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BMW 325ci Convertbile (2002 year). Instruction - part 1

Notes on the Owner's Manual

Symbols used

Your individual vehicle

We have made every effort to ensure

Indicates precautions that must

On purchasing your BMW, you have

that you are able to find what you need

be followed precisely in order to

decided in favor of a model with individ-

in this Owner's Manual as quickly as

avoid the possibility of personal injury

ualized equipment and features. This

possible. The fastest way to find

and serious damage to the vehicle.<

Owner's Manual describes all models

specific topics is by using the detailed

and equipment that BMW offers within

index at the end. If you wish to gain

Contains information that will

the same group.

only an initial overview of your vehicle,

assist you in gaining the optimum

We hope you will understand that

you will find this in the first chapter.

benefit from your vehicle and enable

equipment and features are included

The detailed table of contents is

you to care more effectively for your

that you might not have chosen for your

intended to stimulate your interest and

vehicle.<

vehicle. You can easily identify any

encourage you to read the remainder of

differences with the aid of the asterisk *

the manual.

Refers to measures that can

used to identify all optional equipment

be taken to help protect the

Should you wish to sell your BMW at

and accessories.

environment.<

some time in the future, please

If your BMW features equipment which

remember to hand over this Owner's

is not described in this Owner's Manual

< Marks the end of a specific item of

Manual to the new owner; it is legal part

(car radio or telephone, for instance),

information.

of the vehicle.

supplementary Owner's Manuals are

If you have any additional questions,

enclosed. We ask you to read these

* Indicates special equipment, country-

your BMW center will be glad to advise

manuals as well.

specific equipment and optional

you.

extras.

Identifies systems or components,

which can either be activated or

adapted to suit an individual driver's

requirements (Vehicle Memory, Key

Memory), refer to page 62.

Remember that activation and adjust-

ments on some of these systems can

only be performed at your BMW

center.<

Notes

Symbols

Your individual vehicle

Status at time of printing

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,

ongoing development conceived 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, it is possible that the features

described in this Owner's Manual could

differ from those on your vehicle. Nor

can errors and omissions be entirely

ruled out. You are therefore asked to

appreciate that no legal claims can be

recognized on the basis of the data,

illustrations or descriptions in this

Owner's Manual.

Status at time of printing

For your own safety

10n

For your own safety

Important safety information!

radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,

wheels, suspension components, brake

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels

dust shields, telephones (including

containing up to and including

For your own safety, use genuine parts

operation of any portable cellular phone

10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with

and accessories approved by BMW.

from within the vehicle without using an

up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (i.e.

When you purchase accessories tested

externally mounted antenna) or trans-

15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an

and approved by BMW and Original

ceiver equipment (such as CB, walkie-

equivalent amount of co-solvent) will

BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire

talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause

not void the applicable warranties

the assurance that they have been thor-

extensive damage to the vehicle,

covering defects in materials or work-

oughly tested by BMW to ensure

compromise its safety, interfere with

manship. Field experience has indi-

optimum performance when installed

the vehicle's electrical system or affect

cated significant differences in fuel

on your vehicle.

the validity of the BMW Limited

quality (volatility, composition, addi-

BMW warrants these parts to be free

Warranty. Contact your BMW center for

tives, for example) among gasolines

from defects in material and workman-

additional information.

offered for sale in the United States and

ship.

Canada. The use of poor-quality fuels

Do not use key or remote control to

may result in driveability, starting and

BMW will not accept any liability for

lock doors or luggage compartment

stalling problems, especially under

damage resulting from installation of

with anyone inside the vehicle. Refer to

certain environmental conditions, such

parts and accessories not approved by

pages 29 and 31 for more details.<

as high ambient temperature and high

BMW.

altitude.

