maintenance BMW 325I 2001 User Guide

140n
The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means for
providing maximum driving and operat-
ing safety Ð and as cost effectively as
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining the resale
value of the vehicle.
Service Interval DisplayAdvanced technology is employed
to calculate the optimal maintenance
intervals. These are then indicated in
the Service Interval Display. While
conventional systems rely on distance
traveled alone to determine when
service is due, the BMW Maintenance
System has for years considered the 460us112
actual conditions under which the
vehicle operates, because miles can be
traveled in many different ways:
From a maintenance perspective,
62,000 miles (100,000 km) of short-
distance urban driving are not equiva-
lent to 62,000 miles (100,000 km)
covered at moderate speeds in long-
distance highway travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual use of the vehi-
cle covers every kind of operating situa-
tion. However, even those who drive
only short distances Ð significantly less
than 6,000 miles (10,000 km) annually Ð
should have the engine oil changed at
least every 2 years since oil deterio-
rates over time, regardless of use.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models)/Warranty and
Service Guide (Canada models)For additional information on mainte-
nance intervals and procedures, please
refer to the Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US models) or to the
Warranty and Service Guide (Canadian
models).
As a precaution against rust, it is
advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel at the
same time, depending upon operating
conditions.
Have your BMW center perform
maintenance and repair.
Your BMW center is always "up to date"
on the latest maintenance work and
repair techniques and equipped with
the required special tools. In addition,
checking parts known from experience
to be subject to wear is a permanent
part of the maintenance specifications.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or the
Warranty and Service Guide (Canadian
models). These entries will constitute
your proof that the vehicle has received
regular maintenance. They are also
required for warranty claims.<
The BMW Maintenance System

142n
Caring for your vehicleExterior finish To provide effective corrosion protec-
tion, multilayer paintwork is applied at
the factory. Cataphoretic immersion
priming techniques are supplemented
with special body-cavity protectants,
by applying specially-developed and
extensively tested materials.
A layer of flexible PVC is first applied
to the undercarriage. Following this,
a comprehensive undercoating treat-
ment with a wax-based protectant is
applied. Regular maintenance makes
an important contribution to maintaining
the safety and value of your vehicle.
Increasing awareness of the effects of
harmful environmental factors on vehi-
cle finishes have led paint and vehicle
manufacturers to initiate programs
designed to further improve the durabil-
ity of their finishes. Despite this, envi-
ronmental factors that occur locally or
regionally can have negative effects on
the finish of your vehicle. Use the
factors to determine the frequency and
extent of your efforts to maintain the
vehicle finish.Depending upon material and type of
impact (perforation of paint layer),
physical stresses from sand, road salt,
gravel, etc., can cause corrosion to start
extending beneath the finish, starting at
the point of impact.
Road dirt, tar spots, dead insects,
animal droppings (strong alkali effect)
and tree excretions (resins and pollen)
all contain substances capable of
causing damage when allowed to
remain on the finish of your vehicle for
any extended period of time (spots,
etching, flaking, separation in the top
coat).
In industrial areas, flue dust deposits,
lime, oily soot, precipitation containing
sulfur-dioxide (acid rain) and other envi-
ronmental pollutants will damage the
vehicle's finish unless adequate care is
provided Ð even though this is generally
limited to the outside horizontal sur-
faces.In coastal regions, high levels of
atmospheric salt and humidity promote
corrosion.
In tropical zones, temperatures of over
+105 7 (+40 6) in the shade prevail,
in addition to heavy ultraviolet radiation
and high humidity. Under those condi-
tions, light paints can reach tempera-
tures up to +175 7 (+80 6) and dark
paints up to +250 7 (+120 6).

