ignition BMW 320i 2003 User Guide

51
Steering wheelTo adjust
Never attempt to adjust the steer-
ing wheel while driving the vehicle
– it could respond with unexpected
movement, posing a potential accident
hazard.<
1. Push the locking lever downward
2. Adjust the steering column's rake
and reach to suit your seat position
3. Pull the lever back up to clamp the
steering wheel in the new position.
MirrorsTo adjust exterior mirrors1Mirror switch for 4-way adjustment
2Selection switch for changing
between mirrorsTo adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted manu-
ally:
Press against the edges of the lens.
For storing mirror settings, refer to Seat
and mirror memory on page 49.
The mirror on the passenger's
side is convex. 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 esti-
mates of the distance to following traffic
should not be regarded as precise. when you turn the ignition key to posi-
tion 2.
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54
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 not
place their heads on or near the side
airbag. Therefore, we recommend that
the rear-seat side airbags, if installed in
the vehicle, be deactivated if children
will travel in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the
time of manufacture or by a BMW cen-
ter. Labels in the 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 con-
tact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are fol-
lowed, there is still a small residual risk
of injuries to the face, hands and arms
occurring from airbag deployment in
isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise may
induce a mild temporary hearing loss in
sensitive individuals.
Corresponding airbag warning labels
are found on both sun visors.This is the right way a child should sit in
a child restraint when rear side airbags,
see arrow, are provided.
This is the right way a larger child
should sit wearing the seat belt when
rear side airbags, see arrow, are pro-
vided.Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates the
operational status of the airbag
system with the ignition key in
position 1 or higher.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when you turn the ignition key to
position 1 or higher.
System malfunction:
>Indicator lamp does not come on or
>indicator lamp lights up continuously.
Airbags

60Driving
Ignition lock0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Starting engine
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion:
Do not move the selector lever from
position P until the engine is running –
ignition key position 2.
Your vehicle is equipped with an inter-
lock. Therefore, the ignition key cannot
be turned to position 0 or removed until
the selector lever is in position P.<
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion:
Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine
from starting if the clutch is not
depressed.<
Steering lockedThe key can only be inserted and
removed in this position.
After removing the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the left or right until
you hear the lock engage.
If the key is not removed, an acoustic
signal is sounded after the driver's door
has been opened.
The sound system remains operational
for approx. 20 minutes after you switch
off the ignition – ignition key in position
0 or key extracted. Simply switch it
back on.Steering unlockedYou will find that it is often easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to posi-
tion 1 when you move the steering
wheel slightly to help disengage the
lock.
Individual electrical accessories are
ready for operation.
Starting the engineBefore starting>Engage the parking brake
>Ensure that the shift lever is in neu-
tral, or, with an automatic transmis-
sion, that the selector lever is in posi-
tion P
>Depress the clutch pedal.
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. Otherwise,
breathing the exhaust fumes can lead
to unconsciousness and death. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monox-
ide, an odorless and colorless, but
highly toxic gas. Do not leave the vehi-
cle unattended with the engine running.
An unattended vehicle with a running
engine represents a safety hazard.<
When driving, standing at idle,
and parking the vehicle, take care
to avoid contact between the hot
exhaust system and flammable materi-
als – grass, hay, leaves, etc. Such con-
tact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property
damage.<
>Start the engine. Do not press the
accelerator pedal.

61
Do not actuate the starter for too
short a time, but do not actuate it
for more than approx. 20 seconds.
Release the ignition key immediately
when the engine starts.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by
leaving it running while the vehicle
remains stationary. Instead, drive off
immediately at a moderate engine
speed.<
If the engine does not start on the first
attempt – if it is very hot or cold, for
instance:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at extremely low tempera-
tures below approx. +57/–156 and at
altitudes over 3,300 ft/1,000 m:
>On the first start attempt, it may be
necessary to engage the starter for a
longer period, but no longer than
20 seconds
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
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 discharg-
ing, always deactivate electrical
devices that are not in use. Switch the
ignition off when the vehicle is not
being driven.
Extended starting attempts, char-
acterized by excessively frequent
or long periods with the starter
engaged, can damage the catalytic
converter.<
Starting the engine
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62
Switching off the engineTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
You should never remove the igni-
tion key when the vehicle is in
motion, as the steering lock could
engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key and engage the
steering lock.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces. Placing the lever in gear may not
provide adequate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in Park.<
Parking brakeThe parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked. It operates on the rear wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically, and
the indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition key
is in position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the
button – see arrow – and lower the
lever.

63
If exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction – fishtailing
– at the rear axle. The brake lamps do
not come on when the parking brake is
engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces. Placing the lever in gear may not
provide adequate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in Park.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake
lightly from time to time when coasting
to a standstill – at a traffic signal, for
example – provided that it is safe to do
so.<
Manual transmission
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead.
Riding the clutch leads to severe and
premature clutch wear.<
ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Press the shift lever to the left to
overcome the slight resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will
light up automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Parking brake
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66
Available displaysP R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on,
there is a malfunction in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to P. Set the
parking brake and turn the engine off –
ignition key to position 0.
Wait a few seconds, then start the
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may
continue to drive as usual.
If the indicator lamp does not go out,
you can place the selector lever in all
positions. However, the vehicle will now
only operate in 3rd and 4th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest autho-
rized BMW center.
Never work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear – for-
ward or reverse – is engaged. If you do
this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing or jump-starting, refer to the
information beginning on page 147.
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*

68
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent mode or rain sensor
2Normal wipe
3Fast wipe
4Brief wipe
5Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensorIntermittent modeNot on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can select any of four sweep inter-
vals with rotary dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval varies
automatically depending on road
speed.
Rain sensor*The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly behind the interior
rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>With the ignition key in position 1
or 2, move the lever to position 1.
The wipers will make at least one
sweep across the windshield.
You can leave the lever in position 1
at all times. With the ignition key
position in position 1 or higher, all
you then need to do to activate the
rain sensor is
>briefly turn the rotary dial 5, or
>clean windshield 1, refer to page 69.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain sen-
sor: turn rotary dial 5.
To switch off the rain sensor:
Return lever to position 0.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by
undesired wiper activation. ers switch automatically to intermittent
wipe – not on vehicles with rain sensor.
Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers revert to operate at normal speed –
not on vehicles with rain sensor.

69
Cleaning windshield and
headlamps*0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlamps*
Do not use the washers if there is
any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield, as your vision
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold
weather. Refer to page 126.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty as this could cause dam-
age to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
When the vehicle's lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps will also be
cleaned at reasonable intervals.Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer nozzles are
heated automatically* when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Cruise control*You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above
approx. 20 mph / 30 km/h.
The cruise control is available whenever
the engine is running and the system
has been activated.To activate the systemFrom ignition key position 2:
Press the button. The indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster comes on, refer
to page 21. You can now use the cruise
control.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic den-
sity prevents driving at a constant
speed, or when the road surface is slick
– snow, rain, ice – or loose – rocks or
gravel, sand. the indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when
the ignition key is in position 0.
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*
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71 Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the left button in
the instrument cluster – see arrow.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the left button – see arrow – with
the ignition key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerNever allow the engine to operate with
the needle in the red overspeed zone of
the gauge – see arrow.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted when you approach this
sector.
Energy controlIndicates the current fuel consumption
in mpg – in liters/100 km on Canadian
models. This allows you to see whether
your current driving style is conducive
to fuel economy with minimum exhaust
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the dis-
play goes to Maximum – zero on Cana-
dian models.
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