airbag BMW 325i SEDAN 2002 E46 Owner's Manual

Contents

© 2001 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 168
US English VIII/01
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling).
Overview
Controls and features

Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps17
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)21
Hazard warning triangle22
Refueling22
Fuel specifications23
Tire inflation pressures24

Opening and closing:

Keys28
Central locking system28
Opening and closing Ð via the
remote control29
Opening and closing Ð via the
door lock31
Opening and closing Ð from the
inside32
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment35
Alarm system36
Electric power windows37
Sliding/tilt sunroof39

Adjustments:

Correct sitting posture41
Seats41
Manual seat adjustment42
Power seat adjustment43
Lumbar support43
Head restraints44
Safety belts45
Seat and mirror memory46
Seat heating47
Steering wheel47
Mirrors48

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags49
Transporting children safely52
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory55

Driving:

Ignition lock56
Starting the engine56
Switching off the engine57
Parking brake58
Manual transmission58
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic59
Indicator/Headlamp flasher61
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor62
Cruise control64

Everything under control:

Odometer66
Tachometer66
Energy control66
Fuel gauge67
Temperature gauge67
Service Interval Display67
Check Control68
Clock68
Computer69

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)71
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)72
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)73

Contents

18n

Indicator and warning lamps

Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously

The brake warning lamp comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and
ASC+T/DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC, ASC+T/
DSC and


ADB/ADB-X/DBC


control system has failed.
Continue driving cautiously and
defensively. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Please have the system checked
by your BMW center as soon as
possible.
For additional information: refer to
pages 72, 73
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/ADB-X/DBC indicator and
warning lamps for Canadian
models.

Red: an important reminder

Parking brake warning lamp
Comes on when the parking
brake is applied Ð an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off.
For additional information: refer to
page 58
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Fasten safety belts

l

An acoustic warning also
sounds in some versions. Lights
up either for several seconds or until
the belt is engaged, depending upon
version.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 45
Airbags

l

Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 49

Orange: consult the nearest
BMW center

Automatic transmission
The transmission has
responded to a malfunction by
reverting to operation in its emergency
default program. Please consult the
nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 59

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Correct sitting posture SeatsFor relaxed and fatigue-free driving you
should select a sitting position that
reflects your personal requirements.
Correct posture combines with safety
belts and airbags to enhance occupant
safety in the event of an accident. To
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems
provide you with optimal protection, we
request that you direct your careful
attention to the following section.
For supplementary information on
transporting children, refer to page 52. Sitting correctly with airbags
Always maintain an adequate
distance between yourself and the
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel
by the rim to keep any chance of injury
to hands or arms to an absolute
minimum should the airbag be
deployed. Never allow any objects,
individuals or animals to obstruct the
areas between passengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a
storage tray or support for objects of
any kind. Never allow front passengers
to rest their feet or legs on the airbag
cover.<
For airbag locations and additional
information on airbags refer to page 49.
Safe with safety belts
Never allow more than one person
to wear a single safety belt. Never
allow infants or small children to ride in
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the
belt while routing it firmly across the
hips and shoulder, wear it as snugly
against your body as possible. Do not
allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects. Do not route the belt
across your neck, or run it across sharp
edges. Be sure that the belt does not
become caught or jammed. Avoid
wearing bulky clothing and pull on the
lap belt periodically to retension it over
your shoulders. In the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal
injury. In addition, the safety belt's
restraint effectiveness is reduced if it is
worn loosely. Expectant mothers
should always wear their safety belts,
taking care to position the lap belt
against the lower hips, where it will not
exert pressure against the abdominal
area.<
For information on using the safety
belts refer to page 45.
When adjusting your seat, always
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident. Never
ride with the backrest reclined to an
extreme horizontal angle (important for
front passengers to remember). Keep
the backrest relatively upright to mini-
mize the risk of sliding under the safety
belt and sustaining injury in an acci-
dent.<
Seat adjustment>Manual seat adjustment, refer to
page 42
>Power seat adjustment, refer to
page 43
>Head restraint, refer to page 44

45n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Safety beltsAlways 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 catch engage in
the belt buckle.To open1. Press red button in the belt buckle
2. Hold end of the belt
3. Guide belt back into the inertia reel.
The rear belt buckle with the word
CENTER is intended exclusively
for the passenger sitting in the middle.<
Adjusting safety belt heightUse the height adjustment mechanism
to adapt the shoulder strap to the ideal
level for your own body:
>Slide the button up or down.
Please refer to the seat adjustment
instructions on page 41.
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,
including the safety belt tensioner. In
addition, have your BMW center
inspect the safety belt anchors. If a
child-restraint system was in the
vehicle during an accident, consult the
manufacturer's instructions regarding
replacement.<

49n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Mirrors AirbagsInterior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature
*
This 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 Impact Head Protection System
on the driver and passenger sides
(front)
3 Side airbags on the driver and
passenger sides (front and rear
*)
Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the three-
point safety belts by providing addi-
tional 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 41.Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates 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 2.
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.

