tow BMW 328Ci CONVERTIBLE 2000 E46 Owner's Manual

Contents

Owner service procedures
Advanced technology
Technical data

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit152
Windshield wiper blades152
Lamps and bulbs152
Changing a wheel159
Battery162
Fuses165

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door165
Fully automatic convertible
top166

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting168
Towing the vehicle169Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)172
Airbags173
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)173
Radio reception174
Safety belt tensioner174
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer175
Rain sensor176
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)177
Self-diagnostics178
Rollover protection system179
Xenon lamp179Engine data182
Dimensions183
Weights184
Capacities185
Electrical system186
Drive belts 186

42n
Alarm system
*
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid is opened
>Movements inside the vehicle
>To a change in the vehicle's tilt –
if someone attempts to steal the
wheels or tow the vehicle without
authorization, for example
>If there is an interruption of battery
voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds
>Activating the hazard warning
flashers for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in
tandem with the hazard warning
flashers.
To activate and deactivate the
alarm systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
by using a key or the remote control,
the alarm system is also armed or dis-
armed at the same time.
The interior protection and tilt sensor
alarm systems are activated approx.
30 seconds after you have shut the last
door.
If the alarm system has been armed
correctly, the hazard warning flashers
flash once.
You can have one signal set as
acknowledgment when arming
and disarming.<
You can also open the luggage com-
partment lid when the system is armed
by pressing button 3 of the remote con-
trol (refer to page 37). When it is closed,
the lid is once again secured.
Indicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located under the
inside rearview mirror.
>When the indicator lamp flashes con-
tinuously, the system is armed>The indicator lamp flashes when it
is armed. Doors, the hood or luggage
compartment lid are not closed
properly. Even if you do not close the
alerted area, the remaining areas are
deadlocked, and the indicator lamp
flashes continuously after 10 seconds.
However, the interior protection
system 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 armed46cus033

47n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Manual convertible top8 Press the convertible top compart-
ment lid down from above (arrow).
The lid locks for the convertible top
compartment are equipped with sen-
sors that carry out the closing proce-
dure
9 Close the windows that were slightly
lowered, or position them at the de-
sired height.
In order to avoid any pinching,
move the convertible top com-
partment lid from above only.
To prevent damage, the convertible top
compartment lid can not be opened if
the luggage compartment lid is open.c46cde076
The central locking system unlocks
automatically when the convertible
top compartment lid is closed, i.e.,
the luggage compartment lid is no
longer locked and can be opened
again.
T
o avoid any damage from constant
damp, never recess the convertible
top while it is wet (refer to the chapter
"Care" beginning on page 14 4)
.c
To close the convertible top 1 Put the ignition key in position 1
2 Press the button to unlock the top.
The lid locks for the convertible top
are unlocked and the side windows
lower slightly
3 Open the convertible top compart-
ment lid
4 Lift out the convertible top by both
the lateral guide section and the front
convertible top frame, and swing it
toward the front until you feel some
resistance46cde074

50n
The fully automatic convertible top
*
Opening and closing1 Closing
2 Opening
Keep pressing the button for operating
the convertible top until the opening or
closing process has ended.
The side windows will lower slightly
during the opening process. If you
continue to press the button after the
convertible top has been closed and
locked, the side windows will close,
too.
The red indicator lamp lights up while
the convertible top is being operated.
After releasing the button, the lamp will
start blinking if the opening or closing
process has not been fully completed.46cus004
If the convertible top compartment
panel has been raised, then the con-
vertible top cannot be moved. In this
event, the yellow indicator lamp stays
on when the button is pressed and indi-
cates that it is not possible to operate
the convertible top.
Flip the convertible top compartment
panel down, refer to page 41.
If the opening or closing process
has been interrupted, then the
convertible top will remain stationary
in that position for 15 minutes.
After that, the convertible top can be
operated manually. This can also be
carried out with the ignition key in
position 0.
The luggage compartment cannot be
opened while operating the convertible
top.
The side windows are lowered slightly
when pressing the convertible top but-
ton and are raised back up after com-
pleting the opening process, if you have
continued holding the button down for
more than 2 seconds after the indicator
lamp has gone out.c
While the convertible top is
moving, the side windows lower
slightly. If the convertible top closing
or opening operation is interrupted, do
not close the side windows by using the
power window buttons.
Sometimes the luggage compartment
lid cannot be opened, either, if the
opening or closing process has been
interrupted.
To avoid any damage from constant
damp, never put the convertible top
away wet.
The rear window will move toward the
passenger area while the convertible
top is in operation, and it will also lightly
press the heads of the passengers sit-
ting in the rear toward the front. As a
rule, there is no danger in this. To avoid
any possible pinching, however, the
rear passengers should tilt their heads
slightly forward while the convertible
top is in motion.c

51n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
The fully automatic convertible top
*
Wind deflector
*
Convenience operation from the
driver's door lock>To open: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Unlock" position and
hold it
>To close: with the door closed, turn
the key to the "Lock" position and
hold it.
Releasing the key stops the movement.
For safety reasons, to keep the closing
process in view, you cannot use the re-
mote control for convenience operation.
At higher speeds, the lower air
pressure in the passenger com-
partment may create a vacuum and
cause the convertible top to start flut-
tering. Increase the air supply via the
ventilation controls so that a vacuum
does not occur in the vehicle.c
The wind deflector cuts down air turbu-
lence within the passenger area, thus
affording a pleasant ride, even at higher
speeds. It is delivered in a protective
casing, and because of its minimal size,
can easily be stowed in the luggage
compartment.Installation1 Take the wind deflector out of its
protective casing

