BMW 323Ci (2000 year). Instruction - part 5
54nCar Memory, Key Memory
When your vehicle is unlocked with the
remote control, the vehicle recognizes
the individual user by means of a data
exchange with the key, and makes ad-
justments accordingly.
In order for you to distinguish between
different keys, colored decals are sup-
plied together with the keys.
What the system can do
Your authorized BMW center can pro-
vide you with details on the capabilities
How the system functions
of the Car Memory and Key Memory
You have probably frequently wished
systems.
that you could configure individual
functions of your vehicles to reflect your
You will see this symbol through-
own personal requirements. BMW has
out the Owner's Manual. It is to
included several user-defined func-
remind you at appropriate places of the
tions in the vehicle's design. Your BMW
settings that are available to you.<
center can make these settings for you
in accordance with your wishes.
An example of Key Memory is the auto-
There are settings related to the vehicle
matic adjustment of the power driver's
("Car Memory") and settings related to
seat with stored settings for the individ-
individuals ("Key Memory"). You can
ual person when the vehicle is un-
have up to four different basic settings
locked.
adjusted for four different persons. The
only requirement is that each person
uses his or her own remote control key.
Safety belts
55n
In the rear, the belt buckle with the word
"CENTER" is provided exclusively for
the passenger sitting in the middle.
For your safety, please comply with
the following instruction for wear-
ing safety belts. If you do not, the safety
belts may not be able to provide their
maximum protection.
The following information also applies
to your passengers:
Never allow more than one person to
Fasten your safety belt before starting
Safety belt height adjustment
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
off.
infants or small children to ride in a pas-
You can adjust the safety belts to fit your
senger's lap.
To fasten:
own physical dimensions by using the
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it
Make sure you hear the catch engage in
safety belt height adjustment.
firmly across the hips and shoulder. Do
the belt buckle.
Slide the button downward or upward.
not allow the belt to rest against hard
To release:
or fragile objects in your pockets. Never
Press the red button in the buckle. Hold
route the belt across your neck, do not
the belt and guide it back into its reel.
run it across sharp edges and ensure
that the belt does not become caught
or jammed.
Be sure that the safety belt fits snugly
against your body at all times, and avoid
wearing clothing that prevents the belt
from fitting properly. Pull on the belt pe-
riodically to readjust the tension across
your shoulder. In the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal injury. In
addition, the safety belt's restraint effec-
tiveness is reduced if the belt is worn
loosely.
56nSafety belts
Child restraint systems*
Expectant mothers should always wear
Never install a rear-facing child
the safety belt, taking special care to
restraint device on the front pas-
position the lap belt over the lower hips,
senger seat. Injuries could occur if the
where it will not exert pressure against
airbag is triggered in the event of an
the abdominal area.<
accident.
Children should always ride in the rear.
For child restraint system installation,
Do not modify the child restraint system
refer to page 60.
in any way, or it will not provide your
child with maximum protection.<
For care instructions, refer to "Caring
for your car" page 133.
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
Replace the entire safety belt mecha-
nism through you BMW center, includ-
ing the safety belt tensioner and any
child restraint systems* that are in-
stalled. In addition, have your BMW
center inspect the safety belt anchors.<
Airbags
57n
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp shows that
the airbag system is operational
in ignition key positions 1 and 2.
System operational:
> The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
System malfunction:
> The indicator lamp fails to come on
> The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting up
1
Front airbag for driver and passenger
The illustration schematically depicts
again.
2
Side impact Head Protection System
the primary directions of vehicle impact
If there is a system malfunction, there
(front)
that initiate airbag deployment.
is a risk that the airbags will not be trig-
3
Side airbags (front and rear side*)
gered in their normal response range in
the event of an accident, even though
Protective effect
the impact is severe.
The front airbags supplement the three-
Please have your authorized BMW cen-
point safety belts by providing addi-
ter inspect and repair the system as
tional protection for the front-seat oc-
soon as possible.
cupants, in the event of a severe frontal
collision in which the protection af-
The airbag indicator lamp also
forded by the belts alone may no longer
comes on if the safety belt ten-
be sufficient. The head and side airbags
sioners have been triggered.<
help provide protection in the event of a
side impact. Each of the side airbags is
designed to help support the upper
body.
