BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE 2002 E46 Workshop Manual

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Head restraints Entering the rearRear head restraints
To avoid possible violation of
traffic laws, never retract the head
restraints unless the rear seats are
empty. Always ensure that the head
restraints are raised before transporting
passengers in the rear seat.<
To completely lower the rear head
restraints:
1. Press the button (arrow) and hold it
down
2. Push the head restraint down from
above.
Raising the rear head restraintsRaise the head restraints until you hear
them click into place.
Do not remove the rear head
restraints, as this would damage
them.<
For further information, please consult
your BMW center.
Do not use the rear head
restraints as storage shelves.
Always keep the travel path for the roll-
over protection system free and clear.
Under no circumstances should you put
any kind of cover (antimacassar) on the
head restraints.<
The seat-integrated safety belt system
SGS allows for easy access to the rear.
1. Lift lever 1 up and tilt the backrest
forward
2. Press and hold button 2 in driving
direction until the seat moves to the
desired position
3. After entering the rear, fold back and
lock the backrest
4 Press button 2 opposite the direction
of travel and hold. The seat moves
back into its previous position. If the
button 2 is released beforehand, the
seat stops in the respective position.

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Entering the rear Safety belts
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 first
unlock it by moving the lever 1.<
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.<
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster will flash to alert you that the
backrest is not locked in place, refer to
page 18.
Always wear your safety beltAlways fasten your safety belt before
starting off. As supplemental restraint
devices, the airbags are designed to
enhance the effectiveness of the safety
belts, and not to replace them.To closeMake sure you hear the lock engage in
the belt buckle.To open1. Press the red button in the belt
buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
The safety belt system will automati-
cally adapt to your body contours.
Always detach the rear safety
belts from their retainers before
wearing.<
To avoid undesired movement at
high speeds, always store the rear
safety belts in their retainers when they
are not in use.<
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
have the entire safety belt mechanism
replaced by your BMW center. In addi-
tion, have your BMW center inspect the
safety belt anchors. Failure to observe
this precaution can prevent the safety
belts from providing the intended level
of protection.<

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Seat and mirror memory
*
You can store and recall three different
driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions.
The head restraint setting is
stored in memory, but the lumbar
support is not. 2. Select the desired seat, head
restraint and exterior mirror positions
3. Press the
M
EMORY button: the indi-
cator lamp in the button lights up
4. Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as
desired: indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
Do not select a memory position
while the vehicle is moving. If you
do so, there is a risk of accident from
unexpected seat movement.<
Ignition key in position 1:
>Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3,
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when
one of the seat-adjustment or
memory buttons is activated during
the adjustment process.
With the driver's door closed and the
ignition key either removed or in posi-
tion 0 or 2:
>Maintain pressure on the desired
memory button (1, 2 or 3) until the
adjustment process is completed.
If you press the
M
EMORY button
accidentally: press the button
again; the indicator lamp goes out.<
You can have this feature
programmed so that when you
use the remote control from your
personalized key to unlock your door,
your seat, head restraint and exterior
mirrors will all move into your own
preferred positions.<
Before activating the programmed
adjustment feature ensure that the
footwell behind the driver's seat is
empty and unobstructed. If you fail to
do so, persons or objects could be
injured or damaged if the seat should
move backward.<

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Seat and mirror memory
*
Seat heating
**Steering wheel
Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt
function(Automatic curb monitor
*)
1. Move the mirror selector switch 1 to
the "driver's mirror" position
2. When the selector lever is placed in
"Reverse," the passenger-side mirror
tilts downward. This allows the driver
to see the area directly adjacent to
the vehicle during parking (curbs,
etc.).
You can deactivate this automatic
feature by setting the mirror selection
switch to the "passenger side" position.
The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated with the ignition key in
position 2.
You can select different heating modes
by repeatedly pressing the buttons.
You can also switch the higher heating
modes off directly:
Press the button and hold it slightly
longer.
Adjustment1. Push the locking lever downward
2. Adjust the steering column's rake
and reach to suit your seat position
3. Pull the lever back in.
Never adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving, other-
wise you run the risk of an accident due
to unexpected movement.<

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Mirrors To adjust exterior mirrors1 Switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Selection switch for changing
between mirrors
To adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted manu-
ally:
Press the edge of the lens.
Storing mirror settings, refer to Seat
and mirror memory on page 53.
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. This means that estimates
of the distance to following traffic
should not be regarded as precise. This
precaution also applies to the non-
spherical outer section of the lens. when you turn the ignition key to posi-
tion 2.
Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from vehicles behind
you when you are driving at night, tilt
the mirror by turning the button.
Vehicles without alarm system:
Tilt the small lever forward.

