ABS BMW 325i TOURING 2003 E46 Owner's Manual

Contents

Operation, maintenance

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures114
Driving notes115
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)115
Brake system116

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure117
Tire condition117
Tire replacement118
Wheel and tire
combinations120
Winter tires120

In the engine compartment:

Hood122
Engine compartment
essentials124
Washer fluids126
Engine oil126
Coolant128
Brake fluid129

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System130

Laws and regulations:

California Proposition 65
warning132
OBD interface socket132
Owner service procedures
Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit136
Windshield wiper blades136
Lamps and bulbs137
Changing a wheel141
Run Flat tires*145
Battery146
Fuses146 Giving and receiving
assistance: Jump-starting147
Towing the vehicle148
Technical data

Engine data152
Dimensions153
Weights154
Capacities155

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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 to this in the
following 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

●

Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine.
Check the engine oil level and top off as
required. If the oil level is correct,
please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.

<

Brake warning lamp

●

If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. Before driv-
ing further, be sure to comply with the
instructions on pages 116 and 129.
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)/Flat
Tire Monitor

●

In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: a tire failure has occurred.
Reduce vehicle speed immediately and
stop the vehicle. Avoid hard brake
applications. As you steer the vehicle,
use caution and avoid overcorrecting.
For additional information: refer to
pages 85, 86

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 sys-
tem has failed. Continue 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 78
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/ADB-X/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 starting
off. For additional information: refer to
page 61

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19
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts

●

Comes on together with an
acoustic signal until the safety
belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 47
Airbags

●

Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 52

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 63

Yellow: check as soon as possible

Engine oil level
If the lamp comes on during
normal vehicle operation: the
engine oil level has fallen to the abso-
lute minimum; refill as soon as possible.
Do not drive more than approx. 30
miles/50 km before refilling.
For additional information: refer to
page 126
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been switched off: add engine
oil at the earliest opportunity – next time
you stop to refuel.
For additional information: refer to
page 126
Brake pads

●

Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 116
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)/Flat
Tire Monitor

●

Check tire inflation pressures.
Refer to pages 25, 85, 86

Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)

●

Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
The ASC+T has been switched off via
the button, ADB is operational; or DSC
has been switched off using the button,
DTC is operational.
Please contact the nearest BMW center
in case of a malfunction.
Additional information beginning on
page 78
BMW 325xi:
DSC has been switched off manually or
there is a system malfunction.
ADB-X is operational. If the warning
lamp fails to go out when you press the
DSC button again, this indicates a sys-
tem malfunction affecting both DSC
and ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
For additional information: refer to
page 82

