BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE 2001 E46 Owner's Manual

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

325Ci
330Ci
BMW recommends Castrol

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:
Read this Owner's Manual to get summarized information, before you start out in
your new BMW. 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. This manual also contains information on maintenance and care,
designed to ensure your safety and the proper operation of your vehicle, and to
maintain your vehicle's value.
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 this publication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:
Ð New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Ð Limited Warranty Rust Perforation
Ð Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
Ð California Emission Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or in the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

© 2000 BMW AG
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order no. 01 41 0 155 480
US English VIII/00
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling).
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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 table of contents immedi-
ately following the index is intended to
arouse your curiosity about your BMW
and stimulate you to read about it.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at
some time in the future, please
remember to hand over this Owner's
Manual to the new owner; it is part of
the vehicle.
If you have any questions, your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.

Symbols used

Indicates instructions or precau-
tions that must be followed
precisely in order to avoid the possi-
bility of personal injury and serious
damage to the vehicle.

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Contains information that will
assist you in gaining the optimum
benefit from your vehicle and enables
you to care more effectively for your
vehicle.

<


Refers to measures that can
be taken to help protect the
environment.

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<

Marks the end of a specific item of
information.

*
Indicates special equipment, coun-
try-specific equipment and optional
extras.
Identifies systems or components,
which your BMW center can either
activate or adapt to suit an individual
driver's requirements ("Car Memory",
"Key Memory"). Refer to page 59.

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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 possible differences
can easily be identified, since all
optional accessories 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.

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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.

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For your own safety

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (i.e. 15 %
MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an equiva-
lent amount of co-solvent) will not void
the applicable warranties respecting
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
temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend 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.

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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
optimum 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,
compromise 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.

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Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed
by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.

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Symbol on vehicle parts

Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this
Owner's Manual for information on a
particular part or assembly.

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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 o\
r 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, Tel\
ephone (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, N\
HTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, I\
nc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free \
at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transport\
ation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotlin\
e.

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

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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 specifications27
Tire inflation pressure27

Opening and closing:

Keys32
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð from the
outside34
Opening and closing Ð from the
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment40
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
The manual convertible top45
The fully automatic convertible
top48
Wind deflector50

Adjusting:

Seats52
Seat and mirror memory56
Steering wheel57
Mirrors57
Car Memory, Key Memory59

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts60
Airbags61
Transporting children safely64
Rollover protection system67

Driving:

Steering/Ignition lock69
Starting the engine69
Switching off the engine70
Parking brake71
Manual transmission72
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic73
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher76
Washer/Wiper system76
Rear window defroster78
Cruise control79

Everything under control:

Odometer81
Tachometer81
Energy Control81
Fuel temperature gauge82
Coolant temperature gauge82
Service Interval Display82
Check Control83
Computer83

Technology for driving comfort
and safety:

Park Distance Control (PDC)87
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)88
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)89
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)91

Contents