Index BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE 2001 E46 User Guide

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
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 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)91Lamps:
Side lamps/Low beams93
Instrument panel lighting93
High beams/Parking lamps94
Fog lamps94
Interior lamps94
Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:
Air conditioner96
Automatic climate control102
Seat heating107
Interior convenience:
Glove compartment107
BMW Universal Transmitter108
Storage facilities110
Cellular phone111
Ashtray, front111
Cigarette lighter112
Ashtray rear112
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag113
Cargo loading114
Roof-mounted luggage rack for
hardtop116

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Electronic vehicle immobilizer The key to securityYour BMW is equipped with a passive
antiÐtheft system. This electronic immo-
bilization system is designed to reduce
the susceptibility of the vehicle to theft
by making it impossible to start the
engine using any means other than the
special keys furnished with the vehicle.
Your BMW center can cancel the elec-
tronic system authorization for indi-
vidual keys (in the event of loss, for
instance). A deactivated key can no
longer be used to start the engine.46cde060
How the electronics workAt the heart of this system is an elec-
tronic chip that is integrated into the
key. The lock mechanism itself is actu-
ally a dual-function device, serving as a
communications interface designed to
allow the vehicle's electronics system
to maintain a continuous stream of vari-
able, vehicle-specific signals with the
electronic circuitry in the key. The
system will not release the ignition, fuel
injection and starter unless it recog-
nizes an "authorized" key.
Force applied to the key can
damage the integrated electronic
circuitry. A damaged key can no longer
be used to start the engine.<

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Opening and closing Ð from the outsideUsing the remote control The remote control gives you an excep-
tionally convenient method for
unlocking and locking your vehicle.
Furthermore, it provides two additional
functions that can only be executed by
means of the remote control:
>Switch on the interior lamps, refer to
page 36.
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle Ñ when
parked in an underground garage for
instance.
>To open the luggage compartment,
refer to page 36
The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly, regardless of whether it
was locked or unlocked.
The anti-theft system is also deacti-
vated simultaneously when you unlock
the vehicle, the alarm system is
disarmed, and the interior lamps are
turned on. When you lock the vehicle,
the systems are activated and armed,
and the lamps go off.
You can have a signal set as an
acknowledgment message that
the vehicle is closed correctly.<
Master keysKeys with remote control are master
keys. Refer to page 32.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this
reason, always take the vehicle keys
with you so that the vehicle can be
opened again from the outside at any
time.<46cde020
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion since the battery in the key is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
If it is no longer possible to unlock the
vehicle using the remote control, the
battery is discharged. Use this key
while driving for an extended period in
order to recharge the battery. Refer
also to page 32.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the door
and ignition key or the spare key (refer
to page 32) e. g. whenever leaving the
vehicle for valet parking.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You
can also obtain replacement keys
there.<

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Opening and closing Ð from the outsidePanic mode (triggering alarm)By pressing button 3 for 2 to 5 seconds,
the alarm can be sounded in the event
of danger, if the alarm system is armed.
Pressing button 1 will turn the alarm off.
The LED (light-emitting diode) will light
up briefly whenever you press the indi-
vidual buttons.Non-BMW systemsThe proper functioning of the remote
control system may be affected by
other devices or equipment operating in
the immediate vicinity of your vehicle.
If this should occur, you can still open
and close the vehicle using the master
key in either the door or luggage
compartment lock.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units
comply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the
following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could
void the user's authority to operate this
equipment.<

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Luggage compartment lid The lock Only the master keys (refer to page 32)
fit in the lock for the luggage compart-
ment lid.To secure separatelyTurn the master key to the right past the
resistance point and then pull it out in
the horizontal position.
This locks the luggage compartment lid
and disconnects it from the central
locking system. If you surrender only
the door and ignition key, for valet
parking, for instance (refer to page 32),
this will prevent unauthorized access to
the luggage compartment.46cde001
Opening from outsidePress the button in the handle recess
(arrow):
The luggage compartment lid opens
slightly.
The luggage compartment is lit when
the lid is opened. Manual operation(in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the master key to the right as far
as possible Ð the luggage compartment
lid will open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.06cde01046cde003
Opening from the insideIf the luggage compartment lid has not
been locked separately, you can open it
with this button in the footwell on the
driver's side when the vehicle is
stationary.460de011

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Luggage compartment3 Raise and secure the floor panel by
hanging it from the rubber seal ring
for the run-off gutter (arrow).
Carefully replace the hanger in its
holder when lowering the floor
panel back into place.<46cde032
Enlarging the luggage
compartmentWith the convertible top closed, you
can enlarge the luggage compartment.
To do this, flip the handle outward and
press it down and toward the front of
the car (arrow). The convertible top
compartment panel is now raised and
secured.
To prepare to open the convertible top,
follow the steps in reverse order.
When opening the convertible top,
make sure that the luggage
compartment is set up for this Ñ see
page 45 or 48, otherwise damage may
be caused.<46cde009
To secure your luggage, use the
luggage nets
* or flexible straps that you
can attach to the fittings at the inner
corners of the luggage compartment.
Refer also to "Cargo loading" on
page 114.

