open top BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE 2001 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 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

30n
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
Controls

34n
Central locking system Opening and closing Ð from the outside The conceptThe central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door
is closed. The system engages and
releases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door
>glove compartment
at the same time.
The central locking system can be
operated
>from outside via the door lock and
using the remote control
>from inside by pressing a button.
Activating it from inside does not lock
the fuel filler door (see page 38). When
the system is actuated from the
outside, the anti-theft system is acti-
vated simultaneously. Both the door
locks and the safety lock buttons
remain locked. The alarm system is also
armed or disarmed.
The central locking system unlocks
automatically in the event of an acci-
dent. In addition, the hazard warning
flashers and interior lamps come on.
Using the keyTurning the key once in the driver-side
door will unlock only the driver's door.
Turning the key a second time will
unlock the passenger-side door, the
luggage compartment lid, the fuel filler
door and the glove compartment.
You can have a signal set as an
acknowledgment message that
the vehicle is closed correctly.<460de006
Convenience operationYou can also operate the power
windows and the fully automatic
convertible top from the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, hold
the key in the "Unlock" position.
>To close: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Lock" position and
hold it.
Watch during the closing process
to be sure that no one is injured.
Releasing the key stops the operation. Turn the key to the extreme left or right
to unlock/lock the door.

36n
Opening and closing Ð from the outsideTo unlock the vehicleUnlock driver's door: press button 1.
After unlocking the driver's door, press
button 1 again to unlock the entire
vehicle.Convenience opening modePress and hold button 1. The electric
power windows and the fully automatic
convertible top are opened.To lock and securePress button 2.46cde056
To switch on the interior lampsAfter locking the vehicle, press button 2
again.To switch off tilt alarm
* and
interior motion sensor*
Press button 2 again immediately after
locking.
For additional information: refer to
page 43.46cde057
To open the luggage
compartment lidPress button 3.
The luggage compartment lid will open
slightly, regardless of whether the lid
was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure
that the luggage compartment lid
was not opened unintentionally.<46cde058

41n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
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.

44n
Electric power windowsOpen and close the windowsFrom ignition key position 1:
>Press the switch up to but not past
the pressure point:
The window will lower slightly, as
long as you continue pressing the
switch.
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point:
The window will move automatically.
Pressing the switch again stops the
opening cycle.
You can close windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.46cus052
Operate all the side windows>Press the switch up to but not past
the pressure point:
All of the windows will continue to
lower as long as you continue to
press the switch.
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point:
All windows will move automatically.
Pressing the switch again stops the
opening cycle.
You can close all the windows in the
same manner by pulling the switch.46cus053
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still use the electric power
windows for up to 15 minutes, as long
as no one opens any of the doors.
Remove the key from the ignition
lock and close the doors when
you leave the vehicle, so that children
cannot operate the power windows and
possibly injure themselves.<
To use the convenience mode via the
door lock, refer to page 34.

45n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
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

46n
The manual convertible top4 Position the rear convertible top bow
vertically and grip it firmly.
You can support the rear convert-
ible top bow while lifting it up by
pressing the designated area (arrow).<46cde073
5 Reach into the gap of the slightly
opened convertible top compart-
ment lid and open it all the way by
hand (1).
6 Lay the rear convertible top bow in
the convertible top compartment (2).
Release the rear convertible top
bow before laying down the
convertible top, otherwise the side trim
panel could be damaged.<
7 Lift the top up at the front and move it
toward the rear.
Push the convertible top
completely into the convertible
top compartment. This makes it easier
to close the convertible top compart-
ment lid, especially at lower tempera-
tures.<46cde068
8 Press down slightly on the convert-
ible top compartment lid from above
(arrow). The closing procedure will
then be carried out automatically.
9 Either close the slightly lowered side
windows or move them into the
desired position.
Operate the convertible top
compartment lid from above only
in order to avoid pinching.
If the convertible top compartment lid
has not been closed properly, you will
not be able to open the luggage
compartment lid. This is to avoid any
possible damage.<46cde076

47n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
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.

48n
The manual convertible top
The fully automatic convertible top
*
At higher speeds, the ensuing
vacuum in the passenger
compartment can cause the convertible
top to begin fluttering. Increase the air
supply via the ventilation controls so
that a vacuum does not occur in the
vehicle.<
The completely automatically operated
convertible top combines assured
protection against the elements
together with simple, convenient
handling. So that you will get the most
out of enjoying 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
unforeseeable 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 prevent damage, do not operate the
convertible top at temperatures below
Ð 10 6.
To conserve the battery, only operate
the top with the engine running if
possible.
The convertible top operation is
completely automatic. You will hardly
ever need to support it by hand, refer to
page 49.
Operate the convertible top only if
the vehicle is parked and do not
start driving while the convertible top is
in motion, because at certain points,
this could possibly interrupt the
process. A partially open convertible
top can possibly lead to damage or
injury.
If you initiated convertible top operation
while the vehicle was standing still, and
then start to drive off, you can complete
the process at a traffic light, for
example, while traveling at a moderate
rate of speed. To do this, keep pressing
the proper switch.
Traffic laws applicable in your area take
precedence when you operate the
convertible top, otherwise you may be
breaking the law.
Before closing the convertible top,
remove any objects from the windshield
frame that could keep the convertible
top from closing properly.
Do not lay objects on the convertible
top, since they will fall off when the
convertible top is in motion and cause
damage or injuries.
To close the electric power windows
while driving, always be sure to close
either the rear windows first, or all
four windows at the same time, other-
wise, at high speeds, the windows may
not close tightly.