BMW cannot test every product on the

Maintenance, replacement, or

Should you encounter driveability prob-

market to determine whether it can be

repair of the emission control

lems which you suspect could be

used on a BMW safely and without risk

devices and systems may be performed

related to the fuel you are using, we

to either the vehicle, its operation, or its

by any automotive repair establishment

recommend that you respond by

occupants.

or individual using any certified auto-

switching to a recognized high-quality

motive part.<

Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories

brand.

and other products approved by BMW,

Failure to comply with these recom-

Symbol on vehicle parts

together with professional advice on

mendations may result in unscheduled

using these items, are available from all

Indicates that you should consult

maintenance.

BMW centers.

the relevant section of this

Obey all applicable safety rules when

Owner's Manual for information on a

Installation and operation of non-BMW

handling gasoline.<

particular part or assembly.

approved accessories such as alarms,

11n

The following applies only to vehicles owned and operated in the US.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should

immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of

North America, LLC., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000.

If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a

group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-

vidual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, LLC.

To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in

Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can

also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

12n

13n

Overview

Controls and features

Operation, maintenance

Owner service procedures

Technical data

Index

Overview

14n

Cockpit

1 Parking lamps/Low beams

3 Wiper/Washer system/Rain

6 Rear window defroster

91, 95

sensor

2 >Turn signal indicators

7 Horn: the entire surface

> Standing lamps

4 Hazard warning flashers

8 Adjusting the steering wheel

> High beams 88

5 Central locking system

9 Fog lamps 88

> Headlamp flasher

> Computer 76

Instrument cluster

15n

1 Fuel gauge

3 Speedometer

5 Tachometer and Energy control

2 Indicator lamps for turn signals

4 Indicator and warning

6 Engine coolant temperature

lamps

17 to 20

gauge 75

16nInstrument cluster

7 Indicator and warning

10 Display for

11 Selector lever and program display

lamps

17 to 20

> Trip odometer/Odometer

for automatic transmission

18, 69

> Clock 76

8 Reset trip odometer to zero

12 Control button for the clock

> Service Interval

9 Indicator for Check Control

13 Indicator and warning

> Computer 76

lamps

17 to 20

Indicator and warning lamps

17n

Technology that monitors itself

Red: stop immediately

Brake warning lamp ●

If the lamp comes on when the

The system runs an operational check

Battery charge current ●

parking brake is not engaged:

on the indicator and warning lamps

The battery is no longer being

check the brake fluid level. Before

identified with the ● symbol each time

charged. Indicates a defective

driving further, be sure to comply with

you switch on the ignition. They each

alternator drive belt or a problem with

the instructions on pages 109 and 124

light up once for different periods of

the alternator's charge circuit. Please

time.

contact the nearest BMW center.

Brake warning lamp for Cana-

dian models.

If a fault should occur in one of these

If the drive belt is defective, stop

systems, the corresponding lamp does

and switch off the engine immedi-

not go out after the engine is started, or

Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)/

ately to prevent overheating and

it lights up while the vehicle is moving.

Flat Tire Monitor ●

serious engine damage. If the drive belt

You will see how to react in the

In addition, an acoustic signal is

is defective, increased steering effort is

following section.

sounded: a tire failure has occurred.

also required.<

Reduce vehicle speed immediately and

stop the vehicle. Avoid hard brake

Engine oil pressure ●

applications. As you steer the vehicle,

Stop the vehicle immediately

use caution to avoid overcorrecting.

and switch off the engine.

For additional information refer to

Check the engine oil level; top off as

pages 83, 85

required. If the oil level is correct:

please contact the nearest BMW

center.

Do not continue driving, as the

engine could sustain serious

damage from inadequate lubrication.<

18nIndicator and warning lamps

Red and yellow: continue driving

Red: an important reminder

Orange: consult the nearest

cautiously

BMW center

Parking brake warning lamp

The brake warning lamp comes

Comes on when the parking

Automatic transmission

on together with the yellow indi-

brake is engaged - an additional

The automatic transmission has

cator lamps for ABS and

acoustic signal sounds when you start

responded to a malfunction by

ASC+T/DSC:

off.

reverting to operation in its emergency

The entire ABS, CBC, ASC+T/

For additional information refer to

default program. Please consult the

DSC and ADB control system

page 66

nearest BMW center.

has failed. Continue driving

For additional information refer to

Parking brake warning lamp for

cautiously and defensively.

page 67

Canadian models.