52n
Wind deflector
*
2 Flip out the side pieces on both sides
and lock them into place (arrow)46cde098
Position the wind deflector so that
the smaller portion points toward
the front.c
3 Guide the mounting pin for the side
part into the opening provided
4 Using the slide, pull the mounting pin
on the other side back, so that it can
be guided into the opening provided
5 Unlock the convertible top compart-
ment lid, refer to page 45 or 50, and
open the convertible top compart-
ment lid
6 Flip the rear half of the wind deflector
back so that the attachments are in
contact with the vehicle
7 Close the convertible top compart-
ment lid. The wind deflector has now
been attached and is theft-proof.
46cde099
To avoid any pinching, move the
convertible top compartment lid
from above only.
With wind deflector in place: never
push the front seat all the way back to
avoid damage to the wind deflector.c
RemovingRemove the wind deflector in the
opposite order of installation.

59n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
MirrorsYou can also adjust the mirrors manu-
ally by pressing against the outer edges
of their lenses.
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 ob-
jects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. Estimating the dis-
tance between you and the traffic be-
hind you is therefore imprecise. ed with the ignition key in position 2.
Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from behind when
driving at night, turn the knob.Sun visorsThese can be folded down toward the
windshield or swiveled out against the
side windows.46cus034
Inside rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature
*
By responding to the effects of ambient
light and the glare from following traffic,
this mirror automatically dims through
an infinitely variable range.
The mirror switches to its clear, un-
dimmed mode whenever the trans-
mission is placed in reverse gear
(selector lever in "Reverse").
For proper functioning of the mirror, be
sure that the two photocells are unob-
structed and clean. One of the photo-
cells (arrow) is positioned in the mirror's
glass, while the other is slightly offset
on the opposite side of the mirror.
For an explanation of the electro-chro-
mic technology used in this mirror, refer
to page 175.46cde023

74n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
You have the option of driving with a
normal automatic transmission or
switching to manual.
When you move the selector lever from
the "D" position to the left into the M/S
range, the performance-oriented shift
programs of the automatic transmission
are engaged. As soon as you briefly
touch the selector lever in the "+" or "–"
direction, Steptronic changes the gear.
The manual mode is engaged. When-
ever you want to use automatic again,
just shift the selector lever toward the
right to position "D".
The automatic transmission with Step-
tronic is equipped with ATC (Adaptive
Transmission Control). ATC reacts with
precision to your individual driving style
and the current driving conditions. To
achieve this, different shift programs
are engaged.
For additional details concerning ATC,
please refer to the chapter describing
"Advanced technology" on page 172.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in
selector lever positions P ("Park") or
N ("Neutral").Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts into
certain selector lever positions. To dis-
engage the detent, press the button on
the front of the shift knob (arrow).46cde053
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of "Park" or
"Neutral," depress the footbrake, other-
wise the selector lever gets blocked
(Shiftlock).
Hold the footbrake down until starting
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep"
when a drive position is engaged.<
If you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, move the selector
lever to the "Park" or "Neutral" position
and apply the parking brake. If you fail
to do this, the vehicle could move. Do
not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. An unattended ve-
hicle with a running engine represents a
potential safety hazard.<
P ParkSelect reverse only when the vehicle is
stationary. The transmission locks to
prevent the rear wheels from turning.R ReverseSelect reverse only when the vehicle is
stationary.N NeutralSelect "Neutral" only if your journey is
interrupted for a longer period.

76n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
In the following situations, the Step-
tronic "thinks" for you in the manual
mode:
>In order to prevent the engine from
overrevving, the transmission shifts
automatically to the next higher gear
just before the RPM cutoff point
>If you do not do anything to inter-
vene, it will automatically downshift
at lower speeds
>In the "Kickdown" mode, the trans-
mission shifts down to the lowest
gear which is possible, depending on
the engine speed
>Depending on the situation – when
driving in adverse winter conditions,
for example – you may also start out
in 2nd or 3rd gear.
Available displays
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on,
there is a malfunction in the
transmission system.
46cus005
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to "P". Set
the parking brake and turn the engine
off (ignition key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may
continue to drive as usual. If the indica-
tor lamp does not go out, you can put
the selector lever in all positions. How-
ever, the vehicle will now only operate
in 3rd and 4th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest BMW
center.
Do not work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear (for-
ward or reverse) is engaged. If you do
this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing and jump-starting the
vehicle, refer to page 168

87n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
The PDC assists you when you are park-
ing. A signal warns you of the real dis-
tance to an obstacle. To do this, four
ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper
measure the distance to the nearest ob-
ject. The range for the sensors at the two
rear corners ends approx. 2 feet (60 cm)
from the bumper. The range for the
two center sensors is approx. 4.9 feet
(1.50 meters) wide.
The system starts to operate automati-
cally about one second after you select
"Reverse" with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2. PDC is deactivated when you shift
back out of reverse.
Acoustical signalsThe distance to the nearest object is in-
dicated by a tone sounding at various
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals
between the tones become shorter.
A continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than approx.
1 foot (30 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if the distance
to the obstacle remains constant during
this time (if you are moving parallel to
a wall, for instance).
System malfunctions are indicated by a
continuous high-pitched tone when the
system is activated the first time.
Please refer the problem to your BMW
center.The PDC does not remove the
driver's personal responsibility for
evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be de-
tected. This applies especially in those
cases where the system approaches
the physical limits of ultrasonic mea-
surement, as occurs with tow bars and
trailer couplings, and in the vicinity of
thin and painted objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of
ice or snow in order to ensure that
they continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain a distance of more than
4 inches (10 cm).<
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*