airbag BMW 323Ci CONVERTIBLE 2000 E46 Owner's Manual

Contents

Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)24
Hazard warning flashers25
Warning triangle25
First-aid kit25
Refueling26
Fuel specifications27
Tire inflation pressure27

Opening and closing:

Keys32
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing – from
outside34
Opening and closing – from
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment40
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Manual convertible top45
The fully automatic convertible
top49
Wind deflector51

Adjustments:

Seats53
Seat and mirror memory57
Steering wheel58
Mirrors58
Car Memory, Key Memory60

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts61
ISOFIX Attachment of the
child seat62
Airbags63
Child restraints66
Installing a child restraint
system67
Rollover protection system68

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock70
Starting the engine70
Switch off the engine71
Parking brake72
Manual transmission73
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic74
Turn signal indicator/
Headlamp flasher77
Washer/Wiper system/
Rain sensor77
Rear window defroster79
Cruise control80

Everything under control:

Odometer82
Tachometer82
Energy Control82
Fuel gauge83
Coolant temperature gauge83
Service Interval Display83
Check Control84
Clock84
Onboard computer85

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)87
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)88
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)89

Contents

11n

Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams91
Instrument lighting91
High beams/Parking lamps92
Fog lamps92
Interior lamps92
Reading lamps93

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Automatic climate control94
Seat heating99

Cabin convenience:

Glove compartment99
BMW Universal
Transmitter *100
Storage compartments102
Cellular phone103
Ashtray front103
Cigarette lighter104
Ashtray rear104

Loading and transporting:

Ski bag105
Cargo loading106
Luggage rack for the
hardtop108

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures112
Driving notes113
Catalytic converter113
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)114
Disc brakes116
Brake system117
Winter operation118
Power steering120
Cellular phone120
Radio reception120
Hardtop121

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure123
Tire condition123
Tire replacement124
Tire rotation125
Wheel and tire
combinations126
Winter tires127
Snow chains127
Approved wheel and tire
specifications128

Under the hood:

Hood129
Engine compartment130
Washer fluids132
Washer nozzles132
Engine oil133
Coolant135
Brake fluid136
Vehicle Identification
Number137

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System138
Caring for your vehicle139
Cleaning and caring for your
convertible top144
Airbags146
Vehicle storage147

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications to the
vehicle148
OBD interface socket149

Contents

Owner service procedures
Advanced technology
Technical data

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit152
Windshield wiper blades152
Lamps and bulbs152
Changing a wheel159
Battery162
Fuses165

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door165
Fully automatic convertible
top166

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting168
Towing the vehicle169Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)172
Airbags173
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)173
Radio reception174
Safety belt tensioner174
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer175
Rain sensor176
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)177
Self-diagnostics178
Rollover protection system179
Xenon lamp179Engine data182
Dimensions183
Weights184
Capacities185
Electrical system186
Drive belts 186

19n

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview

Instrument cluster

1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp
for fuel reserve83
2 Turn signal indicator lamp23
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for

>

Battery charge current20

>

High beams23

>

Engine oil pressure/Engine oil
level20, 22
5 Tachometer and Energy Control82
6 Engine coolant temperature gauge
with "Coolant temperature too high"
indicator83
7 Indicator and warning lamps
(clockwise) for

>

Parking brake/Brake hydraulic
system/Cornering Brake Control
(CBC)20

>

Antilock Brake System (ABS)22

>

Brake pads22

>

Tire Pressure Control
(RDC)

*
20, 22

>

Rollover protection system68

>

Airbags21

>

Please fasten safety belts21

>

Cruise control23
8 Reset button for

>

Clock849 Program display for automatic
transmission

*
76
Indicator lamp for automatic
transmission

*
22, 76
10 Indicator lamp for Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)22
11 Display for

>

Odometer82

>

Trip odometer82

>

Clock84

>

Service Interval83
Display for onboard computer

*
,
operation via the turn signal lever,
refer to page 85:

>

Clock

>

Outside temperature

>

Average fuel consumption

>

Cruising range

>

Average speed
12 Display for Check Control84
13 Trip odometer, reset to zero8214 Indicator and warning lamps
(clockwise) for

>

Fog lamps23

>

Add washer fluid22

>

Coolant level23

>

Electronic Engine Power
Control (EML)

*
23

>

Engine22
You can display the outside tem-
perature and distance driven in
different units of measurement.

<

21n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Indicator and warning lampsYellow: stop immediately
Engine oil level

Comes on while driving:
Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine. The oil level
is at the absolute minimum.
For additional information, refer to
page 133.
Do not continue driving until you
have refilled the engine oil. If you
continue to drive, the engine could be
damaged because of inadequate
lubrication.<
Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously
Cornering Brake Control
(CBC) l
If the brake warning lamp
comes on together with the yel-
low indicator lamps for ABS and
DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC

control system has failed. Con-
tinue driving cautiously and defensively.
Avoid hard brake applications. Please
have the system checked by your BMW
center as soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
pages 88, 115.
CBC, ABS and DSC indicator
and warning lamps for Canadian
models.
Red: an important reminder
Parking brake
Comes on when the parking
brake is applied – an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off.
For additional information, refer to
page 72.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts l
An acoustic warning signal
sounds at the same time. Lights
up for a few seconds or until the safety
belt is fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts, refer to page 61.
Airbags l
Please have the system in-
spected by your authorized
BMW center.
For additional information, refer to
pages 63, 173.

