maintenance BMW 320i 2001 User Guide

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
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 vehi-
cle operates, because miles can be
traveled in many different ways:
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
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. Minimal use drivers Ð those who
drive significantly less than 6,000 miles
(10,000 km) per year Ð should neverthe-
less have the oil changed at least every
two years, since engine oil ages regard-
less of use.Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models)/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models) Please refer to the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet (US mod-
els) or the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian models) for addi-
tional information on maintenance inter-
vals and procedures.As a precaution against rust, it might be
a good idea 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 informed 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 Booklet
(Canadian models). These entries are
your verification for the regular mainte-
nance of your vehicle and are required
for the performance of warranty
repairs.<
The BMW Maintenance System

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Caring for your vehicleExterior finish To provide effective corrosion protec-
tion, multilayer paintwork is applied at
the factory. Cataphoretic immersion
priming techniques are supplemented
using special body-cavity protectants,
with the application of specially-devel-
oped 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
vehicle finishes have urged paint and
vehicle manufacturers to initiate
ongoing programs designed to further
improve the durability of their finishes.
Despite this, environmental factors that
occur locally or regionally can have
negative effects on the finish of your
vehicle. These should guide you in
determining 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 caus-
ing damage when allowed to remain on
the finish of your vehicle for any period
of time. This includes spots, etching,
flaking, and separations in the top coat.
In industrial areas, deposits of flue dust,
lime, oily soot, precipitation containing
sulfur-dioxide (acid rain) and other
environmental pollutants will damage
the vehicle's finish unless adequate
care is provided Ð even though this is
generally limited to the outside
horizontal surfaces.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
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Repairs
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit158
Windshield wiper blades158
Lamps and bulbs158
Changing a wheel165
Battery168
Fuses170
Microfilter171
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Fuel filler door172
Sliding/tilt sunroof172
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting173
Towing the vehicle174

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
BatteryBattery careThe battery is absolutely maintenance-
free, that is, the original electrolyte will
normally last for the service life of the
battery under moderate climatic condi-
tions.
For all questions that regard the
battery, please consult your BMW
center. Since the battery is mainte-
nance-free, the following is for your
information only. your vehicle battery. To avoid injury,
please comply with the corresponding
precautions whenever you work with or
near the battery.
Before handling the battery,
please read the following infor-
mation.
Wear eye protection. Do not
allow particles containing
battery acid or lead to come into
contact 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 access to
batteries and battery acid.
Never allow sparks or open
flame in the vicinity of the
battery. Avoid sparks from elec-
trical cables or electrical equipment.
Turn the key to position 0 in the
steering lock when disconnecting or
connecting the battery. Do not 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 battery acid is splashed into
your eyes, immediately rinse
them with clear water for
15 minutes. Consult a physician imme-
diately. If your skin or clothing are
splashed by acid, rinse immediately
with ample clear water. If battery 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
when the engine is running. If you
do so, the ensuing voltage surge will
damage the vehicle's onboard elec-
tronics.
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.
Repair and disposal must be performed
by trained technicians only.<
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 bracket is installed
with the center adjustment screw. If this
is not done, the battery will not be
adequately secured in case of an acci-
dent.<

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
177n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)178
Airbags179
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)180
Radio reception181
Four-wheel drive182
Safety belt tensioner183
Interior rearview mirror
with automatic dimming
feature184
Rain sensor185
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)186
Self-diagnostics187
Xenon lamps188
Technol-

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Self-diagnostics All of the important electrical and elec-
tronic systems in the vehicle are tested
regularly and automatically Ð 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 ensures that the defrost func-
tion is always available even if a
malfunction in the air conditioner
system/automatic climate control
should occur while the vehicle is
parked overnight, for instance.
A calibration cycle runs every tenth time
the engine is shut off. During this cycle,
the actuator motors of all the heating
and ventilation flaps travel to their limit
stops in both directions. The limit posi-
tions and the return travel paths are
checked in this manner in order to
ensure that appropriate adjustments 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 faults detected during
these self-diagnostics can be read out
by your BMW center during the next
regularly-scheduled maintenance and
corrected with a minimum of time.

