ESP BMW 323Ci CONVERTIBLE 2000 E46 Owner's Guide

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Antilock Brake System (ABS)The concept ABS enhances active driving safety
by helping to prevent the wheels from
locking while braking. This is because
locked wheels are dangerous. When
the front wheels slide, the driver loses
steering control over the vehicle.
Traction loss at the rear wheels can
cause the rear end to break into an
uncontrolled skid.
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability
>To help maintain steering control and
maneuverability – on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, mud, wet
road surfaces, snow, ice).
The system can achieve the shortest
braking distances possible under most
conditions (on straight aways and in
curves, on asphalt, ice, wet road sur-
faces, etc.).
Braking with ABSThe system is operative once the vehi-
cle exceeds a speed of approx. 6 mph
(10 km/h). It is deactivated once again
below approx. 4 mph (6 km/h). This
means that the wheels can lock in the
final phase of a panic stop – a factor of
no significance in actual use.
If you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum brake pressure ("panic stop").
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can nevertheless
avoid possible obstacles with a mini-
mum of steering effort.
The ABS closed-loop control circuit
cycles in fractions of a second. A pulsa-
tion at the brake pedal, together with
the sounds associated with the hydrau-
lic controls, tells you that the brake sys-
tem is within its maximum limit range,
and reminds you that you should adapt
road speed to the road conditions.
On road surfaces that have a loose
surface layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel or snow, for exam-
ple), or when snow chains are mounted,
braking distances may be longer than
with locked wheels. However, ABS continues to provide
enhanced vehicle stability and steering
response under these conditions.
Information for your safetyNot even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. ABS cannot prevent the conse-
quences of brake applications with inad-
equate clearances for safety between
vehicles, when exceeding the speed
limit in curves, or the risks involved
when aquaplaning occurs. Responsibil-
ity for these types of situations remains
in the hands (and at the feet) of the
driver. You should never allow the
added safety of ABS to lull you into a
false sense of security, or mislead you
into taking increased risks that could
affect your own safety and that of others.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<

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Disc brakesDisc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure that
must be exerted by the pads to clean
the rotors by brake applications is
not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect that even extended
brake applications will fail to cure.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has ap-
proved for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-ap-
proved brake pads to determine if they
are suited for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehi-
cle if they are installed.<
Driving notesWhen driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles or kilometers. Watch traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other drivers. The heat
which is generated by the brake appli-
cations helps to dry the brake pads and
rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate, but
rather when they are still barely turning
immediately prior to locking. ABS main-
tains this state automatically. If the ABS
fails, you should revert to the staggered
braking technique described on
page 119.
Extended or steep mountain descents
do not necessarily lead to reduced
braking efficiency if you drive downhill
with the transmission in a gear that
allows minimal brake applications (or,
with automatic transmission
*, in an
appropriate lower gear).
You can further increase the engine's
braking effect by selecting a lower gear,
downshifting as far as first gear or plac-
ing the selector lever in position 1.If engine braking should prove to be
inadequate, you should still avoid ex-
tended, continuous braking. Instead of
maintaining low to moderate pressure
over an extended period of time, you
should decelerate by applying more
substantial pressure to the brake pedal
(watch for following traffic), releasing
the pedal, and then repeating the appli-
cation (staggered braking). The cooling
phases between active braking inter-
vals prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing, thus ensuring that full braking
capacity remains available at all times.
Do not coast with the clutch de-
pressed or with the shift lever or
selector lever in "Neutral". Do not drive
with the engine shut off. The engine
provides no braking effect when the
clutch is depressed or the transmission
is in "Neutral", and there is no power
assist for braking or steering when the
engine is not running.
Do not allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the brake pedal, the clutch or
the accelerator, which could obstruct
their freedom of movement.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Winter operationBrakesWinter road conditions substantially
reduce the amount of traction available
between the tires and the road surface.
Keep this in mind, because the braking
distance increases substantially.
ABS is intended to prevent the wheels
from locking during brake applications,
thus helping to maintain vehicle stability
and steering response.
If the ABS does not respond in a critical
braking situation and the wheels lock,
reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
until the wheels just start to roll again
while still maintaining enough force to
continue braking. Then increase the
pressure, reduce the pressure when the
wheels lock, reapply pressure, etc.
This staggered braking procedure will
reduce stopping distances while help-
ing you maintain steering control.
You can then attempt to steer around
hazards after you have reduced pres-
sure on the brake pedal.Do not shift down on slick road
surfaces. Doing so could cause
the rear wheels to lose traction and
skid, which could result in the loss of
vehicle control.<
Depress the clutch during hard
braking on road surfaces that pro-
vide only poor or uneven traction.<
Skid control Depress the clutch and release the ac-
celerator pedal, or place the selector
lever of the automatic transmission into
the "Neutral" position. Countersteer
carefully and attempt to regain control
of the vehicle.
ParkingEngage first or reverse gear. If your
vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, place the selector lever in
Park. On vehicles with manual trans-
mission, also apply the parking brake
when parking on inclined surfaces. In
order to prevent the parking brake pads
from locking due to frost or corrosion,
dry them by gently applying the parking
brake as the vehicle is coming to a
stop. Make sure that following traffic
is not endangered.
The brake lamps do not come
on when the parking brake
is applied.<

