ESP BMW 323Ci CONVERTIBLE 2000 E46 User Guide

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags 1 Front airbags for driver and passenger
2 Side airbags (front)Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the three-
point safety belts by providing addi-
tional protection for the front-seat oc-
cupants in the event of a severe frontal
collision in which the protection af-
forded by the belts alone may no longer
be sufficient. The side airbags help pro-
vide protection in the event of a colli-
sion from the side. Each of the side air-
bags is designed to help support the
upper body.46cus032
The illustration depicts schematically
the primary directions of vehicle impact
that initiate airbag deployment.46cde027
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the
operational status of the airbag
system when the ignition key is
in position 1 and up.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting up
again.
A system malfunction could prevent the
system from responding to an impact
occurring within its normal response
range.
Please have your BMW center inspect
and repair the system as soon as
possible.

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Child restraints
*
Commercially-available child restraint
systems are designed to be secured
with a lap belt or with the lap belt por-
tion 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.
If you use a child restraint system with
a tether strap, two additional tether an-
chorage points (refer to the arrows in
the illustration) have been provided.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area, at-
tach the tether strap to the correspond-
ing anchorage point to secure the child
restraint system.46cus001
If the respective seating position is fit-
ted with a headrest lift the headrest and
pass the tether strap between the
headrest and the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Before installing any child restraint
device or child seat, please read
the following:
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
system in the front passenger seat of
this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the
front passenger. Because the backrest
on any rear-facing child restraint sys-
tem (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 device
in the front passenger seat, since the
impact of the airbag against the child
restraint's backrest could lead to seri-
ous or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child (not an in-
fant) to ride in the front seat, certain
precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the dashboard as possible. This
important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the
airbag and the child. Older children
should be tightly secured with a safety
belt. Younger children should be se-
cured in an appropriate forward-facing
child restraint system that has first been
properly secured with a safety belt.
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
system in the front passenger seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
and comply with the instructions for in-
stallation and use provided by the child
restraint's manufacturer whenever you
use such a device.
Be sure that all occupants (of all ages)
remain properly and securely restrained
at all times.<
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819, an industry-recommended prac-
tice for securing child restraint systems
in motor vehicles.

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Washer/Wiper system1 Intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
*
Intermittent wipe:
You can use rotary dial 6 to select from
four wipe intervals.
In addition, the wipe interval automati-
cally adapts to variations in road speed.
Rain sensor:
The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield, directly in front of the interior
rearview mirror. When the rain sensor is
activated, the windshield wiper is con-
trolled automatically, depending on the
degree of wetness of the windshield (in
both snow and rain). You do not have to
be concerned with switching the wind-
shield wiper on or off or adjusting the
wipe interval between intermittent and
full wipe. Instead, you can concentrate 46cde095
fully on the traffic conditions. This is
especially important under adverse
weather conditions.
To activate the rain sensor:
From ignition key position 1 and up,
move the lever to position 1. The wipers
travel once across the windshield, re-
gardless of the weather.
You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1. It is then only necessary to
activate the rain sensor from ignition
key position 1 and up. To do this,
>turn rotary dial 6 briefly or
>use the automatic windshield
washer 5.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 6.
Turn the rain sensor off when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in
damage caused by undesired wiper
activation.<
2 Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers switch automatically to inter-
mittent wipe (not on vehicles with rain
sensor).3 Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers operate at normal speed (not
on vehicles with rain sensor).5 Automatic windshield washer The system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you only pull the lever briefly, the sys-
tem sprays washer fluid onto the wind-
shield without activating the wipers.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Fuel gauge
Coolant temperature gauge
Service Interval Display
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an
operation check.
Once the indicator lamp stays on con-
tinuously, there are still approx. 2.1 gal-
lons (8 liters) of fuel left in the fuel tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to page 185.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies (extended
driving in mountainous areas, for exam-
ple), there may be slight fluctuations of
the needle.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.<462us020
BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the lamp comes on while operating
the vehicle the engine is overheated.
Shut off the engine immediately and
allow it to cool down.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. It is not un-
usual for the needle to go as far as the
edge of the red zone in response to
high outside temperatures or severe
operating conditions.Checking coolant level, refer to page 13 5.460de082
Remaining distance for serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or after the
engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OILSERVICE or INSPECTION,
together with the remaining distance
before scheduled service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the rate of
fuel consumption in the period immedi-
ately preceding your data request.
A flashing display and a "–" in front of
the number indicate that service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the
distance shown in the display. Please
contact your BMW center for an
appointment.46cus006

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
The PDC assists you when you are park-
ing. A signal warns you of the real dis-
tance to an obstacle. To do this, four
ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper
measure the distance to the nearest ob-
ject. The range for the sensors at the two
rear corners ends approx. 2 feet (60 cm)
from the bumper. The range for the
two center sensors is approx. 4.9 feet
(1.50 meters) wide.
The system starts to operate automati-
cally about one second after you select
"Reverse" with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2. PDC is deactivated when you shift
back out of reverse.
Acoustical signalsThe distance to the nearest object is in-
dicated by a tone sounding at various
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals
between the tones become shorter.
A continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than approx.
1 foot (30 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if the distance
to the obstacle remains constant during
this time (if you are moving parallel to
a wall, for instance).
System malfunctions are indicated by a
continuous high-pitched tone when the
system is activated the first time.
Please refer the problem to your BMW
center.The PDC does not remove the
driver's personal responsibility for
evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be de-
tected. This applies especially in those
cases where the system approaches
the physical limits of ultrasonic mea-
surement, as occurs with tow bars and
trailer couplings, and in the vicinity of
thin and painted objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of
ice or snow in order to ensure that
they continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain a distance of more than
4 inches (10 cm).<
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*

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Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) The conceptDSC helps maintain vehicle stability,
even in critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, the system recog-
nizes unstable vehicle conditions (un-
dersteering or oversteering, for exam-
ple) and helps hold the vehicle on a
sure course by intervening via the
engine and by braking intervention at
the individual wheels.
The system activates automatically
each time you start the engine.46cus012
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition.
Refer to pages 21 and 22.
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
force and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or if it comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
There is a system malfunction or the
system was deactivated with the but-
ton. You can continue to drive the vehi-
cle normally, but without DSC. Please
consult your BMW center for repairs.
To deactivate the systemPress the button, the indicator lamp
comes on.
The illustration depicts the arrangement
of the buttons if the vehicle is fully
equipped. This may vary, depending on
the equipment actually installed.
When the DSC is deactivated, you are
operating the vehicle in the conven-
tional drive mode.
In the following exceptional circum-
stances, it may be effective to deacti-
vate the DSC for a short period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>or when driving with snow chains.
Refer also to page 118.To reactivate the systemPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be re-
pealed, even with DSC. Any con-
sequences arising from traction loss
due to excessive vehicle speed remain
the responsibility of the driver. For this
reason, do not take risks by using the
additional safety margin provided by
the system as an excuse.<
For additional details concerning DSC,
please refer to the chapter describing
"Advanced technology" on page 173.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Automatic climate control 1 Air onto the windshield and the side
windows
2 Air flow toward the upper body
The side rotary dials provide infi-
nitely variable regulation of the air
supply, while the levers change the
air flow direction. The center rotary
dial controls the temperature of the
air as it flows out, refer to page 98
3 Front footwell ventilation
There are corresponding air vents in
the rear footwell as well
4 Recirculated air mode/Automatic
recirculated air control (AUC)97
5 Air supply97
6 Temperature96
7 Automatic air distribution96
8 Individual air distribution96
9 Air grill for interior temperature
sensor – please keep clear and
unobstructed
10 Display for temperature and air
supply96
11 Defrost the windshield and side
windows97
12 Air conditioner97
13 Rear window defroster79, 98

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Automatic climate controlAir supply

By pressing the left or right half
of the button, you can vary the
air supply. By doing this, you switch off
the automatic control for the air supply.
Nevertheless, the automatic air distri-
bution remains unchanged.
When you set the lowest blower speed
by pressing the left half of the button,
all of the displays are canceled: the
blower, heater and air conditioner are
switched off, and the air supply stops.
You can reactivate the system by
pressing any button of the automatic
climate control.
Defrost the windshield and side
windows
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and side windows.
Air conditioner
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the tem-
perature setting – rewarmed when the
air conditioner system is switched on.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started.
Use the button to switch the air condi-
tioner off when outside air temperatures
are below approx. 41 7 (+5 6). This
will help to prevent the windows from
fogging over.
If the windows fog over after switching
the air conditioner off, switch it back on.
Condensation forms in the air
conditioner system during opera-
tion, which then exits under the vehicle.
Traces of condensed water of this kind
are thus normal.<
Automatic recirculated air
control (AUC)
If there are unpleasant odors or
pollutants in the outside air, you
can temporarily block the air flow from
the outside. The system then recircu-
lates the air already within the vehicle.
By repeated actuation of the button,
you can select three different operating
modes.
>Indicator lamps off: fresh air flows
into the vehicle
>Left-hand indicator lamp on – AUC
mode: the system detects pollutants
in the outside air and responds by
deactivating the outside air flow as
required. The system then recircu-
lates the air already within the vehicle.
Depending on air quality require-
ments, the system automatically
switches between outside air supply
and recirculation of the air already
within the vehicle
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: the
flow of outside air is permanently
blocked. The system recirculates the
air already within the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the
recirculated air mode, switch this
mode off and increase the air supply
as required.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
BMW Universal Transmitter
*
Programming 1 Channel keys
2 Indicator lamp
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on the previous
page.<
1 Turn the ignition key to position 2
2 To initialize: press and hold both out-
side keys 1 until the indicator lamp 2
flashes, and then release them. The
three channel keys are cleared46cus023
3 Hold the original hand-held transmit-
ter to the receiver embedded in the
mirror, e. g. right near the buttons, no
further than 2 inches away (5 cm)
4 Press the transmission key of the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter (arrow 2)
and the desired channel key of the
Integrated Universal Remote Control
(arrow 1) simultaneously. Release
both keys as soon as the indicator
lamp flashes rapidly
5 To program other original hand-held
transmitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.
The corresponding channel key is now
programmed using the signal from the
original hand-held transmitter. 46cus024
Programming a hand-held
transmitter with conversion code
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on previous page.<
When programming the BMW Universal
Transmitter, consult the instructions for
the specific device. For using the BMW
Universal Transmitter with a conver-
sion-code system, note the following
supplemental programming instruc-
tions:
A second person facilitates pro-
gramming of the BMW Universal
Transmitter.<
1 Program the BMW Universal Trans-
mitter as described previously under
"Programming"
2 Press and hold the programming key
on the receiver of the device for ap-
proximately two seconds until the
programming lamp on the device
comes on
3 Press the desired channel key of the
BMW Universal Transmitter three
times.
If you have additional questions,
please consult your BMW center.<

108n
Luggage rack for the hardtop
*
Mounting pointsAccess to the mounting points:
To open the covers (arrow), please
use the tool included with the luggage
rack system.
A special roof-rack system is available
for your BMW as an optional extra.
Please observe the precautions in-
cluded with the installation instructions.
Because roof racks raise the center of
gravity of the vehicle when loaded, they
exercise 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 weights when loading the rack.
You will find the specifications under
"Technical Data" on page 184.46cde097
Make sure that the load is not too heavy,
and attempt to distribute it evenly.
Always load the heaviest pieces first (on
the bottom). Make sure nothing projects
into the luggage compartment lid's
opening and closing path.
Secure the roof luggage correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or
being lost during driving (danger to fol-
lowing traffic).
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden ac-
celeration or braking. Do not corner at
high speeds.
The roof load increases aerodynamic
resistance, resulting in increased fuel
consumption and additional stresses on
the vehicle body.