
 
Contents
 
Overview
Controls and features
 Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)24
Hazard warning flashers25
Warning triangle25
First-aid kit25
Refueling26
Fuel specifications26
Tire inflation pressure27
 
Locks and security systems:
 
Keys32
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð from 
outside34
Opening and closing Ð from 
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment41
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Sliding/Tilt sunroof45
 
Adjustments:
 
Seats47
Seat and mirror memory50
Steering wheel51
Mirrors52
Car Memory, Key Memory53
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Safety belts54
Child restraint systems55
Child-safety locks56
Airbags56
Child restraints59
Installing a child restraint 
system60
 
Driving:
 
Steering/Ignition lock61
Starting the engine61
Switching off the engine62
Parking brake63
Manual transmission64
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic65
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher68
Wiper/Washer system/Rain 
sensor68
Rear window defroster70
Cruise control71
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer73
Tachometer73
Energy Control73
Fuel gauge74
Temperature gauge74
Service Interval Display74
Check Control75
Clock75
Onboard computer76
 
Technology for safety and 
convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)78
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)79
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)80
 
Contents 

30n
Controls Locks and security systems:
Keys32
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð from 
outside34
Opening and closing Ð from 
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment41
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Sliding/Tilt sunroof45
Adjustments:
Seats47
Seat and mirror memory50
Steering wheel51
Mirrors52
Car Memory, Key Memory53
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts54
Child restraint systems55
Child-safety locks56
Airbags56
Child restraints59
Installing a child restraint 
system60 

55n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Safety belts Child restraint systems
* 
nal injury. In addition, the safety belt's 
restraint effectiveness is reduced if the 
belt is worn loosely.
Expectant mothers should also wear 
the safety belt, taking special care to 
place the lap belt over the lower hips, 
where it does not exert pressure on the 
abdominal area.<
For care instructions, refer to "Car care" 
page 135.
If the safety belt system has been 
subjected to the stresses in-
volved in an accident or otherwise 
damaged: Have the entire safety belt 
mechanism replaced by your BMW 
center, including the safety belt ten-
sioner. In addition, have your BMW 
center inspect the safety belt anchors. 
If a child restraint system was in the ve-
hicle during an accident, consult the 
manufacturer's instructions regarding 
replacement.<
Never install a rear-facing child re-
straint device on the front passen-
ger seat. Injuries could occur if the air-
bag is triggered in the event of an 
accident.
Children should always ride in the rear.
Do not modify the child restraint system 
in any way. If you do so, it will not pro-
vide your child with maximum protec-
tion.< 

57n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
AirbagsIndicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the 
operational status of the airbag 
system when the ignition key is 
in position 1 and higher.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly 
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on.
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly 
before going out, and then lights up 
again.
If there is a system malfunction, there is 
a risk that the airbags will not be trig-
gered within their normal response 
range, even if the level of impact would 
normally have triggered them. 
Have your BMW center inspect and 
repair the system immediately. 
The airbag indicator lamp also 
comes on if the safety belt ten-
sioners have been triggered.<
For your own safety, please com-
ply with the following precautions 
concerning airbags. If you do not, their 
protective function may be impaired 
and your personal safety endangered. 
The following information pertains to all 
occupants: 
The airbags are supplemental restraint 
devices designed to provide extra pro-
tection; they are not a substitute for 
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all 
times. The airbags will not be triggered 
in the event of a minor accident, a vehi-
cle roll-over, or collisions from the rear. 
In these instances, the safety belt offers 
the best protection.
Airbags are located under the cover 
panels in the steering wheel, in the in-
strument panel, in the side trim panels 
in the front and rear
*, in the roof panels, 
and in the sides of the inside roof lining.
Select a seat position that is comfort-
able and allows the greatest possible 
distance from each of the applicable air-
bags. Hold the steering wheel at the rim 
(hands at the "9 o'clock and 3 o'clock" 
positions) in order to avoid injuries to 
your hands or arms if the airbag is trig-
gered. 
Never allow any objects to obstruct the 
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant.
Do not use the cover panel above the 
front passenger airbag as a storage 
area. 
Never tape the airbag cover panels, 
cover them over or alter them in any 
other way.
Never install a rear-facing child restraint 
device on the front passenger seat. Chil-
dren under 13 years of age and children 
who are smaller than 5 feet (150 cm), 
should only travel in the rear seat. 
If your vehicle is equipped with side air-
bags in the rear, be sure that child seats 
are installed correctly and with the 
greatest possible distance from the side 
trim panels. Do not allow children to 
lean out of the child's seat in the direc-
tion of the side trim panels. Otherwise, 
serious injuries could occur if the airbag 
is triggered.
At all times, occupants should sit up-
right and be properly restrained (infants 
and small children in appropriate child 
restraint systems; larger children and 
adults using the safety belts). Never let 
an occupant's head rest near or on a 
side airbag because the inflating airbag 
could cause a serious or fatal injury. 
Please note that the word "Airbag" im-
printed on the door trim panel indicates 
the airbag's location. 

