
 
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 specifications27
Tire inflation pressure27
 
Opening and closing:
 
Keys32
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing – from 
outside34
Opening and closing – from 
inside38
Luggage compartment lid39
Luggage compartment40
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
Manual convertible top45
The fully automatic convertible 
top49
Wind deflector51
 
Adjustments:
 
Seats53
Seat and mirror memory57
Steering wheel58
Mirrors58
Car Memory, Key Memory60
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Safety belts61
ISOFIX Attachment of the 
child seat62
Airbags63
Child restraints66
Installing a child restraint 
system67
Rollover protection system68
 
Driving:
 
Steering/Ignition lock70
Starting the engine70
Switch off the engine71
Parking brake72
Manual transmission73
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic74
Turn signal indicator/
Headlamp flasher77
Washer/Wiper system/
Rain sensor77
Rear window defroster79
Cruise control80
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer82
Tachometer82
Energy Control82
Fuel gauge83
Coolant temperature gauge83
Service Interval Display83
Check Control84
Clock84
Onboard computer85
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)87
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)88
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)89
 
Contents 

 
19n
 
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
 
Instrument cluster
 
1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp 
for fuel reserve83
2 Turn signal indicator lamp23
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for 
 
>
 
Battery charge current20
 
>
 
High beams23
 
>
 
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil 
level20, 22
5 Tachometer and Energy Control82
6 Engine coolant temperature gauge 
with "Coolant temperature too high" 
indicator83
7 Indicator and warning lamps
(clockwise) for
 
>
 
Parking brake/Brake hydraulic 
system/Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC)20
 
>
 
Antilock Brake System (ABS)22 
 
>
 
Brake pads22
 
>
 
Tire Pressure Control 
(RDC)
 
* 
20, 22
 
>
 
Rollover protection system68
 
>
 
Airbags21
 
>
 
Please fasten safety belts21
 
>
 
Cruise control23
8 Reset button for 
 
>
 
Clock849 Program display for automatic 
transmission
 
* 
76
Indicator lamp for automatic 
transmission
 
* 
22, 76
10 Indicator lamp for Dynamic Stability 
Control (DSC)22
11 Display for
 
>
 
Odometer82
 
>
 
Trip odometer82
 
>
 
Clock84
 
>
 
Service Interval83
Display for onboard computer
 
* 
, 
operation via the turn signal lever, 
refer to page 85:
 
>
 
Clock
 
>
 
Outside temperature
 
>
 
Average fuel consumption
 
>
 
Cruising range 
 
>
 
Average speed
12 Display for Check Control84
13 Trip odometer, reset to zero8214 Indicator and warning lamps 
(clockwise) for 
 
>
 
Fog lamps23
 
>
 
Add washer fluid22
 
>
 
Coolant level23
 
>
 
Electronic Engine Power 
Control (EML)
 
* 
23
 
>
 
Engine22
You can display the outside tem-
perature and distance driven in 
different units of measurement.
 
< 

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
31n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock70
Starting the engine70
Switching off the engine71
Parking brake72
Manual transmission73
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic74
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher77
Washer/Wiper system/ 
Rain sensor77
Rear window defroster79
Cruise control80
Everything under control:
Odometer82
Tachometer82
Energy Control82
Fuel gauge83
Coolant temperature gauge83
Service Interval Display83
Check Control84
Clock84
Onboard computer85
Technology for safety and 
convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)87
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)88
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)89Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams91
Instrument lighting91
High beams/Parking lamps92
Fog lamps92
Interior lamps92
Reading lamps93
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
Automatic climate control94
Seat heating99
Cabin conveniences:
Glove compartment99
BMW Universal 
Transmitter *100
Storage compartments102
Cellular phone103
Ashtray front103
Cigarette lighter104
Ashtray rear104
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag105
Cargo loading106
Luggage rack for the 
hardtop108 

42n
Alarm system
*
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid is opened
>Movements inside the vehicle 
>To a change in the vehicle's tilt – 
if someone attempts to steal the 
wheels or tow the vehicle without 
authorization, for example
>If there is an interruption of battery 
voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for 
30 seconds
>Activating the hazard warning 
flashers for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in 
tandem with the hazard warning 
flashers.
To activate and deactivate the 
alarm systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
by using a key or the remote control, 
the alarm system is also armed or dis-
armed at the same time.
The interior protection and tilt sensor 
alarm systems are activated approx. 
30 seconds after you have shut the last 
door.
If the alarm system has been armed 
correctly, the hazard warning flashers 
flash once.
You can have one signal set as 
acknowledgment when arming 
and disarming.<
You can also open the luggage com-
partment lid when the system is armed 
by pressing button 3 of the remote con-
trol (refer to page 37). When it is closed, 
the lid is once again secured.
Indicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located under the 
inside rearview mirror.
>When the indicator lamp flashes con-
tinuously, the system is armed>The indicator lamp flashes when it 
is armed. Doors, the hood or luggage 
compartment lid are not closed 
properly. Even if you do not close the 
alerted area, the remaining areas are 
deadlocked, and the indicator lamp 
flashes continuously after 10  seconds. 
However, the interior protection 
system is not activated>If the indicator lamp goes out when 
the system is disarmed, no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have 
been detected in the period since the 
system was armed46cus033 