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
151n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit152
Windshield wiper blades152
Lamps and bulbs153
Changing a wheel159
Battery162
Fuses164
Microfilter/Activated-charcoal
filter165
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Fuel filler door166
Sliding/Tilt sunroof166
Tailgate166
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting167
Towing the vehicle168
Repairs

163n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
BatteryBattery careThe battery is completely maintenance-
free. That means that the original acid
will normally last for the service life of
the battery under temperate climatic
conditions.
For all questions that regard the
battery, please consult your BMW
center. Since the battery is absolutely
maintenance-free, the following is for
your information only.<SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on
your vehicle battery. For your safety,
please be cautious whenever you work
with or near the battery.
Before handling the battery,
please read the following infor-
mation.
Wear eye protection. Do not al-
low particles containing battery
acid or lead to come into con-
tact with your eyes, your skin, or your
clothing.
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and
protective gloves. Do not tip the
battery. Battery acid can leak from the
ventilation openings.
Do not allow children to have
access to batteries and battery
acid.
Never allow sparks or open
flame near the battery. Do
not smoke in the vicinity of the
battery. Avoid sparks from electrical
cables or electrical equipment. Turn the
key to position 0 in the steering lock
when disconnecting or connecting the
battery. Never short-circuit the battery
terminals. This creates a risk of injury
from high-energy sparks.
A highly explosive gas is gener-
ated when the battery is
charged.
If you happen to get acid in
your eyes, rinse thoroughly for
15 minutes with clear water.
Consult a physician immediately. If you
get acid spray on your skin or clothing,
rinse with plenty of water. If acid is
accidentally swallowed, consult a
physician immediately.
In order to protect the battery
case from ultraviolet radiation,
do not place it in direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze. Store
the battery in areas where temperature
remains above freezing.
Removal and installation
Do not disconnect the battery
while the engine is running.
Disconnecting the battery cable when
the engine is running will cause a
voltage surge which will damage the
vehicle's onboard electronics.
Do not make any modifications in the
wires to the positive terminal. If you do
so, the protective function of the safety
battery terminal is no longer ensured.
Repairs and disposal may only be per-
formed by specially trained personnel.<
When removing the battery, disconnect
the cable on the negative terminal first,
then the cable on the positive terminal.
Loosen the center adjusting screw on
the battery retaining strap (use the
screwdriver included with the onboard
tool kit) and disconnect the strap.
When installing a battery, connect the
positive terminal first, then connect the
negative terminal.
When installing a battery, be sure
that it is mounted properly and that
the retaining strap is installed using the
center adjustment screw, otherwise, the
battery will not be secure enough in
case of an accident.<

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
171n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Advanced technology:
Airbags172
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)173
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction ASC+T/Dynamic
Stability Control DSC173
Radio reception174
Four-wheel drive175
Safety belt tensioner175
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer176
Rain sensor177
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)178
Self-diagnostics179
Xenon lamps180
Technol-

179n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Self-diagnostics All of the important electrical and elec-
tronic systems in the vehicle are tested
regularly and automatically; the driver
does not have to perform any extra
operations or adjustments.
The indicator lamps also come on
briefly after the ignition has been turned
on.
While you are driving, the functional
status of the actuator motors (for the
windshield wipers, power windows,
seats, sliding/tilt sunroof, etc.) is
constantly analyzed by current
measurements in their relays.460de177
In the same manner, the electrical
resistance of the airbag ignition genera-
tors and all of the remaining airbag
components is measured at all times.
Any fault in this system would be
detected immediately by a current fluc-
tuation that would necessarily accom-
pany it. The fault would be indicated
immediately by the airbag warning
lamp.
Even after you shut off the engine, the
overall functional status of your vehicle
is monitored. For example, all of the
flaps of the heating and ventilation
system travel to the nearest limit posi-
tion. This action ensures that the
system will be able to provide
defrosting, regardless of other circum-
stances, e. g. if a malfunction in the air
conditioner/climate control system
should occur during the night while the
vehicle is parked.
A calibration cycle runs every tenth time
the engine is shut off. During this cycle,
the actuator motors move all air condi-
tioner/automatic climate control flaps to
their limit stops in both directions. The
limit positions and the return travel
paths are checked in this manner in
order to ensure that appropriate adjust-
ments for the operating elements can
be made at any time.You will hear the sounds of the air flaps
as the air conditioning system/auto-
matic climate control carry out their
self-diagnostic functions after the igni-
tion has been turned off. All of the other
self-diagnostics functions operate
silently in the background.
Any possible defects detected during
these self-diagnostics can be read out
by your BMW center and quickly
corrected during the vehicle's next
regularly scheduled maintenance.

