tow BMW 328i SEDAN 2000 E46 User Guide

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cargo loadingStowing cargo If you are transporting a load in your
BMW
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible Ð directly behind the back-
rests or the luggage compartment
partition Ð and as low as possible.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest.460de160
>If you are transporting very heavy
loads when the rear seat is not occu-
pied, secure the outer safety belts in
the opposite buckles (refer to the
illustration).460de185
Securing the load >For small, light items, use the rubber-
lined non-skid side of the floor mat or
secure with a luggage compartment
net
* or elastic straps (refer to
page 41).
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing de-
vices*. Lashing eyes (arrow) are pro-
vided at the corners of the luggage
compartment for attaching these
load-securing devices.
>Comply with the information en-
closed with the load-securing de-
vices.
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To ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you comply
with the following recommendations:
Engine and differentialUp to 1,200 miles (2,000 km):
Drive at varying engine speeds and
road speeds, but do not exceed
4,500 RPM or a road speed of 100 mph
(160 km/h) during this initial period.
Do not apply full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the
kickdown point.
After 1,200 miles (2,000 km), you can
gradually increase the engine speed or
road speed.
Follow the same break-in procedure if
either the engine or the differential is
replaced in the future.
TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
an initial break-in period has elapsed.
For this reason, drive cautiously during
the first 200 miles (300 km).Brake systemBrake pads and disks do not attain their
optimal wear patterns until after approx.
300 miles (500 km).
To break-in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill (at a traffic
signal, for instance), provided that traf-
fic conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on
when the parking brake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
car with the engine off Ð when towing,
for example Ð substantially higher levels
of pedal force will be required to brake
the vehicle.<
Brakes:
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear, and possibly
to brake failure.
Aquaplaning:
Reduce your speed when you drive on
wet or slushy roads. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between the
tires and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as aquaplaning
or hydroplaning. It is characterized by a
partial or complete loss of contact be-
tween the tires and the road surface.
The ultimate results are loss of steering
and braking control.
Driving through water:
Do not drive through water that is
deeper than 1 foot (30 cm). If you must
drive through water accumulations up
to that depth, drive only at walking
speed. Driving at a faster speed could
cause damage to the engine, the elec-
trical systems and the transmission.
Package tray:
Never use the rear window shelf to
store heavy or bulky objects. If you do
so, such objects could pose the risk of
injury to vehicle occupants during brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers or in a crash.
Break-in procedures Driving notes

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Clothes hooks:
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, be sure that they will not ob-
struct the driver's vision. Do not hang
heavy objects on the hooks. If you do
so, such objects could pose the risk of
personal injury during braking or eva-
sive maneuvers. exhaust emissions, and is designed for
use with unleaded fuel only.
Even minute quantities of lead would be
enough to permanently damage both
the catalytic converter and the system
oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements.
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty.
>Tow-start only when the engine is
cold. If you attempt to tow-start with
a warm engine, unburned residual
fuel in the catalytic converter could
ignite and cause damage. It is better
to jump-start the vehicle with outside
assistance.
>Avoid other situations in which the
fuel is not burned, or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never allow the engine to run with
any of the spark plug cables discon-
nected.Be sure to comply with the in-
structions above to prevent un-
burned fuel from reaching the catalytic
convertor. If you do not, the catalytic
converter could respond by overheat-
ing, leading to serious damage.
Extreme temperatures occur at the cat-
alytic converter on this and every cata-
lyst-equipped vehicle. Heat shields are
installed adjacent to some sections of
the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle, and parking the vehi-
cle, take extra care to avoid contact be-
tween the exhaust system and flamma-
ble materials (grass, hay, leaves, etc.).
Such contact could lead to a fire, re-
sulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Information for your safetyThe factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the car and have been se-
lected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your car.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety that depend on the con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures reg-
ularly Ð include the space-saver
spare tire or spare tire Ð at least twice a
month and before beginning a longer
trip. If this is not done, incorrect tire
pressures can cause driving instability
and tire damage, ultimately resulting in
an accident.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
The tread depth should not be any shal-
lower than 0.12 inches (3 mm). Below
this tread depth, there is a signiÞcant
risk of aquaplaning, even at relatively
moderate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.
We recommend that you always re-
place the tires once the tread wears to
0.12 inches (3 mm). If you continue to
use the tires, wear indicators appear in
the tread at 0.063 inches (1.6 mm).390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. You
could have a blowout as a result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
This is also true for irregularities in the
vehicle's handling characteristics, such
as a pronounced tendency to pull to the
left or right. Should this occur, respond
by immediately reducing your speed.
Proceed carefully to the nearest BMW
center or professional tire center, or
have the vehicle towed in to have it and
its tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressures Tire condition