Indicator and warning lamps
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36
Always drive with both the tailgate
and the rear window securely
closed, as exhaust gases might other-
wise be drawn into the interior of the
vehicle.
<
Should it be absolutely necessary to
operate the vehicle with the tailgate or
rear window open:
1. Close all windows. Shut the slid-
ing/tilt sunroof
2. To increase the quantity of air for the
air conditioner or automatic climate
control system, see page 92 or 96.
To open from the outsideSmall items can be loaded or unloaded
quickly if the rear window is opened
separately.
Press button – see arrow: The rear win-
dow opens slightly. It can now be tilted
up.
Opening with the remote control, refer
to page 32.
Push the window down to close it.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear win-
dow could be damaged.<
Cargo areaLuggage strapsUse the retaining straps on the cargo
area floor to secure smaller items of
luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are
placed on the straps.
To secure your luggage, use the lug-
gage nets* or flexible straps that you
can attach to the fittings at the inner
corners of the cargo area.
Refer also to Cargo loading on
page 109.
For additional details in the cargo area
and for the cargo area cover, please
refer to Cargo area beginning on
page 107.
Rear window
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43 To adjust
Safe seating positionFor relaxed and fatigue-free driving you
should select a sitting position that
reflects your personal requirements. In
combination with the safety belts and
airbags, the correct seating position
plays an important role in enhancing
occupant safety in the event of an acci-
dent. To ensure that the vehicle's safety
systems provide you with optimal pro-
tection, we request that you direct your
careful attention to the following sec-
tion.
For additional information on transport-
ing children refer to page 54.Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance 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 mini-
mum 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 52.Sitting safely 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 loose or bulky clothing. You
should remember to retension the lap
belt periodically by pulling the shoulder
strap to take up any slack in the mecha-
nism. 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 the belt 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 47.
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115
Driving notes
Brakes: do not drive with your foot
resting on the brake pedal. Even
light but consistent pressure on the
brake pedal can lead to high tempera-
tures, accelerated brake wear and pos-
sibly even brake failure.
Hydroplaning: when driving on wet or
slushy roads, reduce your speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water may form
between tires and road surface. This
phenomenon can lead to partial or
complete loss of contact between the
tires and road surface, as well as loss of
vehicle control and braking ability.
Driving through water: do not drive
through water on the road if it is deeper
than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at walk-
ing speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.
Cargo area cover: never use it to store
heavy or hard objects, as otherwise
occupants could be injured during
braking maneuvers.
Clothes hooks: when hanging clothing
from the hooks, be sure that they will
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you
do so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS keeps the wheels from locking
during braking, thereby enhancing
active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of ABS system if you apply maximum
pedal pressure – panic stop. Since the
vehicle maintains steering responsive-
ness, you can avoid possible obstacles
with a minimum of steering effort,
despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is included in the DSC, refer to
page 80.
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 brak-
ing maneuver has been completed.
DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering devel-
opment of ABS. When braking during
cornering with high lateral accelera-
tion, or when braking during a lane
change, vehicle stability is improved
and the steering response is enhanced.
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120
Wheel and tire combinationsThe right choice
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
approved by BMW for your particular
vehicle model, as otherwise body con-
tact and serious accidents can result
despite the use of the same nominal
size, e.g. due to manufacturing toler-
ances. BMW cannot evaluate all tires
and wheels on the market, and is thus
unable to guarantee that the vehicle will
continue to perform safely if unap-
proved tires and/or wheels are
mounted.<
For each tire size, BMW has assessed
the safe performance of specific tire
brands and approved them for use.
Consult any BMW center for details.
Comply with any local/national regula-
tions, for example by recording the tire
type in the vehicle documents.
The correct wheel-tire combina-
tion affects different systems such
as ABS, ASC+T/DSC and ADB/
ADB-X/DBC. The function of these sys-
tems is impaired if improper wheel-tire
combinations are used. For this reason,
use only tires of the same manufacture
and tread configuration. In the event of
a flat tire, for example, remount the
approved wheel and tire combination
as soon as possible. Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against con-
tact with oil, grease and fuel.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires – M+S
tires – for operation under inclement
winter driving conditions. While all-sea-
son tires – M+S designation – provide
better winter traction than the corre-
sponding summer tires, they generally
do not achieve the performance of win-
ter tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer and
having the same tread configuration on
all four wheels.
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by trained
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
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129
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of antifreeze agents with corro-
sion inhibitor.<
Brake fluidIndicator lamp
The brake warning lamp comes
on when the parking brake is
not engaged: the brake fluid
level is too low, refer to page 18.
Parking brake warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Adding brake fluidFor adding brake fluid or for determin-
ing and correcting the cause of brake
fluid loss, consult your BMW center.
Your BMW center is familiar with the
specifications for factory-approved
brake fluids – DOT 4.
Brake fluid loss results in extended
brake pedal travel. Refer to the informa-
tion on page 116.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the brake system's
safety and reliability, have the brake
fluid changed every two years by a
BMW center. Refer to the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet for US
models or the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the
vehicle's paint. You should always store
them in their original containers and in a
location which is out of reach of chil-
dren.
Do not spill the brake fluid and do not
fill the brake fluid reservoir beyond the
MAX mark. The brake fluid could ignite
upon contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating
the disposal of brake fluid.<
Coolant
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146
BatteryMaintenanceThe battery is absolutely maintenance-
free, that is, the original electrolyte will
normally last for the service life of the
battery under moderate climatic condi-
tions.
Please consult your BMW center
whenever you have any questions
concerning the battery. Since the bat-
tery is absolutely maintenance-free, the
following is for your information only.<
Never disconnect the battery
when the engine is running; the
ensuing voltage surge would seriously
damage the vehicle's onboard elec-
tronic systems. cle, leave the engine off at all times.
Connect the charge cables to the termi-
nals in the engine compartment. For
terminal locations, refer to Jump-start-
ing on page 147.
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your BMW center.
Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Secure
the battery against tilting during trans-
port.<
FusesYou will find the fuses and information
on their respective allocation in the
glove compartment behind a panel with
two snap clips.
Do not attempt to repair a blown
fuse or replace it with a fuse
having a different color or amperage
rating. To do this could cause a fire in
the vehicle resulting from a circuit over-
load.<
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147 Giving and receiving assistance
Jump-startingWhen your battery is discharged, you
can use two jumper cables to start your
vehicle with power from the battery in a
second vehicle. You can also use the
same method to help start another
vehicle. Only use jumper cables with
fully insulated handles on the terminal
clamps.
Do not touch high-voltage wiring
and cables on a running engine.
Contact with components carrying high
voltage can be harmful or fatal. Care-
fully observe the following instructions
to avoid personal injury and/or damage
to one or both vehicles.<
1. The battery in the support vehicle
must also be rated at 12 volts. This
information is provided on the battery
label
2. Stop the engine of the support vehi-
cle and switch off all electrical com-
ponents in both vehicles – except for
the hazard warning flashers of the
support vehicle
3. Make absolutely certain that there is
no contact between the bodywork of
the two vehicles – short circuit haz-
ard
4. The auxiliary jump-starting terminal
located in your BMW's engine com-
partment acts as the positive battery
terminal. The cover of this auxiliary
terminal is marked with a + sign.
Remove by pulling the tab – see
arrow 1.
Start by connecting the jumper cable
from the positive terminal of the dis-
charged battery to the positive termi-
nal of the support battery
5. Then connect the negative terminals
using the other jumper cable. First
connect one end to the negative bat-
tery terminal or to a suitable ground
on the support vehicle. Then connect
the other end to the negative battery
terminal or to a suitable ground on
the vehicle being started.
Your BMW is equipped with a special
nut for this purpose – see arrow 2
Always adhere to this sequence
when connecting jumper cables;
failure to observe this procedure can
lead to sparks at the battery terminals
and pose an injury hazard.<
6. Start the engine of the support vehi-
cle and let it run for several minutes
at a slightly elevated engine idle
speed
7. Start the engine of the other vehicle
as usual. If the first start attempt is
not successful, wait a few minutes
before another attempt in order to
allow the discharged battery to
recharge
8. Before disconnecting the jumper
cables, let the engines run for a few
minutes
9. Then disconnect the jumper cables
in reverse sequence.
Depending on the cause of the fault,
have the battery recharged by your
BMW center.
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