63n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags 1 Front airbags for driver and passenger
2 Side airbags (front)Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the three-
point safety belts by providing addi-
tional protection for the front-seat oc-
cupants in the event of a severe frontal 
collision in which the protection af-
forded by the belts alone may no longer 
be sufficient. The side airbags help pro-
vide protection in the event of a colli-
sion from the side. Each of the side air-
bags is designed to help support the 
upper body.46cus032
The illustration depicts schematically 
the primary directions of vehicle impact 
that initiate airbag deployment.46cde027
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp displays the 
operational status of the airbag 
system when the ignition key is 
in position 1 and up.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly 
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly 
before going out and then lighting up 
again.
A system malfunction could prevent the 
system from responding to an impact 
occurring within its normal response 
range.
Please have your BMW center inspect 
and repair the system as soon as 
possible.  

75n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
D Drive (automatic shift program)This position is designed for driving un-
der all normal operating conditions. All 
forward gears are available."Kickdown" In the "Kickdown" mode, you achieve 
maximum performance and the top 
speed in position "D". 
To activate this mode, depress the ac-
celerator pedal beyond the full-throttle 
position, going beyond the point of re-
sistance.
M/S Manual mode and Sport 
ProgramShifting from D into M/S activates the 
Sport Program. This is indicated by 
"SD" in the gear selection display. This 
position is recommended for a perfor-
mance-oriented driving style.
With the first brief touch, the automatic 
transmission shifts from the Sport Pro-
gram to the manual mode.
When you move the selector lever for-
ward in the "+" direction, the transmis-
sion shifts up. When the lever is moved 
back in the "–" direction, the transmis-
sion shifts down. M1 to M5 appear in 
the gear indicator.46cde054
Upshifts or downshifts will only be car-
ried out by the ATC at appropriate en-
gine speeds and road speeds. If the en-
gine speed is too high, for instance, a 
downshift will not be executed. The 
gear selected will appear briefly in the 
instrument cluster followed by the cur-
rent gear.
To accelerate quickly in the man-
ual mode (to pass another vehi-
cle), shift down manually or employ the 
"Kickdown" mode.<
Shifting from M/S to the selector lever 
positions P, R and N is possible only by 
going through D. 

76n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
In the following situations, the Step-
tronic "thinks" for you in the manual 
mode:
>In order to prevent the engine from 
overrevving, the transmission shifts 
automatically to the next higher gear 
just before the RPM cutoff point
>If you do not do anything to inter-
vene, it will automatically downshift 
at lower speeds
>In the "Kickdown" mode, the trans-
mission shifts down to the lowest 
gear which is possible, depending on 
the engine speed
>Depending on the situation – when 
driving in adverse winter conditions, 
for example – you may also start out 
in 2nd or 3rd gear.
Available displays 
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
Electronic transmission control 
module
If the indicator lamp comes on, 
there is a malfunction in the 
transmission system.
46cus005
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the 
transmission selector lever to "P". Set 
the parking brake and turn the engine 
off (ignition key to position 0). 
Wait a few seconds, then start the 
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a 
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may 
continue to drive as usual. If the indica-
tor lamp does not go out, you can put 
the selector lever in all positions. How-
ever, the vehicle will now only operate 
in 3rd and 4th gear. 
If this happens, avoid extreme engine 
loads and consult the nearest BMW 
center.
Do not work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear (for-
ward or reverse) is engaged. If you do 
this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing and jump-starting the 
vehicle, refer to page 168 

82n
1 Odometer You can activate the displays shown in 
the illustration with the ignition key in 
position 0 by pressing the button in the 
instrument cluster (arrow).2 Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero, 
press the button (arrow) with the 
ignition key in position 1 and up.462us005
Avoid engine speeds that fall within the 
gauge's red warning zone.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
automatically interrupted in this zone; 
you will notice a loss of power.462us017
Indicates current fuel consumption in 
mpg (in liters per 100 km on Canadian 
models). You can check your current 
driving style to see whether it is condu-
cive to economy and minimum exhaust 
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the 
needle goes to "Maximum" (zero on 
Canadian models).462us018
Odometer Tachometer Energy Control