30n
Opening and closing:
Keys32
Electronic vehicle immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing – from
outside34
Opening and closing – from
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment40
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Manual convertible top45
The fully automatic
convertible top49
Wind deflector51
Adjustments:
Seats53
Seat and mirror memory57
Steering wheel58
Mirrors58
Car Memory, Key Memory60
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts61
ISOFIX Attachment of
the child seat62
Airbags63
Child restraints66
Installing a child restraint
system67
Rollover protection system68
Controls

61n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Fasten your safety belt at the beginning
of every trip.
To fasten: make sure you hear the lock
engage in the belt buckle.
To release: press the red button in the
buckle. Hold the belt and guide it back
into its reel.
Before using the rear safety belts,
take them out of their holder.<46cde050
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for wearing
safety belts. If you do not, the safety
belts may not be able to provide their
maximum protection. The following in-
formation also applies to your passen-
gers: never allow more than one person
to wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a pas-
senger's lap.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it
firmly across your hips and shoulder.
Do not allow the belt to rest against
hard or fragile objects in your pockets.
Do not route the belt across your neck,
or run it across sharp edges and ensure
that the belt does not become caught
or jammed.
Be sure that the safety belt fits snugly
against your body at all times, and
avoid wearing clothing that prevents
the belt from fitting properly. Pull on the
belt periodically to readjust the tension
over your shoulder. In the event of a
frontal impact, a loose lap belt could
slide over your hips, leading to abdomi-
nal injury. In addition, the safety belt's
restraint effectiveness is reduced if the
belt is worn loosely. Expectant mothers
should always wear their safety belts,
taking care to position the lap belt
against the lower hips, where it will not
exert pressure against the abdominal
area.
To prevent undesired belt movements
at high speeds, leave the safety belts
for the back seat in their holders when
they are not required.<
For child restraint system installation,
refer to page 66.
For care instructions, refer to "Car care"
on page 142.
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
Have the entire safety belt mechanism
replaced by your BMW center, including
the safety belt tensioner. In addition,
have your BMW center inspect the
safety belt anchors. If a child restraint
system was in the vehicle during an
accident, consult the manufacturer's
instructions regarding replacement.cChild restraint systems
*
Never install a rear-facing child re-
straint system in the front passen-
ger seat. If you do so, the child could
be injured in an accident when the
airbag is triggered. Do not modify the
child restraint system in any way. If you
do so, it will not provide your child with
maximum protection.<
Safety belts

63n
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.

64n
AirbagsSitting correctly with airbags
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for the air-
bags. If you do not, the airbags may not
be able to provide their maximum pro-
tection. All passengers in the vehicle
should be aware of and comply with
this information:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide extra pro-
tection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags will not be triggered
in the event of a minor accident, a vehi-
cle roll-over, or collisions from the rear.
In these instances, the safety belt pro-
vides optimal protection.
Airbags are located under cover panels
in the steering wheel, in the dashboard
and in the side trim panels in the front.
Adjust your seat to a position that pro-
vides maximum distance between you
and the steering wheel, the instrument
panel and the door while still allowing
comfortable and safe access to all
vehicle controls.
To avoid sustaining hand and arm inju-
ries, always grasp the steering wheel
on the rim with the hands at the 9 and
3 o'clock positions. Do not place your
hands on the center pad.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant.
Do not use the cover panel above the
passenger-side airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way.
Do not install a rear-facing child re-
straint system in the front passenger
seat of this car.
Children under 13 years of age and
children less than 5 feet (150 cm) tall
should ride only in the rear seat.
Infants or small children should never
be held on the lap of a passenger.
If your car is equipped with side airbags
in the rear passenger area, be sure that
child restraints are mounted correctly
and provided with the greatest-possible
distance between the airbags in the
side trim panels. Do not allow children
to lean out of the child's seat in the di-
rection of the side trim panels. If they
do so, serious injuries can occur if the
airbag is triggered. upright and be properly restrained
(infants and small children in appropri-
ate child restraint systems; larger chil-
dren and adults using the safety belts).
Never let an occupant's head rest near
or on a side airbag because the inflating
airbag could cause a serious or fatal in-
jury. Please note that the word "Airbag"
imprinted on the door trim panel indi-
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in an automobile
is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-
ting in the rear seat and not properly re-
strained may place his or her head on
or near the airbag, if so equipped. For
example, a child — even though belted
— may fall asleep with his or her head
against the side airbag. It may be diffi-
cult for a driver to ensure that children
in the rear seat will remain properly po-
sitioned at all times and not place their
heads on or near the side airbag.
Therefore, we recommend that the rear
seat side airbags, if so equipped, 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
center. Labels in the rear door opening

65n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbagsshould 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 ob-
served, 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 provoke a mild
temporary hearing loss in extremely
sensitive individuals.
Airbag warning information is also
provided on the sun visors.
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to pages 146
and 173.This is the right way a child should sit in
a child restraint when rear side airbags
(arrow) are provided.
46cus025
This is the right way a larger child
should sit wearing the safety belt when
rear side airbags (arrow) are provided.46cus026