120n
Power steering Cellular phone* Radio reception Changes in steering response, e.g. high
steering effort:
Consult a BMW center to have the sys-
tem checked.
If the power steering fails, in-
creased effort will be required to
steer the vehicle.<
Only mobile communications systems
(cellular phone, two-way radios, etc.)
with an output up to 10 watts are per-
mitted. Mobile communications devices
not specifically designed for use in your
vehicle may trigger malfunctions while
operating your vehicle. BMW can nei-
ther test nor assume responsibility for
every individual product being offered
on the market. We recommend that you
consult your BMW center before pur-
chasing any device of this kind.
To ensure that your BMW continues to
provide reliable and trouble-free opera-
tion, do not use a cellular phone or
other radio device with an antenna
located inside the passenger compart-
ment. The antenna should always be
mounted on the outside of the vehicle.
Before loading the vehicle on
a car-carrier train or driving it
through a car-wash, remove the
antenna.<
The reception and sound quality
obtained from mobile radios varies
according to a variety of factors, includ-
ing the broadcast range of the transmit-
ter and the directional orientation of the
antenna. Interference factors such as
high-tension power lines, structural or
natural obstructions can all lead to un-
avoidable reception interference, re-
gardless of how well the vehicle sound
system is operating.
Climatic factors such as intense solar
radiation, fog, rain and snow can also
interfere with reception.
Car telephones or cellular phones not
approved by BMW can also cause in-
terference in the radio during a tele-
phone call. This phenomenon assumes
the form of a low-pitched hum emanat-
ing from the speaker system.
Please refer to the supplementary
Owner's Manual provided with your car
radio
* for detailed information on its
use.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Information for your safetyThe factory approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all else
– driving safety that depend on the con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures reg-
ularly – including the space-saver
spare tire – at least twice a month and
before beginning a longer trip (see
page 27). If this is not done, incorrect
tire pressures can cause driving insta-
bility and tire damage, ultimately result-
ing in accidents.<
Tire tread – tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base indicate that the legally-
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively moder-
ate speeds and with only small amounts
of water on the road.390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. You
could have a blowout as a result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
This is also true for irregularities in the
vehicle's handling characteristics, such
as a pronounced tendency to pull to the
left or right. Should this occur, respond
by immediately reducing your speed.
Proceed carefully to the nearest BMW
center or professional tire center, or
have the vehicle towed in to have it and
its tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including sud-
den and complete air loss) can endan-
ger the lives of both the vehicle occu-
pants and other drivers on the road.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition

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To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. BMW tests and approves
wheel/tire combinations. Refer to
page 128.
DOT Quality GradesTreadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
In addition to the tire grades listed
above, all passenger car tires must
conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments as well.< TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1-1/2) times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions 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.TractionThe 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 speci-
fied government test surfaces of as-
phalt 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, corner-
ing, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.< TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire's re-
sistance to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the tire material to degenerate and re-
duce tire life, and excessive tempera-
ture can lead to sudden tire failure. The
Grade C corresponds to a level of per-
formance 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 prop-
erly inflated and not overloaded. Exces-
sive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and possi-
ble tire failure.< 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
Do not use retreaded tires ("caps").
Driving safety may be impaired by
their use. This due to the possible varia-
tions in casing structures and, in some
cases, to their extreme age, factors
which can lead to a decrease in their
durability.<
Tire replacement

