BMW 323i SEDAN 2000 E46 Owner's Manual

Owner's Manual for the Vehicle.
With a quick reference guide
for your convenience.

323i
328i

Preface

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and
security when you drive it. We therefore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the
information that we have compiled for you before driving your new car. It contains
important data and instructions intended to assist you in gaining maximum use and
satisfaction from the unique range of technical features on your BMW. The manual
also contains information on care and maintenance designed to enhance operating
safety and contribute to maintaining the value of your BMW throughout an extended
service life.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important
operating, safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information Booklet
(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models). We
recommend that you read these publications thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:
Ð New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Ð Limited Warranty Rust Perforation
Ð Emissions System Defect Warranty
Ð Emissions Performance Warranty
Ð California Emissions Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) and the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

© 1999 BMW AG
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order number 01 41 0 155 024
US English IX/99
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling)
4n

Notes on the Owner's Manual

We have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you wish to gain only an initial
overview of your vehicle, you will find
this in the first chapter.
The detailed list of contents that directly
follows the summary of contents is
intended to stimulate your curiosity
regarding your BMW and to encourage
you to read the manual.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at
some time in the future, please remem-
ber to hand over this Owner's Manual
to the new owner; it is part of the
vehicle.
Should you have any further questions,
your BMW center will be glad to assist
at any time.

Symbols used

These sections contain vital infor-
mation Ð please read the accom-
panying text passages carefully, for
your safety, the safety of others and to
prevent damage to your BMW.

<


These passages contain informa-
tion on special and unique fea-
tures of your vehicle.

<


Indicates special information on
recycling.

<



<

Indicates the end of a note.

*
Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras.
Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this Owner's
Manual for information on a specific part
or assembly.
Alerts you to functions that can
be adjusted by your BMW center
("Car Memory" or "Key Memory"). Refer
to page 53.

<



The individual vehicle

On purchasing your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same group.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
which you might not have chosen for
your vehicle. Any differences can easily
be identified, since all optional acces-
sories and special equipment are
marked with an asterisk

*
.
If your BMW features equipment which
is not described in this Owner's Manual
(car radio or telephone, for instance),
Supplementary Owner's Manuals are
enclosed. We ask you to read these
manuals as well.

Notes on the Owner's Manual
Symbols used
The individual vehicle

5n

Status at time of printing

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, it is possible that the features
described in this Owner's Manual could
differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely
ruled out. You are therefore asked to
appreciate that no legal claims can be
entertained on the basis of the data,
illustrations or descriptions in this
Owner's Manual.

Status at time of printing

6n

For your own safety

Use unleaded gasoline only.
Fuels containing up to 10% etha-
nol or other oxygenates with up to 2.8%
oxygen by weight (i.e. 15% MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent
amount of co-solvent) will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
Field experience has indicated signifi-
cant differences in fuel quality (volatility,
composition, additives, for example)
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in drive-
ability, starting and stalling problems,
especially under certain environmental
conditions, such as high ambient tem-
perature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems that you suspect could be related
to the fuel you are using, we recom-
mend that you respond by switching
to a recognized high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when
you are handling gasoline.

<

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.

Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones (including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (such as C.B., walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause
extensive damage to the vehicle, com-
promise its safety, interfere with the
vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty.
See your BMW center for additional
information.
Do not use a key or remote control to
lock the doors or luggage compartment
with anyone inside the car. See
page 34 for more details.
"Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any
automotive repair establishment or indi-
vidual using any certified automotive
part."

<

For your own safety

7n
The following only applies to vehicles owned and operated in the US.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of
North America, Inc., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 202-366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

8n

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology

9n

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview

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 specifications26
Tire inflation pressure27

Locks and security systems:

Keys32
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð from
outside34
Opening and closing Ð from
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment41
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Sliding/Tilt sunroof45

Adjustments:

Seats47
Seat and mirror memory50
Steering wheel51
Mirrors52
Car Memory, Key Memory53

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts54
Child restraint systems55
Child-safety locks56
Airbags56
Child restraints59
Installing a child restraint
system60

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock61
Starting the engine61
Switching off the engine62
Parking brake63
Manual transmission64
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher68
Wiper/Washer system/Rain
sensor68
Rear window defroster70
Cruise control71

Everything under control:

Odometer73
Tachometer73
Energy Control73
Fuel gauge74
Temperature gauge74
Service Interval Display74
Check Control75
Clock75
Onboard computer76

Technology for safety and
convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)78
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)79
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)80

Contents