seats 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

51n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Wind deflector
*
2 Flip out both side pieces and lock
into place (arrow).46cde098
Hold the wind deflector so that the
smaller half faces toward the
front.<
3 Guide the mounting pin for the side
piece into the proper opening.
4 Pull back on the mounting pin for the
other side piece by using the slide, so
that the mounting pin can be guided
into the opening provided.
5 Unlock the convertible top compart-
ment lid; see page 45 or 49, and
open the convertible top compart-
ment lid.
6 Flip the back half of the wind
deflector backward, so that the
mounts are lying on the vehicle.
46cde099
7 Close the convertible top compart-
ment lid. The wind deflector is now
attached so that it is theft-proof.
Operate the convertible top
compartment lid from above only
to avoid any pinching.
With the wind deflector in place: never
push the front seats all the way back to
avoid damaging the wind deflector. installing in reverse order.

65n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Transporting children safelyCommercially available child seats
complying with the legal standard are
designed to be secured with a seat belt
or with the seat belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt.
Improperly or inadequately installed
restraint systems can increase the risk
of injury to children. Always read and
follow the instructions that come with
the system.
If you use a child restraint system with a
tether strap, two additional tether
anchorage points (refer to the arrows in
the illustration) have been provided.
They are located under the convertible
top compartment.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area,
attach the tether strap to the corres-
ponding anchorage point to secure the
child restraint system.46cus001
Lift the respective headrest and pass
the tether strap between the headrest
and the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Before installing any child restraint
device or child seat, please read
the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the
front passenger. Because the backrest
on any rear-facing child restraint
system (of the kind designed for infants
under 1 year and 20 lbs./9 kg) would be
within the airbag's deployment range,
you should never mount such a device
in the front passenger seat, as the
impact of the airbag against the child
restraint's backrest could lead to
serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child (not an
infant) to ride in the front seat, certain
precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as a far away
from the dashboard as possible. This
important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the
airbag and the child. Older children
should be tightly secured with the
safety belt. Younger children should be
secured in an appropriate forward-
facing child restraint system that has
first been properly secured with a
safety belt.
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
system in the front passenger seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
and observe the instructions for instal-
lation and use provided by the child
restraint's manufacturer whenever you
use such a device.
Allways ensure that all occupants (of all
ages) remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.c
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819, an industry recommended
practice for securing child restraint
systems in motor vehicles.

110n
BMW Universal Transmitter
*
Storage facilities
Clearing the channel keys
Read and comply with the safety
precautions on page 108.<
The memory of individual channel keys
cannot be deleted. However, the three
channel keys can be cleared together
as follows:
>Press and hold both outside keys of
the BMW Universal Transmitter until
the indicator lamp flashes, and then
release them.
All of the channel keys are cleared.
User informationDo not use this BMW Universal Trans-
mitter with any garage door opener that
lacks safety "stop" and "reverse"
features as required by federal safety
standards (this includes any garage
door opener model manufactured
before April 1, 1982).
This device complies with Section 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: as defined
in the regulations, this device must not
emit harmful interference, and must be
shielded against interference from
external sources to prevent unautho-
rized or inadvertent activation.To
open the storage compartment in
the front center armrest: press the
button (arrow) and lift upward.
You will find additional storage
compartments in the doors and in the
center console above the ashtray.
Storage nets are located on the back-
rests of the front seats.460us043

113n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Ski bag
*
The ski bag allows the safe and clean
transport of up to three pairs of skis or
up to two snowboards.
The length of the ski bag and the addi-
tional space provided in the luggage
compartment make it possible to carry
skis up to 6.8 ft long (2.1 0 meters).
Because of the tapered shape of the
bag, the ski bag can only accommodate
two pairs of skis up to 6.8 ft long
(2.1 0 meters).
Loading1 Take the safety belts out of their
brackets.
2 Press button downward (arrow) and
remove the filler piece by pulling it
forward.
3 Extend the ski bag between the front
seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to stored items and it
allows the ski bag to dry faster.46cde066
4 Press the release button in the
luggage compartment (arrow).
5 Use the magnetic holder to fasten the
cover panel to the back wall.
To store the ski bag, perform the above
steps in reverse sequence.
Secure the skis or other objects in
the bag by tightening the strap
with the buckle.<
Please be sure that your skis are clean
before loading them into the bag. Avoid
damage from sharp edges during
loading.46cde065

154n
Caring for your vehicleWindow careYou can use window and glass cleaner
to clean inside window surfaces and
mirrors without smearing and streaking.
Never use polishing pastes or abrasive
(quartz) cleansers on mirror lenses.
Clean the wiper blades with soapy
water. The wiper blades should be
replaced twice a year Ð before and after
the winter months. This is especially
important for vehicles with a rain
sensor.
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW.<
Caring for other vehicle
components and materials Light-alloy wheels should be treated
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially
during the winter months. However, do
not use aggressive products contain-
ing acids, strong alkalis or abrasive
cleaning agents, nor steam cleaners
operating at temperatures above
140 7 (+60 6) (follow the manufac-
turer's instructions).
If your vehicle has chrome parts
*, such
as the window frames and door handles,
clean these parts carefully with ample
clean water and a shampoo supplement
if desired, especially if they have an
accumulation of road salt. Use a chrome
polish for an additional treatment.
Plastic components, vinyl upholstery,
headliners (hardtop), lamp lenses, the
clear cover of the instrument panel and
components with a sprayed dull black
surface can be cleaned with water (add
plastic shampoo as required). Do not
allow moisture to soak through the
seats or headliner (hardtop). Never use
solvents such as lacquer thinner,
heavy-duty grease remover, fuels, or
similar substances. Rubber components should be cleaned
with water only; a rubber treatment or
silicone spray may also be applied.
Do not remove safety belts to clean
them. Clean them with mild soapy
water only. Do not use chemicals or dry
cleaners to clean safety belts, since this
could damage the belt fabric.
After cleaning, never allow the inertia
reel to retract the belts until they are
completely dry. Dirty safety belts
prevent the inertia reel mechanism from
retracting the strap properly, and thus
constitute a safety hazard.
Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats
*
can be cleaned with an interior cleaner.
The floor mats can be removed from
the vehicle for cleaning.
Use only a damp cloth to clean trim
panels made of real wood
* and other
parts constructed of real wood
*. Follow
up by drying with a soft cloth.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products available at your BMW
center.<

155n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleCare of upholstery materials Depressions in the upholstery that
result from everyday use can be
brushed smooth by brushing against
the nap with a lightly dampened brush.
The tendency of the pile to lie in a
particular direction on velour upholstery
is not a quality defect. Just as with
home textiles or clothing, this cannot be
avoided.
Lint on upholstery materials, textile or
leather remnants that have been worn
into the upholstery may be removed
with a lint brush or a Velcro brush. A
cleaning glove is available for particu-
larly "stubborn" lint. Stains and fairly
large areas of dirt should be cleaned off
without delay, using lukewarm water
and an interior cleaner, stain remover or
appropriate cleaning fluid. Brush the
fabric afterwards to restore its appear-
ance.
If the vehicle will be stored for an
extended period or if it is exposed to
intense sunlight, cover all the seats or
the windows to prevent fading.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products available at your BMW
center.<
The buildup of an electrostatic charge
on the seat covers, particularly if
atmospheric humidity is low, can give
the occupants an unpleasant electric
shock if they touch metal body parts
after leaving the vehicle. Although this
is not dangerous in any way, it can be
avoided by touching a bare or polished
metal part of the vehicle while getting
out.
Leather care The leather
* upholstery used by BMW
is a natural product of the highest
quality, processed using state-of-the-
art methods to ensure that it will main-
tain its high quality for years to come,
provided that it is properly cared for.
Because this product is manufactured
using natural materials, you must make
allowance for its special characteristics
and for the peculiarities of its use and
care.
Regular periodic cleaning and care are
essential, as dust and road dirt act as
abrasives in the pores and creases of
the material. This leads to wear spots
and premature brittleness on the sur-
face of the leather. We therefore sug-
gest that you clean the leather with a
vacuum cleaner or cloth at frequent
intervals.
For cleaning, use BMW leather cleaning
foam.
Since dirt and grease gradually attack
the protective layer of the leather, the
cleaned surfaces should be treated
with BMW leather care agent. This also
acts as an antistatic agent.
For protection against dampness or
moisture, treat the leather with a
BMW impregnating agent.

181n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Convertible topClosing manually in the event of
an electrical fault
The best way to close the convert-
ible top manually is to stand out-
side the car, keeping the driver door
open and the driver seat folded
forward. The rear seat must be empty.c
1 Remove the filler piece between the
rear seats. Take the trim off of the
guide rod and flip it forward. Press
down hard on the emergency release
(arrow). After a brief pause, the drive
systems for the convertible top
compartment will be unlocked.
46cde071
If the mechanisms for the convert-
ible top compartment lid do not
unlock, then insert the Allen wrench (1)
into the recess (2) and turn clockwise
until the mechanisms unlock.c
46cus040
2 If the luggage compartment lid is
closed, open the convertible top
compartment lid up as far as
possible.
3 Lift out the the convertible top by
holding on to the lateral guide sec-
tion (1) and the front convertible top
frame (2). Position the rear convert-
ible top bow vertically and close the
convertible top compartment lid. Flip
the rear convertible top bow down-
ward.46cus038

190n
Radio reception Safety belt tensionerThe AM frequency bands (medium-
wave, long-wave and short-wave) make
it possible to receive stations from a
great distance, because the broadcast
signals travel not only along the ground
as surface waves, but also as atmo-
spheric waves that are reflected from
the ionosphere.
Frequency modulation (FM) offers
substantially better sound quality than
the other frequencies. However,
because FM transmissions rely on line-
of-sight broadcast waves, their effec-
tive reception range is limited. 360de084
The limitations inherent to radio recep-
tion in a moving vehicle have been
minimized by a number of innovative
system designs:
The "Radio Data System" (RDS) makes
sure that, for broadcast stations
sending on several frequencies, the
radio automatically tunes to the
frequency with the best reception
quality.
The Antenna Diversity system employs
several FM antennas integrated within
the rear window to provide three sepa-
rate sources for receiving broadcast
waves. An integral processor automati-
cally selects the antenna with the best
FM reception quality at any given time.
The selection of the antenna takes
place within milliseconds, and is
therefore not noticed by the radio
listener.The safety belt tensioner makes sure
that the belt tightens during a head-on
collision to ensure that occupants
remain firmly positioned in their seats.
A gas-pressure system retracts the
buckle assembly to tension the
shoulder and lap belts within fractions
of a second. This reduces the tendency
to slide under the lap belt.
390de330