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Mirrors AirbagsInterior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming featureThis mirror automatically dims through
an infinitely-variable range. It returns to
its clear, undimmed mode whenever
you engage reverse.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate efficiently, ensure that the
photocells remain clear and unob-
structed. One photocell is integrated in
the mirror's lens (arrow), while the other
is located at an offset position on the
rear of the mirror. Refrain from attaching
stickers to the windshield in the area
immediately in front of the mirror.
1 Front airbags on the driver and
passenger sides
2 Side airbags on the driver and
passenger sides (front and rear
*)
Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the safety
belts by providing additional protection,
in the event of a severe frontal collision
in which the protection afforded by the
belts alone may no longer be sufficient.
The head protection system and side
airbags help provide protection in the
event of a collision from the side. Each
of the side airbags is designed to help
support the seat occupant's upper
body.
For information on the correct sitting
posture refer to page 48.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the
operational status of the airbag
system from ignition key posi-
tion 1.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when you turn the ignition key to
position 1 or higher.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine has been started, or
comes on again during normal
driving.
Please respond to any malfunctions in
the system by immediately having it
inspected at your BMW center; other-
wise the airbag could fail to respond to
an accident in which both the angle and
the severity of the impact would
normally trigger airbag deployment.
The side airbags in the rear
passenger area
* of your vehicle
may already have been deactivated
either at the time of manufacture or by a
BMW center. You may have them acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please
contact your BMW center for additional
information.<

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Airbags
The airbags do not deploy in
response to minor collisions, rear
impacts and certain kinds of vehicle
rollover.<
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for the
airbags. If you do not, the airbags may
not be able to provide their maximum
protection. All passengers in the vehicle
should be aware of and comply with
these directions:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide extra
protection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags will not be triggered
in the event of a minor accident, a
vehicle rollover, or collisions from the
rear. In these instances, the safety belt
provides optimal protection.
Airbags are located under cover panels
in the steering wheel, in the instrument
panel, in the side trim panels in the
front and rear
*, in the roof panels, and
in the sides of the inside roof lining.
Adjust your seat to a position that
provides maximum distance between
you and the steering wheel, the instru-
ment panel and the door while still
allowing comfortable and safe access
to all vehicle controls.
To avoid sustaining hand and arm inju-
ries, always grasp the steering wheel
on the rim with the hands at the 9 and
3 o'clock positions. Do not place your
hands on the center pad.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant.
Do not use the cover panel above the
passenger-side airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way.
Do not install a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle.
Children under 13 years of age and less
than 5 ft (150 cm) tall should ride only in
the rear seat.
Infants or small children should never
be held on the lap of a passenger.
If your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags in the rear passenger area
*, be
sure that child restraints are mounted
correctly with the greatest-possible
distance between them and the airbags
in the side trim panels. Do not allow
children to lean out of the child's seat in
the direction of the side trim panels. If
they do so, serious injuries can occur if
the airbag is triggered. upright and be properly restrained
(infants and small children in appro-
priate child-restraint systems; larger
children and adults using the safety
belts). Never let an occupant's head
rest near or on a side airbag, as the
inflating airbag could cause a serious or
fatal injury. Please note that the word
Airbag imprinted on the door trim panel
indicates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the
safest place for children in an auto-
mobile is in the rear seat. However, a
child sitting in the rear seat and not
properly restrained may place his or her
head on or near the airbag, if so
equipped. For example, a child Ñ even
though belted Ñ may fall asleep with his
or her head against the side airbag. It
may be difficult for a driver to ensure
that children in the rear seat will remain
properly positioned at all times and not
place their heads on or near the side
airbag.
Therefore, we recommend that the
rear-seat side airbags, if installed in the
vehicle, be deactivated if children will
travel in the rear seat.
The rear-seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the
time of manufacture or by a BMW

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Airbagscenter. Labels in the door opening
should indicate the status of your rear-
seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of
their status, or wish to have the airbags
activated or deactivated, please
contact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are
followed, there is still a small residual
risk of injuries to the face, hands and
arms occurring from airbag deployment
in isolated instances. The ignition and
inflation noise may provoke a mild
temporary hearing loss in extremely
sensitive individuals.This is the right way for a child to sit in a
child restraint when rear-side airbags
(arrow) are provided.
This is the right way for a larger child to
sit wearing the seat belt when rear-side
airbags (arrow) are provided.

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Transporting children safelyLATCH child-restraint mounting
system
*
The anchorage points for the child-
restraint system are located behind the
upholstery at the positions indicated by
the arrows.
Carefully slide the brackets through the
gaps in the upholstery at the indicated
locations.
Always follow all manufacturer's
instructions and observe all safety
precautions when installing the LATCH
child-restraint system.<
To avoid undesired movement at
higher speeds, always store the
rear safety belts in their retainers when
they are not in use.<
Commercially 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, three additional tether
anchorage points (refer to the arrows in
the illustration) have been provided.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area,
attach the tether strap to the corre-
sponding anchorage point to secure the
child-restraint system. Remove the
center cover first.

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Transporting children safelyIf the selected seating position is
equipped with a head restraint, lift the
head restraint and pass the tether strap
between the head restraint and the
backrest.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer's
instructions.
Before installing any child-restraint
device or child seat, please read
the following:
Never install a rear-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 precau-
tions should be taken. First, move the
passenger seat as a far away from the
instrument panel 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 installed 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 installa-
tion and use provided by the child
restraint's manufacturer whenever you
use such a device.
Always ensure that all occupants (of all
ages) remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.<
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of
SAE J1819, an industry recommended
standard for securing child-restraint
systems in motor vehicles.
Child-safety locksAll of the rear belt retractors and the
front passenger's safety belt can be
locked for mounting and securing child-
restraint systems.
A label with the appropriate instructions
is located in the immediate vicinity of
the buckle of each safety belt.