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which 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. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire pressureOnce the tire wears to a tread depth
below 0.16 in (4 mm), winter tires dis-
play a perceptible decrease in their
ability to cope with winter driving condi-
tions, and should be replaced in the
interest of safety.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures – and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. Although all-season
tires with the M+S identification provide
better winter traction than summer tires
with H, V, W Y and ZR speed ratings,
they generally fail to provide the same
levels of performance as standard
winter tires.
In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer having
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels.
Mount only winter tires which have
been approved by BMW. Any BMW
center will be glad to provide you with
information on the best winter tires for
your particular driving conditions.
StorageAlways store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against con-
tact with oil, grease and fuel.Snow chains
*
The use of narrow-link BMW snow
chains on summer or winter tires is
approved only in pairs and only on the
rear wheels. Comply with all manufac-
turer's safety precautions when mount-
ing the chains.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
To unlock Pull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the dashboard.
Do not work on your vehicle with-
out appropriate skills. Always
switch off the engine and allow it to
cool down before working in the engine
compartment. Always disconnect the
battery before working on any electrical
systems or equipment, especially when
these are located within the engine
compartment. Comply with all applica-
ble instructions and warnings. Failure to
work in an informed, professional man-
ner when servicing components and
materials constitutes a safety hazard
for vehicle occupants and other road
users. If you are not familiar with the
guidelines, please have the operations
performed by your BMW center.<460us012
To openPull the release handle and open the
hood.462de269
To closeAllow the hood to fall from a height of
about 12 in (30 cm) so that it audibly
engages.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is being closed, as with all
closing procedures. If it is determined
that the hood is not completely closed
while driving, stop immediately and
close it securely.<462de270
Hood

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The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means for
providing maximum driving and operat-
ing safety – and as cost effectively as
possible for you. Once again, with re-
spect to the previous version, mainte-
nance costs were able to be reduced
due to technical innovations.
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 its
resale value.
Service Interval DisplayAdvanced technology is employed to
calculate the optimal maintenance in-
tervals. These are then indicated in the 46cus018
Service Interval Display. While conven-
tional systems rely on distance traveled
alone to determine when service is due,
the BMW Maintenance System has for
years considered the actual conditions
under which the vehicle operates, be-
cause miles can be traveled in many
different ways:
From a maintenance point of view,
62,000 miles (100,000 km) of short-dis-
tance urban driving are not the same as
62,000 miles (100,000 km) of long-dis-
tance highway driving.
In response to this fact, the BMW Main-
tenance System monitors operating
conditions as the basis for determining
the optimum service intervals for your
individual vehicle. The BMW Mainte-
nance System includes the Engine Oil
Service and Inspections I and II.
Determining maintenance intervals ac-
cording to the actual use of the vehicle
covers every kind of operating situation.
Even those who drive very little – signif-
icantly less than 6,000 miles (10,000 km)
annually – should still have the engine oil
changed at least every 2 years because
engine oil deteriorates over time, re-
gardless of the amount of wear and tear
to which it has been subjected.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models)/Warranty and
Service Guide (Canadian 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 advis-
able to have the body checked for dam-
age from rocks or gravel at the same
time, depending upon operating condi-
tions.
Have your BMW center perform
maintenance and repair.
Your BMW center is always up-to-date
on the latest maintenance work and re-
pair 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

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Washing your vehicle You can wash your BMW at an auto-
matic car wash, even when it is new.
Brushless systems are preferable (refer
to page 144 as well).
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the vehicle.
In order to avoid spots, do not wash the
vehicle when the hood is warm, or dur-
ing or immediately after exposure to
strong sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash, be
sure that:
>The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle
>No damage will occur to vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). Consult the
car wash operator if necessary
>The wheels and tires of your vehicle
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system
>The vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that ample water
is available for washing and rinsing.Vehicles with rain sensor
*:
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
from automatic car washes or insects
can cause the rain sensor* to malfunc-
tion.
Turn the rain sensor* off (refer to
page 78) when passing through an
automatic car wash. Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by unin-
tended wiper activation.<
Parts of the vehicle that are inaccessi-
ble to the automatic washer – such as
door sills, door and hood edges, etc. –
should be cleaned by hand.
In the winter months, it is especially im-
portant to ensure that the vehicle is
washed on a regular basis. Large quan-
tities of dirt and road salt are difficult to
remove, and they also damage the
vehicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's sur-
face. Inadequate distance and exces-
sive pressure can damage or weaken
the finish, making it more susceptible to
subsequent attack. In addition, mois-
ture could penetrate to vehicle compo-
nents, leading to long-term damage.<
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
Do not clean by wiping with a dry cloth
(scratches). Never use abrasives or
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Remove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty
of water. Always use a deicer spray to
remove accumulated ice and snow –
never use a scraper.<
After washing the vehicle, apply
the brakes briefly to dry them.
Braking efficiency might otherwise be
reduced by the moisture and the brake
rotors could also corrode.<
Caring for your vehicle