58nAirbags
For your own safety, please ob-
Do not use the cover panel above the
Accident research shows that the saf-
serve the following precautions
front passenger airbag as a storage
est place for children in an automobile
concerning airbags, as otherwise their
area.
is in the rear seat. However, a child
protective function may be impaired
Never tape the airbag cover panels,
sitting in the rear seat and not properly
and your personal safety endangered.
cover them over or alter them in any
restrained may place his or her head on
The following information pertains to all
other way.
or near the side airbag, if so equipped.
occupants:
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
For example, a child - even though
The airbags are supplemental restraint
device on the front passenger seat.
belted - may fall asleep with his or her
devices designed to provide extra pro-
Children under 13 years of age and
head against the side airbag. It may be
tection; they are not a substitute for
children who are smaller than 5 feet
difficult for a driver to ensure that chil-
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
(150 cm), should only travel in the rear
dren in the rear seat will remain prop-
times. The airbags will not be triggered
seat.
erly positioned at all times and not
in the event of a minor accident, a vehi-
If your vehicle is equipped with side air-
place their heads on or near the side
cle roll-over, or collisions from the rear.
bags in the rear, be sure that child seats
airbag. Therefore, we recommend that
In this case, the safety belt offers the
are installed correctly and with the
the rear seat side airbags, if provided,
best protection.
greatest possible distance from the side
be deactivated if you plan to transport
Airbags are located under the cover
trim panels. Do not allow children to
children in the rear seat.
panels in the steering wheel, in the in-
lean out of the child's seat in the direc-
The rear seat side airbags may already
strument panel, in the side trim panels
tion of the side trim panels. Otherwise,
have been deactivated, either at the
in the front and rear*, in the roof panels,
serious injuries could occur if the airbag
time of manufacture or by a BMW cen-
and in the sides of the inside roof lining.
is triggered.
ter. Labels in the rear door opening
Select a seat position that is comfort-
At all times, occupants should sit up-
should indicate the status of your rear
able and allows the greatest possible
right and be properly restrained (infants
seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of
distance from each of the applicable
and small children in appropriate child
their status, or wish to have the airbags
airbags. Hold the steering wheel at the
restraint systems; larger children and
activated or deactivated, please contact
rim (hands at the "9 o'clock and
adults using the safety belts). Never let
your BMW center.<
3 o'clock" positions) in order to avoid
an occupant's head rest near or on a
injuries to the hands or arms if the air-
side airbag because the inflating airbag
bag is triggered.
could cause a serious or fatal injury.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
Please note that the word "Airbag" im-
area between the airbag and an occu-
printed on the door trim panel indicates
pant.
the airbag's location.
Airbags
59n
Even when all these guidelines are ob-
served, there is still a small residual risk
of injuries to the face, hands and arms
occurring in isolated instances. The ig-
nition and inflation noise may induce a
mild temporary hearing loss in sensitive
individuals.
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to page 135
and 161.
This is the right way a child should sit in
This is the right way a larger child
a child restraint when rear side airbags
should sit wearing the safety belt when
(arrow) are provided.
rear side airbags (arrow) are provided.
60nChild restraints*
Improperly or inadequately installed re-
move the passenger seat as far away
straint systems can increase the risk of
from the dashboard as possible. This
injury to children. Always read and fol-
important precaution is intended to
low the instructions that come with the
maximize the distance between the air-
system.
bag and the child. Older children should
be tightly secured with the safety belt.
If the child restraint of your choice re-
Younger children should be secured in
quires the use of a tether strap, three
an appropriate forward-facing child re-
fastening points (see arrows) have been
straint system that has first been prop-
provided on the rear shelf for attach-
erly secured with a safety belt.
ment. Ask your BMW center to perform
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
the necessary work.
system in the front passenger seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
All occupants and especially children
Before installing any child restraint
and comply with the instructions for in-
should be restrained whenever riding
device or child seat, please read
stallation and use provided by the child
in a motor vehicle.
the following:
restraint's manufacturer whenever you
Never install a rearward-facing child
Infants or small children should never
use such a device.
restraint system in the front passenger
be held on the lap of a passenger.
Be sure that all occupants (of all ages)
seat of this car.
