ESP BMW 325XI SEDAN 2005 Owners Manual

5

Notes

Your individual vehicle

On purchasing your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same group.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
that you might not have chosen for your
vehicle. You can easily identify any dif-
ferences with the aid of the asterisk
used to identify all optional equipment
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment, such
as a car radio or telephone, which is not
described in this Owner's Manual, sup-
plementary Owner's Manuals are
enclosed. We ask you to read these
manuals as well.

Status at time of printing

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development designed to
ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, the features described in this
Owner's Manual could differ from those
in your vehicle. Nor can errors and
omissions be entirely ruled out. You are
therefore asked to appreciate that no
claims can be recognized on the basis
of the data, illustrations or descriptions
in this Owner's Manual.

For your own safety
Fuels

Use unleaded gasoline only. 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 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent – will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality – volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc. – among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result
in driveability, starting and stalling
problems especially under certain envi-
ronmental conditions, such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability 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 result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Obey all applicable safety rules when
you are handling gasoline.

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6

Notes

Maintenance and repair

Advanced technology, e.g. the
use of modern materials and high-
performance electronics, requires spe-
cially adapted maintenance and repair
methods. Therefore, only have corre-
sponding work on your BMW carried
out by a BMW center or a workshop
that works according to BMW repair
procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel. If work is carried out
improperly there is a danger of conse-
quential damage and the related safety
risks.

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Parts and accessories

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made
by other manufacturers to ascertain
whether it can be used on a BMW
safely and without risk to either the
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,

wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones – including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna – or trans-
ceiver equipment such as a CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar, may cause
extensive damage to the vehicle, com-
promise its safety, interfere with the
vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty.
See your BMW center for additional
information.
Do not use key or remote control to
lock doors or cargo area with anyone
inside the vehicle. Refer to the Owner's
Manual for more details.

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Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed
by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.

<

Symbol on vehicle parts

Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this
Owner's Manual for information on a
particular part or assembly.

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 122 and 135.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
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 91

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, DSC and
ADB-X/DBC control system has
failed. Continue driving cau-
tiously and defensively. Avoid
full brake applications. Please have the
system checked by your BMW center
as soon as possible.
Additional information beginning on
page 86
CBC, ABS, DSC and
ADB-X/DBC indicator and warn-
ing 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 65

19
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian 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 48
Airbags

●

Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 54

Orange: consult the nearest BMW
center

Automatic tranmission/sequen-
tial manual gearbox
The respective 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
pages 67, 71

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 132
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 132
Brake pads

●

Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 122
Flat Tire Monitor

●

The Flat Tire Monitor is malfunc-
tioning or out of order. Please
have the system inspected at your
BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 91

Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

●

Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off with the
button; DTC is operational.
Please contact the nearest BMW center
in case of a malfunction.
Additional information beginning on
page 86
325xi:
DSC has been switched off manually or
there is a system malfunction.
ADB-X is operational. If the indidator
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 88

Indicator and warning lamps
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

22

Buttons in steering wheel*

These buttons let you operate the fol-
lowing functions quickly and without
being distracted from traffic conditions:

>

Selected radio functions

>

The cruise control

>

Selected telephone functions

>The voice recognition system.
The controls are active only when
the corresponding systems and
accessories are switched on.<
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing,
terminate a call.
Extended pressure:
Switch voice recognition on and off.
Switch between phone, radio, cassette
and CD.
Forward:
>Radio
Press briefly: next station in station
memory
Extended pressure: station search
>CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind/reverse: same functions as for-
ward.
Volume.
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate +
or decelerate and store –.
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.

