
 
Preface
 
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 therefore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the 
information that we have compiled for you before driving your new car. It contains  
important data and instructions intended to assist you in gaining maximum use and 
satisfaction from the unique range of technical features on your BMW. The manual 
also contains information on care and 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 
(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models). We 
recommend that you read these publications thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:
Ð New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Ð Limited Warranty Rust Perforation
Ð Emissions System Defect Warranty
Ð Emissions Performance Warranty
Ð California Emissions Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet (US models) and the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet 
(Canadian models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG 

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Indicator and warning lampsYellow: Stop immediately
Engine oil level
 
Comes on while driving: Stop 
the vehicle and switch off the 
engine immediately. The oil level is at 
the absolute minimum.
For additional information: Refer to 
page 125.
Do not continue driving until you 
have topped up the engine oil. If 
you continue to drive, the engine could 
be damaged because of inadequate 
lubrication.< 
Red and yellow: Continue driving 
cautiously 
Cornering Brake Control (CBC) l
If the brake warning lamp comes 
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and DSC: 
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC 
control system has failed. Con-
tinue driving cautiously and 
defensively. Avoid hard brake 
applications. Please have the system 
checked by your BMW center as soon as 
possible. 
For additional information: Refer to 
pages 79 and 107.
CBC, ABS and DSC indicator 
and warning lamps for Canadian 
models.
Red: An important reminder
Parking brake
Comes on when the parking 
brake is applied Ð an additional 
acoustic signal sounds when starting 
off. 
For additional information: Refer to 
page 63.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts l 
An acoustic warning signal 
sounds simultaneously. Lights 
up for a few seconds or until the safety 
belt is fastened. 
For additional information on safety 
belts: Refer to page 54.
Airbags l 
Please have the system in-
spected by your BMW center. 
For additional information: Refer to 
pages 56 and 163. 

34n
Central locking system Opening and closing Ð from outside The conceptThe central locking system is ready for 
operation whenever the driver's door is 
closed. The system engages and re-
leases the locks on the
>doors,
>luggage compartment lid and 
>fuel filler door. 
The central locking system can be 
operated
>from outside via the door lock and 
using the remote control
>from inside by pressing a button.
Activating it from inside does not lock 
the fuel filler door (see page 38). When 
the system is actuated from the out-
side, the antitheft system is activated 
simultaneously. Both the door locks 
and the safety lock buttons remain 
locked. The alarm system
* is also 
armed or disarmed.
If locked from the inside, the central 
locking system unlocks automatically in 
the event of an accident. In addition, 
the hazard warning flashers and interior 
lamps come on.
Using the keyOne turn of the key in the driver's door 
lock unlocks the driver's door only. 
Turning the key a second time unlocks 
the passenger-side door, the luggage 
compartment lid and the fuel filler door.
You can have a confirmation mes-
sage set to inform you that the car 
has been properly locked.<
You will find additional information on 
the alarm system
* on page 42.
460de006
Convenience operating modeYou can also operate the power win-
dows and sliding/tilt sunroof
* via the 
door lock.
>To open: With the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Unlock" position and 
hold it.
>To close: With the door closed, turn 
the key to the "Lock" position and 
hold it.
Watch during the closing process 
to be sure that no one is injured. 
Releasing the key stops the opera-
tion.<
Manual operation (in the event of electrical malfunction)
Turn the key to the extreme left or right 
to unlock/lock the door. 

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Opening and closing Ð from outsideTo open the luggage compartmentPress button 3.
The luggage compartment lid will open 
slightly, regardless of whether the lid 
was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the luggage compartment lid 
was not opened unintentionally.<463de026
Panic-Mode (trigger alarm)By pressing button 3 for two to five sec-
onds, the alarm
* can be sounded in the 
event of danger, if it is armed.
Pressing button 1 will deactivate the 
alarm.
The LED (light-emitting diode) lights up 
briefly when the individual buttons are 
pressed.
Non-BMW systemsThe proper functioning of the remote 
control system may be affected by 
other units or equipment operating in 
the immediate vicinity of your car.
If this should this occur, you can still 
open and close the vehicle using the 
master key in both the door and lug-
gage compartment locks.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with part 15 of the FCC (Federal 
Communications Commission) regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the 
following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the 
following 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 
equipment.< 

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Alarm system
*
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is dis-
armed: An attempted entry has been 
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the in-
dicator lamp will flash continuously.Avoiding an unintentional alarmThe 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 the vehicle twice (= arm the sys-
tem). Press button 2 on the remote con-
trol twice in succession or lock the 
vehicle twice with the key (refer to 
page 36).
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor 
are deactivated as long as the system is 
armed.
Interior motion sensorThe transmitter and receiver of the inte-
rior motion sensor are located in a trim 
panel in the vehicle's roof.
In order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and 
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely 
closed.
However, you should switch off the inte-
rior motion sensor (see previous column 
under the heading "Avoiding an unin-
tentional alarm") if you wish to leave the 
windows or sliding/tilt sunroof open.460de159
The tilt sensor and interior motion 
sensor are deactivated if the con-
venience closing mode for the windows 
and the sliding/tilt sunroof is interrupted 
within the first 10 seconds and then 
reinitiated. If this happens, you must 
disarm the system and then re-arm it.< 

