
137n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
OBD connector The Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) connec-
tor is on the driver's side, underneath 
the left-hand side of the instrument 
panel, under a cover. The cover has the 
letters "OBD" on it.
The purpose of the OBD system is to 
assure proper emission control system 
operation for the vehicle's lifetime by 
monitoring emission-related compo-
nents and systems for deterioration and 
malfunction.460us250
An illuminated indicator informs you of 
the need for service, not that you need 
to stop the vehicle. Your system should 
be checked, however, at the earliest 
possible opportunity.
If the indicator blinks or flashes, this 
indicates a high level of engine misfire. 
Reduce speed and contact your near-
est BMW center immediately. Severe 
engine misfire over only a short period 
of time can seriously damage emission 
control components, especially the cat-
alytic converter.
When the fuel filler cap is not properly 
tightened, the OBD system can detect 
the vapor leak and the indicator will 
light up. If the fuel filler cap is subse-
quently tightened, the indicator should 
extinguish after a short time. 

141n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Lamps and bulbsThe illustration shows the left-hand side 
of the engine compartment.1  Low beams H7, 55 watt bulb2  High beamsH7, 55 watt bulb 
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with 
this precaution could lead to injury if the 
bulb is accidentally damaged during re-
placement.<
1 Turn the bulb holder to the left and 
remove
2 Remove and replace the bulb.460de130
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.<
Xenon lamp
* 
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. If one of these bulbs should 
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using 
the fog lamps, provided traffic laws in 
your area do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high 
voltages involved, any work on the 
lighting system should be carried out by 
qualified personnel only.< 

142n
Lamps and bulbsThe illustration shows the left-hand side 
of the engine compartment.Parking lamp5 watt bulb 
1 Turn the bulb holder to the left (arrow) 
and remove
2 Remove and replace the bulb.460de171
Front turn signals 21 watt bulb 
1 Using a screwdriver, release the inner 
hook through the upper opening
2 Pull out the lamp toward the front
3 Applying light pressure, turn the bulb 
to the left. Remove and exchange the 
bulb462de261
4 Insert the 2 pins on the lamp into the 
guides on the vehicle
5 Push the lamp in. Carefully apply 
pressure until you hear it engage.462de262 

148n
Changing tires 
Take these precautionary mea-
sures if you have either a flat tire 
or are changing the tire:
Park the vehicle as far from the flow of 
traffic as possible and on firm ground. 
Switch on the hazard flashers. Turn the 
steering wheel to the straight-ahead 
position, remove the key and engage 
the steering lock. Shift into 1st or re-
verse (selector lever in "Park" with auto-
matic) and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the 
car and well away from your immediate 
working area (behind the guardrail, for 
instance).
If a warning triangle or portable hazard 
warning lamp is available, set it up on 
the roadside at an appropriate distance 
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply 
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm 
surface that is not slippery. Avoid jack-
ing the car on a soft or slippery support 
surface (snow, ice, loose gravel, etc.), 
as it could slide sideways.
Ensure that the jack is positioned on a 
solid support surface.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar 
objects  under the jack. If this done, the 
jack might not be able to reach its full 
support capacity because of the limited 
height.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the 
engine when the vehicle is supported 
by the jack – risk of fatal injury.< 
Your BMW has either a spare
* or 
space-saver tire
* for temporary use and 
to ensure your mobility. 
Take the luggage compartment 
floor panel completely out to 
remove the spare tire
* (refer to 
page 41).<
You will the need the followingIn order to avoid rattling noises later, 
note the position of the tools when you 
remove them and return them to their 
original position when you are through 
using them.
>A jack (1)
Raise the floor panel in the luggage 
compartment (refer to page 41) and 
unscrew the red wing nut (arrow).
When you have completed work, 
screw the jack all the way back down. 
Fold the handle back and insert it in 
its holder
>Wedge (2)
The wedge, or wheel chock, is lo-
cated behind the jack on the luggage 
compartment's rear wall. Loosen the 
wing nut to remove it460de058 

152n
Battery
A highly-explosive gas is gener-
ated when the battery is 
charged.
If you happen to get acid in your 
eyes, rinse thoroughly for 15 min-
utes with clear water. Consult a 
physician immediately. Rinse your skin 
or clothing with plenty of water if you get 
acid spray on them. If electrolyte is acci-
dentally ingested, consult a physician 
immediately.
In order to protect the battery 
case from ultraviolet radiation, 
do not place it in direct sunlight. 
A discharged battery can freeze. Store 
the battery in areas where temperature 
remains above freezing.
Battery careThe battery is completely maintenance-
free, as per DIN 43 539/2; that is, the 
amount of acid put in the battery origi-
nally will normally last for the service life 
of the battery. 
Charge conditionWith the help of the "Magic Eye", a 
hydrometer, you can read the battery's 
charge state:
>Green: Adequate charge.
>Black: Not adequately charged. The 
battery must be recharged. Please 
contact your authorized BMW center 
for additional information.
>Yellow: Replace the battery.
The service life specified for the 
battery can be achieved only if it is 
always kept adequately charged. If the 
vehicle is primarily used for stop-and-
go traffic, be sure to check the charge 
state often.<460de252
Removal and installation 
Do not disconnect the battery 
cables when the engine is run-
ning, otherwise the ensuing voltage 
surge will damage the vehicle's on-
board electronics. 
Do not alter the positive terminal wiring 
in any way, otherwise the safety battery 
terminal's safety function will no longer 
be guaranteed. Repair and disposal are 
to be performed exclusively by trained 
technicians.<
When removing the battery, disconnect 
the cable on the negative terminal first, 
then the cable on the positive terminal. 
Loosen the center adjusting screw on 
the battery retaining strap (use the 
screwdriver included with the onboard 
tool kit) and disconnect the strap.
When installing a battery, connect the 
positive terminal first, then connect the 
negative terminal.
When installing a battery, be sure 
that it is mounted properly and 
that the retaining bracket is installed 
with the center adjustment screw. If this 
is not done, the battery will not be ade-
quately secured in case of an acci-
dent.< 