Children should always sit in the rear
remain properly and securely restrained
Your car is equipped with an airbag
and, depending on age, use either a
at all times.c
supplemental restraint system for the
child restraint system or the existing
front passenger. Because the backrest
safety belts. Accident statistics have
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
on any rear-facing child restraint sys-
shown that children are safer when
meet the recommendations of SAE
tem (of the kind designed for infants
properly restrained in the rear seats
J1819, an industry recommended prac-
under 1 year and 20 lbs.) would be
than in the front seating positions.
tice for securing child restraint systems
within the airbag's deployment range,
Infants or toddlers should be secured
in motor vehicles.
you should never mount such a device
with a child restraint system appropri-
in the front passenger seat, as the im-
ate for their size.
pact of the airbag against the child re-
Commercially available child seats
straint's backrest could lead to serious
complying with the legal standard are
or fatal injuries.
designed to be secured with a lap belt
If it is necessary for a child (not an
or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
infant) to ride in the front seat, certain
nation lap/shoulder belt.
precautions should be taken. First,
Child restraint installation
61n
Release the safety belt
Release the safety belt, remove the
child's seat and retract the safety belt to
its end position on the belt retractor.
All of the rear belt retractors and the
front passenger's safety belt can be
locked for mounting and securing child
restraint systems.
A label with the appropriate instructions
for this is located in the immediate vi-
cinity of the buckle latch of each safety
belt.
Lock the safety belt
Extract the entire length of the belt from
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the
reel to retract the belt somewhat and
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt
against the child restraint system. The
retraction mechanism is now locked.
The belt cannot be extracted further.
Always observe the installation instruc-
tions provided by the manufacturer of
the child restraint system.
62n
Steering/ignition lock
Starting the engine
1 Steering lock disengaged
Before starting
Turning the steering wheel slightly to
> Engage parking brake
the right or left often makes it easier to
> Ensure that the transmission selector
turn the key from 0 to 1.
is in "Neutral" (or "Park" if vehicle is
Individual electrical devices are ready
equipped with automatic transmis-
for operation.
sion)
> Manual transmission: Depress the
2 Ignition on
clutch pedal
> Automatic transmission: Depress the
All electrical equipment and accesso-
footbrake.
ries are available for use.
Never allow the engine to run with
3 Starting the engine
0 Steering lock engaged
the vehicle standing in an en-
The key can only be inserted and
closed area. The exhaust gases contain
Vehicles with manual
removed in this position.
transmission:
carbon monoxide, an odorless and col-
orless, but highly toxic gas. Breathing
After removing the key, turn the steer-
Step on the clutch when starting the
the exhaust gases poses an extreme
ing wheel slightly to the left or right until
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine
health risk, and can lead to uncon-
you hear the lock engage.
from starting if the clutch is not de-
sciousness and death.
pressed.c
If the key is not removed, an acoustic
Do not leave the car unattended with
signal chimes after the driver's door has
the engine running. An unattended ve-
been opened.
hicle with a running engine represents a
potential safety hazard.<
Vehicles with automatic
transmission:
> Start the engine. Do not press the
Move the selector lever from position P
accelerator pedal.
only after the engine is running (ignition
key in position 2).
In order to turn the key back to position 0
or to remove it, move the selector lever
into position P first (Interlock).<
Starting the engine
Switching off the engine
63n
Do not operate the starter too
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
briefly, but not longer than
approx. 20 seconds. Release the igni-
Do not pull the ignition key out of a
tion key immediately as soon as the
rolling vehicle, otherwise the igni-
engine starts.
tion switch could lock and it is impossi-
Do not allow the engine to warm up by
ble to steer the vehicle.
leaving it running while the vehicle re-
When you leave the vehicle, always
mains stationary. Instead, drive off
remove the ignition key and engage the
immediately at a moderate engine
steering lock.
speed.<
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
Should the engine fail to start on the
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
first attempt, e.g. if it is very hot or cold:
faces, as placing the lever in 1st gear or
reverse may not provide adequate re-
> Press the accelerator pedal halfway
sistance to rolling.
down while engaging the starter.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Cold start at extremely low tempera-
Place the selector lever in "Park".<
tures, from approx. + 57 (- 156)
and at elevations above 3300 feet
(1000 meters):
> On the first start attempt, engage the
starter for a longer period (approx.
10 seconds)
> Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
64nParking brake
If, in exceptional circumstances, it
should be necessary to engage
the parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull it with excessive
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed
against the release button while care-
fully pulling up the lever to apply mod-
erate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
To engage
Vehicles with manual transmission:
The lock engages automatically when
Always engage the parking brake when
you lift the lever, and the indicator lamp
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
in the instrument cluster will light up in
faces, as placing the lever in 1st gear or
ignition key position 2. See page 21.
reverse may not provide adequate re-
sistance to rolling.
To release
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Pull up slightly on the lever, press the
Place the selector lever in "Park".<
button (arrow) and lower the lever.
The parking brake is primarily designed
To avoid corrosion, apply the parking
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
brake lightly from time to time when
parked, and operates against the rear
coasting to a standstill (at a traffic sig-
wheels.
nal, for instance), provided that it is safe
to do so.
Manual transmission
65n
Reverse
Select only with the vehicle stationary.
Press the shift lever to the left to over-
come the slight resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will
turn on automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead.
A slipping clutch increases clutch
The shift lever's neutral plane (dot in the
wear.<
illustration) is located between 3rd and
4th gears.
When shifting from each gear into
"Neutral," the shift lever returns auto-
matically to this neutral position be-
cause of its spring loading.
66nAutomatic transmission with Steptronic*
You have the option of driving a normal
While the vehicle is stationary and
automatic transmission or switching to
before shifting out of "Park" or
manual.
"Neutral," depress the footbrake in or-
der to disengage the selector lever's
Whenever you shift the selector lever
lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
out of position D toward the left and
Hold the footbrake down until starting
into the M/S gate, the automatic trans-
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep"
mission's sports-emphasized shift pro-
when a drive position is engaged.<
gram activates. As soon as you even
begin to move the selector lever in the
Before leaving the vehicle with the
direction "+" or "-", Steptronic shifts the
engine running, shift the selector
gear and manual operation becomes
lever to the "Park" or "Neutral" position
active. Whenever you want to use auto-
and apply the parking brake. The vehi-
matic again, just shift the selector lever
Selector lever positions
cle will move if this is not done. Do not
toward the right to position D.
P R N D M/S + -
leave the car unattended with the en-
The Steptronic automatic transmission
gine running. An unattended vehicle
is equipped with ATC (Adaptive Trans-
Starting the engine
with a running engine represents a po-
mission Control). ATC reacts with preci-
The engine can only be started in
tential safety hazard.<
sion to your individual driving style and
selector lever positions P ("Park") or
the current driving conditions. This is
N ("Neutral").
P Park
the reason why various shift programs
Select only with the vehicle stationary.
are used.
Range selection
Transmission locks to prevent rear
For details concerning ATC, please
A lock prevents inadvertent shifts into
wheels from turning.
refer to the chapter "Advanced Tech-
some selector lever positions. To re-
nology" on page 160.
lease the shift-lock mechanism, press
R Reverse
the button on the front of the shift knob
Select only with the vehicle stationary.
(arrow).
N Neutral
Select only if your journey is interrupted
for a long period.
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*
67n
D Drive (automatic shift program)
The ATC will carry out upshifting and/or
downshifting only at the appropriate
This position is designed for driving un-
number of RPMs and speed, e.g.
der all normal operating conditions. All
downshifting will not occur if the engine
forward gears are available, the Adap-
speed is too high. The desired, then the
tive Transmission Control (ATC) is fully
actual gear, briefly show up in the in-
operational.
strument cluster.
"Kickdown" (automatic downshift)
To accelerate quickly in the man-
In the "Kickdown" mode, you achieve
ual mode, e.g. to pass, downshift
maximum performance.
to manual or kickdown.<
To activate this mode, depress the ac-
celerator pedal beyond the full-throttle
Shifting from M/S to the selector lever
position, at which a resistance point
M/S Manual operation and
positions P, R and N is possible only by
Sport program
must be overcome.
going through D.
Shifting from D into M/S activates the
Sport program and indicates SD in the
gear indicator. This position is recom-
mended in the event a performance-
oriented driving style is desired.
At the slightest touch, the automatic
transmission shifts out of the Sport pro-
gram into manual operation.
Whenever you start to move the selector
lever forward in the "+" direction, the
transmission upshifts; moving it back-
ward in the direction of "-", shifts it
downward. M1 to M5 appear in the gear
indicator.