light BMW 325CI COUPE 2005 E46 Owner's Manual

Contents

9

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags59
Transporting children safely62
Rollover protection system66
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory68

Driving:

Ignition lock69
Starting the engine69
Switching off the engine71
Parking brake71
Manual transmission72
Sequential manual gearbox
SMG*73
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*77
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher80
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*81
Cruise control*82

Everything under control:

Odometer84
Tachometer84
Energy control84
Fuel gauge85
Engine coolant temperature
gauge85
Service interval display86
Check Control86
Clock87
Computer88

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)*90
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)91
Flat Tire Monitor*92
Brake force display94

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams95
Adaptive headlights*96
Instrument lighting96
High beams/Standing lamps97
Front fog lamps97
Interior lamps98

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Air conditioning100
Automatic climate control*104

Interior conveniences:

Glove compartment109
Integrated universal remote
control*110
Storage compartments112
Microphone*113
Ashtray, front*113
Ashtray, rear*114

Loading and transporting:

Ski bag*115
Cargo loading117
Roof-mounted luggage rack for
the hardtop*120

Controls and features

18

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by

●

are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started, or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react in the follow-
ing section.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current

●

The battery is no longer being
charged. Indicates a defective
alternator drive belt or a problem with
the alternator's charge circuit. please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and seri-
ous engine damage. If the drive belt is
defective, increased steering effort is
also required.

<

Engine oil pressure

●

The engine oil pressure is too
low. Stop the vehicle immedi-
ately and switch off the engine. It is not
possible to continue driving. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.

<

Flat Tire Monitor

●

In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: there is a flat tire.
Reduce speed and carefully come to a
stop. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers.
For additional information, refer to
page 93.
Brake warning lamp

●

If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. It is very
important that you follow the instruc-
tions on page 145 before driving on.
Have the system checked immediately.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.

Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously

The brake warning lamp comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS

●

and DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC
control system has failed. Con-
tinue driving cautiously and
defensively. Avoid full brake
applications. Please have the
system checked by your BMW center
as soon as possible.
Additional information beginning on
page 91.
CBC, ABS and DSC and DBC
indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.

Red: an important reminder

Brake warning lamp
Comes on when the parking
brake is engaged – an additional
acoustic signal sounds when you start
off.
For additional information, refer to
page 71.

20
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

●

Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking efficiency
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 127.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Add washer fluid
The washer fluid level is too low,
top it up at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information, refer to
page 142.
SERVICE ENGINE SOON

●

If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information, refer to
page 148.

Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp for Canadian models.
Engine electronics

●

There is a fault in the electronic
engine-management system.
You can continue to drive with reduced
engine output or engine speed. Please
have the system inspected at your
BMW center.
Add coolant
The coolant level is too low. Add
coolant at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information, refer to
page 144.
CHECK GAS CAP*

●

This indicator lamp comes on
when the gas cap is loose or
missing.
Close the gas cap tightly: refer to
page 24.
Rollover protection system

●

The rollover protection system
has been deactivated due to a
malfunction. Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center at the
earliest opportunity.
For additional information, refer to
page 66.

Green: for your information

Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signal is
operated.
Rapid flashing indicates a system mal-
function.
For additional information, refer to
page 80.
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated: ready for oper-
ation via the buttons in the steering
wheel.
For additional information, refer to
page 82.
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the fog lamps.
For additional information, refer to
page 97.

Blue: for your information

High beams
Comes on when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information, refer to
pages 80, 97.

Indicator and warning lamps

24
Closing the gas capPlace the cap in position and turn it
until a clearly audible click is heard.
Close the gas cap carefully after
refueling until a click is heard.
While closing, be sure not to squeeze
the strap which is fastened to the cap.
A loose or missing cap will activate the
CHECK GAS CAP* lamp.<
Warning lamp* lights up. The
gas cap is not properly closed
or is missing. Check if the gas
cap is properly closed.Fuel tank capacity>Approx. 16.6 gal./63 liters, of which
>approx. 2.1 gal./8 liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive to the last drop of
fuel. This can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
Fuel specificationsThe engine uses lead-free gasoline
only.Required fuelPremium Unleaded Gasoline,
Minimum Octane Rating: AKI 91.
Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index AKI and is deter-
mined according to the so-called
(R+M)/2 method.
Do not use leaded gasoline, as
otherwise the lambda probe and
catalytic converter will be permanently
damaged. cant differences in fuel quality: volatility,
composition, additives, etc., among
gasolines offered for sale in the United
States and Canada. Fuels containing up
to and including 10 % ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by
weight, that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % meth-
anol plus an equivalent amount of co-
solvent, will not void the applicable
warranties with respect to defects in
materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may
result in drivability, starting and
stalling problems especially under cer-
tain environmental conditions such as
high ambient temperature and high alti-
tude.
Should you encounter drivability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may also result in unsched-
uled maintenance.<
Refueling

29
Opening and closing – via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control also provides two
additional functions beyond the central
locking feature:
>To switch on interior lamps, refer to
page 30.
With this function you can also
search for the vehicle when parked in
an underground garage, for instance
>To open the luggage compartment
lid, refer to page 30.
The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly, regardless of whether it
was previously locked or unlocked.
Whenever you unlock or lock the vehi-
cle, you simultaneously deactivate/acti-
vate the anti-theft system, disarm/arm
the alarm system and switch the interior
lamps on/off.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the vehicle's locks have
engaged securely.<
Master keys with remote control
Persons or animals inside the
vehicle may be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this reason,
you should always take the vehicle keys
with you so that the vehicle can be
opened again from the outside at any
time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock
the vehicle via the remote control,
the battery is discharged. Use this key
while driving for an extended period in
order to recharge the battery.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the
spare key when leaving the vehicle for
valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You
can also obtain replacement keys
there.<
1Unlock, convenience opening mode,
and disarm alarm system
2Lock and secure, arm alarm system,
activate interior lamps, disarm tilt
alarm sensor and interior motion sen-
sor
3Open the luggage compartment lid,
Panic mode – trigger alarmTo releasePress the button once to unlock the
driver's door.
Press the button a second time to
disengage all vehicle locks.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

