BMW 325Ci CONVERTIBLE 2002 E46 Manual Online

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
ASC+T Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
*
Switch the ASC+T back onPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with ASC+T. An
appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
We therefore urge you to avoid using
the additional safety margin of the
system as an excuse for taking risks.<
The conceptThe Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
maintains vehicle stability, even in crit-
ical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
under- or oversteering, and, as far as is
possible within the laws of physics,
helps keeping the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing the engine speed
and brake applications to the individual
wheels.
DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC incorporates the func-
tionality of the Automatic Differential
Brake (ADB) and the Cornering Brake
Control (CBC).
The Automatic Differential Brake (ADB)
relies on selective braking applications
at the drive wheels to furnish the func-
tionality of a conventional limited-slip
differential for enhanced traction in crit-
ical driving conditions such as those
encountered on snow-covered road
surfaces, etc.
The ADB is in standby mode when DSC
is deactivated.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC is actively controlling drive torque
and braking intervention.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been deactivated manually;
ADB is operational.
ADB control intervention is not indi-
cated.
The indicator lamp and the
brake warning lamps will remain
on continuously:
The DSC, ADB and DBC have
been deactivated with the
button or are defective.
The vehicle will remain completely
operational, however, without DSC. In
the event of a fault, please consult your
BMW center, refer to pages 18, 19.
Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.

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Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
*
To switch DSC off/activate ADBPress the DSC button briefly; the indi-
cator lamp comes on and stays on.
DSC is deactivated; ADB is operational.
In the following rare situations, it may
prove useful to deactivate the ADB for a
brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving on snow-covered
grades, in deep snow, or on a snow-
covered surface that has been
packed down from being driven on
>When driving with snow chains.
Under these special circumstances
traction is increased by deactivating the
control systems that enhance traction
under normal conditions.
To switch DSC and ADB offHold the DSC button down for at least
3 seconds. The indicator lamp and the
yellow brake warning lamps light up
and remain on continuously.
The systems for enhancing stability and
traction are deactivated, and there is no
active braking intervention or torque
control.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the DSC
switched on whenever possible. lamp or the indicator lamps will go out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An
appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
We therefore urge you to avoid using
the additional safety margin of the
system as an excuse for taking risks.
When ADB is in its standby mode, DSC
is deactivated; DSC does not intervene
to enhance vehicle stability under these
conditions.
Do not make any modifications to the
DSC system. Allow only authorized
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.<
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is an integral component of the
DSC system.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the
brake pedal by automatically braking
the vehicle with maximum boost to
achieve the shortest-possible braking
distances during "panic stops." This
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure exerted
against the brake pedal until the
braking maneuver has been completed.
DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
*
The conceptRDC monitors the tire pressures at all
four wheels, even when the vehicle is
moving. The system provides an alert
whenever the inflation pressure drops
significantly below the specified pres-
sure in one or more tires.
In order for the system to learn the
correct tire inflation pressure, check the
inflation pressure in all tires according
to the inflation pressure table on
page 25 and make corrections as
necessary. Then activate the system.
This indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will inform you if
the tire pressure is not correct.
To activate the system1 Turn ignition key to position 2 (do not
start the engine)
2 Press the button long enough for the
yellow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster to light up for a few
seconds.
3 After a few minutes driving time, RDC
adopts the current inflation pressures
in the tires as the reference values to
be monitored.
You will only have to repeat this proce-
dure following a correction of the tire
inflation pressure. Otherwise, RDC
functions automatically when the igni-
tion key is in position 2, and thus oper-
ates whenever the vehicle is driven.
In the event of loss in inflation
pressureIf the inflation pressure has dropped
significantly over a long period of time
(which is normal for any tire), the yellow
indicator lamp will come on.
This alerts you to have the tires inflated
to the specified pressures as soon as
possible.
If you are prompted to check the
tire pressure shortly after a
correction has been made, this indi-
cates that the corrected values were
not accurate. Please check the inflation
pressure again and make corrections
according to the inflation pressure
table. Then activate the system once
again.<

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Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
*
In the event of a flat tireIf there is a tire failure with loss of pres-
sure, the red warning lamp will come
on. In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed
immediately and stop the vehicle in a
safe location. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Do not oversteer. Replace the
wheel and flat tire.
The space-saver spare tire is
provided for temporary use only in
the case of a flat tire. It does not have
RDC electronics and is not monitored.
The spare tire
that has the same dimen-
sions as the tires already mounted on
the vehicle is equipped with the neces-
sary RDC electronics and will be also
monitored once the tires have been
mounted and the system activated.<
The RDC cannot alert you to
severe and sudden tire damage
caused by external factors.<
Have the tires changed by your
BMW center.
Your BMW center has the information
needed for working with RDC and is
equipped with the necessary special
tools.<
System interferenceLocal devices using the same radio
frequency can interfere with the RDC.
The yellow indicator lamp will come on
during the malfunction.
The indicator lamp also comes on
>in the event of a system fault
>if a wheel is mounted without the
appropriate RDC electronics
>if, in addition to the spare tire, addi-
tional wheels with RDC electronics
are being carried on board.
Please contact your BMW center for
additional information.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Flat Tire Monitor
*
The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor
keeps track of pressure levels in all four
tires in order to detect and warn of any
substantial pressure loss.
The system actually detects pressure
loss by monitoring differences in the
relative speeds of the four wheels. It
interprets variations outside specified
limits as severe pressure loss, and then
responds by generating a warning.
Initializing the systemInitializing is necessary to familiarize the
system with the correct inflation pres-
sure.
Repeat this process after any changes
in tire inflation pressure, tire rotation or
replacement. Do not carry out further
system initialization after adjusting the
inflation pressure and letting the system
"learn" the correct pressures.
1. Check the tire inflation pressures in
all the tires, comparing them with the
inflation pressure table on page 25,
and adjusting if necessary
2. Turn the ignition key to position 2
3. Press the button until the yellow indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up. After a little while, the indi-
cator lamp will go out by itself
4. After a few minutes driving time, the
Flat Tire Monitor adopts the current
pressure levels as the reference and
from that point on, can detect and
report a flat tire.