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Engine oilChecking the oil level 1 Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2 Shut the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture.
3 After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material.
4 Push the dipstick all the way into the
guide tube and pull it out again.
5 The oil level should be between the
two graduations on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions.460de051
The space between the two marks on
the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine.460de189
To add oil Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
However, never let the oil drop below
the lower mark.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This also applies for the
manual transmission, automatic trans-
mission, differential and the power
steering system.<462de245

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit142
Windshield wiper blades142
Lamps and bulbs142
Changing a wheel149
Battery152
Fuses154
Microfilter155
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Fuel filler door156
Sliding/Tilt sunroof156
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting157
Towing the vehicle158
Repairs

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The onboard tool kit is located in the
luggage compartment lid.
Loosen the wingnut to open.
460de066
1 Rotate the wiper arm completely out
from the windshield.
2 Position the wiper blade at an angle
and pull the release spring (arrow).
3 Fold the wiper blade down and un-
hook it toward the windshield.
4 Pull the wiper blade past the wiper
arm toward the top.
5 Insert a new wiper blade and apply
pressure until you hear it engage.
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW.<460de56
The lamps and bulbs are essential fac-
tors contributing to the safety of your
vehicle. For this reason, follow the in-
structions below carefully when replac-
ing a bulb.If you are not familiar with
any of the procedures, consult your
BMW center.
Do not touch the glass portion of
a new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn in to the surface and reduce the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW center.
Whenever working on the electri-
cal system, switch off the electri-
cal accessory you are working on or
disconnect the cable from the negative
terminal of the battery. Failure to do this
could result in short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage, com-
ply with any instructions provided by
the bulb manufacturer.<
Onboard tool kit Windshield wiper blades Lamps and bulbs

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Lamps and bulbsThe illustration shows the left-hand side
of the engine compartment.Parking lamps 5 watt bulb
1 Turn the bulb holder to the left (arrow)
and remove it.
2 Remove and replace the bulb.460de171
Front turn signal indicator 21 watt bulb
1 Using a screwdriver, release the inner
hook through the upper opening.
2 Pull the lamp toward the front.
3 Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb.460de133
4 Insert the 2 pins on the lamp into the
guides on the vehicle.
5 Guide the lamp into position. Apply
gentle pressure until you hear it en-
gage.460de134

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Lamps and bulbsCenter (high-mount) brake lamp LED light bar on the rear window.
Please contact a BMW center in the
event of a malfunction.462de268
License plate lamps 5 watt bulb
1 Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left (arrow) to re-
lease the lens.
2 Replace the bulb.460de047
Interior lamps Front
The illustration provides an example of
the interior lamps when equipped with
reading lamps
*.
Interior lamps (2 x 5 watt bulbs)
1 Using a screwdriver, press the lamp
out toward the front.
2 Remove the lens and pull the bulb
out of the contact studs.
Interior lamps (6 watt bulb) with reading
lamps
* (2 x 6 watt bulbs)
1 Using a screwdriver, press the lamp
out toward the front.
2 Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove.
3 Remove and replace the bulb.
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Lamps and bulbsRear
The illustration provides an example of
the interior lamps when equipped with
reading lamps
*.
Interior lamps (5 watt bulb)
1 Using a screwdriver, press the lamp
out toward the front.
2 Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove.
3 Remove and replace the bulb.
Interior lamps (6 watt bulb) with reading
lamp
* (6 watt bulb)
1 Press the lamp out using a screw-
driver.
2 Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove.
3 Remove and replace the bulb.
460de179
Lighted vanity mirror
*
10 watt bulb
1 Remove the bulb housing Ð use a
screwdriver if necessary.
2 Replace the bulb.460de181
Footwell lamps
*
5 watt bulb
1 Press the lamp out using a screw-
driver.
2 Replace the bulb.Glove compartment lamp 5 watt bulb
1 Press the lamp out using a screw-
driver.
2 Replace the bulb.Luggage compartment lamps One lamp each in the bulb holder of the
tail lamp assembly: 10 watt bulb.
1 Apply a screwdriver to the recess and
remove the lens.
2 Replace the bulb.