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Electric power windows Sliding/Tilt sunroof
* 
Safety switch You can use the safety switch to deacti-
vate the rear power window switches 
(when children are in the rear seats, for 
instance).
Press the safety switch whenever 
children are riding in the rear of 
the vehicle. Careless use of the power 
windows can lead to injury.<460de014
Exercise care when closing the 
sliding/tilt sunroof and keep it in 
your field of vision until it is completely 
closed. Failure to do so can result in 
injuries.
Remove the key from the ignition and 
close the doors when you leave the ve-
hicle so that children cannot operate 
the sunroof and possibly injure them-
selves.<
To avoid pressure or drafts in the pas-
senger compartment when the sunroof 
is open or raised, keep the air vents in 
the dashboard open and increase the air 
supply if necessary. Refer to page 89.
If the sunroof is completely open, air 
disturbances may be caused in the 
vehicle when you are driving at higher 
speeds. Close the roof as far as is nec-
essary until this natural phenomenon 
ceases.
For the convenience operating mode 
with the door lock or the remote con-
trol, refer to page 34 or 35.
Lifting Ð Opening Ð ClosingIn ignition key position 1 or 2, press the 
switch or slide it to the desired direction 
until you feel resistance. 
When lifting, the headliner retracts 
several inches.
After the ignition has been switched off, 
you can still operate the sunroof for up 
to 15 minutes, as long as neither of the 
front doors has been opened.Automatic opening and closing>Press the switch past the resistance 
point briefly: The sunroof travels to 
either the fully-closed or fully-open 
position.460de015 

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Mirrors Car Memory, Key Memory Interior rearview mirror with 
automatic dimming feature
*
By responding to the effects of ambient 
light and the glare from following traffic, 
this mirror automatically dims through 
an infinitely-variable range.
The mirror switches to its clear, un-
dimmed mode whenever the transmis-
sion is placed in reverse gear (selector 
lever in "Reverse"). 
To ensure that the mirror continues to 
operate properly, keep the two photo-
cells clean and unobstructed. One pho-
tocell (arrow) is in the mirror glass, while 
the other is offset somewhat on the 
other side of the mirror.
For an explanation of the electrochro-
mic technology used in this mirror, refer 
to page 165.460de020
How the system functionsYou have probably frequently wished 
that you could configure individual 
functions of your vehicle to reflect your 
own personal requirements. In engi-
neering your vehicle, BMW has in-
cluded several user-defined functions 
in the vehicle's design. Your BMW cen-
ter can make these settings for you in 
accordance with your wishes. 
There are settings related to the vehicle 
("Car Memory") and settings related to 
individuals ("Key Memory"). You can 
have up to four different basic settings 
adjusted for four different persons. The 
only requirement is that each person 
uses his or her own remote control key. 
When your vehicle is unlocked with the 
remote control, the vehicle recognizes 463de029
the individual user by means of a data 
exchange with the key, and makes ad-
justments accordingly. 
In order for you to distinguish between 
different keys, colored decals are sup-
plied together with the keys.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with 
details on the capabilities of the Car 
Memory and Key Memory systems. 
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to re-
mind you at appropriate places of the 
settings that are available to you.<
An example of Key Memory is the auto-
matic adjustment of the driver's power 
seat
* with settings stored in the mem-
ory for the individual driver when the 
vehicle is unlocked. 

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
0  Steering lock engaged The key can only be inserted or re-
moved in this position.
After removing the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the left or right until 
the lock engages.
If the key is not removed, an acoustic 
signal is sounded after the driver's door 
has been opened.
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion:
Do not move the selector lever from the 
"Park" position until the engine is run-
ning (ignition key at position 2).
In order to turn the key back to position 
0 or to remove it, move the selector 
lever into position "Park" first (Inter-
lock).<460de022
1  Steering lock disengaged Turning the steering wheel slightly to 
the right or left often makes it easier to 
turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual electrical devices are ready 
for operation.2  Ignition onAll electrical equipment and accesso-
ries are available for use.3  Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion: Depress the clutch when 
starting the vehicle. A lockout prevents 
the engine from starting if the clutch is 
not depressed.c
Before starting>Engage the parking brake.
>Be sure that the shift lever is in "Neu-
tral" (or "Park" if the vehicle is equipped 
with an automatic transmission).
>Manual transmission: Depress the 
clutch pedal.
>Automatic transmission: Depress the 
footbrake.
Do not run the engine in enclosed 
areas. The exhaust gases contain 
carbon monoxide, an odorless and col-
orless, but highly toxic gas. Breathing 
the exhaust gases poses an extreme 
health risk, and can lead to uncon-
sciousness and death.
Do not leave the car unattended with 
the engine running. An unattended vehi-
cle with a running engine represents a 
potential safety hazard.<
>Start the engine. Do not press the 
accelerator pedal.
Do not actuate the starter for too 
short a time, but not turn it for more 
than approx. 20 seconds. Release the 
ignition key immediately when the 
engine starts.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by 
leaving it running while the vehicle remains 
stationary. Instead, begin driving immedi-
ately at a moderate engine speed.<
Steering/Ignition lock  Starting the engine