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Alarm system
*
>The indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is
disarmed: an attempted entry has
been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Avoiding unintentional alarms The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm from being triggered (in garages
with elevator ramps, for instance, or
when the vehicle is transported by
trailer or train):
Lock the vehicle (= arm the system)
twice. Press button 2 on the remote
control twice in succession or lock the
vehicle twice with the key. Refer to
page 34.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated as long as the system is
armed.
Reset the alarm to reactivate the tilt
alarm sensor and the interior motion
sensor.
Interior motion sensor Transmitter and receiver for the interior
motion sensor are located in the front
area of the center console, invisible to
the driver, and in the back area of the
center console under a rack.
However, be sure to deactivate the
interior motion sensor (see previous
column) if children or animals are to
remain in the vehicle.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units
comply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal
Communication Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the
following:
FCC ID: LTQSDR2G5
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to
these devices could void the
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<

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The manual convertible top The fabric top offers perfect protection
against weather and one person can
open and close it easily and simply.
So that you will get the most out of your
convertible, here are a few tips: it is
advisable to close the convertible top
when the vehicle is parked. The closed
convertible top not only protects the
passenger compartment from unfore-
seeable damage from the weather, it
also provides a certain degree of theft
protection.
In addition, keep valuables only in the
locked luggage compartment, even
with the convertible top closed.
Never mount a roof-mounted luggage
rack on the convertible top.
To close the electric power
windows while driving: always be
sure to close either the rear wondow
first or all 4 windows at the same time,
otherwise, at high speeds, the windows
may not close completely.<
Open the convertible top
Operate the convertible top only
when the vehicle is stationary.
With the luggage compartment lid
open, you will not be able to unlock the
convertible top compartment lid to
avoid any possible damage.<
1 Flip the locking handle out (see illus-
tration), and turn it up to the end
stop.
2 Raise the convertible top slightly
(release the tension).
46cde064
3 From ignition key position 1 on press
the switch to unlock the convertible
top. The convertible top unlocks and
opens slightly. The side windows
lower slightly.
If the indicatior lamp comes on
while the switch is pressed, the
convertible top can not be released
because the convertible top compart-
ment panel is raised, refer to page 41.
Fold down the convertible top compart-
ment panel, and close the luggage
compartment lid.<46cus042

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The manual convertible topCentral locking will unlock automati-
cally after the convertible top compart-
ment lid has been closed, i.e., the
luggage compartment lid is no longer
locked and can be opened again.
To avoid permanent damage from
moisture, never store the convert-
ible top when it is wet. Refer to the
chapter "Care," starting on page 156).<
Closing the convertible top.1 Put the ignition key in position 1.
2 Press the switch to unlock it.
The convertible top compartment lid
will be unlocked and the side
windows will lower slightly.
3 Open the convertible top compart-
ment lid completely by hand.
4 Lift the convertible top out by the
lateral guide section (1) and the front
convertible top bow (2), swinging it
forward until you encounter percep-
tible resistance.
Position the rear convertible top
bow vertically only after the
convertible top has been swung toward
the front, otherwise the side trim panel
could be damaged.<46cus037
5 Either close the slightly lowered side
windows or move them into the
desired position.
6 Press down slightly on the convert-
ible top compartment lid from above.
The closing procedure will then be
carried out automatically, refer to
page 46.
Operate the convertible top
compartment lid from above only
in order to avoid pinching.<
After the convertible top compart-
ment lid has been closed, the
central locking system will unlock auto-
matically, i. e. the luggage compartment
lid is no longer locked and can be
opened again.<
7 Holding on to the locking handle, pull
the front part of the convertible top
frame up onto the windshield frame,
and lock the convertible top by
turning the handle until you hear the
convertible top engage.
The rear convertible top bow will auto-
matically be pressed down onto the
convertible top compartment lid and
because of the tension, will close com-
pletely.