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
191n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Engine data192
Dimensions193
Weights194
Capacities195
Electrical system196
V-belts196
Data
Owner service procedures

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
199n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Everything from A to Z200
Owner service procedures206
Index

Everything from A to Z
203n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Louvers92,98
Low beam headlamps88
Low beams, bulb
replacement159
Lug bolts166
Lug wrench165
Luggage compartment41
capacity194
floor mat41
floor panel41
remote control37
Luggage compartment
lamps, bulb
replacement164
Luggage compartment
lid39
emergency release39
securing separately39
Luggage compartment
lighting39
Luggage rack113
Lumbar support49 M
M+S tires129
Maintenance75,145
Malfunction displays76
Manual transmission65
Manually controlled
recirculated-air101
Memory50 MFL (Multifunction steering
wheel)24
Microfilter95,171
Mirror memory50
Mirrors52
Mobile phone124
Modifications,
technical6,153
Motion sensor, interior42
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)24
N
Neckrest48 O
OBD interface socket154
Obstruction protection44
Odometer74
Oil
capacity195
consumption139
dipstick139
quality140
specifications140
viscosity140
Oil additives139
Oil change intervals, see the
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet
Oil filter change195 Oil level
check139
indicator lamp20
Oil pressure, indicator
lamp20
OILSERVICE75
Onboard tool kit158
Opening and closing Ð from
the inside38
Opening and closing Ð from
the outside34
Outside temperature
display77
Owner service
procedures206
P
Paint blemishes147
Paint, care147
Paintwork, minor
repairs148
Paintwork, waxing148
Park Distance Control
(PDC)79
Parking brake64
Parking help79
Parking lamps89
Parking, winter123
PDC (Park Distance
Control)79
Performance192
Phone, mobile124 Pocket flashlight104
Pollen95,102
Power seat49
Power steering123
Power windows44
safety switch45
Pressure monitoring,
tires86,186
Pressure, tires28,125
R
Radiator195
Radio Data System
(RDS)181
Radio reception124,181
Radio, refer to the separate
Owner's Manual
Rain sensor69,185
RDC (Tire Pressure
Control)86,186
RDS (Radio Data
System)181
Reading lamps90
Rear backrest, folding109
Rear lamps161
Rear window
defroster71,94,102
Rearview mirror52
Recirculated air mode94
Reclining seat47
Refueling27
Remote control35

Owner service proceduresA
Activated-charcoal filter,
changing171
Adding brake fluid143
Adding engine coolant142
Adding engine oil139
Air pressure, checking28
Antifreeze142 B
Backup lamps, bulb
replacement161
Battery
add distilled water169
charging170
Brake fluid, adding143
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement161
Brakes, brake faults121 C
Changing a tire165
Changing a wheel165
Checking air pressure28
Checking engine oil
level139
Checking oil level139 D
Defrost setting96
Defrosting the
windows96,101 Difficult steering123
Doors, emergency
operation34
E
Electrical accessories,
failure170
Electrical malfunction
fuel filler door172
sliding/tilt sunroof172
Emergency operation
doors34
fuel filler door172
sliding/tilt sunroof172
Engine coolant, adding142
Engine oil
add139
check139
quality140
specifications140
viscosity140
Engine oil level,
checking139 F
First-aid kit26
Fittings, towing and
tow-starting174
Flat tire165
Footwell lamps, bulb
replacement164 Front fog lamps, bulb
replacement161
Fuses, replacing170
G
Glove compartment lamp,
bulb replacement164 H
Hazard warning flashers26
Hazard warning triangle26
Headlamp cover, care159
High beams, bulb
replacement159 I
Indicator lamps20
Inflated pressure28,125
Interior lamps, bulb
replacement163
Interior motion sensor,
switching off43 J
Jack165 L
License plate lamp, bulb
replacement163
Low beams, bulb
replacement159 Lug wrench165
Luggage compartment
lamps, bulb
replacement164
Luggage compartment lid,
emergency release39
M
Maintenance145
Microfilter, changing171
Motion sensor, switching
off43 O
Oil
quality140
specifications140
viscosity140
Onboard tool kit158 P
Pressure, tires28 R
Rear lamps161
Releasing the fuel filler door
following an electrical
malfunction172
Releasing the hood134
Removing condensation
from the
Owner service procedure