58n
AirbagsAccident research shows that the safest 
place for children in an automobile is in 
the rear seat. However, a child sitting in 
the rear seat and not properly restrained 
may place his or her head on or near the 
side airbag, if so equipped. For exam-
ple, a child Ð even though belted Ð 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 positioned at 
all times and not place their heads on or 
near the side airbag. Therefore, we rec-
ommend that the rear seat side airbags, 
if provided, be deactivated if you plan to 
transport children in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already 
have been deactivated, either at the 
time of manufacture or by a BMW cen-
ter. Labels in the rear door opening 
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.
of injuries to the face, hands and arms 
occurring from airbag deployment in 
isolated instances. The ignition and in-
flation noise may induce a mild tempo-
rary hearing loss in sensitive individu-
als.
For additional information concerning 
the airbag system: Refer to pages 137 
and 163.
This is the right way for a child to sit in a 
child restraint when rear side airbags 
(arrow) are provided.
462us012 

59n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags Child restraints
* 
This is the right way for a larger child to 
sit wearing the safety belt when rear 
side airbags (arrow) are provided.462us013
Commercially available child seats 
complying with the legal standard 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 sys-
tems can increase the risk of injury to 
children. Always read and follow the in-
structions that come with the system.380us123
If you use a child restraint system with a 
tether strap, three additional tether an-
chorage points (refer to the arrows in 
the illustration) have been provided. 
Depending on the location selected for 
seating in the rear passenger area, at-
tach the tether strap to the correspond-
ing anchorage point to secure the child 
restraint system. Remove the cover first 
on the middle location.
If the respective seating position is fit-
ted with a headrest lift the headrest and 
pass the tether strap between the 
headrest and the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the 
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Before installing any child restraint 
device or child seat, please read 
the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child re-
straint system in the front passenger 
seat of this car.
Your car is equipped with an airbag 
supplemental restraint system for the 
front passenger. Because the backrest 
on any rear-facing child restraint system 
(of the kind designed for infants under 
1 year and 20 lbs.) would be within the 
airbag's deployment range, you should 
never mount such a device in the front 
passenger seat, since the impact of the  

60n
Child restraints
*
Installing a child restraint system
airbag against the child restraint's back-
rest could lead to serious or fatal inju-
ries.
If it is necessary for a child (not an in-
fant) to ride in the front seat, certain pre-
cautions should be taken. First, move 
the passenger seat as far away from the 
dashboard as possible. This important 
precaution is intended to maximize the 
distance between the airbag and the 
child. Older children should be tightly 
secured with the safety belt. Younger 
children should be secured in an appro-
priate forward-facing child restraint sys-
tem that has first been properly secured 
with a safety belt.
Never install a rear-facing child restraint 
system in the front passenger seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read 
and comply with the instructions for in-
stallation and use provided by the child 
restraint's manufacturer whenever you 
use such a device.
Be sure that all occupants (of all ages) 
remain properly and securely restrained 
at all times.c
All rear seating positions in your vehicle 
meet the recommendations of SAE 
J1819, an industry recommended prac-
tice for securing child restraint systems 
in motor vehicles.All of the rear belt retractors and the 
front passenger's safety belt can be 
locked for mounting and securing child 
restraint systems.
Information pertaining to this is located 
in the immediate vicinity of the buckle 
latch of each safety belt.
Lock the safety beltExtract the entire length of the belt from 
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the 
reel to retract the belt somewhat and 
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt 
against the child restraint system. The 
retraction mechanism is now locked. 
The belt cannot be extracted further. 
Always comply with the installation 
instructions provided by the manufac-
turer of the child restraint system.462us014
Unlock the safety beltRelease the safety belt, remove the 
child's seat and pull the safety belt out 
to its end position on the belt retractor. 

Everything from A to ZAABS (Antilock Brake 
System)22, 106
Accessories6
Activated-charcoal 
filter90, 155
Adaptive Transmission 
Control (ATC)65, 162
Adding engine oil125
Adding washer 
fluid124, 175
Adjusting the backrest47
Adjusting the steering 
wheel51
Adjusting the thigh support 
area49
Air distribution88
Air nozzles86
Air outlets86
ventilation86
Air pressure113
Air supply89
Airbags21, 56, 137, 163
Alarm system42
Antenna112
Antenna, Diversity164
Antifreeze128
radiator110
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)22, 106
Anti-theft alarm system42
Aquaplaning104, 113
Armrest93Ashtray95
front95
rear96
ATC (Adaptive Transmission 
Control)65, 162
AUC (Automatic 
recirculated-air 
control)89
Automatic car washes132
Automatic climate 
control86
removing condensation 
from the windows89
Automatic cruise control71
Automatic dimming, interior 
rearview mirror53
Automatic recirculated-air 
control (AUC)89
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic22, 65
Automatic windshield 
washer69
Average consumption77
Average speed77
Axle loads174
BBackup lamps64
bulb replacement145
Battery152, 176
capacity176
charge154discharged157
removal and 
installation153
Battery charge current20
Battery Safety Terminal 
(BST)153
Belts54
Blower89
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oils126
BMW Sports Seat49
Bore172
Brake fluid129
Brake hydraulic system20
Brake lamps
bulb replacement145
Brake pads22
Brakes108
malfunctions109
Break-in procedure104
Breaking in the vehicle104
BST (Battery Safety 
Terminal)153
Bulb replacement142
CCapacities175
Car Memory53
Car radio112
refer also to the separate 
Owner's ManualCar radio 
reception112, 164
Car vacuum cleaner, 
connecting96
Car wash132
Care
exterior133
interior134
Care of upholstery135
Care of wool velour135
Cargo loading99
Caring for the vehicle 
finish133
Catalytic converter105
CBC (Cornering Brake 
Control)21, 107
Cellular phone95, 112
refer also to the separate 
Owner's Manual
Center (high-mount) brake 
lamp147
Center armrest93
Central locking system34
button38
Changing a tire149
Changing a wheel149
Charge indicator lamp20
Check Control75
Child restraint 
systems55, 59
Child seat59
Child-safety locks56
Cigarette lighter96      
Everything from A-Z