30
Convenience opening modePress the button briefly and then keep it
pressed. The electric power windows
and the fully-automatic convertible top
open.To lock and securePress the button.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press the but-
ton.
With this function, you can also search
for your vehicle when parked in an
underground garage, for instance.To open the luggage
compartment lidPress button briefly.
The luggage compartment lid will open
slightly, regardless of whether it was
previously locked or unlocked.
If the vehicle was previously
locked, the luggage compartment
is also locked again after it is closed.
Before and after a trip, be sure that the
luggage compartment lid has not been
opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode* – trigger alarmBy pressing the button for more than
2 seconds, the alarm system* can be
triggered in the event of danger, if the
system is armed.
To switch off the alarm:
Press the button.External systemsMalfunctions:
Local radio waves can impede the func-
tioning of the remote control.
If this occurs, open and close the vehi-
cle using a master key in the door lock.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with part 15 of the FCC Federal
Communications Commission regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the fol-
lowing:
FCC ID:
>LX8EWS
>LX8FZVS
>LX8FZVE.
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference
>This device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to
these devices could void the
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<
Opening and closing – via the remote control

33
Luggage compartment lidThe lockOnly the master keys fit in the lock for
the luggage compartment lid, refer to
page 28.To secure separatelyLock the glove compartment using the
master key.
This locks the luggage compartment lid
and disconnects it from the central
locking system. This feature can be
used to prevent unauthorized access to
the luggage compartment when you
surrender the spare key only, refer to
page 28. This can be advantageous for
valet parking, for example.
To open from the outsidePress the button in the handle recess:
the luggage compartment lid opens
slightly.
The luggage compartment is lit when
the luggage compartment lid is opened.
When the glove compartment is locked,
refer to page 109, the luggage com-
partment lid cannot be opened using
the button in the strip handle.Manual operationIn the event of electrical malfunction
Turn the master key all the way to the
left – the luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
The luggage compartment is locked
again as soon as you close the lid.
To open from the inside*If the luggage compartment lid has not
been locked separately, you can open it
with this button in the footwell on the
driver's side when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

37
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes immedi-
ately after the vehicle is locked: doors
or luggage compartment lid are not
completely closed. Even if you do not
close the alerted area(s), the remain-
ing areas are secured, and the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out immedi-
ately after the vehicle is unlocked: no
manipulation or attempted intrusions
have been detected in the period
since the system was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds immediately after the
vehicle is unlocked: an attempted
entry has been detected in the period
since the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Tilt alarm sensor and interior
motion sensorTilt alarm sensor:
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The
alarm system reacts, for example, to
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle.
Interior motion sensor:
The vehicle interior is monitored up to
the height of the seat cushions. Even
when the convertible top is open, the
alarm system including the interior
motion sensor is armed. Objects falling
into the vehicle, e.g. leaves, can trigger
unintentional alarms, refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm, e.g. in the following situations:
>In garages with elevator ramps>When the vehicle is being trans-
ported by train
>When animals are to remain in the
vehicle.
To deactivate the tilt alarm and
interior motion sensors>Press the button on the remote con-
trol twice.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated until the vehicle is
unlocked and locked again.
You can have the tilt alarm sensor
and the interior motion sensor
permanently deactivated.<
The system inadvertently deacti-
vates the tilt alarm sensor and the
interior motion sensor if the conve-
nience closing of windows and glass
sunroof is interrupted within the first
10 seconds and then restarted. The
vehicle must then be unlocked and
relocked before the sensors will resume
operation.<
Alarm system*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

38
Electric power windowsTo open and close windowsWith the ignition key in position 1 or
higher
>Press the switch until you feel resis-
tance: the window retracts as long as
you maintain pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the window moves auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again
stops the opening cycle.
You can close the window in the same
manner by pulling the switch. The rear
windows do not close automatically.
To operate all the side windowsWith the ignition key in position 1 or
higher
>Press the switch until you feel resis-
tance: the windows retract as long as
you maintain pressure on the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the windows move auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again
stops the opening cycle.
You can close all windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch. The win-
dows cannot be closed automatically
using this switch.
After the ignition has been
switched offYou can still use the electric power win-
dows for up to 15 minutes, as long as
no one opens one of the doors.
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key from the
lock and remember to close the doors
to prevent children from operating the
power windows and injuring them-
selves, etc.<
For convenience operation via the
remote control or the door lock, refer to
page 30 or 31.Trap protectionIf the closing force of a front window
exceeds a certain value as the window
is being closed, the closing procedure
is immediately interrupted and the win-
dow opens again slightly.

40
To open the convertible top
Never attempt to open or close
the convertible top unless the
vehicle is completely stationary. To pre-
vent vehicle damage the top compart-
ment lid's lock will not disengage
unless the luggage compartment lid is
closed.<
1. Flip the locking handle out – refer to
illustration – and turn it as far as the
end stop will allow
2. Raise the convertible top a little bit,
release the tension
3. To unlock, press the button with the
ignition key in position 1 or higher.
The top compartment lid's lock dis-
engages and the lid itself rises a
small distance. The side windows
will lower slightly
If the indicator lamp lights up
when the button is pressed, the lid
cannot be unlocked because the top
compartment panel is raised, refer to
page 35. Lower the top compartment
panel and close the luggage compart-
ment lid.<
Manual convertible top