11n
Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams96
Instrument panel lighting96
High beams/Parking lamps97
Fog lamps97
Interior lamps97
Reading lamps98
Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:
Automatic climate control100
Rear passenger-area air
conditioning105
Seat heating106
Steering wheel heating106
Roller sun blind107
Independent ventilation
system107
Cabin convenience:
Integrated Universal
Remote Control108
Glove compartment110
Center armrests111
Additional storage areas113
Cup holder113
Cellular phone113
Ashtray114
Cigarette lighter115
Rear footrests115
Loading and transporting cargo:
Ski bag116
Cargo loading118
Roof-mounted luggage rack118
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure122
Driving notes123
Catalytic converter124
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)125
Disc brakes126
Brake system128
Winter operation128
Power steering130
Level control system130
Cellular phone131
Radio reception131
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure132
Tire condition132
Tire replacement133
Tire rotation133
Wheel and tire
combinations134
Winter tires135
Snow chains135
Approved wheel and tire
specifications136
Under the hood:
Hood137
Engine compartment138
Washer fluids142
Washer nozzles142
Engine oil143
Coolant146
Brake fluid147
Oil for power steering/
Level control system148
Vehicle Identification
Number148
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System149
Caring for your car150
Airbags156
Vehicle storage156
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications to the
vehicle157
OBD connector158
19n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Instrument cluster
1 Fuel gauge with lamp for fuel
reserve range73
2 Turn signal indicators22
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for high beam
headlamps22
5 Tachometer and
Energy Control72, 73
6 Coolant temperature gauge74
7 Indicator and warning lamps for
>
Parking brake21
>
Hydraulic brake system/Dynamic
Brake Control (DBC)
*
20, 21
>
ABS21
>
Airbag21
>
Please fasten safety belts21
>
Cruise control22
8 Check button75
9 Program display for automatic
transmission64, 67
10 Outside temperature display7211 Indicator lamp for Automatic
Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)
*
21
12 Trip odometer72
13 Check Control display75
14 Odometer72
15 Service Interval Display74, 149
16 Reset button for trip odometer72
17 Indicator and warning lamps for
>
Fog lamps22
>
Battery charge current20
>
Engine oil pressure20
>
Check Engine lamp21
You can display the outside tem-
perature and distance driven in
different units of measurement.
<
20n
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Many of the systems of your BMW mon-
itor themselves automatically, both dur-
ing engine starts and while you are driv-
ing. Indicator and warning lamps that
are identified by "
l
" are tested for
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.
Red: Stop immediately
Battery charge current
l
The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator ribbed V-belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
ribbed V-belt is defective, increased
steering effort is also required.
<
Engine oil pressure
l
Comes on while the engine is
running and the "Stop! ENGINE
OILPRESS" message appears in the
Check Control:
Stop vehicle and switch off engine im-
mediately. Check level of oil in engine,
top up as required. If oil level is correct:
Please contact the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.
<
Brake hydraulic system
l
The brake fluid level is too low.
Before driving further, be sure to
read the notes on pages 128 and 147.
Also comes on with the message
"Check brake pads" in the Check Con-
trol.
Brake hydraulic system warning
lamp for Canadian models.
75n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Check ControlSystem malfunctions are reported in
text form and alerts or warnings are
each reported by a gong when the igni-
tion key is in position 2.
1 CHECK button
2 Status report symbol
3 Display
Messages concerning system faults
are differentiated based on two priori-
ties:380us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol (2). Several simultaneous de-
fects will be displayed consecutively.
These messages remain active until the
malfunction is corrected. They cannot
be cleared with CHECK button (1).
>RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
This message appears together with
an acoustic signal any time you begin
to drive and the parking brake is ap-
plied.
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
Coolant overheated. Stop the vehicle
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately.
Refer to pages 74, 146.>STOP! ENGINE OILPRESS
Oil pressure too low. Stop the vehicle
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately. Refer to page 20.
>CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
roughly minimum level. Top up the
brake fluid as soon as possible. Refer
to page 147. Have the cause of the
brake fluid loss corrected by your
BMW center.
>FLAT TIRE
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer.
Refer to page 95.
>LEVEL CONTROL INACTIVE
*
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 130.
>SPEED LIMIT
*
This is displayed if the programmed
speed limit is exceeded.
76n
Check ControlPriority 2
These alerts for problems are reported
for 20 seconds when the ignition key is
in position 2. The status reports remain
after the message disappears. You can
view the message again by pressing the
CHECK button.
>TRUNK LID OPEN
This message is given only when ini-
tially starting off.
>DOOR OPEN
This is displayed after a minimum
vehicle speed is exceeded.
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition, the indicator lamp with
the safety belt symbol appears and
an acoustic signal is heard.
>WASHER FLUID LOW
The washer fluid is too low. Top up
the fluid at the earliest opportunity.