50n
Airbags
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.<
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 roll-over, 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 dashboard,
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.<
At all times, occupants should sit
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 because
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 loca-
tion.
Accident research shows that the
safest place for children in an
automobile 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

51n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Airbagsthat 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
center. 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.

53n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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, 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
corresponding anchorage point to
secure the child-restraint system.
Remove the center cover first.
If the selected seating position is fitted
with a headrest lift the headrest and
pass the tether strap between the
headrest 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
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 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 instal-
lation 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.

Everything from A to ZA
ABS (Antilock Brake
System)19, 105
Accessories10
Activated-charcoal filter91
Adaptive Transmission
Control (ATC)60
ADB (Automatic Differential
Brake)73
Adding
brake fluid118
coolant117
engine oil115
washer fluid114
Adjusting
head restraints44
lumbar support43
manual seats42
mirrors48
power seat43
steering wheel47
thigh support42
Air conditioning85
temperature settings86
Air distribution86, 89
Air nozzles85 Air outlets,
ventilation85, 88
Air supply86, 89
Airbags18, 49
sitting correctly41
Alarm system36
Antifreeze117
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)19, 105
Anti-theft system36
Aquaplaning104, 105
Armrest92
ASC+T (Automatic Stability
Control plus Traction)72
Ashtray
front95
rear95
ATC (Adaptive Transmission
Control)60
Attach vehicle vacuum
cleaner95
AUC (Automatic recircu-
lated-air control)90
Automatic climate
control88
temperature settings89
Automatic cruise control64
Automatic curb monitor47 Automatic Differential Brake
(ADB)73
Automatic headlight
control82
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)90
Automatic Stability Control
plus Traction (ASC+T)72
Automatic transmission59
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic18, 59
Automatic-dimming feature,
mirrors49
Average consumption70
Average speed70
Axle loads142
B
Backrest, adjusting42
Backup lamps58
bulb replacement127
Battery133
care133
charge current
indicator17
charging133
Belts, safety45
Beverage holder93 Blower86, 89
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil116
BMW Maintenance
System119
BMW sports seat
electrical adjustment43
manual adjustment42
Bore140
Bottle holder, refer to
beverage holder93
Brake fluid118
add118
warning lamp17
Brake lamps
bulb replacement127
Brake system104, 106
brake fluid118
brake fluid level106
brake pads106
brake pads, indicator
lamp19
disc brakes106
Break-in procedure104
Bulbs and lamps,
replacement124

A-Z

Everything from A to ZN
Navigation system, refer to
the Radio or Onboard
Computer "Owner's
Manual" O
OBD interface socket121
Odometer66
Oil
additives115
capacity143
consumption115
level, checking115
Oil change intervals, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet/
Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet
Oil dipstick115
Oil filter change143
OIL SERVICE67
Onboard Computer, refer to
the "Onboard Computer
Owner's Manual"
Onboard tool kit124 Opening and closing
from the inside32
via the door lock31
via the remote control29
Outlets, ventilation88
Outside temperature
display69
P
Paintwork, refer to the
"Caring for your vehicle"
manual
Park assistant71
Park Distance Control
(PDC)71
Parking aid71
Parking brake58
Parking lamps82
bulb replacement125
Passenger-side mirror tilt
function47
PDC (Park Distance
Control)71
Phone, refer to cellular
phone
Power140
Power windows37
safety switch38
Premium sound system91
Q
Quality Grades, tires108 R
Radiator143
Rain sensor62
RDC (Tire Pressure
Monitor)78
warning lamp17
Reading lamps
front84
rear84
Rear center 3-point belt96
Rear lamps127
Rear reading lamps84
Rear window
defroster86, 90
Rear-seat backrest,
removable96
Rearview mirror48
Recirculated-air mode86
Reclining seat41
Refueling22
Remote control29
Removable rear-seat
backrest96
Reporting safety defects11
Roller sun blind91
Roof weight142
Roof-mounted luggage
rack100
S
Safe with safety belts41
Safety belts45
height adjustment45
Safety defects, reporting11
Safety tires109, 132
Seat adjustment41
Seat heating47
Seat memory46
Seat, manually adjusted42
Seats41
Securing cargo99
Securing child-restraint
system54
Selector lever, automatic
transmission59
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US
models)119
Service Interval
Display67, 119
Setting temperature86
Shiftlock59
Side airbags49
Side Impact Head Protection
System49
Sitting correctly with
airbags41
Ski bag97