lights BMW 325xi SEDAN 2003 E46 Owner's Manual

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 below.

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; 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 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 possi-
ble.
Additional information beginning on
page 78
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/ADB-X/DBC indicator and
warning lamps for Canadian
models.

21
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 131
SERVICE ENGINE SOON warn-
ing 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 by your
BMW center.
Add coolant
The coolant level is too low. Add
coolant at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information: refer to
page 128

Green: for your information

Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signals
are on.
Rapid flashing indicates a system mal-
function.
For additional information: refer to
page 67

Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated: ready for oper-
ation via the steering wheel with multi-
function buttons.
For additional information: refer to
page 69
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to
page 91

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 67, 90

Indicator and warning lamps
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

39
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during
arming: the door(s), the hood or lug-
gage compartment lid are not com-
pletely 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
>If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since the
system was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is dis-
armed: an attempted entry has been
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously.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 from being triggered in garages
with elevator ramps, for instance, or
when the vehicle is transported by train:
Lock the vehicle twice, i.e. arm the sys-
tem. Press button on the remote control
twice in succession or lock the vehicle
twice with the key.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion sensor are
deactivated for as long as the system
remains armed.Interior motion sensorIn order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and the
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely
closed.
Nevertheless, you should deactivate
the interior motion sensor, refer to pre-
vious column, if
>persons or animals are left in the
vehicle
>the windows or the sliding/tilt sunroof
are being left open.
The system deactivates the tilt-
alarm sensor and the interior
motion sensor if the convenience clos-
ing of windows is interrupted in the first
10 seconds and then restarted. The
alarm must then be disarmed and reac-
tivated before it will resume opera-
tion.<
Alarm system*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

49
Seat and mirror memory*You can store and recall three different
driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions.
Memory will not retain the adjust-
ment made to the lumbar sup-
port. 2. Adjust your seat and exterior mirrors
to the desired position
3. Press the MEMORY 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 mem-
ory buttons is activated during the
adjustment process.
The driver's door is closed and the igni-
tion key is either removed or in position
0 or 2:
>Maintain pressure on the desired
memory button – 1, 2 or 3 – until the
adjustment process is completed.
If you press the MEMORY button
accidentally: press the button
again; the indicator lamp goes out.<
Your BMW center can adjust your
vehicle's systems in such a man-
ner that your personalized settings are
automatically set for the seat and exte-
rior mirror positions when you unlock
the vehicle with your personal remote
control.<
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, animals or objects
could be injured or damaged if the seat
should move backward.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

54
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 cen-
ter. 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 con-
tact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are fol-
lowed, 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
induce a mild temporary hearing loss in
sensitive individuals.
Corresponding airbag warning labels
are found on both sun visors.This is the right way a child should sit in
a child restraint when rear side airbags,
see arrow, are provided.
This is the right way a larger child
should sit wearing the seat belt when
rear side airbags, see arrow, are pro-
vided.Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates the
operational status of the airbag
system with the ignition key in
position 1 or higher.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when you turn the ignition key to
position 1 or higher.
System malfunction:
>Indicator lamp does not come on or
>indicator lamp lights up continuously.
Airbags

72
Fuel gaugeOnce the indicator lamp stays on con-
tinuously, there are still approx.
2 gallons/8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Fuel tank capacity approx.
16.6 gallons/63 liters.
Certain operating conditions, such as
those encountered in mountainous
areas, may cause the needle to fluctu-
ate slightly.
Fill the fuel tank before it is com-
pletely empty. Driving to the last
drop of fuel can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an
operation check.
Engine coolant temperature gaugeBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly as an
operation check.
If the lamp comes on during normal
vehicle operation: the engine has over-
heated. Shut off the engine immediately
and allow it to cool down.
To check coolant level, refer to
page 128.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle
may rise as far as the edge of the red
sector during normal operation.

87
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 chart on page 25
and adjusting their pressure if neces-
sary
2. Turn the ignition key to position 2
3. Press button as long as you need to
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. After a little
while, the indicator 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.
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 but-
ton 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 detect-
ing actual pressure loss.
Flat Tire Monitor*
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88
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 replac-
ing the damaged tire you will need to
reset the red warning lamp manually:
maintain pressure on the Flat Tire Moni-
tor button until the warning lamp goes
out. Then reinitialize the system.
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot pro-
vide 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 tire inflation pressures on a
regular basis, correcting them as
necessary; refer to page 25.
The system may respond to operation
on slippery or snow-covered road sur-
faces 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.
Flat Tire Monitor*

89 Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can
use the parking lamps to signal
the position of the vehicle when it is
parked. For lighting on one side for
parking as an additional feature, refer to
page 90.
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 lampsWhen 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
deactivated. having turned the ignition key to posi-
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal
for a few seconds to remind you that
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 igni-
tion is switched off, the external lighting
is also switched off.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps
programmed on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp 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. –
and in the event of rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lights
remain on constantly when you
switch on the front fog lamps after the
headlamps have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not 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
headlamps on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

91
Fog lamps*Front fog lamps
The green indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up to
indicate that the front fog lamps
are on.
If the automatic headlamp control
is on, the low beams will come on
automatically whenever you activate
the front fog lamps.<
Interior lampsThe interior lamps operate automati-
cally.To switch the interior lamps on
and off manuallyPress button 1 briefly:
If you want the interior lamps to remain
off all the time, press and hold the but-
ton for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to nor-
mal operation.Front reading lamps*Switch on and off with the button 2
adjacent to each lamp.
Rear reading lampsSwitch on and off with the button adja-
cent to each lamp.
In order to prevent battery dis-
charge, all of the lamps in the
vehicle are automatically switched off
approx. 15 minutes after you turn the
ignition key to position 0.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex