Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
525i
530i
545i
Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with
enhanced control and security when you drive it. We there-
fore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and
familiarize yourself with the information that we have com-
piled for you before starting off in your new vehicle.
It contains important data and instructions intended to
assist you in gaining maximum use and satisfaction from
your BMW's unique range of technical features. The man-
ual also contains information on maintenance designed to
enhance operating safety and contribute to maintaining the
value of your BMW throughout an extended service life.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent
part of this vehicle. It should stay with the vehicle when
sold to provide the next owner with important operating,
safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
© 2003 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 157 647
US English VIII/03 5 10
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to
use the index, refer to page 202.
Using this Owner's Manual
4 Notes
7 Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10 Cockpit
16 Control Center
20 Voice command system
Controls
26 Opening and closing
36 Adjustments
45 Transporting children safely
49 Driving
65 Everything under control
76 Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
87 Lamps
90 A congenial climate
96 Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
106 Things to remember when driving
Navigation
114 Starting navigation system
116 Destination entry
123 Destination guidance
127 What to do if …
Entertainment
130 On/off, tone
134 Radio
141 CD Compact Disc
144 CD changer
Communications
150 Telephoning
161 TeleService, BMW Assist
Mobility
168 Refueling
170 Wheels and tires
177 Under the hood
181 Maintenance
183 Rules and regulations
184 Replacing components
190 Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
198 Technical data
202 Everything from A to Z
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Notes
4
Notes
Using this Owner's Manual
We have made every effort to ensure that
you are able to find what you need in this
Owner's Manual as quickly as possible.
The fastest way to find specific topics is to
use the detailed index at the back of the
manual. If you wish to gain an initial over-
view of your vehicle, you will find this in the
first chapter.
Should you want to sell your BMW some
day, please remember to hand over the
Owner's Manual as well; it is an important
component of your vehicle.
Additional sources of information
Should you have any other questions, your
BMW center will be glad to advise you at
any time.
You can find information on BMW, e.g.
technology, on the Internet at
www.bmwusa.com.
Symbols used
Indicates precautions that must be
followed precisely in order to avoid
the possibility of personal injury and seri-
ous damage to the vehicle.
<
Marks the end of a specific item of infor-
mation.
Contains information that will assist
you in gaining the optimum benefit
from your vehicle and enable you to care
more effectively for your vehicle.
Refers to measures that can be taken
to help protect the environment.
*
Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras
when available.
"..." Identifies Control Display texts used to
select individual functions
.
Symbols on vehicle components
Indicates that you should consult the
relevant section of this Owner's Man-
ual for information on a particular part or
assembly.
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5
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The individual vehicle
On purchasing your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individual-
ized equipment and features. This Owner's
Manual describes the entire array of
options and equipment available with a
specific BMW model.
Please bear in mind that the manual may
contain information on accessories and
equipment that you have not specified for
your own vehicle. Sections describing
options and special equipment are marked
by asterisks
*
to assist you in identifying
possible differences between the descrip-
tions in this manual and your own vehicle's
equipment.
Should your BMW be equipped with fea-
tures or accessories not described in this
manual, please consult the enclosed sup-
plementary manual(s).
Editorial notice
BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is 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, the
features described in this Owner's Manual
may 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 entertained on
the basis of the data, illustrations or
descriptions in this Owner's Manual.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Notes
6
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 equiv-
alent amount of co-solvent – will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship. Field
experience has indicated significant differ-
ences in fuel quality – volatility, composi-
tion, additives, 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 environ-
mental 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 recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when you
are handling gasoline.
<
Maintenance and repair
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of
modern materials and high-perform-
ance electronics, requires specially
adapted maintenance and repair methods.
Therefore, only have corresponding work
on your BMW carried out by a BMW center
or a workshop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspond-
ingly trained personnel. If work is carried
out improperly there is a danger of conse-
quential damage and the related safety
risks.
<
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Genuine BMW
Parts, you simultaneously acquire the
assurance that they have been thoroughly
tested by BMW to ensure optimum perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for dam-
age resulting from installation of parts and
accessories not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk to
either the vehicle, its operation, or its occu-
pants.
Genuine 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 phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna – or transceiver equipment, for
instance, CBs, walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar accessories, may cause extensive
damage to the vehicle, compromise its
safety, interfere with the vehicle's electrical
system or affect the validity of the BMW
Limited Warranty. Consult your BMW cen-
ter for additional information.
<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any automo-
tive repair establishment or individual using
any certified automotive part.
<
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Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publica-
tion thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following war-
ranties:
>
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>
Federal Emissions System Defect
Warranty
>
Federal Emissions Performance
Warranty
>
California Emission Control System
Limited Warranty.
Detailed information about these warran-
ties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or in the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.
Reporting safety defects
The following only applies to vehicles
owned and operated in the US.
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 notify-
ing BMW of North America, LLC, P.O. Box
1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-
1227, Telephone (800) 831-1117.
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 individual 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 Transporta-
tion, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor vehi-
cle safety from the Hotline.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
At a glance
This overview of buttons, switches and
displays is intended to serve as a source
of orientation in your vehicle's operating
environment. The section will also assist
you in becoming acquainted with the
control concepts and options available
for operating the various systems.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
All around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1
Roller sun blind for rear window 97
2
Rear window safety switch 34
3
Electric power windows 33
4
Adjusting exterior mirrors 42
5
Turn signal indicators 56
High beams, headlamp
flasher 88
Check Control 68
Computer 70
Standing lamps 88
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At a glance
11
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6
Buttons on steering wheel
Portable phone
*
:
>
Accepting a call
>
Start calling
>
Ending call.
Volume
Voice command system.
Fast forward/reverse:
>
Radio
Press briefly: change station
Press longer: manual tuning or auto-
matic search scan
>
CD
Press briefly: select track
Press longer: fast forward/reverse.
Individually programmable, refer to
page 44.
>
Individually programmable, refer to
page 44
>
Voice instructions for navigation.
7
Instrument cluster 12
9
Ignition lock 49
10
Horn: the entire surface
13
Opening the hood 177
14
Opening the luggage compartment
lid 31
16
Parking lamps and low beams 87
8
Windshield wipers 57
Rain sensor 57
11
Steering wheel heater 44
Steering wheel adjustment 43
12
Cruise control 58
Active cruise control 59
15
Head-Up Display 85
17
Instrument lighting 88
Front fog lamps 89
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Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1 Indicator lamps for turn signal
indicators 13
2 Speedometer with display of speed for
> Cruise control 58
or
> Active cruise control 59
3 Indicator and warning lamps 13
4 Display for active cruise control 60
5 Tachometer with variable advance
warning field and Energy Control 65
6 Display for
> Indicator and warning lamps of the
Check Control 68
> Speed of the cruise control 58
> Desired speed for active cruise
control 60
> Clock/date 65
> Outside temperature 65
7 Display for
> Automatic transmission 54
> Sequential manual transmission 53
> Computer 70
> Date and remaining distance for
service requirement 66
> Trip odometer/odometer 65
> Check Control message present 68
8 Fuel gauge 66
9 To set trip odometer to zero
and reset for
service requirement display 65
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At a glance
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Indicator and warning
lamps
Technology that monitors itself
The indicator and warning lamps identified
by the
+ symbol are subjected to an oper-
ation check each time you switch on the
ignition or start the engine. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored
system, the corresponding lamp will either
fail to go out when the engine is started, or
it will come on again during normal driving.
For information on how you should respond
when this happens, please refer to the
pages indicated.
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light
up in different colors and combinations.
The following section explains the signifi-
cance of the individual colors as well as
how you should respond when they
appear.
> Red:
Stop immediately
or
important reminder
> Red and yellow:
Continue driving moderately
> Yellow:
Have checked soon
or
for your information
> Green or blue:
For your information.
Indicator and warning lamps of the
Check Control
Other indicator and warning lamps appear
in display 6 of the instrument cluster as
necessary, accompanied by supplemen-
tary text on the Control Display, refer to
Check Control, page 68.
Turn signal indicators 56
Active steering
+ 82
Handbrake/brake fluid, brake
hydraulics/DBC Dynamic Brake
Control
+ 50/ 180/ 79
Handbrake/brake fluid, brake
hydraulics/DBC Dynamic Brake
Control for Canadian models
Airbags
+ 83
Service Engine Soon + 183
If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the
emissions-related electronic sys-
tems. Although the vehicle
remains operational, you should
have the systems checked by your
BMW center at the earliest possi-
ble opportunity.
Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp for Canadian models.
Front fog lamps 89
ABS Antilock Brake System
+ 77
DTC Dynamic Traction Control 79
High beams/headlamp flasher 88
Please fasten safety belt
+ 40
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
+ 78
Check Gas Cap 168
lamp for US models
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Cockpit
14
Comfort area: controls and displays
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At a glance
15
Reference ControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
1 Microphone for
> Telephone/portable phone 151
> Voice command system 20
2 Reading lamps 89
3 Starting emergency call 190
4 Interior lamps 89
5 Glass roof, electric 34
6 Front passenger's airbag indicator
lamp 84
7 Control Display 16
displays for menu guidance
8 Hazard warning flashers
9 Central locking system 30
10 Automatic climate control 90
11 Button for
> Station scan/track search 130
> CD player 141
> CD changer 145
12 Ejecting
> Navigation CD/DVD 114
> Audio CD 130
13 Drive for navigation CD/DVD 114
14 Drive for audio CD 130
15 Switching audio sources on/off and
adjusting the volume 130
16 Center console switching center
17 Controller 16
Horizontal movement in four directions,
turn or press
18 Activating voice command system 20
19 Open start menu 17
Temperature setting,
left/right 91
Automatic air distribution and
supply 91
Cooling function 91
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC 91
Maximum cooling 91
Residual heat mode 92
To switch off automatic climate
control 92
Air volume 91
Defrost windows 91
Rear window defroster 90
Heated seats 41
Active seat ventilation 42
Active seat 42
PDC Park Distance Control 76
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control 78
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Control Center
16
Control Center
The Control Center groups the functions of
a large number of switches. This means
that these functions can be operated from
a central position. The following section
provides an introduction to the principle of
the menu guidance. How you control the
individual functions is described in the con-
text of the relevant equipment.
Controls
1 Controller: you navigate through the
menus of the Control Center and make
adjustments by turning, pressing and
moving it to the left, right, forwards or
backwards
2 Opening the start menu from any menu
item
3 Control Display
When you turn the controller, you feel a
clicking. This helps you to select the
desired menu item.
To avoid posing an unnecessary haz-
ard due to inattention, both to your
own vehicle's occupants and to other road
users: never attempt to use the controls or
make entries unless traffic and road condi-
tions allow.<
Menu overview
You can call up all the functions in the Con-
trol Center using five menu items.
Communication
> Portable phone*
> BMW Assist* or TeleService*.
Navigation or onboard information
> Navigation system*
> Onboard information, e.g. for display of
the average fuel consumption.
Entertainment
> Radio
> CD.
Climate
> Air distribution
> Seat air conditioning
*
> Independent ventilation
*.
Menu item
> Switching off the Control Display
> Traffic information
> Sound and display settings
> Settings for your vehicle, e.g. Key
Memory
> Display of the maintenance requirement
and dates for statutory emission and
vehicle inspections.
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At a glance
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Menu guidance
As of ignition key position 1, the following
message appears on the Control Display:
Confirm the message by pressing the con-
troller; the start menu is opened.
Start menu
In ignition key position 2:
Via the start menu, you can open four
menus by moving the controller to the left,
right, forwards or backwards. Pressing the
controller opens the menu.
Calling up the start menu:
Press button.
Opening the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.
Displays on the Control Display
A menu
1 In menus, you can change fields to
select the menu items they contain or to
make adjustments. The active field is
brighter than the others
2 Menu items are usually grouped in hor-
izontal or vertical lists
3 Arrows indicates that other menu items
can be selected in lists, but these are
not visible at the moment
4 Adjustments are displayed in diagrams
or as numbers
5 A symbol indicates the last selected
menu item of the start menu
Communication
Navigation or
onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
menu
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Control Center
18
Status information
1 Manual or automatic air distribution for
driver and passenger side
2 Display for Entertainment:
Radio and CD or
Entertainment off
Display for telephone:
Name of network operator with display
for roaming:
Roaming active
3 SMS received
4 Reception of portable phone network
and emergency call possible
SOS: emergency call possible
no display: emergency call not possible
5 Current time
If information is issued by the Check Con-
trol or inputs are made using the voice
command system, a text message appears
here on the Control Display.
Assistance window*
While you are operating whatever functions
you like using the Control Center, you can
obtain the following additional information
in the assistance window:
> Short help and supplementary informa-
tion texts for selected menu entries
> The computer or trip computer
> The travel route in vehicles with naviga-
tion system
> The current position.
To select the display in the assistance win-
dow:
1. Move the controller to the right to
switch to the assistance window and
press the controller
2. Select the menu item and press the
controller.
Switching Control Display on/off
To switch off the Control Display:
1. Open the start menu
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Display off" and press the con-
troller.
The status informations continue to be
displayed.
To switch on the Control Display:
Press the controller.
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At a glance
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Selecting menu items and making adjustments
1 To select individual menu items: turn
the controller. The marking moves.
Menu items shown in white can be
selected
2 To activate menu items selected with
the marking: press the controller. In the
current field, new menu items are dis-
played or a function is executed
3 To change the current field: move the
controller to the left, right, forwards or
backwards and let go
If you hold the controller for longer
than approx. 2 seconds in one
position, the menu that lies in that
direction will be opened.<
4 To select menu items, cf. 1: turn the
controller. The marking moves
5 To make adjustments: turn the control-
ler. A graphical display, numerical val-
ues or text displays change. The adjust-
ment is adopted if you change the field
or switch into another menu
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Voice command system
20
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to
control operation of various vehicle sys-
tems without ever removing your hands
from the steering wheel.
The menu items on the Control Display
serve as voice commands for the equip-
ment that can be operated using the voice
command system. This means you can
open these menu items using the voice
command system instead of with the con-
troller.
The voice command system transforms
your oral commands into control signals for
the selected systems and provides support
in the form of instructions or questions.
Precondition
If the language of the voice command and
Control Display do not match, change the
language of the Control Display, refer to
page 74.
Symbols used
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel or in the center console.
If voice command is to come from the pas-
senger side:
Press the button in the center console for a
longer period.
This symbol on the Control Display and
an acoustic message indicate that you can
enter voice commands.
The text or numbers that the voice com-
mand system has registered will appear at
this position on the Control Display.
This symbol appears on the Control Dis-
play when you can enter additional voice
commands.
If there are no other voice commands,
operate the equipment using the Control
Center.
Canceling voice command system
Press the button on the steering wheel or
in the center console
or
While notes are being recorded, canceling
is only possible using one of the buttons.
*
{...} Identifies voice commands.
{{...}} Identifies instructions generated
by the voice command system.
Entertainment
{Cancel}.
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At a glance
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Reference ControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Voice commands
You can have the system list the possible
voice commands:
In addition to the commands described in
this Owner's Manual, alternative com-
mands are often possible for the same
functions, e.g.:
You can use short commands to make it
easier to run certain functions.
An example: selecting a radio station
1. Switch on radio
2. Press the button on the steering
wheel or in the center console
{Options}.
{Radio on} or {Switch on radio}.
3. {Entertainment}.
The system issues:
{{Entertainment}}
4. {AM}.
The system issues:
{{AM}}
5. Select the station, e.g.:
> {Frequency 95 Point 5}.
The system issues:
{{95.5}}.
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Voice command system
22
Notes
Do not use the voice command sys-
tem in emergency situations. In stress
situations, voice and pitch can change.
Instead, use the emergency call button
near the interior rearview mirror.<
At the time of going to press, the
voice command system was available
in English. Other languages are currently
not available.
The telephone can also be operated using
voice control, refer to page 157.<
Important for voice commands
Issue the commands fluently and at normal
volume, avoiding excessing emphasis and
pauses.
The voice command system uses a special
hands-free microphone located in the front
of your vehicle's headliner. On vehicles
with telephone, two vehicle microphones
are fitted. Although the system is designed
to filter out ambient noise, you can help
ensure that your commands will be under-
stood by observing the following instruc-
tions:
> Keep the doors, windows and glass
roof closed to prevent interference from
ambient noise
> Avoid other sources of noise in the
vehicle while speaking, and ask other
vehicle occupants to refrain from talk-
ing while you are using the system
> Without a telephone, the vehicle micro-
phone is directed at the driver. This
means that the system might not be
able to register the voices of other vehi-
cle occupants properly.
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Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Controls
This chapter is intended to provide
you with information for complete control
of your vehicle. Its extensive array of
features and accessories, both for
driving and for your own safety, comfort
and convenience, are described here.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Opening and closing
26
Opening and closing
The key set
1 Central keys with remote control. They
specify the functions of the Key Mem-
ory. In the process individual functions
of your vehicle can behave differently
depending on the key used, see further
below.
You can mark the keys with remote
control using the color-coded decals
you received on taking delivery of the
vehicle
Each central key with remote con-
trol is equipped with an extended-
life battery, which is automatically
recharged in the ignition lock each time
you drive the vehicle.
If you have any central keys with remote
control that are not used on a regular
basis, you should therefore remember
to recharge these units by using them
to drive the vehicle for an extended
period at least once a year, refer to
page 29.<
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet.
This key cannot be used to open the
locks for the luggage compartment lid
and glove compartment. This is an
advantage in a hotel, for example. The
key is not intended for constant use
Key Memory
How the system functions
Doubtless you have often reflected on how
great it would be if you could configure
your vehicle's various adjustment settings
to meet your own personal requirements.
BMW has designed several freely select-
able options into the vehicle during its
development. You can set these as desired
via the Control Center.
You can have up to four different basic set-
tings adjusted for four different persons for
the specific keys. The only requirement is
that each person uses his or her own cen-
tral key with remote control.
Additional keys are available at your BMW
center.
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 adjust-
ments accordingly.
To differentiate
Color-coded decals are provided to help
you distinguish the individual central keys
with remote control with their different set-
tings.
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Controls
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Reference At a glanceDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Examples of Key Memory functions
> Automatic adjustment of the electric
driver's seat
> Locking the vehicle after moving off
> When unlocking with the remote con-
trol, either unlock only the driver's door
or the entire vehicle
> Activating optical warning for Park Dis-
tance Control PDC
> Setting the volume.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed. This simultaneously engages and
releases the locks on the following:
> Doors
> Luggage compartment lid
> Fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be oper-
ated from the outside
> via the remote control
> via the driver's door lock
and from inside via the button for the cen-
tral locking system.
When the system is locked from inside, the
fuel filler door remains unlocked, refer to
page 30.
The anti-theft system is automatically acti-
vated whenever you operate the central
locking system from outside the vehicle. It
prevents the doors from being unlocked
using the safety lock buttons or door han-
dles. The alarm system is armed/disarmed
at the same time.
In the event of an accident, the central
locking system automatically unlocks the
vehicle. In addition, the hazard warning
flashers and interior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: from
outside
Using the remote control
The remote control provides two additional
functions for the central locking system:
> Switching on the interior lamps, refer to
page 28.
You can also use this function to locate
your vehicle in parking garages etc.
> Opening the luggage compartment lid,
refer to page 28.
The luggage compartment lid opens,
regardless of whether it was previously
locked or unlocked.
In addition, the remote control offers you
another function:
> Panic mode
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
When you lock/unlock the vehicle, you
simultaneously activate/deactivate the
anti-theft system, arm/disarm the alarm
system, and switch the interior lamps on/
off.
Protect the remote control against
unauthorized use by handing over
only the spare key, for example when using
hotel valet parking.<
Because any persons or animals left
unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always keep the remote control with you;
this precaution ensures that you will remain
able to unlock the vehicle from the outside
at all times.<
Unlocking
Press the button.
You can set which doors are to be
unlocked for each specific key:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
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Opening and closing
28
3. Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Central locking" and press the
controller
5. Select "Lock button" and press the con-
troller
6. Select the doors and press the control-
ler:
> "All doors"
> "Driver's door only"
Press the button twice to unlock
the entire vehicle after the driver's
door.
displays the selected doors.
Convenience opening mode
Press and hold the button. The windows
and the glass roof open.
Locking and securing
Press the button.
Switching on the interior lamps
If the vehicle is locked, press
the button.
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor
and interior motion sensor
Press the button once again directly
after locking.
For more detailed information, refer to
page 33.
Panic mode
By pressing and holding the button for
more than approx. two seconds, you can
trigger the alarm system in response to any
impending danger.
To switch off the alarm: press any of the
buttons.
Opening the luggage compartment
lid
Press the button.
The luggage compartment lid opens,
regardless of whether it was previously
locked or unlocked.
During opening, the luggage com-
partment lid pivots upward and to the
rear. Ensure that adequate clearance is
available before opening.
Before and after a trip, ensure that the lug-
gage compartment lid has not been
opened unintentionally.
A locked luggage compartment lid is also
locked again after closing.<
Setting the confirmation signals
You can have various confirmation signals
programmed into the system to verify that
the vehicle has been unlocked or locked
securely.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Confirmation" and press the
controller
5. Select the desired signal and press the
controller.
indicates the signals switched on.
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Malfunctions
External systems or devices may cause
local interference in the functions of the
remote control.
Should the remote control fail to operate
owing to interference of this kind, you can
respond by using the central key to unlock
your vehicle at one of the doors.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center, which is
also your source for replacement keys.
When it is no longer possible to lock the
vehicle via the remote control, the battery is
discharged. Use this remote control during
an extended drive; this will recharge the
battery, refer to page 26.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply
with part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communi-
cation Commission regulations. Operation
is governed by the following:
FCC ID: LX8766S
LX8766E
LX8CAS
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions:
> This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
> this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could void
the user's authority to operate this equip-
ment.<
Using the door lock
Do not lock the vehicle when persons
are inside, as the vehicle cannot be
unlocked from inside.<
One turn of the key in the driver's door lock
unlocks the driver's door only.
Turning the key a second time unlocks all of
the remaining doors, the luggage compart-
ment lid and the fuel filler door.
Convenience operation
You also have the option of operating the
windows and the glass roof from the
driver's door lock.
> To open:
With the door closed, turn the key to the
unlock position and hold it there
> To close:
With the door closed, turn the key to the
lock position and hold it there.
Watch during the closing process to
be sure that no one is injured. Releas-
ing the key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction
You can turn the key all the way to the right
or left in the door lock to lock or unlock the
driver's door.
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Opening and closing
30
Opening and closing: from
inside
You can operate the central locking system
with this button when the front doors are
closed. This only unlocks or locks the
doors and luggage compartment lid, but
not secured. Also, the fuel filler door
remains unlocked to allow refueling.
You can also make the following settings
for each specific key:
> The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle as soon as you
drive off
> The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle after a short time
when no door has been opened.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Central locking" and press the
controller
5. Select "Lock after driving off" or
"Relock door if not opened" and press
the controller.
displays the selected setting.
Unlocking and opening the doors
> Either unlock the doors together with
the button for the central locking sys-
tem and then pull the door handle
above the armrest or
> pull the door handle twice at each indi-
vidual door: the first pull unlocks the
door, the second pull opens it.
Locking
> Use the central locking button to lock all
of the doors simultaneously, or
> press down the individual safety lock
buttons. To prevent you from being
locked out, the open driver's door can-
not be locked using the safety lick but-
ton.
Because any persons or animals left
unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always keep the remote control with you;
this precaution ensures that you will remain
able to unlock the vehicle from the outside
at all times.<
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Luggage compartment lid
Opening from inside
Press the button: the luggage compart-
ment lid opens unless it has been secured.
During opening, the luggage com-
partment lid pivots upward and to the
rear. Ensure that adequate clearance is
available before opening.<
Opening from outside
Press the button: the luggage compart-
ment lid opens.
During opening, the luggage com-
partment lid pivots upward and to the
rear. Ensure that adequate clearance is
available before opening.<
Only the central keys with remote control,
refer to page 26, match the luggage com-
partment lock.
Securing separately
Turn the central key with remote control in
the lock of the luggage compartment lid
beyond a resistance point to the right and
withdraw it from a horizontal position.
This locks the luggage compartment lid
and disconnects it from the central locking
system.
If you then only hand over the spare key,
refer to page 26, no access is possible via
the luggage compartment lid. This is an
advantage in a hotel, for example.
Double-unlocking, manual operation
Turn the central key to the left as far as it
will go: the luggage compartment lid
opens.
If you use the key to unlock the lug-
gage compartment lid while the alarm
system is armed, the alarm will be trig-
gered. Switching off the alarm, refer to
page 32.<
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Opening and closing
32
Emergency release
This lever releases the luggage compart-
ment lid from inside the luggage compart-
ment.
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of
the luggage compartment lid make it easier
to pull down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the luggage compart-
ment lid is clear when it is closed, as with
all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the
luggage compartment lid is com-
pletely closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes
could penetrate the interior of the vehicle.<
If special circumstances should make it
absolutely necessary to operate the vehicle
with the compartment open:
1. Close all windows and the glass roof
2. Adjust the automatic climate control to
supply a high air volume, refer to
page 91.
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
> When a door, the hood, or the luggage
compartment lid is opened
> To movement in the vehicle interior:
interior motion sensor
> To changing the vehicle's tilt if someone
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle
> To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized vehi-
cle entry and attempted theft by simulta-
neously activating:
> An acoustic alarm, which lasts for a
period of approx. 30 seconds
> The hazard warning flashers for approx.
5 minutes
> The high beams, which flash on and off
in the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either
with the remote control or at the door lock,
the alarm system is armed or disarmed at
the same time.
The system indicates that it has been cor-
rectly armed by switching on the hazard
warning flashers for a single cycle and by
emitting an acoustic signal.
You can also open the luggage compart-
ment lid with the system armed using the
button on the remote control, refer to
page 28. When you close the lid, it is
secured again.
Switching off the alarm
> Unlock the vehicle using the remote
control, refer to page 27
> Or turn the ignition key to position 1.
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Indicator lamp displays
> The indicator lamp beneath the interior
mirror flashes continuously: the system
is armed
> If the indicator lamp flashes during arm-
ing: doors, engine hood or luggage
compartment lid are not properly
closed. Even if you do not close the
alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indica-
tor lamp flashes continuously after
approx. 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
> If the indicator lamp goes out on dis-
arming: no manipulation or attempted
intrusions have been detected in the
period since the system was armed
> If the indicator lamp flashes on disarm-
ing until the key is inserted in the igni-
tion lock, but for approx. 5 minutes at
the most: your vehicle has been manip-
ulated in the meantime.
Following triggering of an alarm, the indica-
tor lamp will flash continuously.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm from being triggered in garages with
elevator ramps, for instance, or when the
vehicle is transported by trailer or train:
Lock, i.e. arm twice. Press the but-
ton on the remote control twice in succes-
sion, refer to page 27, or lock twice with
the key, refer to page 30.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor are
switched off as long as the system is
armed.
Interior motion sensor
In
order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and glass
roof must be completely closed.
However, switch the interior motion sensor
off, refer to Avoiding unintentional alarms, if
> children or animals are to remain in the
vehicle
> the windows or glass roof are to remain
open.
Windows
Opening and closing windows
As of ignition key position 1:
> Press the switch up to the resistance
point:
The window continues to move down-
ward as long as you continue to hold
the switch
> Briefly press the switch beyond the
resistance point:
The window moves downward auto-
matically. Press the switch again to
stop the opening movement.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
After switching off the ignition
You can still operate the windows:
> In the radio position for a longer time
> For approx. 1 minute in position 0 or
with the ignition key removed.
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Opening and closing
34
To open, press the switch beyond the
resistance point.
When leaving the vehicle parked,
always remove the central key with
remote control from the ignition lock and
close the doors; this precaution prevents
children from operating the power win-
dows and injuring themselves etc.<
For information on using the convenience
operation mode at the door lock or with the
remote control, refer to page 28 or 29.
Safety feature
If the closing force rises beyond a pre-
defined threshold during closing, the sys-
tem will immediately stop moving the win-
dow prior to lowering it slightly.
Despite this safety feature you should
always inspect the window's travel
path prior to closing it, as the safety system
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as very thin objects, and the
window would continue closing.
Pulling the switch beyond the resistance
point and holding it limits the response of
the safety feature.
Under these conditions the window will
respond to forces beyond a defined thresh-
old by only opening several inches/millime-
ters.
If you again pull the switch past the resis-
tance point and hold it in position within a
period of roughly 4 seconds, the safety fea-
ture is deactivated.<
Safety switch
With the safety switch, you can prevent the
rear windows from being opened or closed
via the switches in the rear passenger area,
by children, for example. The indicator
lamp lights up when this safety feature is
activated.
Press the safety switch whenever
children are riding in the rear of the
vehicle. Careless use of the power win-
dows can lead to injury.<
You can deactivate the function again
as of ignition key position 1.<
Accessories in the window area
After installing any accessory – such as a
clamp-on antenna for a portable phone –
within the window's travel range, you will
need to have the system reinitialized for
use under the new conditions. Please con-
tact your BMW center for assistance.
Glass roof, electric*
To prevent injuries, exercise care
when closing the glass roof and keep
it in your field of vision until it is shut.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the remote control and close the doors to
prevent children from operating the glass
roof and injuring themselves, etc.<
Raising, opening, closing
As of ignition key position 1, press the
switch, or slide it in the desired direction up
to the resistance point.
After switching off the ignition
You can still operate the roof:
> In the radio position for a longer time
> For approx. 1 minute in position 0 or
with the ignition key removed.
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The headliner insert slides back somewhat
when you raise the glass roof. When the
glass roof is opened the headliner retracts
with it.
Do not use force to close the head-
liner insert with the glass roof in its
raised position, as damage to the mecha-
nism could result.<
For information on using the convenience
operation mode at the door lock or with the
remote control, refer to page 28 or 29.
Automatic* opening and closing
Briefly press the switch past the resistance
point and then release it.
In addition, the following movements are
also automatic:
> With the glass roof open, move the
switch towards 'Raise': the glass roof
moves to the end position of 'Raise'
> With the glass roof raised, move the
switch towards 'Open': the glass roof
moves to the end position of 'Open'.
Press the switch again in any direction to
stop the glass roof.
Safety feature
If the glass roof encounters resistance
when closing from roughly the center of the
roof opening or when closing from the
raised position, the closing action is inter-
rupted and the glass roof reopens a little.
Despite this safety feature, you
should always inspect the glass roof's
travel range prior to closing it, as the safety
feature might fail to detect certain kinds of
obstructions, such as very thin objects, and
the glass roof would continue closing.
Pressing the switch beyond the resistance
point and holding it limits the response of
the safety feature. The glass roof only
opens a short distance.
If you again press the switch past the resis-
tance point and hold it in position within a
period of roughly 2 seconds, the safety fea-
ture is deactivated.<
When you close the glass roof, it will
slow down as it approaches the end
of its travel path; this is to allow the safety
feature to respond more precisely to any
obstructions encountered in this critical
area.<
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
Following interruptions in electrical power
supply, for instance, when the battery is
disconnected, it is possible that the glass
roof will extend to its raised position, but
fail to respond to other commands. Should
this occur, please have the glass roof rein-
itialized at your BMW center.
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can operate the glass roof manually:
1. Fold the cover downwards
2. Insert the Allen wrench supplied with
the onboard tool kit, refer to page 184,
in the opening provided. Turn to slide
the glass roof in the desired direction.
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Adjustments
36
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driv-
ing.The sitting position of the occupants
plays an important role together with the
safety belts and airbags in an accident. To
ensure that the safety systems operate with
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to
observe the instructions contained in the
following section.
For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 45.
Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the air-
bags. Always hold the steering wheel by
its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock and
3 o'clock positions, to minimize the risk of
injuries to your hands and arms in the event
of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the
airbags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on
the front passenger side as a storage area.
Make sure that the front passenger is cor-
rectly seated and does not rest feet or legs
on the instrument panel, otherwise leg inju-
ries can occur if the knee and front airbag
are triggered.
Never let an occupant's head rest near or
on a side airbag because the inflating air-
bag could cause a serious or fatal injury.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions
injuries resulting from contact with airbags
cannot be fully excluded, depending on the
circumstances. The ignition and inflation
noise may provoke a mild hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals. This effect
is usually only temporary.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 83.
Sitting safely with safety belts
Fasten your safety belt before starting any
trip. Airbags complement the safety belt as
an additional safety device, but they do not
represent a substitute.
Your vehicle has five seats that are all
equipped with a safety belt.
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained –
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdomi-
nal area.
Never allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride in a passenger's lap.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or jammed.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it firmly
across the hips and shoulder. Do not allow
the belt to rest against hard or fragile
objects. Otherwise, in the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal injury.
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly and pull the lap
belt periodically to readjust the tension
across your shoulder in order to avoid a
reduction in the retention effect of the
safety belt.<
For instructions on operating safety belts,
refer to page 40.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat
while the vehicle is moving. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
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ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle con-
trol could lead to an accident.
On the front passenger side as well, do not
tilt the backrest too far toward the rear
while driving. Failure to observe this pre-
caution can prevent the belt from providing
effective protection against injury, as the
passenger could slide under the belt in an
accident.
Make sure that the footwell behind the
driver's and front passenger's seat is empty
and unobstructed. If you fail to do so, any
persons or objects behind the seat could
be injured or damaged by a rearward
movement of the seat.<
Please observe the information on damage
to safety belts provided on page 41 and the
information on the active head restraints on
page 40.
Seat adjustment
To ensure that the safety systems
continue to provide optimized protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions on page 36.<
1 Forward/backward
2 Height
3 Angle
4 Backrest
Comfort seat* adjustment
In addition to the electric power seat func-
tions, several other adjustment options are
available with the comfort seat:
1 Backrest width
By adjusting the backrest width, you
can increase or reduce lateral support
2 Shoulder support
You can use the adjustable upper back-
rest for supplementary support in the
shoulder region. This provides a
relaxed driving position and helps
relieve stress on the shoulder muscles
Make corrections in the forward/
backward adjustment of the seat
to ensure that the safety belt still fits
firmly against your body. If you do not
do this, the protection provided by the
safety belt may be reduced.<
3 Thigh support
Adjust the thigh support until the ideal
support is provided for the thigh
4 Lumbar support, see below
Sports seat* adjustment
In addition to the seat cushion, on the
sports seat you can adjust the thigh sup-
port 3, see above.
Easy entry/exit*
The backrest width automatically moves as
high up and far forward as possible to ease
driver entry and exit before then returning
to the standard or stored memory setting.
This automatic feature is governed by the
driver's door and the ignition lock.
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Adjustments
38
Lumbar support* adjustment
You can also adjust the contours of the
backrest to obtain additional support in the
lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive
supplementary support to help you main-
tain a relaxed, upright sitting position.
> Press the front/rear of the switch to
strengthen or weaken the curvature
> Press the upper/lower end of the switch
to strengthen the curvature at the top or
bottom.
Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory*
You can store and select two different
adjustment settings for the driver's seat,
exterior mirrors and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
Storing
1. Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2
2. Set the desired seat, exterior mirror and
steering-wheel positions
3. Press the
MEMORY button:
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up
4. Press the desired memory button 1
or 2:
The indicator lamp goes out.
Calling up a stored setting
Do not call up a position from the
memory while the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise there is a risk of accident from
unexpected movement of the seat or steer-
ing wheel.<
Convenience mode
1. Open the driver's door after unlocking
or turn the ignition key to position 1
2. Briefly press the desired memory but-
ton 1 or 2.
The system immediately cancels the
adjustment procedure when you press
one of the seat adjustment buttons or
use one of the memory buttons.
When the respective last driver's seat,
exterior mirror and steering-wheel position
is called up can be set for each key.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Central locking" and press the
controller
5. Select "Last seat position" and press
the controller
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6. Select "After unlocking" or "After door
is opened" and press the controller.
displays the selected setting.
When using this Key Memory feature,
always make sure that the footwell
behind the driver's seat is empty and unob-
structed. If you fail to do so, any persons or
objects behind the seat could be injured or
damaged by a rearward movement of the
seat.<
Safety feature
1. Close the driver's door and turn the
ignition key to position 0 or 2
2. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2
and maintain pressure until the adjust-
ment process has been completed.
If the
MEMORY button is pressed acciden-
tally:
Press the button a second time, the indica-
tor lamp goes out.
Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt
function*
Automatic curb monitor
1. Select the exterior mirror on the driver
side with the switch
2. When you engage reverse gear or
selector-lever position R, the exterior
mirror on the front passenger side tilts
downward slightly. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adja-
cent to the vehicle – such as a curb –
when parking, etc.
You can also deactivate this automatic
function: push the mirror selector switch to
the passenger's mirror position.
Head restraints
Head restraints reduce the risk of spi-
nal injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraints so that they are
centered roughly at the level of your ears.<
Front seats: adjusting the height
You can adjust the height of the head
restraints electrically.
Front seats: adjusting the angle
Swivel the head restraint.
With the comfort seat, you use the shoulder
support to set the distance to the back of
the head.
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Adjustments
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Comfort seat
Setting the side extensions
You can fold the side extensions on the
head restraint forward for increased lateral
support.
Front head restraints, active*
The comfort seats are equipped with an
active head restraint.
When necessary, the system will respond
to a rear impact by automatically triggering
the active head restraints.
To ensure that the active head
restraints afford maximum protection,
and to avoid unnecessary risks to personal
safety, we request that you read and com-
ply with the following:
> Adjust the head restraints so that they
are centered roughly at the level of your
ears
> Do not install seat or head-restraint
covers
> Never use the head restraints as sup-
ports for suspending objects of any
kind, such as clothes hangers. Refrain
from mounting accessories on either
the seat or the head restraint.<
Rear seats: adjusting the height
> Upwards: by pulling
> Downwards: press the button, arrow 1,
and press the head restraint down-
wards.
Safety belts
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage
in the belt buckle.
Please fasten safety belts warning
lamp:
Lights up until the driver and front
passenger have fastened their seat belts.
Depending on the model, a signal
* sounds
or a message
* appears on the Control Dis-
play at the same time.
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The warning is also issued when the driver
or front passenger removes his or her
safety belt while driving.
The warning can also be issued when
objects are laid on the front passen-
ger seat.<
Releasing
1. Press the red button in the belt buckle
2. Hold the belt firmly
3. Guide the belt into its reel.
The upper shoulder strap's anchorage
point will be in the correct position for seat
occupants of every build if the seat is cor-
rectly adjusted, refer to page 36.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
in the rear seat are for passengers sitting
on the left and right. The belt buckle
embossed with the word CENTER is
intended exclusively for use by passengers
riding in the center position.
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the tensioning
mechanisms, replaced at your BMW cen-
ter. Have the belt anchorage points
inspected for damage at the same time.
Failure to observe this precaution may pre-
vent the safety belts from effectively pro-
viding optimal protection when needed.<
Heated seats*
Front
The system regulates the temperatures of
the seat cushion and backrest.
The temperature setting progresses one
step through its control sequence each
time you press the button.
To switch off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.
Rear
The operating concept is the same as for
the front heated seats.
Temperature distribution at the front
It is possible to select a temperature-distri-
bution pattern, providing different levels of
heating for the seat cushion and the back-
rest according to your wishes.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Climate"
2. Select "Seat heater distribution" and
press the controller
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Adjustments
42
3. Move the controller to the left or right to
select "Driver" or "Passenger"
4. Turn the controller. The adjustment is
adopted; the field can be changed.
Active seat ventilation*
The system progresses one step through
the control sequence each time you press
the button.
To switch off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.
Use level 3 to cool the passenger
compartment rapidly, for instance,
when heat accumulates in the vehicle. After
a short time, there is an automatic return to
level 2 to prevent undercooling of the occu-
pant's back.<
Active seat*
The seat cushion is actively varied by alter-
nately raising and lowering the right and left
half of the seat cushion. This reduces mus-
cular tension and fatigue to help prevent
lower back pain.
Center console:
To activate, press the button; the indicator
lamp lights up.
If you switch off the active seat, it can take
up to 1 minute before the two halves of the
seat cushion have returned to their initial
position.
Mirrors
Adjusting exterior mirrors
Arm rest in the driver's door:
1 4-way adjustment
2 To select mirror for adjustment
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this
vehicle from being damaged, always
fold them in by hand before entering an
automatic car wash.<
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You can also adjust the mirrors manually by
pressing against the outer edges of their
lenses.
Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat,
mirror and steering wheel memory on
page 38.
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 estimations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as precise.<
Self-defrosting mirrors
Both exterior mirrors are automatically
heated in ignition key position 2.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce the dazzle effect of following
vehicles at night, turn the knob beneath the
mirror.
Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
These mirrors automatically respond to
ambient light and headlamp glare from fol-
lowing vehicles by automatically dimming
through an infinitely-variable range.There
are two photocells located in the interior
rearview mirror for this purpose. One is
integrated within the mirror's lens, while
the other is located at an offset position on
the rear of the mirror housing.
The mirrors automatically revert to their
clear, undimmed mode whenever you
engage reverse gear or place the selector
lever into position R.
For trouble-free operation, keep the
photocells clean and do not cover the
area between the interior rearview mirror
and the windshield. Do not attach any kind
of stickers on the windshield in front of the
mirror.<
Steering wheel adjustment
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement.<
The steering wheel can be adjusted in any
of four directions by pressing the appropri-
ate end of the button.
Storing steering wheel positions, refer to
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory on
page 38.
Automatic steering wheel
adjustment
In conjunction with seat, mirror and steer-
ing wheel memory.
The steering wheel automatically moves as
high up and far forward as possible to ease
driver entry and exit before then returning
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Adjustments
44
to the standard position or stored memory
setting.
This automatic feature is governed by the
driver's door and the ignition lock.
Steering wheel heater*
The steering wheel heater operates when
the ignition is on.
Press the button to activate or deactivate
this system.
The indicator lamp within the button lights
up when the steering wheel heater is in
operation.
Programming button function
Depending on your vehicle's equipment,
you can assign an individual function to
each of the two programmable function
buttons
* on the steering wheel for each
specific key. This feature then provides you
with quick access to this function, allowing
you to control it without undue distraction
from road and traffic conditions.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Steering wheel buttons" and
press the controller
A list with different functions is dis-
played:
> "Navigation"
Switching voice instructions on/off
> "Air recirculation on / off"
In this mode, you can block the sup-
ply of outside air, refer to AUC Auto-
matic recirculated-air control on
page 91
> "Mute on / off"
Mutes the audio sources
> "Screen on / off"
Switches the Control Display on/off
> "Next entertainment source"
Next audio source
> "Head-Up Display"
Switches the Head-Up Display
on/off
> "Horn"
*
4. Select the desired function and press
the controller.
.
5. If appropriate, select a button and press
the controller.
You can select the displayed function using
the button.
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Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Children always in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in a vehicle is in the rear
seat.
Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have outgrown
a booster seat that is appropriate for their
age, height and weight.
A child sitting in the rear seat and not
properly restrained may place his or
her head on or near the airbag, if so
equipped. For example, a child — even
though belted — may fall asleep with his or
her head against the side airbag. It may be
difficult for a driver to ensure that children
in the rear seat will remain properly posi-
tioned at all times and do not place their
heads on or near the side airbag. There-
fore, we recommend that the rear side air-
bags, if provided, be deactivated if you plan
to transport children in the rear seat.<
Deactivating the rear seat side
airbags
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated by a BMW center.
Labels in the rear door opening should indi-
cate the status of your rear seat side air-
bags. If you are uncertain of their status, or
wish to have the airbags activated or deac-
tivated, please contact your BMW center.
Child-restraint system in the rear
Children under 13 years of age and
children less than 5 ft/150 cm tall
should always ride in the rear and the
restraint systems should be secured with
the vehicle's safety belts.<
Younger children should be secured in an
appropriate forward-facing child-restraint
system that has first been properly
restrained. We strongly urge you to care-
fully read and comply with the instructions
for installation and use provided by the
child restraint’s manufacturer whenever
you use such a device.
All rear sitting positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE J1819,
an industry-recommended practice for
securing child-restraint systems in motor
vehicles.
Exception for the front passenger
seat
Should it become necessary to use a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, the airbags on the passen-
ger's side must be deactivated. The pas-
senger airbag indicator lamp above the
interior rearview mirror must light up con-
tinuously. Otherwise, the front passenger
airbags remain active and there is consid-
erable risk of injury to children if the airbags
are triggered, even with a child-restraint
system. In this case, children should be
seated in the rear and the system should be
checked at your BMW center.<
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passen-
ger seat of this vehicle if the passenger air-
bag is not deactivated. If you do so, the
child could be severely injured when the
airbag is triggered.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front
passenger. Because the backrest on any
rearward-facing child-restraint system – of
the kind designed for infants under 1 year
and 20 Ibs./9 kg – would be within the air-
bag's deployment range, you should never
mount such a system in the front passenger
seat, since the impact of the airbag against
the child restraint's backrest could lead to
serious or fatal injuries.<
More information on automatic deactiva-
tion of the front passenger airbags, refer to
page 83.
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Transporting children safely
46
Installing child-restraint
systems
Before installing any child-restraint system
or child seat, read the following:
Observe the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions for instal-
lation and use. Otherwise the degree of
protection can be reduced.
Following an accident, have all parts of the
affected vehicle safety-belt system
checked and, if necessary, replaced by a
BMW center.<
Commercially-available child-restraint sys-
tems are designed to be secured with a lap
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions that
come with the system.
Child seat security
All of the rear belt retractors and the front
passenger's safety belt can be locked for
mounting and securing child-restraint sys-
tems.
Information regarding this is located near
the buckle latch of each safety belt.
To lock the safety belt
Pull the entire length of the belt from the
belt retractor. 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.
To unlock the safety belt
Release the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the belt retractor
to reel the belt completely in.
Child-restraint system with tether
strap
If you use a child-restraint system with a
tether strap, three additional tether anchor-
age points have been provided, refer to the
arrows in the illustration. Depending on the
location selected for sitting in the rear pas-
senger area, attach the tether strap to the
corresponding anchorage point to secure
the child-restraint system, as shown in the
illustration below.
Each sitting position is fitted with a head
restraint.
Outer seating positions:
Lift the head restraint and pass the tether
strap between the head restraint and the
seat back. It is recommended to readjust
the head restraint into the lowest possible
position.
Center seating position:
Pull the center armrest forward somewhat
to guide the tether strap through the open-
ing. Then reengage the center armrest.
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Adjust the tether strap according to
the child-restraint manufacturer's
instructions.<
LATCH child-restraint fixing
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for
CHildren.
The rear outer sitting positions are pro-
vided with anchors for a LATCH child-
restraint fixing.
To fit the LATCH child-restraint fixing,
follow the operating and safety
instructions of the manufacturer.<
Access to anchorage points on the
basic seat
The illustrations show the left rear seat as
an example. The outer anchorage points
for the LATCH child-restraint fixing are
identified by small flags.
Canadian models only:
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint fixing are identified by buttons.
Installation guide
The installation guide makes it easier to fit
the LATCH child-restraint fixing and at the
same time protects the surface of the
seats.
The installation guide is available at
your BMW center. Always observe all
instructions for installation and use pro-
vided by the child-restraint's manufac-
turer.<
1. Engage the center safety belt into the
belt buckle
2. Pull the belt away from the area of the
child-restraint fixing
3. Firmly press the installation guide into
the gap between the upholstery on seat
and backrest, continuing until the two
funnel-shaped guides snap into place in
the LATCH support braces in the seat.
Pull the installation guides to remove.
Access to anchorage points on the
rear seat with through-loading
system
The illustration shows the right rear seat as
an example.
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint fixing are located behind the pro-
tective caps.
Before fitting the child-restraint fixing,
remove the LATCH protective caps.
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Transporting children safely
48
1. Engage the center safety belt into the
belt buckle
2. Pull the belt away from the area of the
child-restraint fixing.
On journeys
If side airbags are fitted in the rear,
make sure that children do not lean
out of the child's seat towards the door
panels. Otherwise severe injuries can be
caused if the side airbags are triggered.<
Child safety locks for the rear doors
Slide down the safety lever on the rear
doors:
The relevant door can now be opened from
the outside only.
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Driving
Ignition lock
0 Steering locked
The key can only be inserted or removed in
this position.
After removing the key, turn the steering
wheel slightly until it locks.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
only move the selector lever from
position P with the engine running. To turn
the key back to position 0 or to remove it,
first place the selector lever in position P:
Interlock.<
1 Steering unlocked
A slight steering wheel movement often
makes it easier to turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual current consumers are ready for
operation.
2 Ignition switched on
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
3 Start engine
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed
rooms, as otherwise the inhaling of
toxic exhaust gases can cause uncon-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas. Never leave
an unattended vehicle with the engine run-
ning, as such a vehicle represents a poten-
tial safety hazard.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by
leaving it running while the vehicle remains
stationary. Instead, begin to drive immedi-
ately at a moderate engine speed.
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Your BMW is equipped with the con-
venience starting feature. Here, it is
sufficient to turn the ignition key only briefly
to position 3 'Start engine' and to let go of it
right away. The system responds by auto-
matically engaging the starter for a certain
period and allowing it to run until the engine
starts, after which it then disengages auto-
matically. The automatic starting mode will
not operate or will be canceled if the bat-
tery voltage is low. The engine can be
started by jump-starting, refer to
page 192.<
Press the accelerator pedal halfway down
when starting if
> the engine fails to start on the first
attempt, for instance, if it is very hot or
cold
> the engine is started at very low tem-
peratures, as of approx. +5 7/–156,
at high altitudes over approx. 3,300 ft/
1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick suc-
cession or repeated start attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise,
the fuel is not burned or inadequately
burned and there is a danger of overheat-
ing and damaging the catalytic converter.<
Manual transmission
1. Apply the handbrake
2. Gearshift lever in idle position
3. Press the clutch pedal
4. Start the engine.
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, place the gearshift
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Driving
50
lever in idle position and apply the hand-
brake.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Automatic transmission
1. Press the brake pedal
2. Place the selector lever in position P
or N
3. Start the engine.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P or N and
engage the handbrake before leaving the
vehicle with the engine running.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Sequential manual transmission
SMG
1. Press the brake pedal
2. Place the selector lever in the idle posi-
tion N
3. Start the engine.
If the engine does not start, engage
the last gear selected, refer to Display
in the instrument cluster, and return the
selector lever to the idle position N.<
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, place the selector
lever in position N and apply the hand-
brake.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Switching off engine
Do not remove the ignition key while
the vehicle is rolling, as otherwise the
steering wheel lock would engage while
steering.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and lock the steering.
When parking on downward inclines, apply
the handbrake.<
Manual transmission
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Automatic transmission
1. Engage selector-lever position P
2. Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Sequential manual transmission
SMG
If the selector lever is in position R or in the
sequential mode and you turn the ignition
key to position 1 or 0, the gear remains
engaged automatically.
If the selector lever is in the idle position N
and you turn the ignition key to position 1
or 0, an acoustic signal and the flashing
gear indicator in the display reminds you
that the vehicle is not secured against roll-
ing away.
The warning stops sounding after approx.
9 seconds.
When parking on downward inclines,
apply the handbrake. Engaging a gear
is not sufficient to secure the vehicle from
rolling away under certain circumstances.<
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it
brakes the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up with
the handbrake applied, and an
acoustic signal also sounds when
starting off.
Indicator lamp for Canadian mod-
els.
Applying
The lever locks into place automatically;
the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up in ignition key position 2.
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Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances should
make it necessary to engage the
handbrake while the vehicle is in motion,
do not pull it too strongly. In doing so, con-
tinuously press the button of the handbrake
lever.
Strong application of the handbrake can
lead to overbraking of the rear axle and
associated 'fishtailing' of the vehicle rear
end.
The brake lamps do not light up when the
handbrake is applied.
Vehicles with manual or SMG transmission:
When parking on inclines, apply the hand-
brake, as under certain circumstances
even engaging the first or reverse gear
might not secure the vehicle against mov-
ing.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place selector lever in position P.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided
braking action, occasionally apply the
handbrake lightly when the vehicle is
slowly coming to a standstill if the traffic
conditions are suitable.<
Manual transmission
While shifting gear in the 5th/6th gear
level, make sure that you press the
gearshift lever to the right to prevent inad-
vertently selecting a gear in the 3rd/4th
gear level. On inclines, do not hold the
vehicle with the clutch; use the handbrake.
Holding with the clutch causes high clutch
wear.<
Reverse gear
Select R only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped. When pressing the gear-
shift lever to the left, overcome some resis-
tance.
The backup lamps automatically come on
in ignition key position 2.
Sequential manual
transmission SMG*
The concept
The Sequential manual transmission SMG
is an automated manual transmission in
which an electro-hydraulic system handles
the clutching and gear changes.
You operate the SMG using the selector
lever in the center console and two shift
paddles on the steering wheel.
It provides you with the following functions:
> Sequential mode: manual mode
> Drive mode: automatic mode
> Choice between two drive programs:
Normal, Sport, refer to page 54
> Operating reliability with protection
against incorrect gearshifts
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Driving
52
> Automatic upshifts and downshifts in
the Drive mode
> Automatic downshifts with minimum
engine speed
> Kickdown function in the Drive mode
> Acceleration assistant, refer to
page 54.
Selector-lever positions
The current selector-lever position is dis-
played on the center console.
R: Reverse gear
N: Neutral, idle
Position for forward driving with one-touch
functions:
Sequential mode
+: manual upshifts
—: manual downshifts
D: Drive mode.
The SMG is operational in ignition key posi-
tion 2.
Idle is automatically engaged if the
driver's door is opened with the
engine running and neither pedals, shift
paddles nor the selector lever are oper-
ated.
This is signaled by an acoustic signal and
the flashing gear indicator. The gear dis-
play N appears in the instrument cluster.
A driving position can only be selected with
the driver's door closed.
When the vehicle is unlocked, a buzzing
sound in the area of the transmission sig-
nals that the system is ready for opera-
tion.<
Shiftlock
For your safety a driving position can only
be engaged from the selector lever
position N with the vehicle stationary with
the brake pedal depressed.
Observe the following when driving
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not
hold the vehicle on a hill by pressing
the accelerator, but apply the handbrake
instead. Otherwise overheating can occur
in the area of the transmission.<
R Reverse
Select R only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
N Neutral: idle
Engage prior to every engine start, refer
also to page 50.
Sequential mode
After every engine start, as soon as the
selector lever is brought into a forward gear
position and the brake is pressed, the
sequential mode is activated.
The gear is changed using the shift paddles
or selector lever.
Driving off is also possible in second gear,
e.g. when there is snow on the roadway.
D Drive mode
In the Drive mode, all forward gears are
shifted automatically.
To switch from the sequential to Drive
mode: briefly press the selector lever to the
right towards D.
For rapid acceleration, e.g. overtaking,
press the accelerator pedal as far down as
it will go – kickdown.
Kickdown:
The kickdown mode provides maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle resistance point.
To return to the sequential mode: briefly
press the selector lever back to the right
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towards D or change the current gear using
the shift paddles or selector lever.
Gear changes
Using selector lever
> To shift up, briefly press the selector
lever towards +
> To shift down, briefly press towards —.
Using shift paddles on steering
wheel
> To shift up, pull one of the shift paddles
> To shift down, press.
You accelerate from higher gears, e.g.
when overtaking, by shifting down manu-
ally.
In the following situations, the SMG in the
sequential mode assists you:
> Upshifts and downshifts are executed
only when they will result in a plausible
combination of engine and vehicle
speed; thus, for example, a downshift
that would cause the engine to overrev
will not be executed by the system
> When the vehicle is stopped, the trans-
mission automatically downshifts into
first gear
> Shortly before dropping below a gear-
dependent minimum speed, the trans-
mission downshifts automatically even
without your intervention.
Display in the instrument cluster
Gear display
R N 1 2 3 4 5 6
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
The gear currently selected, the selected
shifting mode and, if applicable, malfunc-
tions are displayed in the instrument clus-
ter.
Malfunctions
Indicator lamp
If the indicator lamp lights up, a
malfunction has occurred in the
transmission system.
While it will remain still possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position,
the transmission will revert to operation in
its default mode with only a limited number
of forward gears.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine loads
and consult the nearest BMW center.
Warning tone
In case of overheating in the area of the
transmission, an acoustic signal indicates
that you should stop or start off quickly if
possible so that the system can cool down
again.
Information on jump-starting and towing
begins on page 192.
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Driving
54
Dynamic Driving Control
With Dynamic Driving Control, you can
choose between a standard and a sport
program.
Sport program
> The engine responds more spontane-
ously to accelerator pedal movements
> The steering becomes more direct and
provides even better road contact.
In addition, with SMG and an automatic
transmission:
> The shifting times are shorter
> The engine speed range is used opti-
mally in the Drive mode.
Activating the Sport program
In ignition key position 2.
Press the SPORT button.
The LED in the button lights up.
With an automatic transmission:
Activating the Dynamic Driving Con-
trol activates the Sport program of the
automatic transmission. This makes mov-
ing the selector lever form D to M/S unnec-
essary.<
Deactivating the Sport program
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button goes out.
Acceleration assistant with SMG
The acceleration assistant enables opti-
mized vehicle acceleration at racing car
level on road surfaces with good adhesion.
Do not use the acceleration assistant
too often, as otherwise components
will wear prematurely.<
1. Activate the Sport program
2. Press the DSC button, refer to page 79,
for longer than three seconds
3. Press the accelerator pedal down fully –
kickdown. The ideal starting-off engine
speed is set.
To maintain driving stability, drive
with the DSC on whenever possible.<
Information on jump-starting and towing
begins on page 192.
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic*
While you can drive as with any conven-
tional automatic transmission, you also
enjoy the option of shifting manually, refer
to page 55.
If you move the selector lever from posi-
tion D to the left into gearshift gate M/S,
this activates the sports-style shift pro-
grams of the automatic transmission. As
soon as you move the selector lever slightly
towards + or –, the Steptronic shifts gear
and manual operation is activated. If you
wish to use the automatic function again,
move the selector lever to the right into
position D.
Selector-lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Possible displays
P R N D DS M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6
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Changing the selector-lever
positions
An interlock prevents inadvertent gear-
shifts into selector-lever positions R and P.
To cancel the interlock, press the button on
the front of the selector lever knob, refer to
arrow.
Press the brake pedal before shifting
out of P or N; the shift command will
not be executed unless the brake is
applied: Shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after
you select a driving position, maintain pres-
sure on the brake pedal until you are ready
to start.<
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P and engage
the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
with the engine running.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P Parking
Select P only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped. The rear wheels are
blocked.
R Reverse
Select R only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
N Neutral
Select N only if your journey is interrupted
for a long period.
D Drive – automatic driving position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All
forward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in
position D.
Kickdown
A kickdown provides you with maximum
acceleration and the maximum road speed
in position D.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle resistance point.
M/S manual operation and Sport
program
Shifting from D into M/S activates the Sport
program and this is indicated with DS in the
gear display. This position is recom-
mended if a performance-oriented driving
style is desired.
The first time the selector lever is even
slightly touched, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts from the Sport program into
manual operation.
If you start to move the selector lever
towards +, the transmission shifts
upwards; moving it towards – it shifts
downwards. The gear display shows M1
through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combi-
nation of engine and vehicle speed; thus,
for example, a downshift that would cause
the engine to overrev will not be executed
by the system. The selected gear appears
briefly in the instrument cluster, followed by
the current gear.
To obtain maximum acceleration, for
passing maneuvers, etc., during
operation in the manual mode, use the
kickdown or downshift manually.<
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Shifting from M/S to the selector-lever
positions P, R and N is only possible by
going through D.
Malfunctions
Indicator lamp
If the indicator lamp lights up, a
malfunction has occurred in the
transmission system.
While it will remain still possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position,
the transmission will revert to operation in
its default mode with only a limited number
of forward gears.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine loads
and consult the nearest BMW center.
Information on jump-starting and towing
begins on page 192.
Turn signal indicators/
headlamp flasher
1 High beams: blue indicator lamp
2 Headlamp flasher: blue indicator lamp
3 Turn signal indicators: the green indica-
tor lamp flashes, accompanied by a
periodic clicking from the turn signal
indicator relay
Using turn signal indicators
Move the lever beyond the resistance
point. It then returns to the center position
when released. Press the lever as far as the
resistance point to switch off the turn signal
indicators.
If the flashing indicator lamp and the
clicking from the relay are both faster
than normal, this indicates that one of the
turn signal indicator bulbs is defective.<
Signaling briefly
Press the lever up to but not beyond the
resistance point. It then returns to the cen-
ter position when released.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance
point; the turn signal indicators flash three
times. You can activate or deactivate this
function.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Lighting" and press the control-
ler
4. Select "Triple turn signal activation" and
press the controller.
is displayed when triple turn signal
is activated.
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Wiper system
1 Normal wiper speed: briefly press once.
The system automatically reverts to
operation in the intermittent mode
whenever the vehicle stops.
Fast wiper speed: briefly press twice or
press beyond the resistance point.
The system automatically reverts to
operation in the standard wipe mode
whenever the vehicle stops
2 To switch off wipers or for brief wipe
3 To activate/deactivate rain sensor
4 To clean windshield and headlamps
5 To adjust rain sensor sensitivity level
The lever automatically returns to its initial
position when released.
Cleaning the windshield and
headlamps*
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a
brief period.
When the vehicle lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps are also
cleaned at regular and appropriate inter-
vals.
Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield. If you do so, your vision could
be obscured. To avoid freezing, use a
washer fluid antifreeze, refer to Washer
fluid.
Avoid activating the washer when the
reservoir is empty, as damage to the pump
could result.<
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are auto-
matically heated in ignition key position 2.
Rain sensor
The rain sensor controls windshield wipe
operation depending on the amount of rain.
The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield, directly in front of the interior rear-
view mirror.
Activating the rain sensor
As of ignition key position 1, briefly press
the button. The indicator lamp in the button
lights up. The wipers will always respond
by completing at least one sweep of the
windshield.
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Turn the serrated dial 5.
Deactivating the rain sensor
Briefly press the button again. The indica-
tor lamp goes out.
The rain sensor is automatically deacti-
vated when you switch off the ignition.
Deactivate the rain sensor when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in dam-
age caused by undesired wiper activa-
tion.<
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable.
Always keep it well away from sparks
and open flames, and store it in tightly
closed containers well out of the reach of
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children. Always observe the instructions
for use provided on the containers.<
Washer fluid reservoir
Capacity: approx. 3.2 US quarts/3 liters for
the windshield washer system or approx.
5.3 US quarts/5 liters in conjunction with
headlamp washer system.
Fill with water and – if required – with a
washer antifreeze, according to manufac-
turer's recommendations.
In order to keep to the mixture ratio,
mix the washer fluid before filling.<
Cruise control*
The concept
The cruise control is available for use at
speeds of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h and
higher. The vehicle maintains and stores
the speed that you set using the lever
mounted on the steering column.
Do not use the cruise control when
driving on winding roads, in heavy
traffic or in poor road conditions – e.g.
snow, rain, ice, loose road surface – that do
not permit a constant speed.<
One lever for all functions
1 Maintaining and storing speed,
accelerating
Press the lever up to the resistance point:
The current speed is maintained and
stored. The display 1 in the speedometer
indicates this regulated speed, refer to
page 59. Every time you briefly press the
lever, the vehicle's speed increases by
roughly 1 mph/1 km/h.
Press the lever for longer:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure
on the accelerator pedal. The system main-
tains and stores your current speed as
soon as you release the lever.
Press the lever beyond the resistance
point:
Speed is increased by 5 mph/10 km/h.
The vehicle may accelerate beyond the
regulated speed on steep downhill
stretches where the engine's braking effect
alone may not be sufficient to slow the
vehicle. Speed can drop on uphill grades if
the engine output is insufficient.
2 Maintaining and storing speed,
decelerating
Pull the lever up to the resistance point:
Functions same as 1, only the vehicle
speed is reduced.
3 Interrupting cruise control
With the cruise control active, briefly press
the lever up or down.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted
automatically
> when you apply pressure to the brake
pedal
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> when you press the clutch or engage
position N of the automatic transmis-
sion
> when the DSC system is in active oper-
ation.
4 Recalling stored speed
Press button 4 briefly: the vehicle acceler-
ates to and maintains the last speed stored.
Deactivating system
When the ignition is switched off, the sys-
tem is deactivated and the stored speed is
deleted.
Displays in the instrument cluster
1 Stored desired speed display
2 Digital speed display.
Appears briefly when you select your
desired speed.
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control you can select a
desired speed which is not only automati-
cally maintained when driving on open
roadways, but also varied to maintain a
selected distance setting as slower traffic
is encountered.
Active cruise control is a technological
advance over the familiar cruise control
and is a welcome relief from the constant
adjustment of speed that can accompany
driving in traffic on freeways or other high-
speed thoroughfares. Especially on longer
trips, the system can reduce fatigue and
tension, while increasing your enjoyment of
driving. Please use it safely and responsi-
bly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising
speed, if you do encounter slower vehicles
ahead, active cruise control will, within the
scope of given possibilities, adjust your
vehicle’s speed automatically so that you
can flow with the traffic without frequent
intervention by the driver. If, for example,
while cruising at the selected speed, you
begin to approach a slower vehicle ahead
of you in the same lane, the system will
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as
that of the vehicle ahead to maintain your
selected distance setting between your
vehicle and the vehicle ahead. There are
four settings for distance, which is addi-
tionally speed-dependent. Based on your
selected distance setting, the system auto-
matically decreases the throttle setting and
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The
vehicle brake lamps will automatically illu-
minate to signal a following driver to take
action. In addition, it may be necessary for
the vehicle to downshift to maintain the dis-
tance setting selected. If the vehicle ahead
speeds up or when the lane ahead
becomes clear, your vehicle will accelerate
to the speed you have selected by increas-
ing the throttle setting and shifting gears as
needed.
Active cruise control is not and must
not be used as a collision avoidance/
warning system.<
Since this active cruise control sys-
tem is a new technology and operates
differently from conventional cruise control
systems which you may be accustomed,
you are strongly urged to read all of the
pages relating to this system before use.
Pay special attention to the information
contained in the Things to know about
active cruise control section in this manual
beginning on page 62.<
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Displays in the instrument cluster
1 Stored desired speed display
2 Detected vehicle display. Lights up
when vehicle driving ahead is detected
3 Selected distance to vehicle driving
ahead
4 Digital speed display.
Appears briefly when you select your
desired speed.
The system is activated.
The display appears as soon as
you activate the system and no
vehicle is detected driving
ahead.
Vehicle detected.
The display 2 lights up yellow
when a vehicle is detected driv-
ing ahead.
The system requests you to
intervene by braking or with an
evasive maneuver. The dis-
play 2 flashes red and a signal
sounds. The active cruise con-
trol cannot automatically restore the dis-
tance to the vehicle driving ahead. You will
find more detailed information on page 64.
Automatic intervention by ABS
or DSC, or you actuate the
handbrake while driving. The
display 2 flashes yellow. The
active cruise control now only
intervenes by braking.
Operating the active cruise control
1 Activate system,
store and increase desired speed
2 Activate system,
store and decrease desired speed
3 Deactivate system
4 With system deactivated:
Briefly press the button to recall the
stored speed and distance
With system activated:
Increase desired speed by 5 mph/
10 km/h with each press of the button
5 Select distance to vehicle driving
ahead. You can choose from four avail-
able distance settings. You will find
more detailed information on page 62.
Adjust your desired speed to the traf-
fic conditions and remain ready to
brake at all times. Great differences in
speed to the vehicles driving ahead, e.g.
when quickly approaching a truck or when
another vehicle swerves into your lane,
cannot be compensated for by the sys-
tem.<
Activate system
From approx. 20 mph/30 km/h you can
activate the system by pressing the lever
forward or pulling it back:
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The current driving speed is stored as a
desired speed and briefly displayed in the
instrument cluster, see below.
1 Desired speed store and increase
Press the lever forward:
The system adopts and stores your current
speed as a desired speed. The speedome-
ter indicates this speed.
Subsequently pressing forward increases
the desired speed to the next 5-mile place/
10 km/h.
Each time the lever is pressed forward
again, the desired speed is increased by
another 5 mph/10 km/h until a maximum of
110 mph/180 km/h is reached. The speed
then displayed is stored and reached on a
clear road.
If the system cannot be activated, the
display ACC --- mph/km/h briefly
appears in the instrument cluster. The sys-
tem may have been automatically deacti-
vated, refer to Deactivate system, or a mal-
function has occurred.
To call up Check Control messages, refer
to page 68.<
2 Desired speed store and decrease
Pull back the lever:
The current driving speed is rounded off to
the next 5-mile place/10 km/h, displayed
and stored.
Each time the lever is pulled back again,
the desired speed is decreased by another
5 mph/10 km/h until the minimum speed of
20 mph/30 km/h is reached. The speed
then displayed is stored and reached on a
clear road.
3 Deactivate system
Press the lever up or down while the sys-
tem is active. The displays in the instrument
cluster disappear. You can use the system
again as required.
In addition, the system is deactivated auto-
matically:
> When you apply pressure to the brake
pedal
> When you select the automatic trans-
mission's/SMG's neutral range N
> With the manual transmission idling
> When you deactivate the DSC Dynamic
Stability Control
> When you actuate the parking brake
during driving
> When the system reduces the speed to
below 20 mph/30 km/h due to a traffic
situation.
The system deactivates automatically
when the speed is set to below
20 mph/30 km/h. A gong sounds and a
message appears on the Control Display.
The active intervention of the driver is
required.<
When you switch off the ignition, the stored
desired speed is deleted.
4 Resume to stored desired speed
and distance setting
Press button 4:
The displays appear in the instrument clus-
ter. The system is reactivated and uses the
last stored desired speed and distance set-
ting.
4 Fine adjustment of desired speed
In the activated state, the desired speed
increases by 1 mph/1 km/h each time
button 4 is pressed briefly.
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5 Select distance
You can choose from four distance steps.
> Rotary switch downward:
Decrease distance.
> Rotary switch upward:
Increase distance.
The selected distance is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3
This distance is always set
when the system is used for the
first time after starting the
engine.
Distance 4
Use good judgment to select the
appropriate following distance given
road conditions, traffic, applicable laws
and driving recommendations for safe fol-
lowing distance.<
Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control
systems, active cruise control in no
way diminishes or substitutes for the
driver’s own personal responsibility, alert-
ness and awareness in adjusting speed,
braking or otherwise controlling the vehi-
cle. The driver should decide when to use
the system on the basis of road, traffic, vis-
ibility, and weather conditions. Active
cruise control is intended for use on high-
way-type roadways where traffic is moving
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system
in city driving; heavy traffic such as during
rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slip-
pery roads or roads with sharp curves such
as highway off-ramps; during inclement
weather such as snow, strong rain or fog;
or when entering interchanges, service/
parking areas or toll booths. It is also
important to regulate your vehicle's speed
and distance setting within applicable legal
limits. Always be ready to take action or
apply the brakes if necessary, especially
when the system is actively following a
vehicle in front of you.<
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Always remember that the range and
ability of the system does have phys-
ical limitations. It will not apply the brakes
or decelerate your vehicle when there is a
slow-moving vehicle, stopped vehicle or
stationary object ahead of you, as for
example, at a traffic light or a parked vehi-
cle. Also, the system does not react to
oncoming traffic, pedestrians or other type
of potential traffic such as a rider on horse-
back. It is also possible that the system
may not detect smaller moving objects
such as motorcycles or bicycles. Be espe-
cially alert when encountering any of these
situations as the system will neither auto-
matically brake, nor provide a warning to
you. Also, be aware that every decrease in
the distance setting allows your vehicle to
come closer to a vehicle in front of you and
requires a heightened amount of alert-
ness.<
If while your vehicle is actively following a
vehicle in front of you and the vehicle
ahead speeds up or the lane ahead
becomes clear, then your vehicle will
accelerate to the speed you have selected.
Be aware that changing to a clear, unob-
structed lane will also result in your vehicle
accelerating.
Be certain to deactivate the system
when you pull into an exit lane for a
highway off-ramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered man-
ner on a highway may cause a delay in the
system's reaction to a vehicle in front of
you or may cause the system to react to a
vehicle actually in the lane next to you.
Always be ready to take action or apply the
brakes if necessary.
Active cruise control can only decelerate
the vehicle to approx. 20 mph/30 km/h. If
the system reduces vehicle speed below
20 mph/30 km/h or if DSC/ABS is engaged
while driving, the system will automatically
deactivate.
Remember, the system cannot stop
your vehicle. In addition, the system is
deactivated whenever the driver applies
the vehicle brakes, shifts the transmission
from drive/D to neutral/N, or deactivates
DSC. After any deactivation, the system
will no longer automatically activate the
vehicle brakes, which means the driver
must intervene and resume manual brak-
ing. You should then reactivate the system
only when you are fully aware of the prior
speed and distance settings.<
Active cruise control may brake when you
reduce the stored desired speed; however,
the driver must constantly monitor traffic
and intervene if necessary.
When you switch off the engine or ignition,
active cruise control is fully switched off,
too, and any settings you have selected are
canceled.
Behavior in curves
Because of the limited range of the system,
it is possible that in curves or on the peaks
and valleys of hilly roads, a vehicle ahead
may be recognized late, or not at all. There-
fore, it is up to the driver to select a speed
that is prudent in view of the curves and
terrain of the roadway.
In approaching a curve, it is possible that
active cruise control would react briefly to a
vehicle in the adjacent lane. In addition, the
system can sense if your vehicle is in a
curve and may not accelerate. If your vehi-
cle decelerates in either case, you can
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64
choose to overcome the deceleration by
briefly pressing the accelerator pedal.
Driver interventions
Anytime the driver presses down on
the accelerator pedal, any automatic
braking action by the system is interrupted
until the pedal is fully released. After doing
this, release the accelerator and the system
again controls your cruising speed and dis-
tance setting. While driving with activated
system, resting your foot on the accelerator
pedal will cause the system not to brake
even if necessary. Be certain that floormats
or other objects on the vehicle floor do not
interfere with movement of the accelerator
pedal.<
While active cruise control is capable
of braking your vehicle automatically
when you approach a slower vehicle
ahead, it is important to be aware that the
ability of the system to apply the brakes is
also limited, if you are driving down a steep
grade or when you reduce your desired
speed sharply. The system cannot stop
your vehicle. It uses only a portion of brak-
ing system capacity and does not utilize the
full capacity of the vehicle braking system.
Therefore, the system cannot decrease
your speed for large differences in speed
between your vehicle and the vehicle
ahead. Examples: during emergency brak-
ing, when you approach a vehicle traveling
at a much lower speed than your own
speed such as approaching a toll booth or
when a much slower vehicle cuts in front of
you at close range.<
Whenever active cruise control
recognizes a situation that
requires driver braking because
the system capacity has been
reached or has been exceeded,
the system alerts the driver by flashing this
symbol in the instrument cluster and
sounding a signal.
Swerving vehicles
When a vehicle moves from an adjacent
lane into your lane, active cruise control will
not recognize this vehicle until it is fully in
your lane ahead of your vehicle.
Malfunctions
If there is a malfunction, the indica-
tor lamp symbol is displayed in the
instrument cluster. Please note any
supplementary information that appears on
the Control Display.
The build-up of foreign material, e.g.,
snow, ice, dirt, road debris, etc., can lead
to reduced detection performance of active
cruise control. You should check the sen-
sor under the front bumper and clean it as
necessary prior to driving your vehicle. If
the sensor becomes covered by foreign
material or has a malfunction, it is possible
that the sensor will no longer be able to
detect vehicles in front of you. After the
system recognizes that the sensor is no
longer functional, a message is displayed
on the Control Display and an acoustic sig-
nal is emitted.
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Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
When the ignition is switched off you can
briefly activate the time, outside tempera-
ture and odometer displays by pressing the
button at the lower left of the instrument
cluster.
1 Outside temperature display,
clock, date
The outside temperature and the time are
display as of ignition key position 1.
You can change the measurement unit
6/7 in the menu, refer to Measurement
units on page 74.
To call up the date:
Briefly press the Check button on the turn
indicator lever, refer to page 69.
Setting the time and date, refer to page 74.
Ice warning
A warning signal sounds when the outside
temperature falls to roughly +37.57/+36;
this is accompanied by a message.
Please bear in mind that the ice warn-
ing does nothing to alter the fact that
black ice may be present on roads at tem-
peratures higher than +37.57/+36, e.g.
on bridges and shaded roads.<
2 Odometer and trip odometer
To set the trip odometer to zero:
Press the button at the lower left of the
instrument cluster.
Tachometer
The white-striped advance warning field,
arrow 1, changes depending on the engine
temperature. The segments disappear in
sequence as the engine warms to its nor-
mal operating temperature.
Avoid allowing the engine speed to rise as
far as the advance warning field whenever
possible.
Engine speeds in the red warning field,
arrow 2, must be avoided.
In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted
to protect the engine.
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66
Energy Control/Current fuel
consumption
Displays the current fuel consumption. This
allows you to see whether your current
driving style is conducive to fuel economy
with minimum exhaust emissions.
Fuel gauge
After the reserve quantity has been
reached, a message appears for a short
time on the Control Display; the range is
shown in the computer. Below a range of
approx. 30 miles/50 km, the message
remains on the Control Display, and the
range is displayed.
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 gallons/
70 liters, of which approx. 2.1 gallons/
8 liters reserve. You can find information on
Refueling on page 168.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer
period, when you are driving in mountain-
ous areas, for example, the indicator may
fluctuate slightly.
Refuel well before the tank is empty,
as otherwise engine functions will not
be ensured and damage can occur if you
drive down to the last drop.<
Service requirement display
and display of legally
prescribed inspections
In the instrument cluster
The remaining distance to be driven, the
date for the next maintenance as well as
the date entered for the state emission or
vehicle inspection are displayed briefly as
of ignition key position 2, if the date is
imminent.
Your Service Advisor will determine
your vehicle's current service require-
ments by reading out the data stored in the
vehicle key.<
On the Control Display
You can view additional information on ser-
vice and maintenance procedures using
the Control Center.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "Service requirements" and
press the controller
4. Select "Status" and press the control-
ler.
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The display shows a list of selected service
and maintenance procedures, as well as
legally prescribed official inspections.
Symbols
The service deadline has already
passed.
The deadline for service or an official
inspection is approaching. Please
contact your BMW center for an appoint-
ment.
No service is currently required. If you
desire, certain maintenance opera-
tions can be carried out at the next service.
You can request more detailed information
on every entry.
Select the entry and press the controller.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller
Entering dates for state emission and
vehicle inspections
Make sure the date in the Control
Center is always set correctly, refer to
page 74, as otherwise the effectiveness of
Condition Based Service CBS is not
ensured.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "Service requirements" and
press the controller
4. "Select Status" and press the controller
5. Select "Emission inspect." or "State
inspection" and press the controller
6. Select "Set service date" and press the
controller. The month is highlighted
7. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
8. Press the controller to accept the set-
ting. The year is highlighted
9. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
10.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The date entry is stored.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller
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68
Check Control
Display of a message
1 means that a Check Control mes-
sage is present
2 Information and malfunction reports on
systems are indicated by an illuminated
indicator or warning lamp symbol
At the same time, a gong sounds and a text
message appears on the Control Display.
Messages are assigned one of two priority
ratings:
Priority 1
These messages and malfunction reports
are signaled by a gong. If a number of mal-
functions occur simultaneously, they are
displayed in succession. These messages
cannot be deleted, and they remain on the
display until the problem is corrected. Sup-
plementary information can also appear on
the Control Display.
These supplementary messages are
intended to assist you in assessing the
severity of malfunctions; they provide you
with the information you need to decide on
the best way to respond.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller.
Priority 2
These status messages and malfunction
reports are indicated by the gong and dis-
played for approx. 20 seconds.
To hide a displayed message: briefly press
the CHECK button on the turn signal indi-
cator lever.
Check Control symbol and
information on the Control Display
Depending on the status of the monitored
systems, various symbols are displayed on
the Control Display:
No malfunctions are present in the
monitored systems.
One or several faults have occurred in
the monitored systems.
Depending upon how serious the
problem is, a supplementary mes-
sage may also appear on the Control Dis-
play.
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The symbols also indicate the status of the
service requirement display, refer to
page 67.
Calling up stored messages on the
Control Display
Using the CHECK button
1. Press the button longer:
The first stored message is displayed
2. Briefly press the button:
Another message is displayed each
time the button is briefly pressed.
Using the Control Center
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
4. Select "Check Control messages" and
press the controller. The stored mes-
sages appear on the display
5. Select the desired message and press
the controller.
The display disappears automatically after
a short time.
To close the display immediately:
Select and press the controller
Displays after completion of trip
Malfunction reports generated during the
trip are shown consecutively when you
switch off the ignition.
If applicable, the message "Parking lamps
on!" appears at the end of a trip when you
open the driver's door.
In addition, a gong sounds:
As long as the display has not disappeared,
you can view the messages again. Press
the CHECK button for approx. 2 seconds. If
several messages are present, you can
continue to press the CHECK button to
view them in succession.
The Check Control function
> cancels itself automatically after a brief
period
> can be canceled by again pressing the
CHECK button for approx. 2 seconds.
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70
Computer
To select functions:
As of ignition key position 1, you can use
the BC button in the turn signal indicator
lever to call up computer information in the
instrument cluster.
A new function appears each time you
press the BC button briefly.
Displays in the instrument cluster
The display sequence:
> Cruising range
> Average speed
> Average fuel consumption.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range
available with the remaining fuel. The sys-
tem calculates the cruising range based on
operating conditions and the amount of fuel
remaining in the tank. The basis for the cal-
culations is the average fuel consumption
over the preceding 20 miles/30 km.
Always refuel as soon as possible
once your cruising range falls to
below 30 miles/50 km, as otherwise engine
functions are not ensured and damage can
occur.<
Refueling is only registered by the com-
puter for fuel amounts above approx.
1.3 gallons/5 liters.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated
for the time during which the engine is run-
ning.
You can use the Control Display to view
your fuel consumption rate over two differ-
ent distances, refer to Computer or Trip
computer.
To reset the average fuel consumption to
zero: press the BC button in the turn signal
indicator lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the
engine switched off are not included in the
calculations of average speed.
To reset the average speed to zero: press
the BC button in the turn signal indicator
lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via the
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Move the controller to the right to open
"Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"
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3. Select "Car Data" and press the con-
troller.
You have two possibilities to display infor-
mation of the computer:
> Computer
> Trip computer
It is best to use this for driving on vaca-
tion, as when you reset the values to
zero, all the functions are reset together
and then restart.
Computer
Select "Onboard info" and press the con-
troller.
> Estimated time of arrival at destination.
Manually enter a distance in the com-
puter or a destination in the navigation
system, see below or refer to page 116
> Cruising range
> Distance to destination.
Manually enter a distance in the com-
puter or a destination in the navigation
system, see below or refer to page 116
> Average speed
> Average fuel consumption.
Trip computer
Select "Trip computer" and press the con-
troller
> Departure time
> Driving time
> Distance traveled
> Average speed
> Average fuel consumption.
To switch the trip computer on/off and
reset values to zero:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller
2. Select the desired menu item and press
the controller.
Entering a distance manually
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"
2. Select "Car Data" and press the con-
troller
3. Select "Onboard info" and press the
controller
4. Select "Distance to destin." and press
the controller
5. Turn the controller to select the dis-
tance to your destination
6. Press the controller to apply the setting.
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Everything under control
72
With the destination guidance
switched on, the distance is entered
automatically.<
Assistance window for computer and
trip computer
You can display the computer or the trip
computer in the assistance window.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Move the controller to the right to
switch to the assistance window and
press the controller
2. Select the menu item and press the
controller:
> "Onboard info"
> "Trip computer".
Speed limit
You can enter a speed and a Check Control
message indicates when you have reached
this speed. This enables you, for example,
to receive warnings if you exceed a speed
limit in an urban area.
You are only warned of reaching this speed
a second time if you again drive at least
3 mph/5 km/h slower.
Adjusting, changing
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"
2. Select "Car Data" and press the con-
troller
3. Select "Limit" and press the controller
4. Select the speed and press the control-
ler
5. Turn the controller to select the desired
speed
6. Press the controller to apply the setting.
Switching on or off
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"
2. Select "Car Data" and press the con-
troller
3. Select "Limit" and press the controller
4. Select "On" and press the controller.
is displayed with the speed limit
switched on.
Adopting your current speed as the
limit
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"
2. Select "Car Data" and press the con-
troller
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3. Select "Limit" and press the controller
4. Select "Select current speed" and
press the controller. The system adopts
your current speed as the limit.
Stopwatch
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"
2. Select "Car Data" and press the con-
troller
3. "Select Stopwatch" and press the con-
troller.
Starting and stopping
> Select "Start" and press the controller.
The stopwatch starts at the displayed
time
> Select "Reset" and press the controller.
The stopwatch is reset to 0 and starts
> Select "Stop" and press the controller.
This stops the timer.
Taking an intermediate time reading
Select "Interim time" and press the control-
ler. This intermediate time appears below
the ongoing primary stopwatch count.
All of the remaining functions remain
available at all times while the stop-
watch is running. The stopwatch continues
operation in the background.
Changing settings
Brightness
The brightness of the display is automati-
cally adapted to the ambient lighting condi-
tions. However, you can change the stan-
dard setting for each specific key.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "Brightness" and press the con-
troller
5. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
6. Move the controller forwards to adopt
the set value.
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74
Measurement units
You can change the measurement units for
consumption, distances, temperature and
pressure for each specific key.
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Units" and press the controller
4. Select the menu item to be adjusted
and press the controller
5. Select the desired measurement unit
and press the controller.
Language
The language on the Control Center can be
set for each specific key.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Languages" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Text language" and press the
controller. You can select a different
language for the text displays
5. Select the desired language and press
the controller.
Setting the time
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Time" and press the controller
4. Select "Set time" and press the control-
ler. The first time setting is highlighted
5. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
6. Press the controller to apply the setting.
The next adjustment is highlighted
7. Make the remaining adjustments. After
the last adjustment, the time is stored.
Changing the display format
The display mode of the clock can be set
for each specific key.
1. Select "Time format" and press the
controller
2. Select the desired format and press the
controller.
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Switching on the reminder function*
Select "Hour memo" and press the control-
ler.
is displayed with the reminder function
switched on.
You will hear three tones just before each
full hour.
Setting the date
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Date" and press the controller
4. Select "Set date" and press the control-
ler. The first section of the date display
is highlighted, here the day
5. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
6. Press the controller to apply the setting.
The next adjustment is highlighted
7. Make the remaining adjustments. After
the last adjustment, the date is stored.
Changing the display format
The display mode of the date can be set for
each specific key.
1. Select "Date format" and press the con-
troller
2. Select the desired format and press the
controller.
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76
Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you are parking.
Signal tones indicate the current distance
to an object behind or in front of your vehi-
cle. Four ultrasonic sensors in both the
bumpers monitor the distance to the near-
est object. The sensors at the front and at
the two rear corners have a range of
approx. 1.64 ft/50 cm; the rear middle sen-
sors have approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed,
as otherwise the physical circumstances
would mean that the system warning was
too late.<
Automatic function
In ignition key position 2, the system auto-
matically assumes operational status after
a few seconds each time you engage
reverse gear or selector-lever position R.
Wait this short period before revers-
ing.<
Manual activation
Press the button, the indicator lamp lights
up.
Manual deactivation
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
Automatic deactivation
The system is automatically deactivated
once the vehicle travels approx. 165 ft/
50 m or exceeds a speed of roughly
20 mph/30 km/h; the indicator lamp goes
out. You can reactivate the system manu-
ally as needed.
Signal tones
The signal indicating the distance to the
nearest obstacle is directional. Thus, an
object detected to the left rear of the vehi-
cle will be indicated by a signal tone from
the left rear speaker, etc. As the distance
between vehicle and object decreases, the
intervals between the tones become
shorter. The signal tone becomes continu-
ous once the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds when the distance to an
object remains constant during this time,
if you are moving parallel to a wall, for
instance.
Malfunctions
The indicator lamp within the button
flashes and a message appears on the
Control Display. Please note any supple-
mentary information that appears there.
Switch the system off and have the cause
of the malfunction corrected by your BMW
center.
PDC with visual warning*
You also enjoy the option of having the sys-
tem show distances to objects on the Con-
trol Display for the specific key in use. The
Control Display will also indicate the pres-
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ence of objects in green before they are
close enough to generate a signal tone.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "PDC" and press the controller
5. Select "Monitor display on" and press
the controller.
is displayed with the PDC image
switched on.
The display then appears on the Control
Display as soon as PDC is automatically
activated.
The previous display automatically reap-
pears after the system is deactivated.
Limits of the system
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always
remains with the driver. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in which
objects cannot be detected. The system is
also subject to the physical limits that apply
to all forms of ultrasonic measurement,
such as those encountered with thin and
wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects
already displayed, e.g. a curb, can also dis-
appear from the detection area of the sen-
sors again before a continuous tone
sounds.
Loud noises from outside and inside your
vehicle may prevent you from hearing the
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of ice
or snow in order to ensure that they
will continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Keep the spray at least 4 in/10 cm away
from the sensors.<
Driving stability control/
ABS Antilock Brake System
Your BMW is equipped with an extended
array of systems designed to enhance and
maintain vehicle stability under extreme
conditions. The following section describes
these functions based on ABS and DSC.
The concept
ABS enhances active safety by preventing
the wheels from locking under braking.
The ABS is operational every time you start
the engine. ABS includes the functions
CBC Cornering Brake Control and EBV
Electronic Brake Force Distribution.
In case of malfunction
If the indicator lamp lights up in yel-
low, this indicates that ABS has
been deactivated in response to a
system malfunction. Conventional braking
efficiency remains available without limita-
tions. Please have the system inspected at
your BMW center.
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78
CBC Cornering Brake Control
CBC is a supplement to ABS. It provides
further enhancements in vehicle stability
and steering response during lane changes
and cornering at high rates of lateral accel-
eration.
EBV Electronic Brake Force
Distribution
EBV controls the brake system's applica-
tion pressure at the rear wheels to ensure
stable deceleration.
In case of malfunction
If the brake system warning lamp
lights up in red, appearing together
with the yellow indicator lamps for
ABS and DSC:
The driving stability control has
failed.
If all three lamps light up yellow:
Fault in the driving stability control.
The EBV electronic brake-force distribution
is active.
While you may continue, you should
remember to proceed cautiously and drive
defensively while avoiding full brake appli-
cations.
Please have the system checked at the
nearest BMW center.
If a message appears on the Control Dis-
play, please note the supplementary infor-
mation.
You can find more information on the
Check Control starting on page 68.
Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.
Driving stability control/
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
The concept
DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC includes the functionality
of the DTC Dynamic Traction Control and
DBC Dynamic Brake Control, refer to
page 79.
The system optimizes vehicle stability dur-
ing acceleration and when starting from a
full stop, as well as optimizing traction. The
system recognizes any tendency for the
vehicle to assume an unstable attitude
such as oversteer or understeer; it then
counteracts this tendency with a combina-
tion of graduated reductions in engine
torque and selective braking intervention at
individual wheels. DSC provides optimal
stability within the limits defined by the
laws of physics.
Indicator lamps
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out soon after you start
the engine.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC is regulating the drive and braking
forces.
If the indicator lamp lights up permanently:
DSC has been switched off using the but-
ton.
If the indicator lamp and the brake
warning lamp light up permanently:
Malfunction in DSC, DTC and DBC.
When the system is off, the stability main-
tenance functions described above are no
longer available. The vehicle will remain
completely operational, however, without
DSC.
Please respond to any malfunctions by
referring the problem to your BMW center.
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Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
In special driving states, e.g. in deep snow,
DTC ensures maximum forward momen-
tum. The gain in forward momentum also
involves a reduction in driving stability.
DTC is active up to 45 mph/70 km/h.
Activating DTC
Press the DSC button briefly; the
DTC indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up permanently.
You may find it useful to briefly activate
DTC under the following special circum-
stances:
> When rocking the vehicle and starting
off in deep snow or on loose road sur-
faces
> When ascending snow-covered hills,
and when driving in deep or on hard-
packed snow
> When driving with snow chains.
When DTC is active, DSC provides
only limited system response up to a
speed of approx. 45 mph/70 km/h. Control
intervention for stability-enhancement is
reduced.<
Deactivating DTC again
Press the DSC button again; the DTC indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out. DSC is available once again without
restriction.
Deactivating DSC
Press the DSC button for at least 3 sec-
onds; the DSC indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up permanently. DSC is
deactivated.
Deactivating DSC automatically deacti-
vates DTC as well. The systems for
enhancing stability and traction are deacti-
vated, and there is no active braking inter-
vention or torque control.
A message appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears there.
To maintain optimal stability, drive
with the system on whenever possi-
ble.<
Reactivating DSC
Press the DSC button again briefly; the
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
goes out. DSC is now activated.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An appro-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Therefore, do
not reduce the additional safety margin
again by taking risks.
Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Never allow anyone other than
authorized professional technicians to
carry out service or repairs on the DSC sys-
tem.<
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this
system automatically produces the maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus helps to
achieve the shortest possible braking dis-
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80
tance during panic stops. This system
exploits all of the benefits provided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica-
tion. When the brake pedal is released,
DBC is deactivated.
In the event of a malfunction, the
warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up yellow.
Have the system checked and repaired at
your BMW center as soon as possible.
Please note any information that appears
on the Control Display.
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
Active roll stabilization*
The concept
Active roll stabilization minimizes body roll
and optimizes vehicle stability during cor-
nering and evasive maneuvers.
Dynamic stabilizers at the front and rear
axles form the basis for active roll stabiliza-
tion. Suspension compliance adapts to suit
driving conditions, varying from perfor-
mance-oriented during cornering to
smooth and comfort-oriented when the
vehicle is proceeding in a straight line.
The system assumes operational status
each time you start the engine.
Driving with active roll stabilization
During vehicle operation, the system con-
tinuously runs through closed-loop control
cycles lasting only fractions of a second.
In case of malfunction
The symbol in the instrument clus-
ter lights up and a message
appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears there.
You can find more information on the
Check Control starting on page 68.
If the active roll stabilization system is
deactivated in response to malfunc-
tion, please remember to adapt your speed
accordingly, especially in curves.
The suspension will be noticeably softer
and the vehicle will display a greater ten-
dency to tilt during cornering and in cross-
winds.
If a message stating that you should stop
appears on the Control Display in addition
to the red symbol, stop immediately and
switch off the engine. In this case the oil
level in the reservoir may have dropped
below the minimum, possibly owing to a
leak in the hydraulic system.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears on the Control Display.<
Flat Tire Monitor
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in the four fitted tires as
you drive. The system provides an alert
whenever the inflation pressure drops sig-
nificantly in relation to the pressure in
another tire.
The check of the tire inflation pressure is
based on monitoring the relative speeds of
the wheels. A flat tire is detected and
reported on the basis of a deviation in cer-
tain speed ratios.
Functional requirement
So that the Flat Tire Monitor can learn the
correct inflation pressure, please perform
the following:
1. Check the inflation pressures in all tires
2. Compare with the inflation pressure
table on page 170 and correct if neces-
sary
3. Initialize the system.
Limits of the system
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate
sudden severe tire damage caused
by outside factors and does not detect a
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natural, even pressure drop in all four
tires.<
In the following situations, on the other
hand, there can be delays in detecting tire
pressure losses, and even system failure:
> When you are driving on snow-covered
or slippery road surfaces
> If you are using a sports driving style:
slip on the drive wheels, high lateral
acceleration
> False alarms and undetected loss of
pressure may occur when you are driv-
ing with snow chains fitted
> When you are driving with the compact
wheel, the Flat Tire Monitor is unable to
function.
Initializing the system
Perform the initialization immediately
after correcting the inflation pressure,
after changing a tire or changing a wheel or
all wheels. A drive is necessary for this pur-
pose.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Before beginning driving, start the
engine, but do not drive off
2. Open the menu
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "FTM" and press the controller
5. Select "Set tire pressure" and press the
controller
6. Select "Yes" and press the controller
7. Drive off.
The message "Initializing" is displayed.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect and report a flat tire.
After the initialization is completed, the
message "Active" is displayed.
If a flat tire is detected during initialization,
a message appears on the Control Display.
When driving with snow chains or
with the compact wheel, do not initial-
ize the system.<
Flat tire
Indicator lamp
The symbol in the instrument clus-
ter lights up in red and a simulta-
neous message appears on the
Control Display. In addition, an acoustic
signal sounds.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears on the Control Display. You
can find more information on the Check
Control starting on page 68.
1. Reduce speed and stop the vehicle
carefully. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers
2. Identify damaged tire
If identification is not possible,
contact your BMW center.<
3. Replace the damaged wheel, refer to
Changing a tire on page 187.
Vehicles with run-flat tires:
1. Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden
braking and steering maneuvers. Do
not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph/
80 km/h
Due to the reinforcement on the
edges of the run-flat tires, inflation
pressure loss can not usually be recog-
nized from the outside, refer to Run-flat
tires on page 175.<
2. To continue driving, comply with the
instructions for driving with damaged
tires on page 175.
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System malfunctions
Indicator lamp
The symbol in the instrument clus-
ter lights up yellow and a message
appears on the Control Display.
Please contact your BMW center.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears on the Control Display.
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering is a system that actively
varies the steering angle of the front wheels
in relation to the steering wheel move-
ments.
When you are driving in the low road speed
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the
steering angle is reinforced, i.e. the steer-
ing becomes very direct and significantly
improves the handling capability of your
BMW.
In the higher road speed range, on the
other hand, the steering angle is reduced,
also optimizing the handling capability.
In critical situations, the system can make
targeted changes to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the
vehicle before the driver intervenes.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up perma-
nently: malfunction in the system.
Please have the system inspected
at your BMW center.
Conventional steering efficiency remains
available without limitations.
Brake Force Display
The Brake Force Display indicates the
intensity with which you are applying your
brakes to drivers of following vehicles.
The display consists of two stages:
> Normal braking:
The brake lamps in the tail assemblies
and the high-mount brake lamp on top
of the rear window light up during brak-
ing
> Heavy braking and braking with ABS:
The tail lamps also light up with the
same intensity as the standard brake
lamp units to enhance the warning
effect of the brake lamps.
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Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1 Front airbags for driver and front pas-
senger
2 Head airbags in front and rear
3 Side airbags in front and rear
Protective effect
The front airbags help protect the driver
and front passenger by responding to fron-
tal impacts in which safety belts alone can-
not provide adequate restraint. When
needed, the head and side airbags help
provide protection in the event of side
impact. The relevant side airbag helps to
restrain the side upper body area. The rel-
evant head airbag helps to support the
head and provides protection against
objects entering the vehicle.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered
in every impact situation, e.g. less severe
accidents, certain roll-over conditions, or
rear-end collisions.
The rear seat side airbags may
already have been deactivated by a
BMW center. Labels in the rear door open-
ing should indicate the status of your rear
seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of
their status, or wish to have the airbags
activated or deactivated, please contact
your BMW center.<
For information on the correct sitting posi-
tion, refer to page 36.
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag reten-
tion system from the vehicle. Never modify
or tamper with either the wiring or the indi-
vidual components in the airbag system.
This category includes the upholstery in the
center of the steering wheel, on the instru-
ment panel, the side trim panels on the
doors and the roof pillars along with the
sides of the headliner. Do not attempt to
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system mal-
function, if you desire to have an airbag
deactivated, or if the airbag retention sys-
tem is triggered in response to an accident,
you should always entrust all inspection,
repair and dismantling operations to your
BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the sys-
tem could lead to failure in an emergency
or undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury.
To ensure compliance with official safety
regulations, please also entrust disposal of
airbag generators to a BMW center.<
Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
Your BMW has a seat occupation detection
system. By evaluating the weight on the
front passenger's seat, the system detects
whether or not the seat is occupied by a
child in the child-restraint system or an
adult.
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84
> When a child is seated in the child-
restraint system or with an empty seat,
the front and side airbags are automat-
ically deactivated on the passenger's
side
> When an adult is traveling in the front
seat, the front and side airbags remain
active on the passenger side.
Although not desired, it can occur in
the case of heavier children that the
front passenger airbags remain active or in
the case of very light adults or young per-
sons that the front passenger airbags are
deactivated.
The state of the front passenger airbags is
shown with the telltale lamp, refer to Indi-
cator lamps in the following. In this case
transport the corresponding persons on
the rear seat.
Except when persons to be transported, do
not increase the load on the front passen-
ger seat with additional items. Do not fit
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the front passenger
seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not place any items
under the seat. Otherwise, the function of
the seat occupation detection could be
impaired.<
Indicator lamps
Operational readiness of airbag
system
The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness
of the entire airbag system and the safety
belt tensioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
The telltale lamp above the interior rear-
view mirror indicates whether the front-
passenger airbag system is activated or
deactivated as of ignition key position 1.
The telltale lamp refers exclusively to
the front-passenger airbag system.<
> The telltale lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
The front passenger airbags are active,
e.g. when transporting an adult
> The telltale lamp lights up continuously.
The front passenger airbags are deacti-
vated, e.g. when transporting a child in
the child-restraint system or when the
seat is unoccupied.
For more information on the operating prin-
ciple of the front passenger airbag system
and seat occupation detection, refer to
Automatic deactivation of the front passen-
ger airbags.
Airbag system malfunction
A system malfunction could prevent
the system from responding in the
expected manner to an impact occurring
within its normal response range.
Please have the airbag system inspected
immediately at a BMW center.<
There is a fault in the airbag system
if the airbag indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster behaves as fol-
lows:
> Indicator lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
> It remains on continuously
> Indicator lamp lights up while the vehi-
cle is being driven.
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Head-Up Display*
The concept
The Head-Up Display can be used to
project important information into the field
of vision of the driver, e.g. instructions of
the navigation system. You can assimilate
this information without taking your eyes off
the road.
Switching on/off
In ignition key position 2:
Press button 2 to activate or deactivate this
system.
1 Instructions of the navigation system
2 Cruise control or
Active cruise control
3 Speed
The Head-Up Display can also be activated
and deactivated with the two programma-
ble function buttons on the steering wheel.
Programing button functions, refer to
page 44.
Specifying selected displays
You can specify which information is to
appear in the Head-Up Display for a spe-
cific key.
Make all entries with the vehicle sta-
tionary. If you are inattentive, you may
be in violation of the law, and can endanger
vehicle occupants and other road users.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button.
1. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "HUD selection" and press the
controller
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
86
4. Select the desired information of the
Head-Up Display and press the control-
ler.
The information is shown on the
Head-Up Display.
Setting the brightness
The brightness of the display is automati-
cally adapted to the ambient lighting condi-
tions. However, you can change the base
setting for each specific key.
With the low beams switched on, the
brightness can also be set with the adjust-
ment wheel of the instrument lighting.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Brightness" and press the con-
troller
4. Move the controller to the left to select
"Head-Up Display"
5. Turn the controller. The adjustment is
adopted; the field can be changed.
Malfunctions
In certain cases the recognizability of the
Head-Up Display may be reduced:
> By wearing sunglasses with certain
polarization filters
> By disadvantageous sitting positions
> By objects on the cover of the Head-Up
Display
> By wet road surfaces and disadvanta-
geous lighting conditions.
If the image is distorted, please have the
base setting checked at a BMW center.
Care instructions
You can find everything you need to know
on this topic by consulting the separate
Caring for your vehicle brochure.
Only clean the cover of the Head-Up
Display with a soft, lint-free cloth or
with a display cleaning cloth, as otherwise
damage may result.<
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Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
Parking lamps
With the switch in this position, the
front, rear and side vehicle lighting
is switched on. You can use the side
marker lamps for parking. For lighting on
one side for parking as an additional fea-
ture, refer to page 88.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition
with the headlamps on, the head-
lamps go out, and only the parking
lamps remain on.
Pathway lighting
After parking the vehicle and switching off
the headlamps, operating the headlamp
flasher activates the low beams. You can
set the duration using the Control Center or
deactivate the function.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Lighting" and press the control-
ler
4. Select "Pathway lighting" and press the
controller
5. Turn the controller to select the corre-
sponding duration
6. Press the controller to apply the setting.
Lights on warning
If you turn the ignition key to position 0, an
acoustic signal sounds when you open the
driver's door for a few seconds to remind
you that the light has not yet been switched
off. At the same time a message appears
on the Control Display.
Daytime driving lamps*
If desired, the light switch can remain in the
low beam position:
When you switch off the ignition, the exte-
rior lighting goes out.
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of daytime driving lamps.
You can switch on the parking lamps when
needed using the standard procedure
described under Parking lamps.
Automatic headlamp control*
When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates and
switches on and off the low beams
in response to changes in ambient light
conditions, for instance, in a tunnel, at
dawn and dusk, and in rain and snow. The
LED next to the symbol is illuminated when
the low beams are on.
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Lamps
88
Following automatic activation, the
vehicle's external lighting remains on
when you switch on the fog lamps.<
The automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for your per-
sonal judgment in determining when the
lamps should be switched on in response
to ambient lighting conditions. For exam-
ple, the system cannot detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on
the lamps manually under these condi-
tions.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumi-
nation of the road surface. Depending on
the steering angle and other assumptions,
the light from the headlamp follows the
course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
In ignition key position 2, turn the
light switch to the position 'Auto-
matic headlamp control', refer to
page 87.
When reversing, the Adaptive Head
Light is inactive; when the vehicle is
stationary, it is only active in one direc-
tion.<
In case of malfunction
The LED above the symbol for automatic
headlamp control flashes. Please have the
system inspected at your BMW center.
Instrument lighting
Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.
High beams/standing lamps
1 High beams: blue indicator lamp
2 Headlamp flasher: blue indicator lamp
3 Standing lamps
Standing lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just
one side of your vehicle when parking.
When using this function, comply with
national regulations:
With the ignition switched off, press the
lever in the desired direction 3, past the
resistance point.
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Fog lamps
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of fog lamps.
To disconnect, briefly press the button
again.
The parking lamps or low beams
must be switched on for the fog
lamps to operate. The green indica-
tor lamp in the instrument cluster lights up
whenever the fog lamps are on.
The fog lamps are switched off whenever
the high beams are switched on.
If the automatic headlamp control is
activated, the low beams will come on
automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.<
Interior lamps
The interior lamps operate automatically.
Switching the interior lamps on
and off manually
Briefly press button 1.
If you want the interior lamps to remain off
continuously, maintain pressure on the but-
ton for approx. 3 seconds.
To revert to normal operation, press the
button briefly.
Control of the footwell lamps, door entry
lighting and courtesy lamps
* is also auto-
matic.
Reading lamps
Reading lamps are provided in the front
and rear adjacent to the interior lamps. You
can switch them on and off using the
buttons 2 located next to the lamps.
To avoid discharging the battery, all of
the vehicle's interior lamps are auto-
matically switched off approx. 15 minutes
after the ignition is switched off.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light source
for many of the controls and displays in
your vehicle.These light-emitting diodes,
which operate using a concept similar to
that applied in conventional lasers, are offi-
cially designated as Class 1 light-emitting
diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light several
hours, as irritation of the retina could
result.<
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A congenial climate
90
A congenial climate
1 Airflow directed toward the windshield
and side windows
2 Air to the upper body.
The serrated dials allow you to open
and close the air supply vent outlets
through an infinitely-variable range. The
levers change the direction of the air
flow. You can find more information on
adjusting for draft-free ventilation on
page 94
3 Air to footwell
4 Temperature, left side of passenger
compartment
5 Maximum cooling
6 Defrosting windows and removing con-
densation
7 Air volume
8 Switching off automatic climate control
9 Switching cooling function on and off
manually
10 Temperature, right side of passenger
compartment
11 Residual heat mode
12 Automatic air distribution and volume
13 Outside air/AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control/Recirculated air
14 Indicator lamp for independent
ventilation
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> Activation time set:
The indicator lamp lights up
> Independent ventilation switched
on:
The indicator lamp flashes
15 Rear window defroster
16 Air grill for interior temperature sensor,
please keep clear and unobstructed
All other setting options for the automatic
climate control can be found in the "Cli-
mate" menu and in the menu on the Con-
trol Display, as of page 92.
The current setting for air distribution is dis-
played on the Control Display.
A congenial climate
To use the automatic function, press the
AUTO button. Select an interior tempera-
ture you find pleasant.
The following section contains more
detailed information on the available set-
ting options.
The cooling function is only possible with
the engine running.
Automatic air distribution and supply
The AUTO program adjusts the
air distribution to the wind-
shield and side windows,
towards the upper body and footwell as
well as the air volume, while also using your
preselected temperature setting as the
basis for adjusting the interior climate to
adapt to external influences: summer, win-
ter.
The cooling function comes on automati-
cally when you select the AUTO program.
At the same time, a condensation sensor
controls the program in such a way that
window condensation is prevented as far
as possible.
Adjusting temperature
You can turn to select the
desired temperatures for the
driver and passenger sides.
The figures on the display pro-
vide a general indication of inte-
rior temperature. A pleasant adjustment is
727/226. When you start the vehicle, the
system ensures that the selected tempera-
ture is achieved as quickly as possible. It
then maintains this temperature, regard-
less of the season.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and front side win-
dows.
Adjusting the air volume manually
You can adjust the air volume
by turning. You can reactivate
the automatic mode for the air
volume with the AUTO button.
Switching cooling function on and off
manually
The cooling function cools and
dehumidifies the incoming air
before also reheating it as
required, according to the temperature set-
ting. Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the engine
is started.
The cooling function comes on automati-
cally when you select the AUTO program.
Maximum cooling
This program quickly provides
maximum cooling.
The system switches to the
recirculated-air mode and the
air flows at maximum air volume only from
the vent outlets for the upper body area.
For this reason you should ensure that
these vent outlets are open before select-
ing this program.
Outside air/AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control/
Recirculated air
You can respond to unpleasant
odors or pollutants in the imme-
diate environment by tempo-
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A congenial climate
92
rarily suspending the supply of outside air.
The system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle. AUC executes this
function automatically.
Press the button repeatedly to run through
the following control sequence:
> Indicator lamps off: outside air flows in
> Right indicator lamp on, AUC mode: the
system detects pollutants in the outside
air and responds by blocking the supply
of outside air when required. The sys-
tem then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Depending upon air quality require-
ments, in the automatic mode the sys-
tem alternates between its outside-air
and recirculated-air modes
> Left indicator lamp on, recirculated-air
mode: the supply of outside air is per-
manently blocked. The system then
recirculates the air currently within the
vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the
inside window surfaces during opera-
tion in the recirculated-air mode, you
should switch it off while also increasing
the air volume as required.
The recirculated-air mode should not be
used over a sustained longer period of
time, as the air quality inside the vehicle
deteriorates continuously.<
Residual heat mode
The system uses the warmth
stored in the engine to heat the
interior when the ignition is off,
for instance, while the vehicle is
stopped at a school to pick up a
child.
You can adjust the automatic climate con-
trol settings in ignition key position 1.
Provided that the engine has warmed
to its normal operating temperature
and the battery is charged, you can use this
function for up to 15 minutes after switch-
ing off the ignition. The LED within the but-
ton lights up to confirm compliance with
these conditions.<
Switching automatic climate control
off
The air volume, the heater and
the cooling function are all
switched off. You can restart
the automatic climate control
by pressing any of its buttons
except the REST button.
Settings using the Control Center
You can make the settings for each specific
key.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Turn the ignition key to position 2
2. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
3. Move the controller to the left to open
"Climate".
You can set the following:
> Air distribution, separate settings for
driver and front passenger
> Addition of cooler air for the upper body
area.
Automatic air distribution
1. Select "Vent settings" and press the
controller
2. Select "AUTO" and press the controller.
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is displayed with automatic air dis-
tribution.
The program handles adjustment of the air
distribution, separately for the driver and
passenger side.
To switch on the automatic air distribution
for the front passenger:
Move the controller to the right.
Manual air distribution
You can combine your air distribution your-
self and also set the air temperature for the
upper body area individually.
1. Select "Vent settings" and press the
controller
2. Select "AUTO" and press the controller.
is displayed with manual air distribu-
tion
3. Select the desired field by moving the
controller and turn the controller to
adjust the air distribution.
1 Airflow directed toward the windshield
and side windows, driver's side only
2 Air to the upper body. You can also indi-
vidually adjust the air temperature of
the vent outlets for the upper body area
3 Air to footwell
To select the passenger area:
Move the controller to the right.
Adjusting temperature for the upper
body
4 Setting the addition of cool air from the
air vent outlets for the upper body area
Setting the intensity of the AUTO
program
To meet your individual needs, you can
weaken or strengthen the intensity of the
automatic climate control.
1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
2. Open the menu
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "Climate control" and press the
controller
5. "Automatic programs"
6. Select the desired intensity and press
the controller.
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A congenial climate
94
Front ventilation
You can adjust the vent outlets for the
upper body to suit your personal require-
ments.
You can use the serrated dials 1 to open
and close the vent outlets through an infi-
nitely-variable range, while the levers 2
allow you to adjust the airflow direction.
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of
cool air in your direction, for instance, if the
interior has become too warm, etc.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows
past you and is not directed straight at you.
You can also individually adjust the air tem-
perature of the vent outlets for the upper
body area using the Control Center.
Rear ventilation
The serrated dial 1 allows you to open and
close the vents through an infinitely-vari-
able range.
Serrated dial 2:
Turn towards blue: colder.
Turn towards red: warmer.
You can adjust the airflow direction using
the levers 3.
Independent ventilation*
The independent ventilation blows air into
the passenger compartment to lower inte-
rior temperatures.
System operation is controlled using the
Control Center. You can set two different
times for the system to start.
The system remains on for 30 minutes. It
can also be switched on and off directly.
Since the system uses a substantial
amount of electrical current, you should
refrain from activating it twice in succes-
sion without allowing the battery to be
recharged in normal operation between
use.
The independent ventilation system is
available for preprogrammed operation at
outside temperatures above approx. 597/
156 and for direct activation at any tem-
perature, but is not operational when the
vehicle is underway.
The air enters the passenger compartment
through the vent outlets in the instrument
cluster, which can be adjusted for both
direction and airflow. These vent outlets
must be open for the system to operate.
Switching on and off directly
1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
2. Open "Climate"
3. Select "Independent ventilation" and
press the controller
4. Select "Automatic venting" and press
the controller
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5. Select "Independent ventilation" and
press the controller.
is displayed with the independent
ventilation switched on.
Setting the activation time
1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
2. Open "Climate"
3. Select "Independent ventilation" and
press the controller
4. Select "Activation time" and press the
controller
You can preselect two activation times.
Maintain a time of at least 31 minutes
between the first and the second
switch-on time.<
5. Move the controller to the left or right to
select "Time 1" or "Time 2"
6. Select the time and press the controller.
The first time setting is highlighted
7. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
8. Press the controller to apply the setting.
The next adjustment is highlighted
9. Make the remaining adjustments. After
the last adjustment, the time is stored.
Activating the activation time
1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
2. Open "Climate"
3. Select "Independent ventilation" and
press the controller
4. Select "Activation time" and press the
controller
5. Move the controller to the left or right to
select "Time 1" or "Time 2" and press
the controller.
is displayed with activated switch-
on time.
The independent ventilation is only
available for activation within the sub-
sequent 24 hours. Thereafter, the time
must be reactivated.<
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Practical interior accessories
96
Practical interior accessories
Integrated universal remote
control*
The concept
The integrated universal remote control
replaces up to three different hand-held
transmitters for various remote-controlled
equipment such as door openers and
house alarm systems. The integrated uni-
versal remote control registers and stores
signals from the original hand-held trans-
mitters.
The signal of an original hand-held trans-
mitter can be programmed on one of the
three memory buttons 1. Following that,
each of the devices can be actuated with
the appropriately programmed memory
button 1. The indicator lamp 2 flashes to
confirm transmission of the signal.
If the vehicle is sold, the memory of the but-
tons 1 should be cleared, refer to page 97.
To prevent possible damage or injury,
before programming or using the inte-
grated universal remote control, always
inspect the immediate area to make certain
that no people, animals or objects are
within the travel range of the device. Also,
comply with the safety precautions of the
original hand-held transmitter.<
Checking the compatibility
If you see this symbol on the pack-
aging or in the manual supplied with
the original hand-held transmitter, it
is safe to assume that it is compatible with
the integrated universal remote control.
If you have additional questions,
please consult your BMW center or
call 1-800-355-3515.
You can also visit these websites:
www.bmwusa.com or
www.homelink.com.
HomeLink is a registered trademark owned
by Johnson Controls, Inc.<
Programming
1 Memory buttons
2 Indicator lamp
Fixed-code hand-held transmitter
1. Turn the ignition key to position 2
2. When using for the first time:
Press both outer buttons 1 for approx.
20 seconds until the indicator lamp 2
flashes. The three memory buttons 1
are cleared
3. Hold the original hand-held transmitter
at a distance of approx. 2 in/5 cm to
8 in/20 cm to the memory buttons 1
The required distance between
the hand-held transmitter and the
memory buttons 1 depends on the rele-
vant system of the original hand-held
transmitter used.<
4. Simultaneously press the transmit but-
ton on the original hand-held transmit-
ter and the desired memory button 1 on
the integrated universal remote control.
Initially, the indicator lamp 2 flashes
slowly. Release both buttons as soon
as the indicator 2 lamp flashes rapidly. If
the indicator lamp 2 does not flash rap-
idly after approx. 15 seconds, change
the distance
5. To program other original hand-held
transmitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.
The corresponding memory button 1 is now
programmed with the signal of the original
hand-held transmitter.
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The equipment can be used as of ignition
key position 2.
If the device cannot be used even
after repeated programming, check
whether the original hand-held transmitter
is equipped with an alternating-code sys-
tem. Here, either read the instructions for
the original hand-held transmitter or hold
down the programmed memory button 1 of
the integrated universal remote control. If
the indicator lamp 2 on the integrated uni-
versal remote control flashes rapidly for a
short time then lights up for approx. 2 sec-
onds, this indicates that the original hand-
held transmitter uses an alternating-code
system. In the case of an alternating-code
system, program the memory buttons 1 as
described at Alternating-code hand-held
transmitters.<
Alternating-code hand-held
transmitters
To program the integrated universal remote
control, consult the operating instructions
for the equipment to be set. You will find
information there on the possibilities for
synchronization.
When programming hand-held transmitters
that employ an alternating code, please
observe the following supplementary
instructions:
Programming will be easier with the
aid of a second person.<
1. Park your vehicle within the range of the
remote-controlled device
2. Program the integrated universal
remote control as described above at
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters
3. Locate the button at the receiver of the
equipment to be set, e.g. on the drive
4. Press the button on the receiver of the
device you want to set up. After step 4,
you have approx. 30 seconds for step 5
5. Press the programmed memory
button 1 of the integrated universal
remote control three times.
The corresponding memory button 1 is now
programmed with the signal of the original
hand-held transmitter.
If you have any additional questions,
please contact your BMW center.<
Clearing the memory buttons
Press both outer buttons 1 of the inte-
grated universal remote control for approx.
20 seconds until the indicator lamp 2
flashes. All memory buttons will be cleared.
The memory of individual memory
buttons 1 cannot be cleared.
Roller sun blinds*
Roller sun blind for rear window
To actuate as of ignition key position 1,
briefly press the button in the driver's door.
Roller sun blinds for rear side
windows
Pull the roller sun blind at the loop and
hook up to the bracket.
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98
Glove compartment
Opening
Pull the handle. The light in the glove com-
partment switches on.
Closing
Fold the cover up.
To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, close the glove box immedi-
ately after use.<
Locking
Lock with a central key. Unlocking is also
only possible with a central key.
If you only hand over the spare key,
e.g. in a hotel for valet parking, refer
to page 26, the glove compartment cannot
be opened.<
Rechargeable flashlight
The flashlight is located on the left side of
the glove compartment.
It features integral overload protection, so
it can be left in its holder continuously.
Be sure that the flashlight is switched
off when it is inserted into its holder.
Failure to comply with this precaution
could lead to overcharging and damage.<
Center armrest
A storage compartment is located in the
armrest between the front seats.
To open the cover:
Press the button. The cover opens and can
be folded upwards.
The mat within the compartment can be
removed for cleaning.
Depending on the version, the storage
compartment can contain a folding tray or a
telephone cradle
*.
To open the tray:
Press the button and fold the cover
upwards.
The folding tray and telephone cradle
* can
be folded upwards to enable use of the
lower area of the storage compartment.
Ventilating storage compartment in
the front armrest
1. Fold the folding tray or telephone cra-
dle
* upwards
2. Open or close the slider in the storage
compartment.
Depending on the automatic climate
control setting, the temperature
within the storage compartment may be
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Controls
99
Reference At a glanceDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
higher than in the rest of the interior. Close
the vent as required.<
Adjustments
Slide the center armrest into the desired
position.
Storage compartments
Storage compartment on center
console between the front seats
Open by pressing the cover back.
Other compartments
There are other compartments in the doors
as well as in the front and rear center con-
sole.
Storage nets are located on the backrests
of the front seats.
Clothes hooks
When suspending clothing from the
hooks ensure that it will not obstruct
the driver's vision. Do not hang heavy
objects on the hooks. If you do so, they
could cause personal injury to occupants
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Beverage holders
To open:
Briefly press the button.
Do not place containers made of
glass in the beverage holders. This
would lead to an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident.<
To close:
Press the cover in the center and push in
the beverage holder.
Ashtray, front
Opening
Slide back the cover.
Emptying
Press the ashtray forwards: it rises and can
be removed.
On vehicles with the non-smoking pack-
age, the insert is removed in the same way.
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Practical interior accessories
100
Cigarette lighter, front
In ignition key position 2, press in the
lighter.
The lighter can be removed as soon as it
jumps back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter
by the knob only. Holding or touching
it in other areas could result in burns.
Always remove the ignition key when you
leave the vehicle so that, e.g., children are
unable to use the lighter and burn them-
selves.<
Lighter socket
The socket can be used to plug in hand
flashlights, car vacuum cleaners, etc., with
power ratings of up to approx. 200 W at
12 V. Avoid damaging the socket due to
inserting plugs of different shapes or sizes.
Ashtray, rear
Emptying
Press the entire cover down. The ashtray
rises for removal.
Cigarette lighter, rear
Refer to Cigarette lighter, front.
Sockets
In front passenger footwell
Access to the socket:
Fold the cover upwards.
In the luggage compartment
Access to the socket:
Fold the cover upwards.
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Rear center armrest
1 Storage compartment: pull upwards
2 To open the beverage holder: press and
open the cover
With the center armrest folded down, you
have a better view towards the rear.
Fold down rear seat*
1. Open the buckle of the middle safety
belt in the rear and insert the belt
tongue at the end of the belt in the
mounting on the back shelf
2. Push the corresponding head restraint
down as far as it will go, refer to
page 40
3. To unlock, pull the corresponding lever
in the luggage compartment
4. The unlocked rear seat back moves for-
ward slightly. Place your hand in the
gap and fold downwards.
When you fold back the backrest,
make sure that the retainer engages
properly. If it is not properly engaged,
transported cargo could enter the vehicle
during braking or evasive maneuvers and
endanger the vehicle occupants.<
The lashing eyes in the luggage compart-
ment provide you with a means of attaching
luggage nets
* or flexible straps for secur-
ing suitcases and luggage, refer to
page 109.
Ski bag*
Designed for safe, convenient transport
of up to four pairs of standard skis or up to
two snowboards.
The ski bag itself plus the additional capac-
ity provided by the luggage compartment
make it possible to transport skis with a
length of up to 6.9 ft/2.10 m. When skis of
6.9 ft/2.10 m in length are loaded, the ski
bag will tend to contract, reducing its over-
all capacity.
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Practical interior accessories
102
Loading
1. Pull down the center armrest, press the
button and open the cover
2. Press the button again; the cover in the
luggage compartment opens. If you
press the button firmly the first time, this
also opens the cover in the luggage
compartment
3. Extend the ski bag between the front
seats and fill it. The zipper allows more
convenient access to stored objects
and can also be left open to allow the
ski bag to dry
4. Insert the belt tongue of the ski bag belt
in the center safety belt buckle.
Please ensure that the skis are clean before
loading them into the bag. Take care to
avoid damage from sharp edges.
Securing the load
Secure the bag's contents by tightening
down the strap at the buckle.
Secure the ski bag in this way. If you
fail to do so, it could move around and
endanger occupants during braking or eva-
sive maneuvers.<
To store the ski bag, perform the above
steps in reverse order.
Removing the ski bag
The ski bag can be completely removed to
clean it and to use other inserts.
Your BMW center will be glad to pro-
vide you with more detailed informa-
tion on the various items of equipment.<
Pull the handle forwards and remove the
ski bag upwards, then close the cover in
the luggage compartment.
Do not position cargo at the opening.
If you do, it can endanger the passen-
gers during braking or evasive maneuvers.
Always close off the passage with an insert,
as otherwise objects from the luggage
compartment can enter into the passenger
compartment.<
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Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Driving tips
This section is designed to provide
you with extra support by supplying
information useful in dealing with specific
driving and operating conditions.
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Things to remember when driving
106
Things to remember when driving
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle continues to
provide optimized economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we
request that you devote careful attention to
the following section.
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
You should attempt to vary both vehicle
and engine speeds. Until the break-in
period has been completed, you should
also refrain from exceeding an engine
speed of 4,500 rpm or a driving speed of
100 mph/160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode during
these initial miles.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine and vehicle speeds
can be gradually increased.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures should the engine or differen-
tial need to be replaced at a later point.
Sequential manual transmission
SMG
Do not use the acceleration assistant dur-
ing the break-in period.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. Therefore, drive reservedly
during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve opti-
mized contact and wear patterns between
brake pads and rotors.
Clutch
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of
approx. 300 miles/500 km. During this
break-in period, engage the clutch gently.
General driving notes
High temperatures
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari-
ous sections of the exhaust system, and
never apply undercoating to them. When
driving, standing at idle and while parking
take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead
to a fire, and with it the risk of serious prop-
erty damage as well as personal injury.<
Parking the vehicle
Condensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water under the vehicle are thus normal.
Before driving into the car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to
page 42, as otherwise they could be dam-
aged due to the width of the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires and
road surface.This phenomenon is referred
to as hydroplaning, and is characterized by
a partial or complete loss of contact
between the tires and the road surface, ulti-
mately undermining your ability to steer
and brake the vehicle.<
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Driving tips
107
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The risk of hydroplaning increases as the
tread depth of the tires decreases, refer
also to Tire tread on page 173.
Water on the road
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm,
and then only at walking speed at the most.
Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electri-
cal systems and the transmission may be
damaged.<
Brakes
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as stan-
dard. The best way to achieve optimized
response from the ABS is to apply maxi-
mum pressure to the brake pedal during
emergency: panic stops. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you
can nevertheless avoid possible obstacles
with a minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indi-
cate to the driver that ABS is in its active
mode.
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
even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
While driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to
ensure that full braking efficiency will then
be available when you need it.
Hills
You can retain full and unimpaired braking
efficiency by downshifting to a gear in
which only minimal brake applications are
needed when descending long or steep
downhill stretches.
You can further enhance the engine's brak-
ing effect by selecting a lower gear in the
automatic transmission's manual mode,
downshifting as far as first gear on
extremely steep stretches, refer to
pages 50 and 55. This strategy helps you
avoid placing excessive loads on the brake
system.
Never drive with the clutch pressed or
allow the vehicle to coast with the
transmission in Neutral – or with the engine
switched off – there is no engine braking
when the transmission is in Neutral, and no
power-assist for brakes and steering when
the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct
their movement.<
Corrosion on the brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion to form on rotors, while
contaminants accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the
pads during brake applications to clean the
rotors is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors,
the brakes will tend to respond with a pul-
sating effect that even extended applica-
tion will fail to cure.
Brake pads
The brake pad wear warning lamp
lights up and a message appears on
the Check Control. Please note any
supplementary information that appears
there.
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
The brake pads have reached their mini-
mum pad thickness. Have them replaced at
your BMW center as soon as possible.
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Things to remember when driving
108
For your own safety: use only brake
pads that BMW has approved for your
particular vehicle model. As BMW cannot
assess the suitability of other brake pads
for use on your vehicle, we are unable to
assume continued responsibility for the
vehicle's operating safety if non-approved
pads are installed.<
Mobile communication in the vehicle
BMW recommends using mobile communi-
cation devices, e.g. portable phones, in the
interior of the vehicle with a suitable exter-
nal antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle elec-
tronics and mobile communication device
can influence one another.
Loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond
their approved carrying capacity,
never overload the vehicle. Overloading
can lead to overheating and increases the
rate at which damage develops inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume the
form of a sudden air loss.<
Determining loading limit
1. Locate the following statement on the
driver's door pillar
*:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or YYY lbs, as otherwise
the vehicle may be damaged and unsta-
ble driving conditions may result.<
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle
3. Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or YYY pounds
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lbs.
passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs.:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight must not exceed
the available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
part of the load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult the
manual for transporting a trailer to
determine how this may reduce the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permitted load is the total of the weight
of occupants and cargo/luggage. The
greater the weight of occupants, the less
cargo/luggage can be transported.
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Driving tips
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Stowing cargo
> Load heavy cargo as far forward and as
low as possible, placing it directly
behind the bulkhead behind the rear
seats
> Cover sharp edges and corners
> For very heavy cargo when the rear seat
is not occupied, secure each safety belt
in the opposite buckle.
Securing the load
> Use the luggage net* or securing straps
to hold down small and lightweight lug-
gage and cargo
> Heavy-duty cargo straps
* for securing
larger and heavier objects are available
at your BMW center. Lashing eyes
mounted in the corners of the luggage
compartment are used to secure this
load securing equipment, refer to illus-
tration
> Please observe the special instructions
supplied with the heavy-duty cargo
straps.
Always position and secure the load
correctly. If you do not, it can even
endanger the passengers during braking or
evasive maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross
vehicle weight or either of the approved
axle loads, refer to page 200, as excessive
loads can pose a safety hazard, and may
also place you in violation of freeway safety
laws.
You should never transport heavy or hard
objects unsecured in the passenger com-
partment, as they could fly around and
even pose a safety hazard to the vehicle's
occupants during abrupt braking or evasive
maneuvers.<
Roof-mounted luggage
rack*
Anchorage points
The anchorage points are located within
the door openings.
A special rack system is available as an
option for your BMW. Please comply with
the precautions included with the installa-
tion instructions.
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's cen-
ter of gravity when loaded, they have a
major effect on its handling and steering
response.
You should therefore always remember not
to exceed the approved roof weight, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle
loads when loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights in the
Technical data section on page 200.
Make sure that the load is not too heavy,
and that it does not extend outward to
beyond the limits of the loading surface.
Always load the heaviest pieces first – at
the bottom. Be sure that adequate clear-
ance is maintained for raising the glass
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Things to remember when driving
110
roof, and that objects do not project into
the opening path of the luggage compart-
ment lid.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or being
lost during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners gen-
tly.
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Navigation
This section contains various examples
that illustrate how the navigation
system provides you with reliable
guidance to your destination.
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Starting navigation system
114
Starting navigation system
Your navigation system can use satellites
to ascertain the precise position of your
vehicle and guide you reliably to any desti-
nation you enter.
Navigation CD/DVD
In your navigation computer, you can use
special navigation CDs/DVDs.
To ensure that your vehicle's navigation
system has access to the latest highway
network information, always load the most
recent CD/DVD version.
Navigation CDs/DVDs are available at your
BMW center.
Inserting the navigation CD/DVD
1. Insert the navigation CD/DVD with the
labeled side up
2. Allow eight seconds for the system to
scan the data from the CD/DVD.
Removing the navigation CD/DVD
In the center console:
1. Press the button
The CD/DVD is ejected from the naviga-
tion computer
2. Remove the CD/DVD.
Opening the navigation
Enter data only when the vehicle is
stationary, and always obey the traffic
regulations and road signs in the event of
any contradiction between traffic and road
conditions and the instructions issued by
the navigation system. If you do not
observe this precaution, you may be in vio-
lation of the law, and can endanger vehicle
occupants and other road users.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Move the controller to the right to open
"Navigation"
3. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
*
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Navigation Driving tips
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Display in assistance
window
You can have the route or current position
displayed in the assistance window in such
a way that it remains visible even if you
switch to another menu.
1. Move the controller to the right to
switch to the assistance window and
press the controller
2. Select the desired view of the route and
press the controller:
> "Map, facing north"
> "Map, dir. of travel"
> "Map, arrow display"
> "Current position".
The contents of the assistance window is
continually updated as you drive.
Displaying position
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "Vehicle position" and press the
controller.
You can call up the current position of your
BMW. If the navigation system is unable to
identify a town or city, your current map
coordinates will appear.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller.
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Destination entry
116
Destination entry
In entering your destination you can select
from among the following options:
> Entering a destination manually, see
below
> Selecting destination via information,
refer to page 118
> Selecting from among recent destina-
tions, refer to page 119
> Selecting destination from address
book, refer to page 120.
After selecting your destination you can
proceed to start the destination guidance
system, refer to page 123.
Enter data only when the vehicle is
stationary, and always obey the traffic
regulations and road signs in the event of
any contradiction between traffic and road
conditions and the instructions issued by
the navigation system. If you do not
observe this precaution, you may be in vio-
lation of the law, and can endanger vehicle
occupants and other road users.<
Entering a destination
manually
The system supports the wordmatch prin-
ciple to make it easier for you to enter the
names of streets or towns. This enables
input of different spellings and supple-
ments your input automatically so that
stored names can be adopted as destina-
tions as quickly as possible, refer to
page 122.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "New destination" and press the
controller
> Select "Enter address" and press the
controller.
Note the following special features:
> If you do not enter a street, the system
will guide you to the downtown area of
a town or city
> Depending on the data stored on your
navigation CD/DVD, you can also enter
the house or building number on some
streets
> You can skip the entry of country and
locality if the current entries are being
retained for your new destination
> Destination input using the Control
Center differs from destination entry
using the voice command system.
Select the country of the destination
When the name of a country appears in
white letters on the Control Display, this
indicates that data for more than one coun-
try is stored on the map CD/DVD.
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Navigation Driving tips
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1. Select "Country" or the displayed coun-
try and press the controller.
A list of available countries appears in
the display
2. Select the country of destination and
press the controller.
Entering city of destination
or zip code
In order to be able to start the destination
guidance, at least the city of destination or
its zip code must be entered.
1. Select "City" or the displayed city and
press the controller
2. To enter the zip code:
Select digits individually and press the
controller.
The corresponding city of destination is
supplemented.
To enter the city of destination:
Select the first starting letters and press
the controller.
A list of all towns/cities starting with this
letter appears on the Control Display
3. If necessary, enter other letters.
The list gradually grows smaller each
time you enter a new letter.
To enter blanks:
Select and press the controller.
To delete the last letter:
Select and press the controller
4. Select the city name from the list and
press the controller.
Entering street, house number and
intersection
1. Select "Street" or the displayed street
and press the controller
2. For instructions on entry, refer to Enter-
ing city of destination.
After the street you can also enter the inter-
section or the house number.
The procedure for entering intersections is
basically the same as that used for streets.
Entering house number, e.g. "194":
1. Select "House number" and press the
controller
2. To enter "194":
Select digits individually and press the
controller.
To delete the last letter or digit:
Select and press the controller
3. Select the house number shown on the
Control Display and press the control-
ler.
If all of the house numbers on a street
are not stored on the navigation CD/
DVD, a selection list with number
ranges is displayed. The option for
entering house numbers will not be
offered if no house numbers are stored
for the selected street on your naviga-
tion CD/DVD.
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Destination entry
118
If destination guidance is not to be started
immediately, the destination can be
accepted as one of the recent destinations,
refer to page 119:
Select "Add to destination list" and press
the controller.
Starting destination guidance with
manual destination entry
Select "Start guidance" and press the con-
troller.
Destination guidance starts immediately.
Map-guided destination
selection
Assume that you only know the general
position of your destination's street or
locality. Then the system offers you maps
in which you can use the target cursor to
limit the destination and then adopt it into
the destination guidance.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "New destination" and press the
controller
3. Select "Input map" and press the con-
troller.
A map section is displayed on the Con-
trol Display around the first destination
from the destination list, even if the des-
tination guidance is switched off
4. Push the controller in the desired direc-
tion to localize your destination.
The controller can be moved to the left,
right, forward, back and also diagonally.
To adjust the scale:
Turn the controller.
The destination is detected for scales
under 0.5 mls/1 km
5. Press the controller to display the
selected city of destination and a list of
additional menu items:
6. Select the desired menu item and press
the controller:
> closes "Input map"
> "Start route guidance" switches the
destination guidance on
> "Show current position" places the
position back in the center of the
map
> "Show destination position" places a
selected city of destination in the
center of the map
> "Proceed" switches back to "Input
map".
Selecting destination using
information
You can obtain a display of selected desti-
nations for certain cities or countries and
adopt them into the destination guidance,
e.g. hotels, sights or hospitals.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "New destination" and press the
controller
3. Select "Information" and press the con-
troller
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Navigation Driving tips
119
Reference At a glanceControlsCommunications EntertainmentMobility
4. Select the city or country and press the
controller:
> "On destination"
> "On location"
> "On a new destination"
The display for entering a city
appears on the Control Display.
Select the desired city and press the
controller
5. Select the desired type of destination,
such as "Hotels and restaurants" and
press the controller.
The Control Display shows
> an alphabetical list of all entries in
the selected destination category
> for the location, a list sorted by dis-
tance with a maximum of ten desti-
nations
6. Select a destination and press the con-
troller
7. Select a menu item:
> To adopt the address into the desti-
nation list:
Select "Select as destination" and
press the controller.
The destination guidance is
switched on
> To set up a telephone connection:
Select "Call" and press the control-
ler.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller.
Recent destinations
The system stores the last 20 destinations
entered.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
indicates the current destination.
1. Select a destination and press the con-
troller
2. The selected destination can be edited:
> To start the destination guidance:
Select "Start guidance" and press
the controller. is displayed with
the destination guidance switched
on
> To display information on the desti-
nation:
Select "Information on destination"
and press the controller
> To edit the entry:
Select "Edit" and press the control-
ler, for operation, refer to Entering
city of destination or zip code,
page 117
> To delete the entry:
Select "Delete entry" and press the
controller
> To delete all entries:
Select "Delete list" and press the
controller; destination guidance is
switched off
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Destination entry
120
> To store the entry:
Select "Add to address book" and
press the controller.
Address book
Calling up the address book
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
Select "Address book" and press the con-
troller.
Storing destinations in the address
book
To make it even easier to enter frequently
required destinations, the system lets you
store approx. 100 destinations in the
address book.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Enter the destination manually, refer to
page 116, and press the controller
2. Select "Add to address book" and
press the controller.
The entry is assigned to a name that
can be changed. For operation, refer to
Entering a destination manually,
page 116
3. Select "Store address" and press the
controller.
The entry is stored in the address book.
Selecting destinations from the
address book
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Address book" and press the
controller.
The stored entries are listed on the
Control Display
2. Select the entry and press the control-
ler.
To start the destination guidance:
Select "Start guidance" and press the con-
troller.
Editing destinations from the
address book
You can change the name of an entry.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Address book" and press the
controller
2. Select the entry and press the controller
3. Select "Edit address" and press the
controller.
The given name can be changed. For
operation, refer to Entering a destina-
tion manually, page 116.
Deleting individual destinations from
the address book
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
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1. Select "Address book" and press the
controller
2. Select the entry and press the controller
3. Select "Delete address" and press the
controller.
Deleting all destinations from the
address book
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Delete data" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Delete address book" and press
the controller
5. Select "Yes" and press the controller.
Route selection
You can specify your route more precisely
by choosing certain route criteria.
Changing route criteria
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "Route preference" and press
the controller.
The various possibilities are listed on
the Control Display
3. Select the route criteria and press the
controller:
> "Fastest route"
Shortest time using combination of
smallest possible distance and sec-
tions where fast driving is possible
> "Shortest route"
Shortest distance without consider-
ation of the time
> "Avoid freeways / tolls"
Freeways are avoided where possi-
ble
> "With freeways"
Freeways and major traffic arteries
are given priority
4. If necessary, select an additional route
criterion and press the controller:
> "Avoid tollroads"
Tollroads are avoided where possi-
ble
> "Avoid ferries"
Ferries are avoided where possible
> "Dynamic route"
The route is planned around or
through traffic obstructions.
displays the selected route criteria.
To close the list:
Select and press the controller.
The navigation system relies on specific
rules to determine your route. These vary
according to the different kinds of roads
stored on the map CD/DVD. As a result, the
routes recommended by the navigation
system may not always be the same ones
that you would choose based on personal
experience.
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Destination entry
122
You can change the selected route as often
as you like, both when entering your desti-
nation and at any time while the system is
guiding you to it – the system revises its
travel recommendations accordingly.
Wordmatch principle
The system supports the wordmatch prin-
ciple to make it easier for you to enter the
names of streets or towns. The system runs
ongoing checks, comparing your destina-
tion entries with the data stored on the nav-
igation CD/DVD as the basis for instant
response. The user benefits include:
> Names of specific locations can also
vary from the official versions provided
that the spelling of the entry corre-
sponds to a standard form used in
another country
Example:
Instead of 'München', you can also
enter the English spelling 'Munich' or
the Italian spelling 'Monaco'
> When you are entering the names of
towns and streets the system will com-
plete them automatically as soon as
enough letters are available to ensure
unambiguous identification
> The system only accepts name entries
beginning with letters that are stored on
the navigation CD/DVD. The system will
not accept nonexistent names and
addresses.
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Destination guidance
Starting the destination
guidance
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select a destination and press the con-
troller
3. Select "Start guidance" and press the
controller. is displayed with the
destination guidance switched on.
indicates the current destination.
After the route has been calculated, desti-
nation guidance is indicated by arrows or a
route map on the Control Display.
1 Time of arrival
2 Distance to destination
3 Route criteria
4 Voice instructions switched on/off
During destination guidance, you can oper-
ate other equipment using the Control Cen-
ter at any time. You are informed of a
required change in direction by means of
spoken announcements in good time prior
to every intersection.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller.
Displaying route
You have the option of displaying various
views of the route.
Switching to directional arrow mode
To switch to directional arrow mode:
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "Map, arrow display" and press
the controller.
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124
Selecting display of route map
You can also select a map showing your
travel route while the system is guiding you
to your destination.
1. Select "Navigation" and press the con-
troller
2. Select "Map, facing north" and press
the controller.
Changing scale
Turn the controller.
The map scale appears on the Control Dis-
play.
Altering display direction
At scales of less than 300 miles/500 km,
you enjoy the option of deciding whether to
orient the map to north or toward your cur-
rent direction of travel. From 300 miles/
500 km, the map always points toward
north.
Select "Map, facing north" or "Map, direc-
tion of travel" and press the controller.
Displaying towns and
streets of the route
You can have streets and towns on your
route displayed whenever the destination
guidance is active.
The distances remaining to be traveled on
each individual road, directional arrows
and traffic jam reports are also displayed.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
Select "Route list" and press the controller.
If the system has not yet completely
defined the travel route, "..." will appear in
the list.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller.
Destination guidance
through voice instructions
Switching voice instructions on/off
The setting is made in dependence on a
specific key.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Languages" and press the con-
troller
4. Select "Navigation voice instructions
on" and press the controller. is dis-
played with the voice instructions
switched on
or press
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or press
on the steering wheel for a longer period.
Programing button functions, refer to
page 44.
Repeating an instruction
To repeat the last voice instruction:
or press
on the steering wheel briefly.
Programing button functions, refer to
page 44.
Suppressing voice instructions
To prevent the navigation system from
interrupting other audio sources, such as a
news program or traffic bulletin, you can
deactivate the voice instructions.
During an instruction, press
or press
on the steering wheel briefly.
Programing button functions, refer to
page 44.
Adjusting volume
You can adjust the volume of the voice
instructions for each specific key:
1. To repeat the last voice instruction, if
required:
or press
on the steering wheel briefly.
2. Turn the button during an instruction to
select the desired volume.
The navigation system's voice guidance
will continue to issue instructions at this
volume level, even if the radio is set to min-
imum volume.
Blocking sections of a route
During destination guidance you can revise
the navigation system's route recommen-
dations to avoid particular stretches of
road. Enter the number of miles/kilometers
that you want to travel before returning to
the original route.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "New route" and press the con-
troller
2. Turn the controller to enter the desired
number of miles/kilometers and press
the controller.
To exit from the menu without changing
the route:
Select and press the controller
3. "Calculate" is used to recalculate the
route.
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Destination guidance
126
Traffic information
Calling up traffic information
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Traffic Info" and press the con-
troller.
A list of the current traffic obstructions
appears on the Control Display
2. If appropriate, select an entry and press
the controller.
Detailed information on the traffic
obstruction is listed.
To exit the menu:
Select and press the controller.
Bypass traffic congestion
1. Select "Detour" and press the controller
2. Select "Yes" and press the controller.
The navigation system determines a new
route that bypasses the traffic congestion
and then returns to the original route.
Terminating/continuing
destination guidance
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
indicates the current destination.
1. Select the current destination and press
the controller
2. Select "Start guidance" and press the
controller. is displayed when the
destination guidance is terminated.
The system suspends active destination
guidance, including voice instructions, until
reactivated.
When you park the vehicle before reaching
the entered destination, upon restarting
you will see the question "Continue guid-
ance to dest.?". "Yes" switches the desti-
nation guidance on again.
This menu item cannot be selected using
the voice command system.
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What to do if …
What to do if …
> you request the current position of your
vehicle, but do not receive a precise
display?
The system is unable to receive enough
GPS signals at your current position
owing to obstructions, your position is
not yet available on your navigation CD/
DVD, or the system is in the process of
calculating your position. As a rule, por-
table communications GSM/GPS
reception is guaranteed under a clear
sky
> the destination guidance does not
adopt a destination?
The data of the destination is not stored
on the navigation CD/DVD that is
loaded. Select a destination that is as
close as possible to the original
> the destination guidance does not
adopt an address without the street
name?
On the navigation CD/DVD, no down-
town area can be determined for the
city or town entered. Enter any street,
or a destination such as the railway sta-
tion etc., then start the destination guid-
ance
> you want to enter a destination for the
destination guidance system, but it is
not possible to select the letters for
your desired entry?
The destination data is not recorded on
the navigation CD/DVD that is loaded.
In this case, the system will not offer
you any letters to choose from. Select a
destination that is as close as possible
to the original
> the system stops furnishing directions
on which way to turn as you approach
intersections?
You are driving in an area that has not
yet been completely recorded on the
navigation CD/DVD. Instead of an arrow
indicating a turn, you will see an arrow
which indicates the general direction of
your planned route. Or you have left the
recommended route and the system
requires a few seconds to calculate a
new recommended route
> the battery has been disconnected?
It will take approx. 15 minutes for the
system to resume operation.
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Entertainment
All operating options for radio and
CD, and the tone settings,
are described in this chapter.
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On/off, tone
130
On/off, tone
Depending on the equipment options you
have chosen, the following audio sources
are available:
> Radio Business
> CD player
> CD changer.
The following section summarizes the com-
mon controls and setting options for the
audio sources. Thereafter, the individual
audio sources are described in detail.
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
> The center console
> The Control Center
> Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to
page 11.
Operation using the center console
The layout of the buttons can vary depend-
ing on your vehicle's equipment.
1 To operate audio sources
> Press: switching on/off.
The system selects the last audio
source used, radio or CD
> Turn: adjusting volume
2 Drive for audio CD
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
> Change the station
> Select music track for CD
Operation using the Control Center
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Move the controller backwards to open
"Entertainment".
> "FM" and "AM"
Selecting waveband, storing and calling
up stations
> "WB"
Opening Weather Band station
> "SAT"
Selecting satellite radio
> "CD"
Selecting CD player or CD changer
> "Set"
Updating stations with best reception,
storing stations, setting the tone, play-
ing stations or tracks.
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Operating temperatures
The system is configured for operat-
ing temperatures of 57/–156 to
1407/+606. Outside this temperature
range, malfunctions can occur.<
Care instructions
You can find everything you need to know
on this topic by consulting the separate
Caring for your vehicle brochure.
Switching on/off
Press button 1, refer to page 130.
Adjusting the volume
Adjusting the volume for audio
sources
The setting is made in dependence on a
specific key.
Turn button 1 until the desired volume has
been reached.
Tone control
You can change the following tone settings
in dependence on a specific key:
> Treble
> Bass
> Balance:
Right/left volume balance
> Fader:
Front/rear volume balance
> Speed volume:
Raises the volume with increasing
speed
> LOGIC7 spatial sound
*:
Improvement in spatial acoustics in all
frequency ranges
> Equalizer
*:
Setting individual frequency ranges to
include spatial acoustics
> Reset:
Resets the tone settings to their stan-
dard default settings.
Changing tone
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Entertainment settings" and
press the controller
4. Select "Audio" and press the controller.
The tone settings can also be selected if
you have opened "Entertainment":
Select "Set" and then "Audio" and press
the controller each time.
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On/off, tone
132
Treble and bass
1. Select "Treble / Bass" and press the
controller
2. Move the controller to the left or right to
select "Treble" or "Bass"
3. Turn the controller. The adjustment is
adopted; the field can be changed.
Balance and fader
1. Select "Balance / Fader" and press the
controller
2. Move the controller to the left or right to
select "Balance" or "Fader"
3. Turn the controller. The adjustment is
adopted; the field can be changed.
Speed-dependent volume
1. Select "Speed volume" and press the
controller
2. Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
3. Press the controller. The adjustment is
adopted; the field can be changed.
Spatial sound effect Professional
LOGIC7*
1. Select "LOGIC7" and press the control-
ler
2. Select "Audio" and press the controller.
LOGIC7 spatial sound is switched on.
To switch off LOGIC7 spatial sound:
Select "Off" and press the controller.
LOGIC7 and the LOGIC7 logo are regis-
tered trade marks of Lexicon, Inc., a com-
pany of the Harman International Group.
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Equalizer*
1. Select "Equalizer" and press the con-
troller
2. Move the controller to the left or right to
select the desired frequency range
3. Turn the controller. The adjustment is
adopted; the field can be changed.
Resetting the tone settings
You can reset all tone settings except
"Speed volume" to the standard default
settings.
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Entertainment settings" and
press the controller
3. Select "Audio" and press the controller
4. Select "Reset" and press the controller.
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Radio
134
Radio
Your radio provides reception of the FM
and AM wavebands.
Listening to the radio
To switch on the radio:
Press the button.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Move the controller backwards to open
"Entertainment"
3. Select "FM" or "AM" and press the con-
troller.
Stations are shown on the Control Dis-
play on the basis of various selection
criteria, e.g. "Presets"
4. Change stations by turning the control-
ler.
If no station is displayed, update the sta-
tions with the best reception, refer to
page 135.
You can choose from the following selec-
tion criteria:
> Autostore:
The six strongest stations, refer to
page 135
> "Presets":
Twelve stations you have previously
stored, refer to page 136.
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To switch between the different selection
criteria of stations:
1. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
2. Select the selection criterion and press
the controller.
Changing stations using buttons in
the center console
Press to the desired direction briefly.
The system switches to the next station.
Scanning and selecting stations
The scan search feature automatically
plays a brief sample from each station in
the selected waveband.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "FM" or "AM" and press the con-
troller
2. Press the controller to display a list of
additional menu items
3. Select "Scan" and press the controller.
The scan search starts
4. Select a station:
Press the controller again, select
"Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels the scan search, and the
radio remains on the current station.
Buttons in the center console:
1. To start scan:
Press for longer.
The scan search starts.
2. To select a station:
Press.
Manual station selection
You look for a certain frequency.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "FM"or "AM" and press the con-
troller
2. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
3. Select "Manual" and press the control-
ler
4. Turn the controller until the desired fre-
quency is selected.
Updating the stations with the best
reception
If you are on a longer journey and leave the
transmission range of the stations originally
set, you can update the list of stations with
the best reception from the AM or FM
waveband.
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Radio
136
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "FM" or "AM" and press the con-
troller
2. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
3. Select "Autostore" of the desired wave-
band and press the controller
4. Press the controller to display a list of
additional menu items
5. Select "Autostore" and press the con-
troller.
The list of stations with the best recep-
tion is updated; the frequencies of the
stations are displayed.
Manual tuning
You can listen to stations that are received
in addition to those displayed.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "FM" or "AM" and press the con-
troller
2. Move the controller forwards to change
fields
3. Select "Manual" and press the control-
ler
Buttons in the center console:
4. To start scan:
Maintain pressure on the button for sev-
eral seconds.
The scan mode begins with the cur-
rently selected frequency.
The system plays a brief sample from
each radio station.
To stop the station scan at the desired
frequency or station:
Press button.
Storing stations
The setting is made in dependence on a
specific key.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "FM" or "AM" and press the con-
troller
2. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
3. Select the selection criterion and press
the controller
> "Manual"
> Autostore of the waveband
4. Select the desired station
5. Press the controller to display a list of
additional menu items
6. Select "Store" and press the controller.
"Presets" is displayed
7. Turn the controller until the desired
memory location is selected.
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The number of the memory location
appears beside the name or frequency
of the station.
Press the controller to store the station.
The previous selection criterion is dis-
played again after a short time.
Radio Data System RDS
The Radio Data System RDS broadcasts
additional information in the FM waveband.
RDS stations have the following properties:
> In the case of broadcasting networks
that transmit over a number of frequen-
cies, there is an automatic switch to the
frequency with the best reception qual-
ity
> If the reception conditions are good, the
station names are shown on the Control
Display. If the reception is weak or dis-
rupted, it can take some time before the
station names appear.
Weather Band*
Weather Radio is a service of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration –
NOAA – of the U.S. Department of Com-
merce. Weather messages are repeated
every four to six minutes and are routinely
revised every one to three hours, or more
frequently if needed. Most of the stations
operate 24 hours daily. During severe
weather, National Weather Service fore-
casters can interrupt the routine weather
broadcasts and substitute special warning
messages. If you have a question concern-
ing NOAA Weather Radio, please contact
your nearest National Weather Service
Office, or write to National Weather Service
– Attn: W/OM11–, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, 1325 East-
West Highway Silver Spring, MD. 20910.
Selecting Weather Band
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "WB" and press the controller
2. Select the Weather Band station and
press the controller.
The Weather Band station may not be
available in some regions.
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Radio
138
Satellite radio*
You can receive up to 100 different chan-
nels with high tone quality.
You can listen to one of these channels free
of charge at any time to obtain a first
impression. The channel is marked
with .
To listen to additional channels of your
choice, you must have these channels acti-
vated.
You may experience signal drops and
muting events related to this new
technology.<
Activating channels
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Move the controller backwards to open
"Entertainment"
3. Select "SAT" and press the controller
4. To enable, select "Call Sirius" and press
the controller
5. Turn the ignition key to position 0 and
wait at least 5 minutes.
Selecting and storing channel
1. Select "SAT" and press the controller.
Channels are shown on the Control Dis-
play on the basis of various criteria
2. Select the menu item and press the
controller:
> "Presets":
Up to twelve channels you have
stored
> "All channels"
> "Categories":
All channels by category, e.g. news,
jazz
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3. If "Categories" was selected:
Select the desired category and press
the controller.
The channels of this category are dis-
played
4. Select a channel marked with this sym-
bol
5. Press the controller to display a list of
additional menu items
6. Select "Play" and press the controller.
Additional information
The name of the channel and additional
information on the current track are dis-
played, e.g. the name of the artist.
1 Artist
2 Track
3 Album
Storing channel
1. Select desired channel
2. Press the controller to display a list of
additional menu items
3. Select "Store" and press the controller.
"Presets" is displayed
4. Turn the controller to select a memory
location and press the controller.
The channel is stored; the previous crite-
rion appears after a short time.
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Radio
140
Changing channel using buttons in
the center console
Press to the desired direction briefly.
The system switches to the next channel.
Notes
When there is a signal blockage or the
transmission is suspended momentarily for
more than 4 seconds, a message appears
on the Control Display.
Service may be interrupted or
unavailable for specific reasons such
as environmental or topographic condi-
tions and others that Satellite Radio cannot
directly control.
Signal may not be available under tunnels,
in parking garages, next to tall buildings,
nearby trees with dense foliage, nearby
mountains or other possible strong sources
of radio interference.
Service should resume normally after the
source of signal unavailability has been
cleared.<
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CD Compact Disc
Listening to CDs
Insert the CD.
Playback starts automatically.
Hold CDs by the edges; do not touch the
reflecting CD memory surface.
To start playback when there is already a
CD in the drive:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Move the controller backwards to open
"Entertainment"
3. Select "CD" and press the controller
4. On vehicles with a CD changer, select
"CD" and press the controller.
To eject the CD:
Press the button in the center console.
The CD/DVD emerges slightly from the
drive.
Selecting a track
Buttons in the center console:
Select the direction:
Press the button repeatedly, continuing
until you reach the desired track.
The CD will start play at the track selected.
The track is displayed on the Control Dis-
play.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
Select a track by turning the controller.
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CD Compact Disc
142
Repeating a track
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller to
display a list of additional menu items
2. Select "Repeat" and press the control-
ler.
The selected track on the CD is repeated.
To cancel the repetition:
> Press the controller, select "Repeat"
and press the controller
> Select another function using the Con-
trol Center.
Sampling and selecting
tracks, scan
The system automatically plays a brief
sample from each of the tracks on the CD,
one after the other.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller to
display a list of additional menu items
2. Select "Scan" and press the controller
3. Select track:
Press the controller again, select
"Scan" and press the controller.
The Scan function is interrupted and the
track continues playing from the point
at which it was interrupted.
Random play sequence
The music tracks on the CD are played in a
random sequence.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller to
display a list of additional menu items
2. Select "Random" and press the control-
ler.
To cancel the random mode:
> Press the controller, select "Random"
and press the controller
> Select another function using the Con-
trol Center.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons in the center console:
1. Select the direction:
Press and hold the button. The tracks
can be heard, but the tone is distorted
2. To interrupt the fast forward/reverse
function, release the button.
The CD will start play at the point
selected.
The track is displayed on the Control Dis-
play, refer to page 18.
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Malfunctions
The BMW CD player is a Class 1 laser
product. Do not operate the system if
the cover is damaged, otherwise severe
eye damage can result.
Always refer repair and maintenance oper-
ations to qualified technicians.
With self-recorded CDs, labels applied
later can become detached during play-
back due to the development of heat and
cause irreparable damage to the device.<
CDs with copy protection devices
cannot be played on your CD player
or only with certain restrictions. These CDs
differ from the CD Audio Standard Red
Book, on the basis of which all CD players
and changers are designed. In this case,
please contact the CD dealer or manufac-
turer.
You may experience playback problems,
such as skips, when using CDs that you
have copied at home.
If the display fails to detect a CD that you
have loaded in the drive, check to ensure
that the CD has been inserted correctly and
inspect it for signs of defects.
High levels of humidity inside the system
can condense on the laser's scan lens and
temporarily prevent it from reading the
CD.<
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CD changer
144
CD changer
CD magazine
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is
installed in the glove compartment.
Removing the CD magazine
To load or remove CDs from the CD maga-
zine you must first remove it from the CD
changer:
1. Press button 2
2. The CD magazine 1 is ejected and can
be removed.
Loading/removing CDs from the
CD magazine
When loading or removing CDs, remember
to grasp them on the edge, taking care to
avoid touching the reflecting CD memory
surface.
Loading:
Insert the CD in a CD slot with the desired
number with the label side on top.
Removing CDs:
Pull out the desired drawer, refer to arrow,
and remove the corresponding CD.
Inserting the CD magazine
Ensure that the arrow symbol is pointing
upwards toward the CD changer and slide
the magazine all the way in.
The CD changer automatically reads in the
loaded CDs and is then ready for operation.
Listening to CDs
1. Insert the CD magazine
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
2. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
3. Move the controller backwards to open
"Entertainment"
4. Select "CD" and press the controller.
The CD magazine's load status is indi-
cated on the Control Display
*
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5. Select the CD and press the controller.
The system will continue play at the point
on the CD at which play was interrupted. At
the end of the last track, the next CD will be
selected.
If new CDs have been placed in the CD
magazine, playback starts with the lowest
CD, e.g. CD 1, track 1.
Selecting a track
Buttons in the center console:
Select the direction:
Press the button repeatedly, continuing
until you reach the desired track on the cur-
rent CD.
The CD will start play at the track selected.
The track is displayed on the Control Dis-
play.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
Select a track by turning the controller.
Repeating a track
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller to
display a list of additional menu items
2. Select "Repeat" and press the control-
ler.
The current track on the CD is repeated.
To cancel the repetition:
> Press the controller, select "Repeat"
and press the controller
> Select another function using the Con-
trol Center.
Sampling and selecting
tracks, scan
The system automatically plays a brief
sample from each of the tracks on the cur-
rent CD, one after the other.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller to
display a list of additional menu items
2. Select "Scan" and press the controller
3. Select track:
Press the controller again, select
"Scan" and press the controller.
The Scan function is interrupted and the
track continues playing from the point
at which it was interrupted.
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CD changer
146
Random play sequence
In this mode, the music tracks on the cur-
rent CD are played in a random sequence.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Select "Set" and press the controller to
display a list of additional menu items
2. Select "Random" and press the control-
ler.
To cancel the random mode:
> Press the controller, select "Random"
and press the controller
> Select another function using the Con-
trol Center.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons in the center console:
1. Select the direction:
Press and hold the button. The tracks
can be heard, but the tone is distorted
2. To interrupt the fast forward/reverse
function, release the button.
The system will continue play at the
point on the CD at which the button was
released.
The track is displayed on the Control Dis-
play, refer to page 18.
Malfunctions
The BMW CD changer is a Class 1
laser product. Do not operate the sys-
tem if the cover is damaged, otherwise
severe eye damage can result.
Always refer repair and maintenance oper-
ations to qualified technicians.
With self-recorded CDs, labels applied
later can become detached during play-
back due to the development of heat and
cause irreparable damage to the device.<
CDs with copy protection devices
cannot be played on your CD changer
or only with certain restrictions. These CDs
differ from the CD Audio Standard Red
Book, on the basis of which all CD players
and changers are designed. In this case,
please contact the CD dealer or manufac-
turer.
You may experience playback problems,
such as skips, when using CDs that you
have copied at home.
If the display fails to detect a CD that you
have loaded in the magazine, check to
ensure that the CD has been inserted cor-
rectly and inspect it for signs of defects.
High levels of humidity inside the system
can condense on the laser's scan lens and
temporarily prevent it from reading the
CD.<
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Communications
This chapter summarizes how you
operate your BMW portable phone
via the Control Center or voice
control and how you use
BMW Assist or TeleService.
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Telephoning
Safety notice
For your own safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in
many ways, and can even save lives in an
emergency. While you should consult your
portable phone's separate Owner's Manual
for a detailed description of safety precau-
tions and information, we request that you
direct your particular attention to the fol-
lowing:
Adjustments
To avoid posing a danger to yourself
and other road users, never adjust the
system settings unless your vehicle is com-
pletely stationary.<
Using the phone in your vehicle
Using a portable phone to make and
receive calls while driving is now ille-
gal in virtually every country in the world.
Always use your hands-free unit, or stop
your vehicle in an area where you will not
pose a safety hazard to other road users.<
Vehicles and portable phones
Do not use your phone from within a
garage, or near an open hood. The air
in these areas could contain fuel vapors,
and the portable phone might generate
sparks that could result in burns.
This same precaution applies to open lug-
gage compartment lids on vehicles
equipped for operation using natural gas or
hydrogen, and to all vehicles with luggage
compartment-mounted batteries.<
Antenna
When using the phone, ensure that all
persons in the area are at least 20 in/
50 cm from the antenna. Never use your
BMW portable phone if the antenna is dam-
aged. Contact between your skin and a
damaged antenna can result in minor
burns.
If the antenna is damaged, have it replaced
immediately.<
Special environmental conditions
Always switch off your BMW portable
phone in areas where blasting work is
being conducted with explosives. The
phone signals could potentially act as a
high-frequency transmitter and set off
explosions.
Always switch off your BMW portable
phone in areas where an increased explo-
sion danger is present. This category
includes filling stations along with fuel and
chemical storage depots, etc., and all
areas in which the air can contain fuel,
chemicals or metal particles. Under these
conditions, your BMW portable phone
could conceivably generate sparks that
could lead to a fire or explosion. Always
observe all legal regulations governing the
use of portable phones in the vicinity of fill-
ing stations, chemical factories and other
areas where an explosion potential exists.
Never use the BMW portable phone in air-
craft; do not use this portable phone in hos-
pitals, care centers or at other locations
where medical equipment may be in oper-
ation, such as accident sites, etc.
Your service provider can furnish you with
more detailed information on legal regula-
tions governing the use of your phone.<
Medical equipment
Portable phones can generate inter-
ference capable of preventing hearing
aids and cardiac pacemakers from operat-
ing correctly. If you or any occupant of the
vehicle will be using such equipment, con-
sult a physician or the manufacturer of the
equipment to determine whether it is ade-
quately shielded against high-frequency
energy.<
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Batteries
Never attempt to disassemble your
BMW portable phone or its battery.
Use only approved battery types – the
wrong battery can destroy your portable
phone.
To avoid possible short circuits, after
removing a battery you should never allow
it to come into contact with metallic sur-
faces of any kind.<
Disposing of used batteries
Return used batteries to a recycling
collection point or to your BMW cen-
ter.<
Care instructions
You can find useful information on caring
for your portable phone in the separate
portable phone Owner's Manual and in the
separate Caring for your vehicle brochure.
Controls
You can operate the BMW portable phone*
using:
> The steering wheel, refer to page 11
> The Control Center, refer to page 152
> The voice control, refer to page 157.
You can use the car phone via the hands-
free unit for BMW Assist calls.
The Control Display indicates which tele-
phone you are using to establish a connec-
tion.
Telephoning with the
car phone: BMW Assist calls
You can use the car phone via the hands-
free unit for BMW Assist calls.
The car phone must have been
enabled prior to initial use. In this con-
nection, please contact your BMW cen-
ter.<
Starting the BMW portable phone*
Before starting off, place the BMW portable
phone in the cradle. If you are making a call
using the car phone, you can only use the
BMW portable phone once you have termi-
nated this call.
Inserting the portable phone
1. Press button 1
2. If necessary, remove the protective cap
from the antenna connector on the rear
of the portable phone
3. Insert the portable phone with the
antenna fully retracted
4. Press the cradle downwards.
Removing the portable phone
Press button 1.
For information on operating your
portable phone, please consult the
separate Owner's Manual.<
Hands-free unit
The hands-free microphones are located
on the headlining.
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152
The hands-free unit is activated whenever
you establish or receive a call using:
> The buttons on the steering wheel
> The Control Center
> Voice control.
To continue a call on the portable phone
using hands-free unit:
Insert the portable phone with the lid
opened in the cradle.
To continue a call on the hands-free unit
using the portable phone:
Take the portable phone with the lid
opened out of the cradle.
The call is ended as soon as you take the
phone from the cradle with a closed lid.
Volume adjustment
You can adjust the volume for the hands-
free unit for each individual key:
Turn the button during a call to select the
desired volume.
The hands-free unit will remain at this vol-
ume level, even if the other audio sources
are set to minimum volume.
Operation using the Control
Center
You can use the following functions via the
Control Center:
> Enter unlock code with portable phone
engaged
> Dial phone number
> Phone book with portable phone
engaged
> Top-8 with portable phone engaged
> Repeat dialing
> Display accepted calls
> Display missed calls
> Text messages/SMS with portable
phone engaged.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Turn the ignition key to position 2
2. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
3. Move the controller forwards to open
"Communication".
Entering unlock code
If, after placing the BMW portable phone in
the cradle, you are requested by a mes-
sage from the Control Display to enter the
unlock code:
1. Select "Phone" and press the controller
2. To enter the unlock code: select digits
individually and press the controller.
Each digit of the unlock code is dis-
played on the Control Display with an
asterisk.
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To delete the last digit:
Turn the controller to the right to select
and press the controller
3. Select "Confirm unlock code" and
press the controller.
Receiving calls
If you have the phone number of the caller
stored in the phone book and the phone
number is transmitted, the name of the
entry is displayed.
Accepting a call
Select "Accept" and press the controller.
Rejecting a call
Select "Reject" and press the controller.
The caller is diverted to your mailbox if this
has been activated.
Making a call
Dialing a phone number
1. Select "Phone" and press the controller
2. Select "Dial" and press the controller
3. To enter the phone number: select dig-
its individually and press the controller.
Always enter the complete phone num-
ber consisting of national dialing code,
area code, and phone number.
To delete the last digit:
Move the controller to the right to select
and press the controller
4. Select "Dial number" and press the
controller.
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Ending call
1. Select the phone number and press the
controller
2. Select "End call" and press the control-
ler.
Phone book
After placing the portable phone in the cra-
dle, the phone book is transferred from the
portable phone into the vehicle. Loading
the phone book can take several minutes.
The phone book is available as long as the
portable phone is engaged.
Dialing from the phone book
1. Select "Phone" and press the controller
2. Select "A - Z" and press the controller:
The entries of the phone book of the
portable phone are displayed on the
Control Display; they are sorted alpha-
betically.
To run a targeted search for an entry,
select the first letter of the entry and
press the controller.
The first entry that starts with this letter
is displayed
3. Select the desired entry and press the
controller
4. Select "Call" and press the controller.
The system dials the number.
If different phone numbers are stored in the
portable phone under one name, e.g. office
and home, the name is shown once for
each phone number.
To display the phone numbers:
1. Select "Edit" and press the controller
2. Select and press the controller.
Adding digits to phone numbers
You can add other digits to a phone num-
ber stored in the phone book, e.g. to call a
specific extension:
1. Select "Phone" and press the controller
2. Select "A - Z" and press the controller
3. Select the desired entry and press the
controller
4. Select "Edit" and press the controller
5. To supplement the phone number:
Select digits individually and press the
controller
6. Select "Dial number" and press the
controller.
Lists
Your phone can store phone numbers you
have dialed and missed calls in lists. If the
caller is entered in the phone book, the
name of the entry is displayed instead of
the phone number.
You can select the desired subscriber from
the list and establish the connection.
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Four lists are available:
> "Top 8".
The eight numbers that you call most
frequently from the list "A - Z" are auto-
matically stored in the "Top 8" list. The
number called most often appears at
the top of the list
> "Redial".
The last eight phone numbers you have
dialed are automatically stored. The last
number dialed is at the top of the list
> "Received calls".
The phone numbers of the eight calls
last accepted are stored if the phone
number of the caller is transmitted
> "Missed calls".
The phone numbers of the last eight
calls not accepted are stored if the
phone number of the caller is transmit-
ted.
Dialing from a list
To select an entry and establish a connec-
tion:
1. Select "Phone" and press the controller
2. Select the list and press the controller:
> "Top 8", with the portable phone
engaged
> "Redial"
> "Received calls"
> "Missed calls"
3. Select the desired entry and press the
controller
4. Select "Call" and press the controller.
The system dials the number.
Deleting individual entries
1. Select the desired entry from the list
and press the controller
2. Select "Delete" and press the control-
ler.
The entry is deleted.
Deleting the entire list
1. Select an entry from the list and press
the controller
2. Select "Delete all numbers" and press
the controller.
The list is deleted.
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156
Touch tone dialing
Touch tone numbers are required for
access to network services or to control
devices, e.g. remote querying on an
answering machine.
This function can only be used during an
existing connection.
1. To establish a connection
2. Press the controller
3. Select "Keypad" and press the control-
ler
4. Select the desired digits and press the
controller.
Each digit is sent immediately.
Text messages/SMS
Text messages/SMS are displayed as long
as the portable phone is engaged.
The symbol on the Control Display
shows that you have received a new text
message. It goes out as soon as there are
no longer any unread text messages.
The number of text messages that can be
stored depends on the memory capacity of
your BMW portable phone.
Displaying text messages/SMS
1. Select "SMS" and press the controller.
The list of received text messages is
displayed on the Control Display.
The symbol
indicates unread text
messages
2. Select the desired text message and
press the controller.
The text message is displayed.
To close the text message:
Move the controller forwards to select
and press the controller.
Calling the sender
1. Select the desired text message and
press the controller.
The text message is displayed
2. Select "Options" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "Call sender" and press the con-
troller.
The selected sender is called.
Deleting text messages/SMS
1. Select the desired text message and
press the controller.
The text message is displayed
2. Select "Options" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "Delete" and press the control-
ler.
The text message of the portable phone
is deleted.
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Operation by voice control*
The concept
You can operate your phone without having
to remove your hands from the steering
wheel. The system operates on the basis of
voice commands that you will learn easily
after using them a few times. In addition,
you are also supported by instructions or
questions.
Symbols used
Voice commands
In ignition key position 2:
1. Briefly press the button on the steer-
ing wheel.
A sound signal indicates operating
readiness
2. Speak voice commands.
To have the system list the voice com-
mands possible in each case:
Canceling operation via voice
control
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel or
In dialogs where text of any kind can be
spoken, e.g. a name, canceling is only pos-
sible using the button. This is automati-
cally interrupted when an incoming call is
received.
Voice commands
In addition to the commands described in
this Owner's Manual, alternative com-
mands are often possible for the same
functions, e.g.:
Digits from zero to nine are understood.
You can say each digit individually or group
them into a sequence of three to five digits
to accelerate the input.
Dialing a phone number – an example
Start the dialog:
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel.
{...} Identifies voice commands.
{{...}} Identifies instructions generated
by the voice command system.
{Help}.
{Cancel}.
{Dial name} or {Name}.
Voice command Response
{Dial number}{{Please say the number}}
e.g. {201 12 34 56 7}{{201 12 34 56 7. Continue?}}
{Dial}{{Dialing number}}
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158
Volume adjustment
You can adjust the volume for the instruc-
tions from the voice control for each spe-
cific key:
Turn the button during an instruction to
select the desired volume.
The voice control will continue to issue
instructions at this volume level, even if the
other audio sources are set to minimum
volume.
First steps
Switching on portable phone
Entering unlock code
You can protect your BMW portable phone
against misuse with a four-digit unlock
code.
Correcting unlock code
After the sequence of digits has been
repeated by the system, the unlock code
can be corrected.
Deleting unlock code
Canceling the operation
Making a call
Dialing a phone number
Correcting the phone number
After the last spoken sequence of digits
has been repeated by the system, you can
delete this sequence of digits.
The command {Correct number} can be
repeated as often as you like.
Deleting input
{Delete} is used to delete all the digits
entered so far.
Voice phone book
You can create a voice phone book with up
to 50 phone numbers and names. The
names and phone numbers in the voice
phone book are independent of the mem-
ory of your BMW portable phone.
{Switch on phone}.
1. {Input Unlock Code}.
The dialog for entering the unlock
code is opened
2. Speak unlock code
3. {Send Unlock Code}.
1. {Correct number}.
The block of digits is deleted
2. Say the new unlock code on
request
3. {Send Unlock Code}.
{Delete number}.
{Cancel}.
1. {Dial number}.
The dialog for establishing a tele-
phone connection is opened
2. Say the phone number.
For telephone calls abroad, say
{Plus} and then the country code
3. {Dial}.
The connection to the desired sub-
scriber is established.
{Correct number}.
The digits are deleted.
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Storing an entry
An entry always consists of a name and
phone number.
Selecting an entry
The connection to the phone number of the
selected entry is established
Reading out and selecting entries
You can have all the entries of your voice
phone book read out in the order of input
and select a certain entry to establish a
connection:
Repeat dialing
{Redial} dials the last phone number
dialed.
Deleting an entry
You can delete any entry from the voice
phone book.
Deleting all entries
{Delete phonebook} deletes all entries in
the phone book.
1. {Save name}.
The dialog for storing a name is
called up
2. Say the name and repeat entry upon
request.
The duration of the name in the
phone book must not exceed
approx. 2 seconds
3. Say the phone number upon
request
4. To save the phone number:
{Save}.
1. {Dial name}.
The dialog for selecting an entry is
opened
2. Say the name on request
3. Confirm the prompt with {Yes}.
1. {Read phonebook}.
The dialog for reading the phone
book is called up
2. {Dial number} when the desired
entry is read out.
1. {Delete name}.
The dialog for deleting an entry is
called up
2. Say the name on request
3. Confirm the prompt with {Yes}.
1. {Delete phonebook}.
The dialog for deleting phone book
is called up
2. Confirm the prompt with {Yes}
3. Confirm the repeated prompt with
{Yes}.
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160
Notes
The voice commands were available
in English on going to print. Other lan-
guages are currently not available.<
Important for voice input
Issue the commands fluently and at normal
volume, avoiding excessive emphasis and
pauses.
On vehicles with a phone, two micro-
phones are installed near the interior rear-
view mirror of your vehicle. Although the
system is designed to filter out ambient
noise, you can help ensure that your com-
mands will be understood by observing the
following instructions:
> Keep the doors, windows and glass
roof closed to prevent interference from
ambient noise
> Avoid other sources of noise in the
vehicle while speaking, and ask other
vehicle occupants to refrain from talk-
ing while you are using the system.
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TeleService , BMW Assist
TeleService
TeleService opens up a new dimension for
communication with BMW Service. The car
phone can be used to transmit data on the
service status of your vehicle or on legally
prescribed inspections directly to your
BMW center. This is the same data that is
stored for CBS Condition Based Service in
the ignition key. Your BMW center can then
contact you, and you can make an appoint-
ment that suits you while you are still on the
road. Your advantage here is that your
BMW center can prepare in advance for the
required maintenance work. The TeleSer-
vice functions are country-specific. The
data on the service status of your vehicle or
on legally required inspections is transmit-
ted on a country-specific basis either auto-
matically before they fall due or simulta-
neously when you call any service partner
you have chosen. Your BMW center will be
glad to provide more detailed information.
BMW Assist
BMW Assist is available to you if you have
ordered this option at your BMW center or
BMW customer information. This provides
you with other services in addition to
TeleService.
Many functions of BMW Assist depend on
the individually agreed contract.
The subscriber agreement must be com-
pleted successfully before using the BMW
Assist services.
Requirements
The telephone is registered in a portable
phone network that can transmit the ser-
vices.
To transmit position data, the navigation
system must be able to determine the posi-
tion. In order to enable and update
TeleServices or BMW Assist, a GPS signal
must be present.
To avoid posing an unnecessary haz-
ard, both to your own vehicle's occu-
pants and to other road users: never
attempt to make adjustments while operat-
ing the vehicle.<
Enabling TeleService or BMW Assist
For you to be able to use the services of
TeleService or BMW Assist, these must be
enabled:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2. Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3. Select "Communication interface" and
press the controller
4. Select "BMW Service settings" and
press the controller
5. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
*
*
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162
6. Select "Service Status" and press the
controller
7. Select "Enable services" and press the
controller.
TeleService and, if applicable, BMW
Assist is enabled; data exchange with
the service center starts.
Leave the ignition switched on.
Enabling takes a few minutes. The status is
displayed on the Control Display. If you
open another menu, the enable process
continues to run in the background.
displays the registered services.
Services offered
Automatic Service Notification*
The data on the service status of your vehi-
cle or on legally prescribed inspections is
transmitted automatically directly to your
BMW center prior to the due date.
You can check the current status of the
Automatic Service Notification.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "Service requirements" and
press the controller
4. Select "Service notification" and press
the controller.
Setting up contact to Roadside
Assistance of the BMW Group
You can contact Roadside Assistance of
the BMW Group should you require help in
the event of a breakdown.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "BMW Service" and press the
controller
4. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
5. Select "Roadside Assistance" and
press the controller.
The current vehicle position is dis-
played
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6. Select "Start service" and press the
controller.
In some countries, with BMW Assist
enabled, the data of the CBS Condition
Based Service and your position are
transmitted simultaneously.
Voice communication to the Roadside
Assistance service is set up.
Setting up contact to your
BMW center or the BMW Customer
Relations
You can contact your BMW center, e.g. to
arrange a service appointment.
For information related to your vehicle, call
the BMW Customer Relations.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
3. Select "BMW Service" and press the
controller
4. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
5. Select the desired service and press
the controller
> To establish contact to BMW Ser-
vice:
"Service Request"
BMW Service will call you back at
the specified phone number, e.g. to
make an appointment for service
> To establish voice contact to the
BMW Hotline:
"Customer Relations"
6. Select "Start service" and press the
controller.
Contact to the desired service will be
established.
In some countries, with TeleService or
BMW Assist enabled, the data of the Con-
dition Based Service CBS are transmitted
simultaneously.
BMW Info*
You can obtain information on important
and useful new services and features.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Communication"
2. Select "BMW Assist" and press the
controller
3. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
4. Select "BMW Info" and press the con-
troller
5. Display new messages:
Select "Update status reports" and
press the controller. The messages are
transferred
6. Select the desired message and press
the controller.
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TeleService, BMW Assist
164
If you have received a message with a tele-
phone number or an address, you can for-
ward this to your portable phone or naviga-
tion system.
New messages are announced via SMS.
For more detailed information, refer to
page 156.
Info Plus*
This information service supplies you with a
whole range of current, interesting informa-
tion on request.
You can have telephone numbers and
addresses transferred and directly dial the
telephone number or copy the address to
the destination guidance of the navigation
system.
This option provides you with a current
information service, e.g. in the following
areas:
> Information on businesses
e.g. florist, doctor
> Accommodations
e.g. hotels, motels
> Mobility
e.g. filling stations, airports, car rental,
BMW dealers
> Eating and drinking
e.g. restaurants, cafés, bars
> Current information
e.g. movies playing, events.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open "Communication"
2. Select "BMW Assist" and press the
controller
3. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
4. Select "Where to go?" and press the
controller
5. If appropriate, select a message and
press the controller.
Display new message
Select "New data request" and press the
controller.
You will be connected with an employee of
the BMW Information Service. The desired
information and the corresponding address
can be requested by phone. These will be
shown on the Control Display and can be
copied to the portable phone or navigation
system, e.g. telephone number or address
of a hotel. Reservations can be made at
many hotels directly by the BMW Informa-
tion Service.
Adapting TeleService or
BMW Assist
Displaying and updating services
If one of the following conditions is met,
you should update the services of the
TeleService or BMW Assist:
> You have changed the scope of the
contractually agreed services
> The range of services of the offered ser-
vices has been extended.
To update the services:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Communication interface" and
press the controller
3. Select "BMW Service settings" and
press the controller
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165
EntertainmentReference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationMobility
4. Move the controller forward to change
the field
5. Select "Service Status" and press the
controller.
You will be informed about the current
scope of TeleService or BMW Assist.
displays the registered services
6. Select "Update services" and press the
controller.
Roaming
To align the services supported by home
and foreign providers automatically, enable
roaming:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Communication interface" and
press the controller
3. Select "BMW Service settings" and
press the controller
4. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
5. Select "Profile" and press the controller
6. Select "Roaming" and press the con-
troller. is displayed when roaming
is enabled.
Please note that additional costs can arise
if you are located abroad.
Terminating services
If you terminate the services, your vehicle
will not be equipped to contact the BMW
Assist call center. When an emergency call
is started, the telephone connection to the
general emergency number is established.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Communication interface" and
press the controller
3. Select "BMW Service settings" and
press the controller
4. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
5. Select "Service Status" and press the
controller
6. Select "Terminate services" and press
the controller.
TeleService or BMW Assist is disabled
in the vehicle. This does not involve any
contractual termination.
Automatic Service Notification can be dis-
abled separately; consult your BMW cen-
ter.
Enable TeleService and, if applicable BMW
Assist again to re-establish the connection.
Displaying vehicle data
You can obtain a display of some of the
selected data of your individual vehicle.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Open the menu
2. Select "Communication interface" and
press the controller
3. Select "BMW Service settings" and
press the controller
4. Move the controller forwards to change
the field
5. Select "Profile" and press the control-
ler.
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Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Mobility
This section helps you maintain your
mobility by supplying important
information on vital topics including
fuels and lubricants, wheels and tires,
service, maintenance and how to deal
with any problems that may occur.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Refueling
168
Refueling
Fuel filler door
Always switch off the engine before
refueling. If you do not, fuel cannot be
filled into the tank and a message on the
Control Display will appear.<
To open and close: press the rear edge of
the fuel filler door.
Manual release
In the event of an electrical defect in the
system, you can release the fuel filler door
manually:
1. In the luggage compartment, raise the
floor mat and the cover located beneath
it
2. Open the snap fasteners of the right
side panel and take off the side panel
3. Pull the knob with the gas pump sym-
bol.
Always observe all applicable precau-
tions and regulations when handling
fuels. Never carry spare fuel containers in
your vehicle. Whether empty or full, these
containers can leak, cause an explosion, or
lead to fire in the event of a collision.<
Simple and environmentally friendly
When handling fuels always observe
any safety guidelines posted at the
service station.<
Put the filler cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler door.
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the filler
nozzle during refueling
> results in premature pump shutoff
> can lead to reduced efficiency in the
fuel-vapor recovery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle
clicks off the first time.
Closing the fuel filler cap:
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you
clearly hear a click.
Close the fuel filler cap carefully after
refueling, until a click is heard. While
closing, be sure not to squeeze the strap
which is fastened to the cap. A loose or
missing cap will activate the message
Check Gas Cap on the Control Display.<
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 gallons/
70 liters, of which approx. 2.1 gallons/
8 liters reserve.
Never attempt to continue driving
until the tank is completely empty, as
engine functions could be affected, and the
vehicle could sustain damage as a result.<
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Mobility
169
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Fuel specifications
The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.
Required fuel:
Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI.
AKI = Anti Knock Index.
Do not use leaded fuels. The use of
leaded fuels will cause permanent
damage to the system's oxygen sensor and
the catalytic converter.<
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Wheels and tires
170
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – to a great extent
– driving safety that depend on the condi-
tion of the tires and the maintenance of the
specified tire pressure.
Check and if necessary adjust tire
inflation pressures regularly, also on
the compact wheel, at least every two
weeks and before beginning a longer trip. If
you fail to observe this precaution you may
be driving on tires with incorrect tire pres-
sures, a condition that cannot only com-
promise your vehicle's driving stability, but
also lead to tire damage and the risk of an
accident.
Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires,
except run-flat tires. A flat tire will seriously
impair your vehicle's handling and braking
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire
can lead to loss of control over the vehi-
cle.<
Checking the pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. This means after a maximum
of 1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the
vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. When tires are warm, the tire infla-
tion pressure increases.
After correcting the inflation pressure(s),
always reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page 81.
Inflation pressure for original tires
The inflation pressures for your standard
tires are visible on the door post when you
open the driver's door.
Inflation pressure for other tire sizes
The tables on the next pages provide all the
correct inflation pressures for the specified
tire sizes at ambient temperature.
For correct identification of the right
tire inflation pressure for your tires,
observe the specifications for the corre-
sponding tire size.<
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171
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525i/530i
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 W
225/55 R 16 95 Q,T,H M+S
225/50 R 17 94 Q,T,H M+S
Only 525i:
225/55 R 16 95 V M+S
225/55 R 16 95 V
29/200 35/240 36/250 44/300
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 95 V M+S
29/200 32/220 33/230 41/280
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W 29/200 - 36/250 -
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W - 32/220 - 41/280
Front: 245/35 R 19 89 Y 29/200 - 33/230 -
Rear: 275/30 R 19 92 Y - 32/220 - 41/280
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
61/420
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page 200.
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Wheels and tires
172
545i
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of
the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.
Tire size
Speed letter
Q= up to 100 mph160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age
The date of manufacture of the tires is
marked on the tires themselves:
DOT ... 3603 means that the tire was made
in the 36th week of 2003.
BMW recommends that you replace all
tires after 6 years at the latest, indepen-
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 Y
225/50 R 17 94 Q,T,H M+S
32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 95 V M+S
29/200 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Front: 245/35 R 19 89 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/30 R 19 92 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M
61/420
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page 200.
e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Radial type
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)
205/60 R 1591W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire age
DOT xxxx xxx 3602
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dently of the fact that tires can reach an age
of 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 g) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A – the
highest – B, and C, representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
RSC – Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, refer to page 175.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for treadwear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Tire tread
The tread depth should not drop below
0.12 in/3 mm, although, for example, Euro-
pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below 0.12 in/3 mm there is an
increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,
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Wheels and tires
174
even when only small amounts of water are
present on the road surface.
As winter tires display a noticeable loss in
their ability to cope with cold-weather driv-
ing conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in/4 mm, to ensure continued
safety you should always have such tires
replaced.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base,
refer to arrow, are distributed over the tire's
circumference and are marked on the side
of the tire with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator.
These indicators signal at a tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm that the legal wear limit
has been reached.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations encountered dur-
ing normal vehicle operation can indi-
cate tire failure or some other vehicle
defect. This can, for example, be caused by
driving over curbs. These kinds of prob-
lems may also be signaled by other
changes in vehicle response, such as a
strong tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed. Carefully proceed –
or have your vehicle towed – to the nearest
BMW center or tire dealer to have the
wheels or tires inspected. Tire damage,
extending to sudden and complete loss of
pressure in extreme cases, can pose a
potentially lethal safety hazard for the vehi-
cle's occupants and other road users
alike.<
Replacing wheels/tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents. Have this work performed by
skilled professionals only. The technicians
at your BMW center will be glad to assist
you with the required professional knowl-
edge and specialized equipment.<
The correct combination of wheels and
tires is another vital factor in ensuring reli-
able operation of various vehicle systems
such as ABS and DSC.
Have the wheel and tire assemblies bal-
anced every time either a wheel or a tire is
replaced.
BMW does not recommend the use of
retreaded tires, as otherwise driving
safety may be reduced. Possible variations
in the design and the age – which could be
substantial – of the carcasses can lead to
unusually rapid wear.<
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only
wheel and tire combinations that
BMW has tested and approved for your
particular vehicle. Variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units – these
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
After a flat tire, always remember to have
the specified wheel and tire combination
remounted on the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible.
Recommended tire brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
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Mobility
175
Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainment
approves them. You can find out about
these at specialized dealers or at your
BMW center. Observe any country-specific
regulations, e.g. on making a correspond-
ing entry in the vehicle documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been spe-
cially selected to provide optimized perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle; if
properly cared for, they will provide a com-
bination of safety and excellent ride com-
fort.
Run-flat tires
If your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires,
refer to Run-flat tires, only use these tires,
as in the event of a breakdown there is no
spare wheel available.
Special characteristics of winter
tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in
cold winter driving conditions. Although all-
season M+S tires provide better winter
traction than summer tires, they generally
fail to provide the same levels of cold-
weather performance as winter tires.
When switching to winter tires, observe the
descriptions at Tire condition and Replac-
ing wheels/tires, refer to pages 173
and 174.
Run-flat tires
If your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires,
refer to Run-flat tires. Your BMW center will
advise you if you wish to replace the tires of
your BMW or wish to switch from summer
to winter tires or vice versa.
If you switch from summer to winter tires,
or vice versa, use run-flat tires, as in the
event of a flat there is no spare wheel avail-
able.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as pos-
sible. Always protect tires against all con-
tact with oil, grease and fuels. Do not
exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure
indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Run-flat tires*
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire. Run-flat tires consist of self-
contained tires and special rims. The tire
reinforcement ensures that the tire retains
some residual safety in the event of pres-
sure drop and driving remains possible to a
restricted degree.
If you switch from summer to winter
tires, or vice versa, use run-flat tires,
as in the event of a breakdown there is no
spare wheel available. In this case, BMW
recommends that you consult your BMW
center. Your BMW center is qualified to
handle run-flat tires and equipped with the
necessary special tools.<
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire
Driving on run-flat tires can continue,
depending on the vehicle load and the
severity of the tire damage, at a maximum
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
In the case of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire damage, you
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Wheels and tires
176
can estimate the possible distance for con-
tinued driving on the basis of the following
guide values:
> With low load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
Approx. 155 miles/250 km
> With medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
Approx. 90 miles/150 km
> With full load:
4 persons or more, luggage compart-
ment full:
Approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. With infla-
tion pressure loss, the driving characteris-
tics change, for example reduced track sta-
bility on braking, extended braking
distance, and altered self-steering charac-
teristics.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends that
you do not have damaged run-flat tires
repaired and that you consult your BMW
center in this case.<
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain snow chains, clas-
sifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more
information. BMW recommends only using
these approved, narrow-link snow chains.
These snow chains are approved exclu-
sively for use on summer or winter tires in
pairs on the rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions
when installing snow chains.
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After mounting snow chains, do not
activate the Flat Tire Monitor.
When you are driving with snow chains, it
can be beneficial to switch off DSC briefly,
refer to page 78.<
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Under the hood
Hood
Unlocking
Pull the lever located under the left side of
the instrument panel.
Never attempt to perform any service
or repair operations on your vehicle
without the required, professional technical
training. When you are unfamiliar with the
service procedures and precautions,
always have any required work carried out
at your BMW center. Unprofessional
attempts at service and repair, and the
incorrect handling of parts and materials
that can occur during such attempts, con-
stitute a potential safety hazard, both for
the vehicle's occupants and for other road
users.<
Opening
Press the release handle and open the
engine hood.
Closing
Close the hood from a height of approx.
16 in/40 cm with momentum. It must be
clearly heard to engage.
Observe the same precautions that
apply to all closing operations by
ensuring that the hood's travel range is
clear and unobstructed before allowing the
hood to fall into position.
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving your vehi-
cle, you should stop at once and close it
securely.<
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Under the hood
178
Engine compartment
1 Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Top-
ping up engine oil
2 Brake fluid reservoir, located beneath
the microfilter cover, refer to page 180
3 Starting-aid terminal, refer to page 192
4 Dipstick for engine oil, refer to Check-
ing the oil level. The dipstick is further
toward the rear on the 545i
5 Washer fluid reservoir of the headlamp
and windshield cleaning systems, refer
to page 57
6 Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page 179
Engine oil
Checking oil level
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating temperature
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick 4 out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out again
5. The oil should extend to between the
two marks on the dipstick.
As is the case with fuel economy, the rate
at which the engine uses oil is strongly
influenced by driving style and operating
conditions.
The oil quantity between the two marks on
the dipstick is approx. 1.6 US quarts/
1.5 liters. Do not fill beyond the upper mark
on the dipstick. Excess oil can damage the
engine.
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Adding engine oil
Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark or a message
appears on the Control Display before add-
ing oil.
BMW engines are designed to oper-
ate without additives, and their use
could even lead to damage in some cases.
This also applies to the automatic transmis-
sion, the differential and the power steering
system.<
Recommendation: have oil changes per-
formed only by your BMW center.
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come
into contact with oil should be thoroughly
washed with soap and water.
Store oil, grease, etc., well out of the reach
of children; always observe all warning
labels on the containers.<
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used oil.<
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. BMW approves
only specific oils after confirming their suit-
ability for use in its vehicles with extensive
testing.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.
If you are unable to obtain BMW High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil, you can add small
amounts of another synthetic oil between
oil changes. Use only oils with the API SH
specification or higher.
Ask your BMW center for details con-
cerning the specific BMW High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil or synthetic oils
which have been approved.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit this website:
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this informa-
tion.
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is the oil flow rating as defined in
SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climatic conditions in the
area where you typically drive your BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils may be used for driving in all
ambient temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling sys-
tem when the engine is hot. Escaping
coolant can cause burns.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original containers
kept well away from the reach of children.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
flammable. Therefore, do not pour over hot
engine parts, as otherwise they could catch
fire and cause burns.
Always observe the instructions for use
provided on the containers.<
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used anti-
freeze and anticorrosion agents.<
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Under the hood
180
Checking coolant level
Correct coolant level with the engine cold,
approx. +687/206:
1. Turn the cap of the expansion tank
counterclockwise to allow any accumu-
lated pressure to escape, then continue
turning to open
2. The coolant level is correct when the
coolant extends to between the MIN
and MAX marks on the filler neck, refer
to the diagram adjacent to the filler
neck
3. If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant
up to the specified level – do not overfill.
Brake fluid
The symbol lights up and a mes-
sage appears on the Control Dis-
play: the brake-fluid level in the
container is too low.
The brake fluid reservoir is located under
the microfilter housing trim panel on the
driver's side of the vehicle. To have brake
fluid added to the system, or to have the
source of any brake fluid loss traced and
rectified, please contact your BMW center,
which can also supply the factory-
approved – DOT 4 – brake fluids.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic: it absorbs
moisture from the atmosphere over
the course of time.
To ensure that the brake system continues
to provide safe and reliable performance,
remember to have the brake fluid changed
every 2 years at the latest, refer to page 66
and to the Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet for US models or the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian
models.
Brake fluid is toxic and also damages vehi-
cle paintwork. Always store these agents in
tightly-closed original containers kept well
away from the reach of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not refill the
brake fluid reservoir to beyond the MAX
mark. Should it come into contact with hot
engine components, the brake fluid could
ignite and cause personal injury in the form
of burns.<
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used brake
fluid.<
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
Brake hydraulic systems
A low brake-fluid level combined with
longer-than-usual pedal travel could be a
sign that one of the brake system's hydrau-
lic circuits has failed.
Proceed to the nearest BMW center.
Remember that pedal travel may be
increased, and there may also be a sub-
stantial increase in the amount of pedal
pressure required to brake the vehicle.
Please adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.<
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Maintenance
The BMW Maintenance
System
The BMW Maintenance System is
designed to ensure that your vehicle will
continue to furnish consistent reliability
combined with optimal safety. The service
schedule also includes operations related
to the vehicle's comfort and convenience
features, such as replacement of the filters
for the inside air. The ultimate objective is
to ensure economical maintenance by pro-
viding the ideal service for your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to
sell your BMW, you will find that a complete
dealer service history is an asset of inesti-
mable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
CBS is a more advanced version of the Ser-
vice Interval Display. Sensors combine with
highly-specialized algorithms to supply
service information that reflects your vehi-
cle's actual operating conditions more pre-
cisely than ever before.
The system now provides individual dis-
plays of the times or distances remaining
until the deadlines for specific service
operations as well as legally prescribed
inspections:
> Engine oil
> Brakes: separate for front and rear
> Brake fluid
> Spark plugs
> Vehicle check
> Depending on national regulations:
legally prescribed inspections.
CBS monitors both current and upcoming
service requirements. Your vehicle stores
this information continuously in the ignition
key while the vehicle is being driven. You
should therefore hand over to the BMW
Service Advisor the key you last used to
drive when you take your vehicle for ser-
vice. After accessing the data stored in the
vehicle key, your BMW Service Advisor is
able to suggest precisely the right array of
service procedures for your own individual
vehicle.
By letting you define a service and mainte-
nance regimen that reflects your own indi-
vidual requirements, Condition Based Ser-
vice builds the basis for trouble-free
driving.
You can find more detailed information on
the service requirement display on
page 66.
Make sure the date in the Control
Center is always set correctly, refer to
page 75, as otherwise the effectiveness of
Condition Based Service CBS is not
ensured.<
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Cana-
dian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models and
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models for additional information
on service requirements.
Have service and repair operations
performed at your BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service
procedures are confirmed by entries in
your vehicle's Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and War-
ranty and Service Guide Booklet for Cana-
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Maintenance
182
dian models.These entries verify that your
vehicle has received the specified regular
maintenance, and may also be required
when submitting warranty claims.<
Care
You can find everything you need to know
on this topic by consulting the separate
Caring for your vehicle brochure.
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Rules and regulations
California Proposition 65
Warning
California laws require us to issue the fol-
lowing warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior
furnishings in a vehicle, contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain flu-
ids contained in vehicles and certain prod-
ucts of component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that
have caused cancer in laboratory animals.
Always protect your skin by washing
thoroughly with soap and water.<
OBD connector
The Onboard Diagnostic OBD interface
socket is located on the left of the driver's
side under the instrument panel and under
a cover.
The cover has the letters OBD on it.
The purpose of the OBD system is to
ensure proper operation of the emission
control system for the vehicle's lifetime.
The system monitors emissions-related
components and systems for deterioration
and malfunction.
An illuminated indicator lamp
informs you of the need for service,
not of the need to stop the vehicle.
However, the systems should be checked
by your BMW center at the earliest possible
opportunity.
Indicator lamp for Canadian mod-
els.
Under certain conditions, the indicator will
blink or flash. This indicates a rather severe
level of engine misfire. When this occurs,
you should reduce speed and consult the
nearest BMW center as soon as possible.
Severe engine misfire over only a short
period of time can seriously damage emis-
sions control components, especially the
catalytic converter.
When the fuel filler cap is not properly
tightened, the OBD system can
detect the vapor leak and the indicator
lamp will light up. If the filler cap is subse-
quently tightened, the indicator lamp
should go out within a few days.<
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Replacing components
184
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is located in the lug-
gage compartment lid.
Loosen the wingnut to open.
Windshield wiper blades
To replace, fold the wiper arm up and hold.
Press the catches together while pushing
the wiper blade out of the front.
Lamps and bulbs
The lamps and bulbs are essential factors
contributing to the safety of your vehicle.
Therefore, comply fully with the following
instructions during bulb replacement. If you
are not familiar with the specified proce-
dures, have the replacements carried out at
your BMW center.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs
with your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life.
Use a clean cloth, napkin, etc., or hold the
bulb by its metal socket.
In the case of bulbs where the replacement
is not described, please consult your BMW
center.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement
bulbs at your BMW center.
To prevent short circuits, before
working on any electrical system,
equipment or accessory you should always
switch it off and disconnect the cable from
the battery's negative terminal before start-
ing.
To avoid possible injury or equipment dam-
age when changing bulbs, observe any
instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
When maintaining the headlamps,
please comply with the instructions in
the separate Caring for your vehicle bro-
chure.<
Headlamps
The illustration shows the left-hand side of
the engine compartment.
1 Cover cap for low beams
2 Cover cap for high beams
Turn the cover cap to the left and remove.
Always wear gloves and eye protec-
tion – the atmosphere within the H7
bulb is pressurized. Failure to observe this
precaution can lead to personal injury
should the bulb be damaged.<
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185
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For checking and adjusting headlamp
aim, please contact your BMW cen-
ter.<
Halogen low beams
H7 bulb, 55 Watts
1. Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
Halogen high beams
H7 bulb, 55 Watts
1. Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
Parking and standing lamps
Bulb 5 Watts, W 5 W
1. Turn the cover cap for low beams or
high beams to the left and remove
2. Pull the bulb holder out
3. Remove and replace the bulb.
Xenon lamps*
The service life of these bulbs is very long
and the probability of a failure is very low,
provided that they are not switched on and
off an unusual number of times.
In the unlikely event that one of these
lamps should fail, you can respond by
switching on your fog lamps and proceed-
ing carefully, where allowed by law.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal
injuries: owing to the extremely high
voltages at which these units operate, ser-
vice work on the xenon lighting system
should always be entrusted to qualified
personnel.<
Parking and standing lamps
Please contact a BMW center in case of a
malfunction.
Turn signal indicators, front
Bulb 21 Watts, PY 21 W
1. Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove
2. Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and
replacement.
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Replacing components
186
Side-mounted turn signal indicators
Bulb 5 Watts, W 5 W
1. Press against the front edge of the lamp
with the tip of your finger, then push it to
the rear and release the detent at the
front
2. Turn the lamp 903 and remove
3. Turn the bulb holder to the left and
remove
4. Extract the bulb for replacement.
Side marker lamps, front and rear
Please contact your BMW center for
replacement.
Tail lamps
1 Turn signal indicators
2 Tail and brake lamp
3 Tail lamp
4 Backup lamps
5 Reflector
6 Reflector
7 Standing, tail and brake lamp
> Backup lamps:
Bulb 16 Watts, W 16 W
> Other lamps:
Bulb 21 Watts, P 21 W
Center brake lamp
This lamp uses LED technology for opera-
tion. Please contact a BMW center in case
of a malfunction.
Lamps in the fender
The illustration shows the recess on the left
side of the luggage compartment.
All the bulbs are integrated in a central bulb
holder.
1. Remove the side panel
2. Unclip the bulb holder and remove
3. Backup lamps:
Remove and replace the bulb.
Other bulbs:
Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and
replacement.
Lamps in the luggage compartment
lid
License plate lamp
Bulb 5 Watts, C 5 W
1. Insert a screwdriver in the slot and
press to the left, refer to arrows; this
unlocks the lamp
2. Remove the lamp and replace the bulb.
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187
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Changing a wheel
Safety measures in the event of a
breakdown or wheel change:
Park the vehicle as far away as possible
from moving traffic and on firm ground.
Switch on the hazard warning flashers.
Lock the steering wheel in straight-ahead
setting of the wheels. Apply the handbrake
and engage first gear, reverse gear or
selector lever to position P.
Have all vehicle occupants get out of the
vehicle and ensure that they remain outside
the immediate area in a safe place, such as
behind a guardrail.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is required, set it up on the
roadside at an appropriate distance from
the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip to the side
if you attempt to raise the vehicle on a soft
or slippery surface such as snow, ice, tiles,
etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar
object as a support base for the jack, as
this would prevent it from extending to its
full support height and reduce its load-car-
rying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie
under the vehicle, and never start the
engine while it is supported by the jack.<
What you will need
To avoid rattling noises later on, note the
positions of the tools before removing
them, then return them to their initial posi-
tions after completing work.
1 Chock
2 Vehicle jack
3 Lug wrench
are located in the tool space in the rim of
the compact wheel. Raise the floor mat and
the cover beneath it. Take out the required
tool(s). After using the tools, return them to
the storage space.
Compact wheel*
1. Unscrew the wing nut 1
2. Remove the disk 2 to the side
3. Take out the tool brackets 3
4. Remove the compact wheel.
Procedure
1. Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions on left-hand column
2. To secure the vehicle against move-
ment:
Place the wheel chock behind the front
wheel on the side opposite the side
being raised. If the vehicle is parked on
a downward slope, place the chock in
front of the wheel. If the wheel must be
changed on a surface with a more
severe slope, take additional precau-
tions to secure the vehicle from rolling
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Replacing components
188
3. Loosen the lug bolts 1/2 a turn
4. Set up the jack beneath the jacking
point closest to the flat tire. Ensure that
the entire surface of the jack's base is in
firm contact with the ground and that
the jack itself is standing completely
vertical, not tilted, and that the fitting on
the top of the jack will align with the
rectangular recess on the vehicle when
you raise it, refer to illustration
5. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you
are changing is raised from the ground
6. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel
7. Remove accumulations of mud or dirt
from the mounting surfaces of the
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts
8. Position the new wheel or compact
wheel. Secure the wheel by turning at
least two lug bolts into opposite bolt
holes
9. Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely in a diag-
onal pattern
10.Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle
11.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pat-
tern
12.Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
After mounting the wheel or correcting the
inflation pressure, reinitialize the Flat Tire
Monitor, refer to page 81.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not attempt
to raise another vehicle model with it or to
raise any load of any kind. To do so could
cause accidents and personal injury.
To ensure safety, always have the lug bolts
checked with a calibrated torque wrench
as soon as possible to ensure that they are
tightened to the specified torque.
The tightening torque is 120 Nm.<
Reverse the removal sequence to store the
wheel and tools in the vehicle.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
Always have damaged tires replaced and
the wheel and tire assembly rebalanced at
the earliest possible opportunity.
Driving with the compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
The driving characteristics change, for
example reduced track stability on braking,
extended braking distance, and altered
self-steering characteristics in the limit
range. In conjunction with winter tires,
these characteristics are more pro-
nounced.
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. You should fit wheels and
tires of the original size as quickly as possi-
ble.<
Battery
Battery care
The battery is 100% maintenance-free, i.e.,
the electrolyte will last for the life of the bat-
tery when the vehicle is operated in a tem-
perate climate.
For all questions that regard the bat-
tery, please consult your BMW cen-
ter.<
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Charging the battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via
the terminals in the engine compartment
with the engine off. Connections, refer to
Jump-starting on page 192.
Disposal
Return used batteries to a recycling
point or your BMW center. Maintain
the battery in an upright position for trans-
port and storage. Always restrain the bat-
tery to prevent it from tipping over during
transport.<
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse,
and do not replace a defective fuse
with a substitute of another color or amper-
age rating, as this could lead to a circuit
overload, ultimately resulting in a fire in the
vehicle.<
Spare fuses, plastic tweezers and details of
the fuse assignment are located in the
compartment for the onboard tool kit, refer
to page 184.
In the glove compartment
Turn the two snap fasteners outwards. Fold
the cover forwards or remove.
In the luggage compartment
Raise the floor mat and the cover beneath
it. Undo the screw connection of the right
side panel and pull out the panel.
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Giving and receiving assistance
190
Giving and receiving assistance
Starting an emergency call*
Conditions for an emergency call:
> The car phone is logged on to a porta-
ble phone network
> The emergency call system is operable.
To start an emergency call:
1. To open the cover flap:
Briefly press the cover flap
2. Press the button for at least 2 seconds.
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up. As soon as the voice connection to
the general emergency number has
been set up, the indicator lamp flashes.
If conditions allow, remain in the vehicle
until the connection has been established.
You will then be able to provide a detailed
description of the situation.
In vehicles where BMW Assist is enabled,
the phone system will automatically estab-
lish contact with the BMW Assist emer-
gency call center. If the current position of
your vehicle can be determined, this is
transferred to the BMW Assist emergency
call center.
Activating BMW Assist, refer to page 161.
If the navigation system fails, the cur-
rent position of the vehicle is not
transmitted.<
If the indicator lamp flashes, but you are
unable to hear the emergency call center
through the hands-free system, this could
indicate, for instance, that the hands-free
system is no longer operational. However,
the emergency call center can still hear
you.
For technical reasons, the emergency
call cannot be guaranteed under
unfavorable conditions.<
Under certain conditions, an emergency
call is started automatically immediately
after a severe accident. The automatic
emergency call is not affected by the but-
ton being pressed.
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191
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Warning triangle*
The warning triangle is conveniently stored
in the onboard tool kit mounted on the
inside of the luggage compartment lid.
Comply with legal requirements
requiring you to carry a warning trian-
gle in the vehicle.<
First-aid kit*
You will also find the first-aid kit in the
onboard tool kit's container.
Some of the articles contained in the
first-aid kit have a limited service life.
For this reason, check the expiration dates
of each of the items regularly, and replace
any whose expiration dates have passed.
You can find replacements in any phar-
macy.
Comply with legal requirements requiring
you to carry a first-aid kit in the vehicle.<
Roadside Assistance
The Roadside Assistance of the BMW
Group offers you assistance in the event of
a breakdown around the clock, also at
weekends and on public holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance control center in your home country
can be found in the BMW Dealer Directory.
In the case of vehicles with BMW Assist or
TeleService, you can call the Roadside
Assistance of the BMW Group directly via
the Control Center, refer to page 162.
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Giving and receiving assistance
192
Jump-starting
When your battery is discharged you can
use two jumper cables to start your vehicle
with power from the battery in a second
vehicle. You can also use the same method
to help start another vehicle.Use only
jumper cables with fully-insulated clamp
handles.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal
injury, always avoid all contact with
electrical components while the engine is
running. Carefully adhere to the following
sequence, both to prevent damage to one
or both vehicles, and to guard against pos-
sible personal injuries.<
Preparing
1. Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and
approximately the same capacitance in
Ah. This information can be found on
the battery
2. Switch off the engine of the support
vehicle
3. Switch off any consumer units in both
vehicles.
There must not be any contact
between the bodies of the two vehi-
cles, as otherwise there is a danger of short
circuits.<
Connecting the jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks,
always observe this sequence when
connecting jumper cables.<
On your BMW, the so-called starting-aid
terminal in the engine compartment serves
as the battery positive terminal, refer also
to Engine compartment overview on
page 178. The symbol + is embossed on
the cover.
1. Open the cover of the BMW starting-aid
terminal. To do so, pull the tab
2. Attach one end of the jumper cable
plus/+ to the positive terminal of the
battery or a starting-aid terminal of the
vehicle providing assistance
3. Attach the second end of the cable to
the positive terminal of the battery or to
a starting-aid terminal of the vehicle to
be started
Your BMW has a special nut as body
ground or negative pole.
4. Attach one end of the jumper cable
minus/– to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground
of the vehicle providing assistance
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Mobility
193
Reference At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainment
5. Attach the second end of the cable to
the negative terminal of the battery or to
the engine or body ground of the vehi-
cle to be started.
Starting the engine
1. Start the engine on the support vehicle
and allow it to run for several minutes at
a fast idle
2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in
the usual way.
If the first start attempt is not success-
ful, wait a few minutes before another
attempt in order to allow the discharged
battery to recharge
3. Let the engines run for a few minutes
4. Disconnect the jumper cables by
reversing the connection sequence.
If required, have the battery inspected and
recharged at your BMW center.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Towing
Always observe all applicable towing
laws and regulations.<
Towing with a commercial tow truck
> Use a wheel lift or flatbed carrier
> Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Never allow passengers to ride on a
towed vehicle for any reason.<
Towing with raised front axle
Vehicles with automatic
transmission:
1. Towing speed:
Maximum 45 mph/70 km/h
2. Towing distance:
Maximum of 90 miles/150 km.
Vehicles with Sequential manual
transmission SMG
With the ignition switched on, engage the
selector lever position N, then switch off
the ignition again.
Tow fitting
The threaded tow fitting is stored in the tool
kit mounted on the inside of the luggage
compartment lid, refer to page 184, and
should always remain in the vehicle. It can
be screwed to the front or rear of the vehi-
cle.
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Giving and receiving assistance
194
Access to tow sockets
Front
Rear
Press the arrow symbol to push out the
cover.
Only use the tow fitting carried in the
vehicle and screw it in firmly as far as
it will go. Only use the tow fitting for towing
on roads. Follow these instructions; other-
wise the tow fitting can come loose and
lead to damage to the vehicle.
Never attempt to tow or tie down the vehi-
cle using suspension components, as this
could lead to damage that might ultimately
result in an accident.<
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Reference
This is where to look to find information
on any desired topic as quickly as
possible. This chapter includes the
section with technical information
as well as the manual's index.
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Technical data
198
Technical data
Engine specifications
525i 530i
Displacement
Number of cylinders
cu in/cmm 152.2/2,494
6
181.8/2,979
6
Maximum output
at engine speed
hp
rpm
184
6,000
225
5,900
Maximum torque
at engine speed
lb ft/Nm
rpm
175/237
3,500
214/290
3,500
Compression ratio e 10.5 10.2
Stroke
Bore
in/mm
in/mm
2.95/75.0
3.31/84.0
3.53/89.6
3.31/84.0
Fuel-injection system Digital electronic engine-management system
545i
Displacement
Number of cylinders
cu in/cmm 268.4/4,398
8
Maximum output
at engine speed
hp
rpm
325
5,900
Maximum torque
at engine speed
lb ft/Nm
rpm
330/448
3,600
Compression ratio e 10.0
Stroke
Bore
in/mm
in/mm
3.26/82.7
3.60/92.0
Fuel-injection system Digital electronic engine-management system
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Technical data
200
Weights
Never exceed either the approved axle
loads or the gross vehicle weight.
525i 530i
Curb weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmission
lbs./kg
3,428/1,555
3,450/1,565
3,472/1,575
3,494/1,585
Approved gross weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmission
lbs./kg
4,530/2,055
4,552/2,065
4,575/2,075
4,597/2,085
Load lbs./kg 1,102/500 1,102/500
Approved front axle load lbs./kg 2,161/980 2,227/1,010
Approved rear axle load lbs./kg 2,601/1,180 2,601/1,180
Approved roof load capacity lbs./kg 220/100 220/100
Luggage compartment volume cu ft/l 18.4/520 18.4/520
545i
Curb weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmission
lbs./kg
3,803/1,725
3,814/1,730
Approved gross weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmission
lbs./kg
4,905/2,225
4,916/2,230
Load lbs./kg 1,103/500
Approved front axle load lbs./kg 2,403/1,090
Approved rear axle load lbs./kg 2,679/1,215
Approved roof load capacity lbs./kg 220/100
Luggage compartment volume cu ft/l 18.4/520
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Reference
201
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reserve
gal/liters
gal/liters
approx. 18.5/70
approx. 2.1/8
Fuel quality: page 169
Window and headlamp
washer system
quarts/liters approx. 3.2/3 For details: page 57
Engine with oil filter
renewal
525i/530i
545i
quarts/liters
quarts/liters
6.9/6.5
8.5/8.0
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
Oil grades: page 179
Manual, automatic
transmission and
differential
– Lifetime fluid, no fluid change
required
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Everything from A to Z
202
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System 77
– indicator lamp 77
Acceleration assistant 54
Accessories, refer to Your
individual vehicle 5
"Activation time" for
independent
ventilation 95
Active cruise control 59
– malfunctions 64
Active head restraints,
front 40
Active roll stabilization 80
Active seat 42
Active seat ventilation 42
Active steering 82
Adaptive Head Light 88
"Address book" for
navigation 120
Address for navigation
– deleting 120
– entering 116
– selecting 120
"Add to address book" for
navigation 120
"Add to destination
list" 118
Adjusting temperature for
upper body 93
Adjusting the thigh
support 37
"After door is opened" 39
"After unlocking" 39
Airbags 83
– indicator lamp 84
– sitting safely 36
Air circulation, refer to
Recirculated air 91
Air distribution
– automatic 91
– individual 93
Air flow, refer to Air
volume 91
Airing, refer to
Ventilation 94
"Air recirculation on /
off" 44
Air vent outlets of
automatic climate
control 90
Air volume 91
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications 169
Alarm system 32
– avoiding unintentional
alarms 33
All around the steering
wheel 10
"All channels" 138
"All doors" 28
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires 175
"AM", wave-
band 130, 134
Antenna for portable
phone 150
Antifreeze
– coolant 179
– washer fluid 57
Anti-theft system 27
Anti-trapping mechanism
– glass roof 35
– windows 34
Approved axle loads, refer
to Weights 200
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to
Weights 200
Arrival time, refer to
Computer 71
Ashtray
– front 99
– rear 100
Assistance window 18
Assisting systems, refer to
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control 78
AUC Automatic
recirculated-air
control 91
"Audio" 131
Audio 130
– adjusting the tone 131
– controls 130
– switching on/off 130
– volume 131
Audio systems, refer to
Tone control 131
Automatic
– air distribution 91
– air volume 91
– cruise control 58, 59
– storing stations 135
Automatic car wash, refer
to Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Automatic climate
control 90
– automatic air
distribution 91
– settings using the Control
Center 92
– switching off 92
Automatic curb monitor 39
Automatic headlamp
control 87
"Automatic programs" 93
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC 91
Automatic steering wheel
– adjustment 43
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203
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 54
– indicator lamp 56
– interlock 49
– selector lever interlock 55
– shiftlock 55
– sport program 55
– starting the engine 50
– towing 193
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air distribution
and volume 91
"Autostore" on the
radio 136
"AUTO" with automatic
climate control 93
Average fuel
consumption 70
– setting the units 74
Average speed 70
"Avoid ferries" for
navigation 121
"Avoid freeways / tolls" for
navigation 121
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 33
"Avoid tollroads" for
navigation 121
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 200
"A - Z" 154
B
Backrests, refer to
Seats 36
Backrest width
adjustment 37
Backup lamps, refer to
Reverse gear 51
– replacing the bulbs 186
"Balance", audio
system 132
Balance, refer to Tone
control 131
"Bass", audio system 132
Bass, refer to Tone
control 131
Battery 188
– in the remote control 26
– jump-starting 192
Belts, refer to Safety
belts 36, 40
Beverage holders 99
Black ice, refer to Ice
warning 65
Blocking sections of a route
for navigation 125
Blower, refer to Air
volume 91
BMW Assist 161
– enabling 161
– services offered 162
"BMW Info" 163
BMW Maintenance
System 181
"BMW Service
settings" 161
Bore, refer to Engine
data 198
Bottle holder, refer to
Beverage holders 99
Brake Assistant, refer to
DBC Dynamic Braking
Control 79
Brake fluid 180
– indicator lamp 180
– level 180
– replacing 180
Brake force display 82
Brake hydraulic
systems 180
Brake lamps, replacing the
bulbs 186
Brake pads 107
– breaking-in
procedure 106
Brake pedal, refer to
Brakes 107
Brake rotors 107
Brakes 107
– ABS 77
– brake fluid 180
– breaking-in
procedure 106
– handbrake 50
Brake system 106
– brake-fluid level 180
– brake pads 107
– breaking-in
procedure 106
– disc brakes 107
– indicator lamp 13, 107
Breakdown services, refer
to Roadside
Assistance 191
Break-in procedures 106
– brakes 106
– clutch 106
– differential 106
– engine 106
Brightness on the Control
Display 73
Bulbs and lamps
– replacing the bulbs 184
Buttons on steering
wheel 11
C
California Proposition
65 Warning 183
"Call" 154
Call
– accepting 153
– display accepted 154
– ending 154
– in absence 154
– starting 153
Calling
– from phone book 154
– from the Top 8 list 154
– redialing 154
Calling up traffic
information 126
"Call sender" 156
"Call Sirius" 138
Can holder, refer to
Beverage holders 99
Capacities 201
Car battery, refer to
Battery 188
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
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204
Cargo, securing 109
Cargo area
– locking separately 31
Caring for artificial leather,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for light-alloy
wheels, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Caring for plastic, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer
to Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Car jack
– jacking points 188
Car keys, refer to Central
keys with remote
control 26
Car phone 151
– installation location, refer
to Center armrest 98
– refer to Portable
phone 150
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Car radio, refer to
Radio 134
Car wash 106
– refer also to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Catalytic converter, refer to
High temperatures 106
"Categories" 138
CBC Cornering Brake
Control 78
CBS Condition Based
Service 181
"CD" 130
CD changer 144
– adjusting the tone 131
– controls 130
– fast forward/reverse 146
– installation location 144
– listening to a CD 144
– playing a track 145
– random order 146
– repeating a track 145
– selecting track 145
– switching on/off 130
– volume 131
CD for navigation 114
CD player 141
– adjusting the tone 131
– controls 130
– fast forward/reverse 142
– playing a track 142
– random order 142
– repeating a track 142
– selecting tracks 141
– switching on/off 130
– volume 131
Center armrest 98
Center console, refer to
Comfort area 14
Central keys with remote
control 26
"Central locking" 38
Central locking system 27
– from inside vehicle 30
– from outside vehicle 27
Changes, technical, refer to
Parts and accessories 6
Changing a wheel 187
Changing selector-lever
positions 55
Changing the direction
display for navigation 124
Changing the language on
the Control Display 74
Changing the
measurement units on the
Control Display 74
Changing wheels 174
CHECK button 69
Check Control 68
"Check Control
messages" 69
Check Gas Cap 168
Checking the air pressure,
refer to Tire inflation
pressure 170
Child's seat 45
Child-restraint fixing
LATCH 47
Child restraints 45
Child-restraint system 45
Child-safety lock 48
Chock 187
Chrome parts, care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cigarette lighter 100
Circulation of air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode 91
"City" for destination
entry 117
Cleaning, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Cleaning headlamps
– washer fluid 57
Cleaning windshield 57
"Climate" 41
Clock 65
– 12/24 hour mode 74
– setting the time and
date 74
Closing
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
Cockpit 10
Comfort area 14
Comfort seat 37
"Communication" 152
"Communication
interface" 161
Compact Disc
– refer to CD changer 144
– refer to CD player 141
Compact wheel
– inflation pressure 171
– wheel change 187
Compression ratio, refer to
Engine data 198
Computer 70
– clock, 12/24 hour
mode 74
– displays on the Control
Display 70
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205
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Condition Based Service
CBS 181
"Confirmation" 28
Confirmation signals for
vehicle locking 28
"Confirm unlock code" 153
Connecting a vacuum
cleaner, refer to Lighter
socket 100
Consumption display
– refer to average
fuel consumption 70
Consumption indicator
– refer to Energy Control 66
"Continue guidance to
dest.?" 126
Control Center 16
– adjusting the
brightness 73
– assistance window 18
– automatic climate
control 92
– changing settings 73
– changing the menu
page 19
– confirming selection or
entry 19
– display, menus 16
– language selection 74
– lists 19
– menu item selection 19
– selecting units of measure
and display format 74
– setting time and date 74
– status information 18
– symbols 17
Control Display 16
Controller, refer to Control
Center 16
Controls, audio
systems 130
Controls, refer to
Cockpit 10
Convenience operation
– glass roof 28
– windows 28
Convenience start, refer to
Starting the engine 49
Coolant 179, 180
– level 180
Cooling, maximum 91
Cornering Brake Control 78
"Country" for destination
entry 117
Country of destination for
navigation 116
Courtesy lighting 89
Cruise control 58
– active cruise control 59
– indicator lamp 11
Cruising range 70
Cup holder, refer to
Beverage holders 99
Curb weight, refer to
Weights 200
Current fuel
consumption 66
"Current position" 115
"Customer Relations" 163
Cylinders, refer to Engine
data 198
D
Dashboard, refer to
Cockpit 10
Data 198
– capacities 201
– dimensions 199
– engine 198
– weights 200
Date 65
– calling up 65
– display format 75
– setting 75
Daytime driving lamps 87
DBC Dynamic Brake
Control 79
– indicator lamp 79
Decommissioning the
vehicle, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Defect
– automatic
transmission 56
– door lock 29
– fuel filler door 168
– glass roof 35
– luggage compartment
lid 31
– Sequential manual
transmission SMG 53
Defrosting the windshield,
refer to Defrosting
windows 91
Defrosting windows and
removing
condensation 91
Defrost position, refer to
Defrosting windows 91
"Delete address book" for
navigation 121
"Delete all numbers" on the
portable phone 155
"Delete data" for
navigation 121
"Delete" for portable
phone 155
Deleting the destination
address 120
Destination for navigation
– entry 116
– recent destinations 119
– selecting via map 118
– selecting with
information 118
– storing 120
Destination guidance 123
– changing specified
route 121
– interrupting voice
instructions 125
– selecting a new route 125
– terminating/
continuing 126
– volume of voice
instructions 125
"Detour" 126
"Dial number" 153
Digital clock 65
Dimensions 199
Dipstick for engine oil 178
Directional indicators, refer
to Turn signal
indicators 56
Direction announcements,
refer to Voice
instructions 124
Direction instructions, refer
to Voice instructions 124
Directory, refer to Phone
book 154
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Directory for navigation,
refer to Address
book 120
Disc brakes 107
Displacement, refer to
Engine data 198
Display lighting 88
Displays
– refer to Cockpit 10
– refer to Control Display 17
– refer to Instrument
cluster 12
Displays on the windshield,
refer to Head-Up
Display 85
Disposal
– brake fluid 180
– coolant 179
– engine oil 179
– vehicle battery 189
Distance, refer to
Computer 71
Distance cruise control,
refer to Active cruise
control 59
"Distance to destin.“ 71
Distance to destination,
refer to Computer 71
Distance warning, refer to
Park Distance Control 76
Divided rear seat back,
refer to Fold down rear
seat 101
Door entry lighting 89
Door keys 26
Door lock 29
"Door locks" 28
Doors
– manual operation 29
– remote control 28
DOT Quality Grades 173
Draft-free ventilation 94
"Driver" 42
"Driver's door only" 28
Driving light, refer to
Parking lamps/low
beams 87
Driving notes 106
Driving stability control 78
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes 106
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function 91
Drying the air, refer to
Cooling function 91
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control 78
– indicator lamp 78
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control 79
– indicator lamp 79
DVD for navigation 114
Dynamic Brake Control 79
– indicator lamp 79
Dynamic Driving Control 54
"Dynamic route" for
navigation 121
Dynamic Stability
Control 78
– indicator lamp 78
Dynamic Traction
Control 79
– indicator lamp 79
E
EBV Electronic Brake Force
Distribution 78
"Edit" on the portable
phone 154
Electrical malfunction
– door lock 29
– fuel filler door 168
– glass roof 35
– luggage compartment
lid 31
Electrical power windows,
refer to Windows 33
Electronic Brake
Force Distribution EBV 78
Electronic Stability
Program ESP, refer to
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control 78
Emergency assistance,
refer to Roadside
Assistance 191
Emergency call 190
Emergency operation, refer
to Manual operation
Emergency release of
luggage compartment lid
from luggage
compartment’s interior 32
Emergency services, refer
to Roadside
Assistance 191
"Emission inspect." 67, 67
"Enable services" 162
"End call" 154
Energy-conscious driving,
refer to Energy Control 66
Energy Control 66
Engine
– breaking-in
procedure 106
– data 198
– speed 198
– starting 49
Engine compartment 178
Engine coolant 179
Engine hood 177
Engine oil
– adding 179
– checking the oil level 178
– prescribed oils 179
Engine output, refer to
Engine data 198
Engine speed 198
"Enter address" 116
Entering destination 117
Entering house number or
intersection 117
Entering switch-on times of
independent ventilation/
heating 95
Entering the address 116
Entering the
intersection 117
Entering the town/city for
navigation 117
Entering zip code for
navigation 117
"Entertainment" 130
"Entertainment
settings" 131
"Equalizer" 133
"Equalizer", audio
systems 131
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207
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control 78
Exhaust system, refer to
High temperatures 106
Exterior mirrors 42
– automatic dimming
feature 43
F
"Fader", audio systems 132
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control 68
False alarms, refer to
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 33
False alarms with the Flat
Tire Monitor 80
Fastening safety belts, refer
to Safety belt
– indicator lamp 40
"Fastest route" for
navigation 121
Fastest route for
navigation 121
First aid, refer to First aid
kit 191
First aid kit 191
Fitting for towing 193
Flashlight, refer to
Rechargeable
flashlight 98
Flash when locking/
unlocking 28
Flat tire
– compact wheel 187
– Flat Tire Monitor 81
– refer also to Changing a
wheel 187
– refer also to Tire
condition 173
– run-flat tires 81, 175
Flat Tire Monitor 80
– false alarms 80
– indicator lamp 81
– initializing the system 81
– malfunctions 82
Floods, refer to Water on
the road 107
"FM", waveband 130, 134
FM, waveband 134
Fog lamps 89
– indicator lamp 89
Fold down rear seat 101
Folding rear seat back 101
Footwell lamps 89
Forward, fast
– CD changer 146
– CD player 142
For your own safety 6
Front airbags 83
Front armrest 98
Front head restraints 40
Front seat adjustment 36
Front-to-rear adjustment in
Audio mode 132
"FTM" 81
Fuel 169
– display 66
– quality 169
– tank volume 66
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge 66
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge 66
Fuel filler door 168
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction 168
Fuel specifications 169
Fuses 189
G
Garage door opener, refer
to Integrated universal
remote control 96
Gasoline, refer to Fuel
quality 169
Gasoline display, refer to
Fuel gauge 66
Gear changes, refer to
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 55
Gear display 54
Gearshift lever
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 55
– manual transmission 51
– Sequential manual
transmission SMG 51
General car care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
General driving notes 106
Glass roof, electrical 34
– closing in the event of an
electrical defect 35
– convenience operation 29
– remote control 28
Glove compartment 98
– lighting 98
GPS navigation, refer to
Navigation system 114
Grilles of the automatic
climate control 90
Gross vehicle weight, refer
to Weights 200
H
Halogen lamps 185
Handbrake 50
– indicator lamp 50
Hands-free unit 151
Hazard warning flashers 14
Head airbags 83
Headlamp control,
automatic 87
Headlamp flasher 56
Headlamps 87
– care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
– replacing the bulbs 185
Headlamp washers 57
Head Light, refer to
Adaptive Head Light 88
Head restraints 39
– front 39
– front, active 40
– rear 40
"Head-Up Display" 44
Head-Up Display 85
Heated mirrors 43
Heated rear window 91
Heated seats 41
Heated steering wheel 44
"Heated steering wheel on /
off" 44
Heater, rear window 91
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Heating 90
– mirrors 43
– steering wheel 44
Heating while stopped 92
Heavy cargo, refer to
Stowing cargo 109
Height, refer to
Dimensions 199
Height adjustment
– head restraints 39
– seats 37
– steering wheel 43
High beams 88
– headlight flasher 88
– indicator lamp 13
– replacing the bulbs 185
Hills 107
Holder for beverages 99
"Horn" 44
Horn 10
"Hour memo" 75
"House number" for
destination entry 117
Hydraulic brake assistant,
refer to DBC 79
Hydroplaning 106, 174
I
Ice warning 65
iDrive, refer to Control
Center 16
Ignition key 26
Ignition key positions, refer
to Ignition lock 49
Ignition lock 49
Independent ventilation
– switching on and off
directly 94
Independent ventilation/
heating
– entering switch-on
times 95
– preselecting switch-on
times 95
Indicator/warning lamp
– active steering 82
– airbags 84
– Flat Tire Monitor 81
– front fog lamps 11
– overview 13
– safety belt warning 40
Individual air distribution 93
Individual button
assignment options on
steering wheel 44
Individual settings, refer to
Key Memory 26
Inflation pressure, refer to
Tire inflation
pressure 170
"Information" for
navigation 118
Information for navigation
– on a different city 118
– on city of destination 118
– on current position 118
"Information on
destination" 119
"Input map" 118
Installation location
– CD changer 144
– navigation computer 114
– portable phone 151
Instructions for navigation
system, refer to Voice
instructions 124
Instrument cluster 12
Instrument combination,
refer to Instrument
cluster 12
Instrument lighting 88
Instrument panel, refer to
Instrument cluster 10
Integrated universal remote
control 96
Interesting destination 118
"Interim time" 73
Interior lamps 89
– remote control 28
Interior mirror, refer to
Interior rearview mirror 43
Interior motion sensor 33
– switching off 28
Interior rearview mirror 43
– automatic dimming
feature 43
Interlock, refer to Steering
locked 49
Intermittent mode of the
wipers 57
J
Jacking points 188
Joystick, refer to Control
Center 16
Jump-starting 192
K
Key Memory 26
"Keypad" 156
Keys 26
Key set, refer Central keys
with remote control 26
Kickdown 55
Knock control 169
L
Lamps and bulbs 184
"Languages" 74
"Languages" for
navigation 124
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing the load 109
"Last seat position" 38
LATCH child-restraint
fixing 47
LEDs light-emitting
diodes 89
Length, refer to
Dimensions 199
Letter symbol on portable
phone 156
License plate light
– replacing the bulbs 186
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs 89
Lighter 100
– socket 100
"Lighting" 56, 87
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209
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Lighting
– instruments 88
– of the vehicle, refer to
Lamps 87
Lighting of the instruments,
refer to Instrument
lighting 88
Lights, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams 87
Lights on warning 87
Light switch 87
Limit speed, refer to
Limit 72
Loading
– securing the load 109
– stowing cargo 109
– vehicle 108
"Lock after driving off" 30
"Lock button" 28
Locking
– from inside 30
– from outside 28
Locking and unlocking
doors
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
– setting confirmation
signals 28
"LOGIC7", audio
systems 132
Low beams 87
– automatic 87
– replacing the bulbs 185
Lower back support, refer
to Lumbar support 38
Lug bolts 188
– wrench 187
Luggage compartment 31
– capacity 200
– locking separately 31
– opening/closing, refer to
Luggage compartment
lid 31
– opening from the
inside 31
– opening from the
outside 31
– opening with remote
control 28
– socket 100
– volume 200
Luggage compartment
lid 31
– emergency release from
inside luggage
compartment 32
– locking separately 31
– manual operation 31
– opening from the
inside 31
– opening from the
outside 31
– opening with remote
control 28
– unlocking manually 31
Luggage rack, refer to
Roof-mounted luggage
rack 109
Lumbar support 38
LW, waveband 134
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires 175
Maintenance, refer also to
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for
US models or Warranty
and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian
models
Maintenance system 181
Malfunction
– automatic
transmission 56
– Sequential manual
transmission SMG 53
Malfunction warnings, refer
to Check Control 68
Manually controlled
recirculated air 91
"Manual" on the radio 135
Manual operation
– door lock 29
– fuel filler door 168
– glass roof 35
– luggage compartment
lid 31
Manual operation with
automatic
transmission 55
Manual release, refer to
Manual operation
Manual station tuning 135
Manual transmission 51
"Map, arrow display" 123
"Map, direction of
travel" 124
"Map, facing north" 124
Maximum cooling 91
Maximum roof weight 200
Maximum speed
– for winter tires 175
– with compact wheel 188
Memory
– refer to Key Memory 26
– refer to Seat, mirror and
steering wheel
memory 38
Menus, refer to Control
Center 16
Message list of traffic
information 126
Microphone for hands-free
system 151
Mirrors 42
– automatic curb
monitor 39
– dimming feature 43
– heating 43
– memory, refer to Seat,
mirror and steering wheel
memory 38
"Missed calls" 155
Missed calls 154
Mobile communications in
the vehicle 108
Mobile Service, refer to
Roadside Assistance 191
Monitor, refer to Control
Center 16
"Monitor display on" 77
Monitoring inflation
pressure, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 80
Multifunction switch
– refer to Turn signal
indicators/headlamp
flasher 56
– refer to Wiper/washer
system 57
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Music track
– find 142, 145
"Mute on / off" 44
MW, waveband 134
N
"Navigation" 44, 114
Navigation, refer to
Navigation system 114
Navigation CD/DVD 114
Navigation computer,
installation location 114
Navigation destination
– manual entry 116
Navigation system 114
– address book 120
– current position 115
– destination guidance in
assistance window 115
– destination input 116
– destination list 119
– entering a destination
manually 116
– navigation CD/DVD 114
– recent destinations 119
– route display 123
– route list 124
– selecting destination
using information 118
– selecting route
criteria 121
– starting 114
– starting destination
guidance 123
– switching off, refer to
Terminating/continuing
destination guidance 126
– terminating/continuing
destination guidance 126
– voice instructions 124
– volume adjustment 125
"Navigation voice
instructions on" 124
Neck support, refer to Head
restraints 39
"New destination" 116, 118
"New route" 125
"Next entertainment
source" 44
North alignment of map for
navigation 124
Nozzles, refer to
Windshield washer
nozzles 57
"Number" on portable
phone 153
O
OBD connector 183
Octane numbers, refer to
Fuel quality 169
Odometer 65
Oil
– additives 179
– capacity 201
– dipstick 178
– specified engine oils 179
Oil change interval,
refer to Service
requirement display 66
Oil consumption 178
Oil level 178
Old batteries, refer to
Disposal 189
"On a new destination" for
navigation 119
"Onboard info" 71
Onboard monitor, refer to
Control Center 16
Onboard tool kit 184
"On destination" 119
"On location" 119
Opening and closing
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
– using the door lock 29
– using the remote
control 27
Operation via voice for
portable phone 157
– adjusting volume 158
– canceling 157
– correcting phone
number 158
– correcting unlock
code 158
– dialing phone number 158
– entering unlock code 158
– placing a call 158
– redialing 159
– switching on phone 158
– voice commands 157
– voice phone book 158
Orientation menu, refer to
Start menu 17
Output, refer to Engine
data 198
Outside air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode 91
Outside temperature
display 65
– changing the
measurement unit 74
– in the computer 74
P
Panic mode 28
Park Distance Control
PDC 76
Parking
– vehicle 50
Parking aid, refer to Park
Distance Control PDC 76
Parking brake, refer to
Handbrake 50
Parking lamp
– replacing the bulbs 185
Parking lamps/low
beams 87
– replacing the bulbs 185
"Parking lamps on!" 69
Parts and accessories,
refer to Your individual
vehicle 5
"Passenger" 42
Passenger-side mirror tilt
function 39
"Pathway lighting" 87
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Reference
211
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Pathway lighting 87
"PDC" 77
PDC Park Distance
Control 76
"Phone" 152
Phone book 152
Phone numbers
– deleting in the phone
book 155
– dialing 153
– most recent numbers 154
– selecting in the phone
book 154
– Top-8 154
Please fasten safety belt
warning lamp 41
Portable phone
– accepted calls 154
– adjusting volume 152
– calling 153
– call termination 154
– controlling with the
buttons on the steering
wheel 11
– entering unlock code 152
– hands-free system 151
– installation location, refer
to Center armrest 98
– missed calls 154
– phone book 154
– redialing 154
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
– SMS 156
– Top-8 154
– touch tone redialing 156
Portable phone, refer to
separate Owner's Manual
Portable phone battery 151
Portable phone codes 152
Portable phone in
vehicle 108
Portable phones, use in the
interior, refer to Mobile
communications in the
vehicle 108
Position
– displaying 115
"Presets" on the
radio 134, 138
Pressure, tires 170
Pressure monitoring,
tires 80
"Profile" 165
Programming button
function 44
Programming buttons on
steering wheel 44
R
Radio
– adjusting the tone 131
– autostore 135
– controls 130
– play station 135
– satellite radio 138
– selecting the
waveband 130, 134
– station search 136
– station selection 134
– station with the best
reception 135
– store station 136
– switching on/off 130
– volume 131
– Weather Band 137
Radio-control key, refer to
Central key with remote
control 26
Rain sensor 57
"Random“, random
sequence
generator 142, 146
Random play
– CD changer 146
– CD player 142
Reading lamps 89
Rear armrest 101
Rear center armrest 101
Rear head restraints 40
Rear lamps
– replacing the bulbs 186
Rear seat back, folding 101
Rear seats
– folding backrests 101
– head restraint
adjustment 40
– heating 41
Rear ventilation 94
Rearview mirror 42
Rear window blind, refer to
Roller sun blinds 97
Rear window safety
switch 34
"Received calls" 155
Receiving level of portable
phone, refer to Status
information 18
Recent destinations 119
Recent portable phone
numbers 154
Reception
– quality 137
– radio stations 137
– regional
program 135
Recirculated air 91
Reclining seat, refer to
Backrest 37
Recording times, refer to
Stopwatch 73
"Redial" for portable
phone 155
Redialing with portable
phone 154
Refueling 168
"Relock door if not
opened" 30
Remaining distance 71
Remote control 26
– garage-door opener 96
– luggage compartment
lid 28
– malfunctions 29
"Repeat" on the
radio 142, 145
Replacement fuses 189
Replacement keys 29
Replacement of
wheels 174
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs 184
Replacing wheels/tires 174
Reporting an accident,
refer to Starting an
emergency call 190
Reporting safety defects 7
Reserve warning, refer to
Fuel gauge 66
"Reset" for stopwatch 73
Residual heat 92
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Everything from A to Z
212
Restraint systems, refer to
Safety belts 40
Reverse, fast
– CD changer 146
– CD player 142
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 55
– manual transmission 51
– Sequential manual
transmission SMG 52
Right/left balance
adjustment in audio
mode 132
"Roadside Assistance" 162
Roadside Assistance 191
"Roaming" 165
Roller sun blinds 97
Roof-mounted luggage
rack 109
Route 123
– changing 121
– display 123
– list 124
– map cancellation 123
– map display 124
– new 125
– selecting 121
– selecting criteria 121
Route announcements,
refer to Voice
instructions 124
Route guidance, refer to
Destination guidance 123
"Route list" for
navigation 124
Route map 123
Route selection 121
Run-flat tires 175
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire 175
– flat tire 81
– tire inflation pressure 175
– tire replacement 174
S
Safety belts 36, 40
– damage 41
– sitting safely 36
– warning lamp 40
Safety belt tensioners, refer
to Safety belts 36, 40
Safety feature
– glass roof, electrical 35
– windows 34
Safety lock buttons 30
Safety systems 78
– ABS Antilock Brake
System 77
– airbags 83
– safety belts 40
Satellite radio 138
– activating 138
– selecting channel 138
– storing channel 138
"SAT" for radio 138
Scan
– CD changer 145
– CD player 142
– radio 136
"Scan", playing
stations 135
"Scan", playing
tracks 142, 145
Screen, refer to Control
Display 16
"Screen on / off" 44
"Seat heater
distribution" 41
Seats 36
– adjusting comfort seat 37
– adjusting sports seat 37
– adjusting the seats 37
– heating 41
– memory, refer to Seat,
mirror and steering wheel
memory 38
– sitting safely 36
– storing the setting 38
– ventilation, refer to Active
seat ventilation 42
Securing cargo, refer to
Cargo 109
Securing the load 102
"Select as destination" 119
Select "BMW Service" 162
"Select current speed" 73
Selecting a new route for
navigation system 125
Selecting audio
sources 130
Selecting new scale for
navigation system
display 124
Selecting route 121
Selecting "Route
preference" 121
Selection options with
navigation system 121
Selector lever
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 55
– Sequential manual
transmission SMG 52
Selector lever lock, refer to
Changing selector-lever
positions 55
Selector-lever positions
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 55
– manual transmission 51
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission 52
Sequential manual
transmission SMG 51
"Service" 66, 162
Service, refer to Roadside
Assistance 191
Service Interval
Display 66
"Service notification" 162
"Service Request" 163
"Service
requirements" 66, 162
"Service Status" 162
"Set date" 75
"Set service date" 67
Setting road-speed limit 72
Settings
– changing on the Control
Display 73
– configuring, refer to Key
Memory 26
Setting the time, refer to
Preselecting switch-on
times 95
Shifting gears with
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 55
Shiftlock, refer to Changing
selector-lever
positions 55
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Reference
213
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
"Shortest route" for
navigation 121
Shortest route for
navigation 121
Shoulder support 37
"Show current
position" 118
"Show destination
position" 118
Side airbags 83
Side marker lamps,
replacing the bulbs 186
Side turn signal indicators,
replacing the bulbs 186
Side window blind, refer to
Roller sun blinds 97
Sitting safely
– with airbags 36
– with safety belts 36
Ski bag 101
Sliding/tilt sunroof, refer to
Glass roof, electric 34
SMG Sequential manual
transmission 51
"SMS" 156
Snow chains 176
Socket
– for Onboard Diagnosis
interface 183
– in front passenger
footwell 100
– in luggage
compartment 100
– refer to Lighter
socket 100
SOS, refer to Starting an
emergency call 190
Sound control, refer to
Tone control 131
Spare fuses 189
Spare key 26
Spare wheel, refer to
Compact wheel 187
Special oils, refer to
Specified engine oils 179
Specified engine oils 179
Speed
– winter tires 175
– with compact wheel 188
Speed-dependent
volume 132
Speedometer 12
"Speed volume", audio
systems 132
Sport program
– Dynamic Driving
Control 54
Sports seat 37
Stability control,
refer to Driving stability
control 77
Standard default settings,
audio systems 133
Standing lamps 88
"Start" for stopwatch 73
"Start guidance" 118
Starting, refer to Starting
the engine 49
Starting assistance, refer to
Jump-starting 192
Starting destination
guidance 123
Starting difficulties
– at very low
temperatures 49
Starting the engine 49
Start menu on the Control
Display 17
"Start service" 163
Start-up difficulties
– jump-starting 192
Station, refer to Radio 134
"Status" 66
Status 67
Status of this Owner's
Manual at time of
printing 5
Steering wheel 11
– adjustment 43
– buttons on the steering
wheel 11
– heating 44
– individual button
assignment options 44
– memory 38
"Steering wheel
buttons" 44
Steering with variable ratio,
refer to Active steering 82
Steptronic, refer to
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 54
"Stop" for stopwatch 73
"Stopwatch" 73
Stopwatch 73
Storage compartments 99
"Store address" for
navigation 120
"Store" on the radio 136
Storing sitting position,
refer to Seat, mirror and
steering wheel
memory 38
Storing tires 175
Straps, refer to
Loading 109
"Street" for destination
entry 117
Stroke, refer to Engine
data 198
Summer tires, refer to
Wheels and tires 170
Sun blinds 97
SW, waveband 134
Switches, refer to
Cockpit 10
Switching off engine 50
Switching off the tilt alarm
sensor 28
Switching on/off
– audio 130
– CD changer 130
– CD player 130
– cooling function 91
– navigation voice
instructions 124
– portable phone 151
– radio 130
Swiveling headlamps, refer
to Adaptive Head Light 88
Symbols 4
T
Tachometer 65
Tail lamps
– replacing the bulbs 186
Target cursor for
navigation 118
Technical data 198
Telematic 161
Telephone, refer to
Portable phone 150
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Everything from A to Z
214
TeleService 161
– enabling 161
– services offered 162
Temperature display
– ice warning 65
– outside temperature 65
– setting the units 74
"Terminate services" 165
"Text language" 74
The BMW Maintenance
System 181
Tightening torque, refer to
Tightening lug bolts 188
Tilt function, passenger-
side mirror 39
"Time" 74
"Time 1" for independent
ventilation 95
"Time 2" for independent
ventilation 95
Timer, refer to Preselecting
switch-on time 95
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 80
Tire Quality Grading 173
Tires
– age 172
– changing 174
– condition 173
– damage 174
– flat 187
– inflation pressure 170
– pressure monitoring 80
– replacing 187
– run-flat 175
– size 172
– tread 173
– wear indicators 174
Tone control 131
Tone on locking/
unlocking 28
Tools, refer to Onboard tool
kit 184
"Top 8" for portable
phone 155
Torque 198
– lug bolts 188
Touch tone dialing 156
Tow fitting 193
Towing
– with automatic
transmission 193
– with sequential manual
transmission SMG 193
Towing eye 193
Tow sockets for tow
fitting 194
Tracks
– random play
sequence 142, 146
– sample scan 142, 145
Track width, refer to
Dimensions 199
Traction Control System,
refer to DSC 78
Transmission
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 54
– manual transmission 51
– Sequential manual
transmission SMG 51
Transporting children
safely 45
Transport securing device,
refer to Securing the
load 109
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 173
"Treble", audio
systems 132
"Trip computer" 72
Trip computer 71
Trip-distance counter, refer
to Trip odometer 65
"Triple turn signal
activation" 56
Trip odometer 65
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid 31
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 199
Turn signal indicators 56
– replacing the bulbs 185
U
Underbody protection,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 173
"Units" 74
Units
– average fuel
consumption 74
– temperature 74
Universal garage-door
opener, refer to
Integrated universal
remote control 96
Universal remote
control 96
Unlock code 152
Unlocking
– engine hood 177
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
"Update services" 165
V
Valve stem seal caps 188
Vehicle
– battery 188
– care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
– dimensions 199
– loading 108
– parking 50
– washing, refer to Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– weights 200
Vehicle jack 187
Vehicle position 115
"Vehicle settings" 38
Ventilation 94
– draft-free 94
– front 94
– rear 94
Ventilation while parked 94
"Vent settings" 92
Vents of the automatic
climate control 90
Voice command system 20
Voice instructions for
navigation system 124
– muting 125
– repeating 125
– switching on/off 124
– volume 125
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Reference
215
At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunications NavigationEntertainmentMobility
Voice phone book 158
Volume 130
– audio sources 130
– portable phone 152
– speed-dependent 132
– voice instructions 125
Volume of the luggage
compartment 200
W
Warning and indicator
lamps 13
Warning messages, refer to
Check Control 68
Warning triangle 191
Washer fluid 57
– content of the
reservoir 58
– reservoir of the cleaning
systems 58
Water on the road,
floods 107
Waveband 134
"WB" 130, 137
Wear indicators in the
tires 174
Weights 200
Wheelbase, refer to
Dimensions 199
Wheel changes 187
Wheels and tires 170
"Where to go?" 164
Width, refer to
Dimensions 199
Windows 33
– convenience opening 28
– convenience operation 29
– safety switch 34
Windshield washer
system 57
– washer fluid 57
– washer nozzles 57
Windshield wipers 57
– blade replacement 184
Winter tires 175
– speed limit selection 72
– storage 175
Wiper blade
replacement 184
Wiper system 57
"With freeways" for
navigation 121
Wordmatch principle for
navigation 122
Working in the engine
compartment 177
Wrenches/screwdrivers,
refer to Onboard tool
kit 184
X
Xenon lamps 185
– replacing the bulbs 185
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 157 647 - © 07/03 BMW AG
Refueling
To ensure that you always have all the
essential data at hand when refueling, we
recommend that you fill in the following
tables with the specifications and informa-
tion that apply to your vehicle. Consult the
index for individual specifications.
Fuel
Engine oil
The oil quantity between the two marks
on the dipstick is approx. 1.6 US quarts/
1.5 liter.
Tire inflation pressures
Designation
Please enter your preferred fuel here.
Quality
Summer tires
Front Rear
Winter tires
Front Rear
Up to 4 persons
5 persons or 4 plus luggage
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