity – when refueling.

Engine oil sensor

The indicator lamp lights up yellow

within 20 seconds after starting the

engine:
The oil level sensor is defective. Please
have it checked by a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.

Checking oil level

Engine oil

Indicator lamp

Engine oil pressure

The indicator lamp lights up red:
Stop the vehicle immediately and

switch off the engine. Check the
engine oil level; top up as required. If the oil
level is correct: contact the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

Do not continue driving. The engine
could be damaged because of inade-

quate lubrication.<

94

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface

2. Switch the engine off after it has

reached normal operating temperature

3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-

stick out and wipe it off with a clean lint­free cloth, paper towel, or similar mate­rial

4. Carefully push the dipstick all the way

into the guide tube and pull it out again

5. The oil should extend to between the

two marks on the dipstick.

As is the case with fuel economy, the rate
at which the engine uses oil is strongly
influenced by driving style and operating
conditions.
The oil quantity between the two marks of
the dipstick is approx. 1.1 US quarts/1 liter.

Do not fill beyond the upper mark on the

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

dipstick. Excess oil can damage the
engine.

Adding engine oil

If you are unable to obtain BMW High Per­formance Synthetic Oil, you can add small
amounts of another synthetic oil between
oil changes. Use only oils with the API SH
specification or higher.

Ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle

Center for details concerning the spe­cific BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil
or synthetic oils which have been
approved.<

You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit this website:
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this informa­tion.

While you should wait until the level has
dropped to just above the lower mark
before adding oil, you should never allow
the oil level to fall below this mark.

BMW engines are designed to oper-

ate without additives, and their use
could even lead to damage in some cases.
This also applies to the manual transmis­sion, automatic transmission, the differen­tial and the power steering system.<

Recommendation: have the oil change
conducted by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.

Continuous exposure to used oil has

caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come
into contact with oil should be thoroughly
washed with soap and water.
Always store oils, grease and similar mate­rials so that they are inaccessible to chil­dren. Comply with warning labels and
information on containers.<

Always observe all applicable rules

and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used oil.<

Approved engine oils

The quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. Based on exten­sive testing, BMW has approved only cer­tain engine oils.

Use only approved BMW High Perfor­mance Synthetic Oil.

Viscosity ratings

Viscosity is the oil flow rating as defined in
SAE classes.

The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climate conditions in the
area where you typically drive your BMW.

Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<

> These oils may be used for driving in all

ambient temperatures.

Coolant

Indicator lamp

The indicator lamp lights up:
Coolant level is too low; top up at
the earliest opportunity.

Do not add coolant to the cooling sys-

tem when the engine is hot. Escaping
coolant can cause burns.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. You should always
store them in their original containers and
in a location which is inaccessible to chil­dren. Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents
are flammable. Therefore, do not pour over
hot engine parts, as otherwise they could
catch fire and cause burns. Always observe
the instructions for use provided on the
containers.<

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Checking coolant level and topping

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

up coolant

Check the coolant level with the engine
cold, approx. 687/206:

1. Turn the cap of the expansion tank

counterclockwise to allow any accumu­lated pressure to escape, then continue
turning to open

2. The coolant level is correct if the upper

Under the engine hood

end of the red float bar is at least at the
same height as the top edge of the filler
neck, refer to arrow. The bar end may
only protrude by a maximum of i in/
2 cm, i.e. up to the second mark on the
float bar, refer also to sketch beside the
filler neck

3. If necessary, add coolant. Slowly add

coolant until the correct level is reached
– do not overfill.

Always observe all applicable rules

and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used anti­freeze and anticorrosion agents.<

During continued driving increased

brake pedal pressure may be neces­sary, and considerably longer braking dis­tances may result. Please adapt your driv­ing style accordingly.<

Warning lamp for Canadian models.

Brake pads

The indicator lamp comes on.
The brake pads have reached their

minimum pad thickness. See your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center imme­diately to have the pads replaced.

For your own safety: use only brake

pads that BMW has released for your
particular vehicle model. As BMW cannot
assess the suitability of other brake pads
for use on your vehicle, we are unable to
assume continued responsibility for the
vehicle's operating safety if non-approved
pads are installed.<

For additional information on the brake sys­tem, refer to page 77.

Brake system

Malfunction

Brake fluid

The warning lamp lights up red
despite the handbrake being

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. Contact the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

96

Maintenance

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The BMW maintenance
system

The BMW maintenance system is designed
in such a way that it reliably ensures the
road safety and operating reliability of the
vehicle – keeping the cost for you as low as
possible.

Regular maintenance is not only required
for the safety of the vehicle, it also
improves the resale value.

Service Interval Display

The BMW Maintenance System takes the
driving conditions of the vehicle into
account when determining service inter­vals:
From the point of view of maintenance,
62,000 miles/100,000 km accumulated in
short-distance urban driving are not the
equivalent of the same distance covered at
moderate speeds in long-distance high­way travel.

The BMW maintenance system is divided
into engine oil service as well as Inspec­tions I and II.

Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the vehi­cle covers every kind of operating situa­tion. However, even those who drive only
short distances – significantly less than
6,200 miles/10,000 km annually – should
have the engine oil changed at least every
2 years since oil deteriorates over time,
regardless of use.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic: it absorbs

moisture from the atmosphere over
the course of time. To ensure that the brake
system continues to provide safe and reli­able performance, remember to have the
brake fluid changed every two years at the
latest by a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center, also refer to page 46 and to the
Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models or the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.<

Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models/Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian
models

For detailed information on required main­tenance items and the work involved,
please refer to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or to the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.

Depending on operating conditions, it may
be advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel as a precau­tion against corrosion.

BMW recommends that you have

your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center perform the maintenance and
repair.
Check that the maintenance work is
recorded in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models. These entries will serve
as proof that the vehicle has received reg­ular maintenance.<

Care

For all information on this subject, refer to
the Caring for your vehicle brochure.

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Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsMobility

Laws and regulations

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 631 - © 07/03 BMW AG

California Proposition 65 Warning

California laws require us to state the fol­lowing warning:

Engine exhaust and a wide variety of

automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior
furnishings in a vehicle, contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain flu­ids contained in vehicles and certain prod­ucts of component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California

Laws and regulations

to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Battery posts, terminals
and related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds. Wash your hands after
handling. Used engine oil contains chemi­cals that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by wash­ing thoroughly with soap and water.<

OBD connector

If the Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp comes on either continuously

or intermittently, this indicates a
fault in the emissions-related electronic
systems. Although the vehicle remains
operational, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center at the earliest possible
opportunity.

The illuminated indicator lamp informs you
of the need for service, not that you need to
stop the vehicle. However, the systems
should be checked by your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center at the next opportu­nity.

If the indicator lamp blinks or flashes, this
indicates a high level of engine misfire.
Reduce speed and contact the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center imme­diately. Severe engine misfiring over even a
short period of time can seriously damage
emission control system components,
especially the catalytic converter.

Service Engine Soon indicator lamp

for Canadian models.

The interface socket for the Onboard Diag­nostic is located on the left of the driver's
side at the bottom of the instrument cluster
and under a cover. The cover has the let­ters OBD on it.

The most important components for the
composition of the emissions can be
checked by a device across this interface.

98

If the fuel filler cap is not on tight

enough, the OBD system can detect
leaking vapor and the indicator lamp will
light up. If the fuel filler cap is then tight­ened, the indicator lamp will usually go out
after a short period of time.<