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
183n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Engine data184
Dimensions185
Weights186
Capacities187
Electrical system188
Drive belts188
Data
Owner service procedures

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
191n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Everything from A to Z192
Owner service procedures198
Index

Everything from A to Z
195n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Luggage
compartment38,107
capacity186
emergency release166
lamps39
lamps, bulb
replacement158
remote control system37
trunk floor40
Luggage compartment lid
emergency release166
Luggage rack111
Lumbar support48 M
Maintenance74
Malfunction displays75
Manual transmission64
Memory49
MFL (Multifunction steering
wheel)24
Microfilter93,165
Mirror memory49
Mirrors51
Mobile phone123
Modifications,
technical6,148
Motion sensor, interior41
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)24
M+S tires128
N
Neckrest47
Nozzles96 O
OBD interface socket149
Obstruction protection43
Odometer73
Oil
additives135
capacity187
consumption135
dipstick135
quality136
specifications136
viscosity136
Oil change intervals, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet or to
the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet
Oil filter change187
Oil level, indicator lamp20
Oil pressure, indicator
lamp20
OILSERVICE74
Onboard computer, please
refer to Computer76
Onboard tool kit152
Opening and closing
from the inside38
from the outside34 Opening the rear
window40
Outside temperature
display76
Owner service
procedure141
P
Paint blemishes142
Paintwork
minor repairs143
waxing143
Paint, care142
Park Distance Control
(PDC)78
Parking brake63
Parking help78
Parking lamps88
Parking, winter122
Partition net107
PDC (Park Distance
Control)78
Performance184
Phone, mobile123
Pocket lamp101
Pollen93,100
Power outlet105
Power steering123
Power windows43
safety switch44
Pressure monitoring,
tires85,178
Pressure, tires28,124
Q
Quality Grades125 R
Radiator187
Radio
refer to the separate
Owner's Manual
Radio Data System
(RDS)174
Radio reception123,174
Rain sensor69,177
RDC (Tire Pressure
Control)85,178
RDS (Radio Data
System)174
Reading lamps88
Rear backrest, folded
down108
Rear hatch lamp
bulb replacement157
Rear lamps156
Rear seat backrest,
folding107
Rear window
defroster70,92,99
Rearview mirror51
Recirculated air control92
automatic99
Recirculated-air mode92
Reclining seat46
Refueling27

Owner service procedures
199n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Luggage compartment
emergency actuation166
Luggage compartment
lamps, bulb
replacement158 M
Maintenance140
Malfunction displays75
Microfilter, change165
Motion sensor, switching
off42 O
Oil
quality136
specifications136
viscosity136
Onboard tool kit152 P
Pressure, tires28 R
Rear hatch lamp
bulb replacement157
Rear lamp156
Release the hood130 Releasing the fuel filler door
after an electrical
defect166
Removing condensation
from the windows94
Replace windshield wiper
blades152
Replacement key32
Replacing lamp bulbs153
Replenish washer
reservoir134
Return used batteries164
S
Side lamps
bulb replacement154
Sliding/tilt sunroof
close in event of electrical
defect166
Space-saver spare tire159
Spare key32
Spare tire159
Spare wheel159
Starting problems115
Switching off tilt alarm/
interior motion sensor42
T
Tail lamps
bulb replacement156
Tailgate lamps
bulb replacement156
Tailgate, emergency lock
operation166
Tilt alarm, switching off42
Tire changing159
Tire damage124
Tools152
Tow fittings168
Tow starting168
Towing168
Turn signals, bulb
replacement154 U
Use antifreeze for
radiator138
Used batteries164
Used engine oil136 V
Vanity mirror lamp, bulb
replacement158
W

Warning lamps20
Warning messages75
Washer fluid, adding134
Washer nozzles,
adjusting134
Washer reservoir, filling134
Wheel changing159
Windshield wiper blades,
replacing152
Working in the engine
compartment130