Avoid full brake applications. Please

have the system checked by your BMW

center as soon as possible.

Lock backrest/Fasten safety

For additional information refer to

belts ●

pages 80, 81

An acoustic warning also

sounds in some versions. Flashes if the

CBC, ABS, ASC+T/DSC and

backrest is not locked. Lights up either

ADB/DBC indicator and warning

for several seconds or until the belt is

lamps for Canadian models.

engaged, depending upon version.

For additional information on safety

belts refer to page 52

Airbags ●

Please have the system

inspected at your BMW center.

For additional information refer to

page 56

Indicator and warning lamps

19n

Yellow: check as soon as possible

Brake pads ●

Automatic Stability Control plus

Have the brake pads checked.

Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic

Antilock Brake System (ABS) ●

For additional information refer

Stability Control (DSC) indicator

ABS has been deactivated in

to page 109

lamp and brake warning lamp ●

response to system malfunction.

The indicator lamps remain on:

Conventional braking performance

Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)/

the DSC and ADB/DBC have

remains available with no loss of effi-

Flat Tire Monitor ●

been switched off with the button or are

ciency. Please have the system

Check tire inflation pressures,

defective.

inspected at your BMW center.

refer to pages 24, 83, 85

Please consult the nearest BMW

For additional information refer to

Automatic Stability Control plus

center.

page 109

Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic

For additional information refer to

ABS warning lamp for Canadian

Stability Control (DSC) ●

page 81

models.

Indicator lamp flashes:

DSC and ADB indicator and

The system is actively regulating drive

warning lamps for Canadian

torque and braking force.

Engine oil level

models.

The indicator lamp stays lit:

Comes on during driving: the

ASC+T has been switched off with the

engine oil level has fallen to the

button or it is defective, or the DSC has

absolute minimum; refill as soon as

been switched off, ADB is operational.

possible. Do not drive more than

Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) ●

Please contact a BMW center in case of

approx. 30 miles (50 km) until you do.

Malfunction in DBC system.

a malfunction.

For additional information refer to

Conventional braking efficiency

Additional information beginning on

page 121

is available and unrestricted.

page 80

Have the system repaired by your BMW

Engine oil level

center.

Comes on after the engine has

For additional information refer to

been switched off: add engine

page 82

oil at the earliest opportunity (next time

you stop to refuel).

For additional information refer to

page 121

20nIndicator and warning lamps

Add washer fluid

Green: for your information

Blue: for your information

The washer fluid is too low. Top

Turn signal indicator

High beams

off the fluid at the earliest

Flashes when the turn signal is

Comes on when the high beams

opportunity. For additional information

operated.

are on or the headlamp flasher

refer to page 120

Rapid flashing indicates a system

is actuated.

SERVICE ENGINE SOON ●

malfunction.

For additional information refer to

If the indicator lamp comes on

For additional information refer to

pages 69, 88

either continuously or intermit-

page 69

tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-

Cruise control

sions-related electronic systems.

Lights up when the cruise

Although the vehicle remains opera-

control is activated: available for

tional, you should have the systems

operation via the multifunction steering

checked at your BMW center at the

wheel.

earliest possible opportunity. For addi-

For additional information refer to

tional information refer to page 127

page 72

SERVICE ENGINE SOON

Fog lamps

warning lamp for Canadian

Lights up whenever you switch

models.

on the fog lamps.

For additional information refer to

page 88

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 at your

BMW center.

Add coolant

The coolant level is too low. Add

coolant at the earliest opportu-

nity. For additional information refer to

page 123

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