38
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, the tailgate
or the rear window is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle –
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle
such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow
the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
via the driver's door lock or with the
remote control, the alarm system is also
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
arming and disarming.<
You can also open the rear window
when the system is armed by pressing
the remote control button, refer to
page 32. The window is once again
secured when it is closed.
Extended pressure on the button sets
off the alarm – Panic mode, refer to
page 32.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes while the
system is armed: a door, the hood,
the tailgate or rear window is 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 when the
system is disarmed: no manipulation
or attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is dis-

40
Electric power windowsTo open and close windows
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key from the
lock and remember to close the doors
to prevent persons or animals from
operating the power windows and injur-
ing themselves, etc.<
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still operate the electric power
windows for up to 15 minutes, as long
as no one opens either of the front
doors.
With 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 windows move auto-
matically. Pressing the switch again
stops the opening cycle.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
If your vehicle is equipped with optional
electric power windows in the rear*
separate switches will be located below
the windows.
For convenience operation via the door
lock, refer to page 34.Safety featureThe front windows are each equipped
with contact strips located in the upper
window frames. If pressure is exerted
against this contact strip while a win-
dow is being raised, the system will
respond by stopping the window and
then retracting it a small distance.Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful to ensure that
the closing path of the window is not
obstructed. Some types of objects
might fail to trigger the contact strip in
some situations – very thin objects, for
instance.
You can override this safety feature by
pressing the switch beyond the resis-
tance point and holding it.<

42
Opening and closingWith the ignition key in position 1 or
higher
>Slide the switch until you feel resis-
tance: the sunroof opens and closes
as long as you hold the switch
>Slide the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the sunroof moves auto-
matically.
Tapping the switch again stops the
motion immediately.
The headliner insert retracts with the
sunroof while it is opening.
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still operate the sunroof for up
to 15 minutes, as long as no one opens
either of the front doors.
For convenience operation via the door
lock, refer to page 32 or 34.Raising the glass sunroofWith the ignition key in position 1 or
higher: tap the switch.
Tapping the switch again stops the
motion immediately.
If you briefly press the switch in the
raise direction while the sunroof is
open, the sunroof will rise to its upper-
most position.
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still operate the sunroof for up
to 15 minutes, as long as no one opens
either of the front doors.
The headliner insert slides back some-
what when you raise the sunroof.
Do not use force to close the
headliner insert with the sunroof in
its raised position, as damage to the
mechanism could result. tance
>when it is closing from the raised
position
>when it is closing from a point
roughly past the middle of its travel,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the
glass sunroof will open again slightly.
Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the travel
path of the sunroof is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Remember that
the safety mechanism may not be able
to detect obstructions under all circum-
stances – with very thin objects, for
instance.
You can disable this safety feature by
pressing the switch beyond the pres-
sure point and holding it.<
Glass sunroof, electric*

45
SeatsWhen 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. This is espe-
cially important for front passengers to
remember. Keep the backrest relatively
upright to minimize the risk of sliding
under the safety belt and sustaining
injury in an accident.<
Seat adjustment>Manual seat adjustment, refer to
page 45
>Power seat adjustment, refer to
page 47
>Head restraint, refer to page 48.
Manual seat adjustmentSeat adjustment1Backward/forward adjustment
Pull the lever and slide the seat to the
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so
that it engages fully
2Cushion height
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the seat as
required
3Backrest angle
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the backrest as
required
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

52
Steering wheelTo adjust
Never attempt to adjust the steer-
ing wheel while driving the vehicle
– it could respond with unexpected
movement, posing a potential accident
hazard.<
1. Fold down the detent lever
2. Adjust steering column reach and
height for your selected seating posi-
tion
3. Fold the detent lever back up to
engage the lock.
MirrorsTo adjust exterior mirrors1Switch for 4-way adjustment
2Selection switch for changing
between mirrorsTo adjust manuallyYou can also adjust the mirrors manu-
ally:
Press against the edges of the lens.
For storing mirror settings, refer to Seat
and mirror memory on page 50.
The mirror on the passenger's
side features a lens with a more
convex surface than the mirror installed
on the driver's side. When estimating
the distance between yourself and
other traffic, bear in mind that the
objects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. This means that esti-
mations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as pre-
cise.<
Electric defrosting*Both mirrors are automatically heated
when you turn the ignition key to
position 2.