tow BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE 2001 E46 Owner's Manual

Contents

Repairs
Advanced technology
Technical data

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit166
Windshield wiper blades166
Lamps and bulbs166
Changing a wheel173
Battery176
Fuses179
Microfilter/Activated-charcoal
filter180

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door180
Convertible top181

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting183
Towing the vehicle184Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)188
Airbags189
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)189
Radio reception190
Safety belt tensioner190
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming
feature191
Rain sensor191
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)192
Self-diagnostics192
Rollover protection system193
Xenon lamps193Engine data196
Dimensions197
Weights198
Capacities199
Electrical system200
Drive belts200

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.

42n
Alarm system
*
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the
luggage compartment lid is opened.
>To movement inside the vehicle
(interior motion sensor).
>To a change of the vehicle's tilt Ð if
someone attempts to steal the
wheels or tow the vehicle without
authorization, for example.
>If there is an interruption in battery
voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an alarm for 30 seconds.
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes.
>The high beams flash on and off in the
same rhythm.
To activate and deactivate the
alarm systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
by using a key or with the remote
control, the alarm system is also simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.
The interior motion sensor and the tilt
alarm sensor are activated approx.
30 seconds after you have finished
locking the vehicle.
If the alarm system has been armed
correctly, the hazard warning flashers
flash once.
You can have a signal set as
acknowledgment for both arming
and disarming the alarm system.<
You can also open the luggage
compartment lid when the system is
armed by pressing button 3 of the
remote control (refer to page 36). When
it is closed, the lid is once again
secured.
Indicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located under the
interior rearview mirror.
>The indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously: the system is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes while the
system is being armed: the door(s),
the hood or luggage compartment lid
are not completely closed. Even if
you do not close the alerted area(s),
the remaining areas are secure, and
the indicator lamp will flash continu-
ously after 10 seconds. However, the
interior motion sensor is not acti-
vated.
>The indicator lamp goes out when the
system is disarmed: no manipulation
or attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the
system was armed.46cus033

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.

50n
The fully automatic convertible top
*
Wind deflector
*
While the convertible top is in
motion, the side windows will
lower slightly. Do not close the side
power windows using the switches if
the convertible top has been inter-
rupted while it is in motion.
In certain cases, the luggage compart-
ment lid cannot be opened if the
opening or closing operation has been
interrupted.
Never store the convertible top while it
is wet to avoid permanent damage from
moisture.
While the convertible top is in motion,
the rear window will move toward the
passenger compartment and will gently
press the heads of the passengers
sitting in the rear forward. Normally, this
is not dangerous. To avoid possibly
being pinched, passengers in the back
seat should lean their heads slightly
forward while the convertible top is in
motion.<
Convenient operation from the
driver-side door lock>To open: with the door closed, turn
and hold the key in the "Unlock" posi-
tion.
>To close: with the door closed, turn
and hold the key to the "Lock" posi-
tion.
Letting go of the key will stop the
motion.
In order to keep the closing process in
view, it is not possible to use the
convenient operation via the remote
control for safety reasons.
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 wind deflector keeps air movement
in the passenger compartment to a
minimum, thus providing you with a
pleasant drive, even at higher speeds.
The wind deflector comes in a protec-
tive sleeve, and because of its slim
dimensions, can be easily stored in the
luggage compartment.Installing1 Take the wind deflector out of its
protective sleeve.

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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.

55n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Entering the rear Lumbar support
*
The seat-integrated safety belt allows
easy access to the rear. You do not
need to adjust the safety belts. They
automatically adapt to various body
sizes.
1 Lift the lever (1) up and tilt the back-
rest forward.
2 Press the switch (2) toward the front
of the car and hold it there until the
seat moves to the desired position.
You can lock a backrest that has
been tilted forward. This makes
sense when, for instance, someone is
climbing into the rear on an incline. To
do this, press against the backrest until
you hear it click into place. To move it
back into place, you do not need to
unlock it by moving the lever (1).<46cus029
If you tilt the backrest back and hold the
switch (2) pressed toward the back of
the vehicle, the seat will return to its
former position.
If you let go of the switch (2)
before the seat has returned to its
former position, it will remain in the
position where you leave it. To move it
back into place, you do not need to
unlock it by moving the lever (1).<
Lock both backrests while driving,
as otherwise there is danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident. The indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes if the back-
rest is not locked, refer to page 21.
Then the indicator lamp comes on until
the safety belt is fastened.<
You can adjust the backrest's contour
for additional support in the curvature
of your spine's lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column
receive supplementary support to help
you maintain a relaxed, upright posture.
>Press front/rear of switch:
Increase/decrease curvature.
>Press the upper/lower end of the
switch:
Increase the upper/lower curvature.46cde011

58n
MirrorsYou can also adjust the mirrors manu-
ally by pressing against the outer edges
of their lenses.
The mirror on the passenger's
side features a lens with a more
convex surface than the mirror installed
on the driver's side. When estimating
the distance between yourself and
other traffic, bear in mind that the
objects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. Estimations of the
distance to following traffic should
therefore not be regarded as precise. with the ignition key in position 2.
Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from vehicles behind
you when driving at night, tilt the mirror
by turning the rotary button.Sun visorsThese can be folded down toward the
windshield and swiveled out against the
side window.46cus034
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature
*
By responding to the effects of ambient
light and the glare from following traffic,
this mirror automatically dims through
an infinitely-variable range.
The mirror switches to its clear,
undimmed mode whenever the trans-
mission is placed in reverse gear
(selector lever in "Reverse").
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate properly, keep the two photo-
cells clean and unobstructed. One
photocell (arrow) is in the mirror glass,
while the other is offset somewhat on
the other side of the mirror.
For addition information on the electro-
chromic technology used in this mirror,
refer to page 191.46cde023

67n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Rollover protection systemIn the event of an accident or some
other critical driving situation (extreme
tilting in the longitudinal or transverse
axis, loss of contact with the ground),
the rollover protection system will be
automatically activated. The protective
bars located in the rear headrests
extend within fractions of a second.
In addition to the integrated rollover bar
in the windshield frame, the rollover
protection system gives all the vehicle
occupants the necessary headroom.
Always keep the travel path clear
for the rollover protection system.
Under no circumstances should you
cover the headrests.
In the event of less serious accidents,
the safety belt will protect you and,
depending on the severity of the acci-
dent, so will the safety belt tensioner
and the multi-stage airbag restraint
system.c
If, after being automatically triggered,
the protective function is not needed,
then the rollover protection system can
be lowered back into place. No special
tool is needed for this.
1 Using a screwdriver from the on-
board tool kit, remove the cover
panel; to do this, position the screw-
driver under the notch (arrow).46cde007
2Pull the lever (arrow) toward the front
of the car and hold it in this position.46cde006