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Flat Tire Monitor
*
To activate/deactivate the systemThe Flat Tire Monitor automatically
assumes operation whenever you turn
the ignition key to position 2. Unless
manually deactivated, it is always on
during normal vehicle operation.
To deactivate the system: press the
button, the yellow indicator lamp comes
on.
To activate the system: press the
button again, the indicator lamp goes
out.
You should deactivate the system
before driving with snow chains, as the
chains can generate spurious warnings
and/or prevent the system from
detecting actual pressure loss.
In the event of a flat tire
The red warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up to
warn of pressure loss and tire
failure. This visual alert is accompanied
by an acoustic warning signal. Reduce
your speed immediately, and steer and
brake gently as you bring the vehicle to
a stop.
To reset the warning lamp: after
replacing the damaged tire you will
need to reset the red warning lamp
manually: maintain pressure on the Flat
Tire Monitor button until the warning
lamp goes out. Then reinitialize the
system.
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot
provide you with advance warning
of sudden and severe tire damage
caused by external factors.
The system also does not detect the
gradual and minor loss of pressure that
all tires display over extended periods
of time.<
Check the tire inflation pressures
on a regular basis, correcting
them as necessary, refer to page 24.
The system may respond to operation
on slippery or snow-covered road
surfaces with false warnings or delays
in detecting actual pressure loss.
Performance-oriented driving (slip at
the drive wheels, high rates of lateral
acceleration) can also increase the time
that the Flat Tire Monitor requires to
detect a flat.<
System malfunctionsThe yellow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up and remains on
until the problem is corrected.
Please refer the problem to your BMW
center.

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Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can
use the parking lamps for
parking. For lighting on one side for
parking as an additional feature, refer to
page 88.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off
while the low beams are on, the
headlamps go out and only the
parking lamps remain on.
Follow me home lamps:
When you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle with the
lamps turned off, the low-beam head-
lamps will come on for a short time. You
can also have this function deacti-
vated.<
LIGHTS ON warningWhenever you open the driver's door
after having turned the ignition key to
position 0, you will hear an acoustic
signal for a few seconds to remind you
if the lamps have not been switched off.Daytime driving lamps
*
If you desire, the light switch can be left
in the second position:
When the ignition is switched off, the
external lighting is also switched off.
You can have your vehicle's
daytime driving lamps set to
reflect your personal requirements.<
Automatic headlight control
*
When the switch is set to this
position the system automati-
cally activates and cancels the
low beams in response to changes in
ambient light ( in tunnels, at dusk, etc.)
as well as rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lights
remain on constantly when you
switch on the front fog lamps after the
headlights have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlight control
cannot serve as a substitute for
the driver's judgement in determining
when the vehicle lights should be
switched on. For example, the sensors
are not able to detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should respond to
these kinds of low-visibility situations
by switching the headlights on manu-
ally.<
You can have the sensitivity of
your vehicle's automatic head-
light control adjusted.<

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Instrument lighting
High beams/Standing lamps
Fog lamps
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity.
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Standing lampsStanding lamps, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can
illuminate your vehicle on either side for
parking:
With the ignition key in position 0,
engage the lever in the appropriate
turn-signal position.
Fog lamps
The green indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on to
indicate that the front fog lamps
are on.
If the automatic headlight control
is on, the low beams will come on
automatically whenever you switch on
the front fog lamps.<

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Interior lampsThe interior lamps operate automati-
cally.Switching the interior lamps on
and off manuallyPress button 1 briefly:
If you want the interior lamps to remain
off all the times, press and hold the
button for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to
normal operation.Front reading lamps
*
Switch on and off with the button 2
adjacent to each lamp.
Rear reading lampsRear reading lamps are also provided
for rear seat passengers when the
hardtop is installed, refer to page 110.
Switch on and off with the button adja-
cent to each lamp.
To avoid subjecting the battery to
excessive loads, all of the lamps
within the vehicle are automatically
switched off approx. 15 minutes after
you turn the ignition key to position 0.<

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Air conditioning 1 Air onto the windshield and the side
windows
2 Air for the upper body area92
3 Air for the footwell4 Air supply91
5 Temperature91
6 Air distribution917 Rear window defroster91
8 Air conditioning91
9 Recirculated-air mode91