Refer to page 142.
>CHECK ENGINE OIL
Add engine oil as soon as possible.
Refer to page 143.
>OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 247
(–5.06)
This display is only an example. The
current reading appears at an outside
temperature of 37.57 (+36) and
below. Refer also to page 72.>TIRE PRESSURE SET
*
The RDC has imported the current in-
flation pressure in the tires as the tar-
get values which the system will
monitor.
Refer to page 94.
>CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
*
Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure to specifications at the earli-
est opportunity (next stop for fuel).
Refer to page 94.
>TIRE CHECK INACTIVE
*
A temporary interference of the RDC
or a system fault. Refer to page 95
>BRAKE LAMP CIRCUIT
A bulb has failed or the circuit has a
malfunction. Refer to pages 163, 176
or consult an authorized BMW center.
>CHECK LOWBEAMS
CHECK SIDE LAMPS
CHECK REAR LAMPS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LAMP
CHECK TRAILER LIGHTS
CHECK HIGHBEAMS
CHECK BACKUP LAMPS
Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to
pages 163, 176 or consult an autho-
rized BMW center.
>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to pages 64, 67.>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 126.
>REMOTE KEY BATTERY
Change the battery. Refer to
page 168.
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
The coolant is too low. Top up at the
next opportunity. Refer to page 146.
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
Fault in the Electronic Engine Power
Control EML. When braking, higher
brake application pressure may be
necessary and brake pedal travel may
be significantly longer.
Please have the system inspected by
your authorized BMW center.
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
121n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedure122
Driving notes123
Catalytic converter124
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)125
Disc brakes126
Brake system128
Winter operation128
Power steering130
Level control system130
Cellular phone131
Radio reception131
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure132
Tire condition132
Tire replacement133
Tire rotation133
Wheel and tire
combinations134
Winter tires135
Snow chains135
Approved wheel and tire
specifications136Under the hood:
Hood137
Engine compartment138
Washer fluids142
Washer nozzles142
Engine oil143
Coolant146
Brake fluid147
Oil for power steering/
Level control system148
Vehicle Identification
Number148
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System149
Caring for your car150
Airbags156
Vehicle storage156
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications to the
vehicle157
OBD connector158
135n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Winter tires Snow chains
*
Choosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. While tires known as
all-season tires (M+S designation) pro-
vide better winter traction than summer
tires with load ratings H, V, W and ZR,
they generally do not achieve the per-
formance of winter tires.
In the interests of sure tracking and safe
steering response at all four wheels,
mount winter tires which are made by
the same manufacturer and which have
the same tread configuration.
Mount only winter tires which have
been approved by BMW. Any BMW
center will be glad to provide you with
information on the best winter tires for
your particular driving conditions.
Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the tires are
rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire pressureWinter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to be-
low 0.16 in (4 mm), and should thus be
replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures - and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced ev-
ery time you change the tires.StorageStore tires in a cool, dry place, away
from light whenever possible. Protect
the tires against contact with oil, grease
and fuel.
Use narrow-link BMW snow chains on
summer or winter tires only in pairs and
only on the rear wheels. Comply with all
manufacturer's safety precautions when
mounting the chains.
150n
Caring for your carWashing your carYou can have your new BMW washed
in an automatic car wash. Car wash
systems that do not employ brushes are
preferable.
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the car.
To prevent spots, avoid washing when
the hood is still warm, or immediately
after and during exposure to strong
sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash, be
sure that:
>The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle
>No damage will occur on vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). If you are
uncertain, consult the manager of the
car wash
>The wheels and tires of your vehicle
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system
>The vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that ample water
is available for washing and rinsing.Vehicles with rain sensor
*:
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
from automatic car washes or insects,
for example, can cause malfunctions in
the function of the rain sensor.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not,
damage may occur if the wipers switch
on unintentionally.<
Parts of the car which are inaccessible
to the automatic washer - such as door
sills, door and hood edges, etc. -
should be cleaned by hand.
In the winter months, it is especially im-
portant to ensure that the car is washed
on a regular basis. Large quantities of
dirt and road salt are difficult to remove,
and they also cause damage to the ve-
hicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's sur-
face.
Inadequate distance and excessive
pressure can damage or weaken the
finish, making it more susceptible to
subsequent attack. In addition, mois-
ture could penetrate to vehicle compo-
nents, leading to long-term damage.<
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
>Do not clean by wiping with a dry
cloth (scratches). Never use abra-
sives or strong solvents to clean the
covers
>Remove dirt and contamination
(such as insects) by soaking with
BMW Car Shampoo and then rinsing
with plenty of water
>Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never
use a scraper.<
After washing the car, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them. Braking
efficiency might otherwise be reduced
by the moisture, and the brake rotors
could also be corroded.<