153n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Battery FusesCharging the battery Charge the battery in the vehicle only 
when the engine is not running. 
Before doing any work on the 
electrical system, be sure to 
unclamp the cable from the battery's 
negative terminal, or it could cause 
short-circuiting, a fire or personal 
injury.<
If the vehicle is to be parked longer than 
4 weeks, disconnect the battery from 
the vehicle's electrical system by dis-
connecting the negative terminal cable.
If you intend to store your car for longer 
than six weeks: Remove the battery, 
charge it and store it in a cool (but frost-
free) room. Recharge the battery every 
6 months at the latest, at the very least 
before each installation, or else it will be 
unusable. Every time the battery is dis-
charged, especially over extended peri-
ods, its service life is reduced.
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your authorized 
BMW center. Maintain the battery in an 
upright position for transport and stor-
age. Secure the battery against tilting in 
transit.< 
Storage periods during which the 
battery is disconnected are not 
taken into consideration by the Service 
Interval Display for changing the brake 
fluid.
Therefore, make sure that the brake 
fluid is changed every two years at the 
latest, regardless of the display. Com-
ply with the information provided on 
page 127.<
If an electrical accessory should fail, 
switch it off and check the fuse. In glove compartment1 Open the glove compartment and 
turn the two white quick-release 
fasteners outward. Spare fuses and 
plastic tweezers are located on the 
fuse holder
2 Use the plastic tweezers to remove 
the fuse for the accessory or equip-
ment that has stopped working 
3 If the fuse is burned through (the 
metal strip is melted and separated), 
replace it with a new fuse of the same 
ampere rating (color code).460de062 

156n
Never use spray starter fluids. 
If the battery is discharged the engine 
can be started with the use of two 
jumper cables and the battery of an-
other vehicle. Always use jumper ca-
bles with fully insulated handles on the 
terminal clamps.
Contact with parts conducting 
electrical current on a running 
engine can be harmful or fatal.<
Carefully comply with the following in-
structions to avoid personal injury and 
damage to one or both vehicles:
1 Ensure that the battery on the sup-
port vehicle is also rated at 12 volts, 
and that the capacities of the two 
batteries (Ah) are roughly comparable 
(printed on casing) 
2 Leave your battery connected to the 
car electrical system 
3 Make sure that there is no contact 
between the bodywork of the two 
vehicles – short circuit risk!
4 Start by connecting the jumper cable 
from the positive terminal of the sup-
port vehicle to the positive terminal 
connector located in your BMW's 
engine compartment.
The cover of the positive terminal 
connector is marked with a "+" sign. 
Refer to the illustration. Remove by 
pulling the tab (arrow 1) 
5 Then connect the negative terminals. 
Attach the cable to either the support 
vehicle's negative battery terminal (–), 
or to a suitable ground on its engine 
or bodywork. Then connect the other 
end of the cable to a ground on the 
engine or on the bodywork of the ve-
hicle that is to be started. This a spe-
cial nut that is provided on the BMW 
(arrow 2) 
Observe the same sequence for 
connecting the jumper cables 
when helping other vehicles, otherwise 
there is the risk of injury if sparks gener-
ate at the battery.<462de253
6 If the battery on the support vehicle is 
weak, start the engine and let it run 
7 Start the engine on the vehicle need-
ing the jump-start, and allow it to run 
as usual. If the first start attempt is 
not successful, wait a few minutes 
before another attempt in order to 
allow the discharged battery to re-
charge 
8 Before disconnecting the jumper ca-
bles from your BMW, turn on the rear 
window defroster and set the blower 
to the highest speed; allow the en-
gine to run approx. 10 seconds. This 
will prevent a voltage surge from the 
voltage regulator to the electrical 
accessories 
9 Then disconnect the jumper cables in 
reverse sequence.
Depending on the cause of the fault, 
recharge the battery.
Jump-starting 

160n
On vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion, the ATC (Adaptive Transmission 
Control) uses a number of factors to 
calculate the maximally efficient gear. In 
this process, it considers your individ-
ual driving style as well as current driv-
ing conditions.
ATC recognizes your personal driving 
style from the positions and movements 
of the accelerator pedal, deceleration 
when braking and lateral acceleration 
through curves. Based on different shift 
characteristics – from comfort-oriented 
to performance-oriented – ATC will se-
lect the appropriate gear.
462uso11
In order to include driving conditions in 
its calculations, ATC registers curves 
and both uphill and downhill gradients. 
For example, if you maintain speed 
through a curve, it does not upshift. On 
uphill gradients, it shifts up only when 
the engine speed increases in order to 
make more efficient use of power re-
serves. On downhill gradients, ATC 
shifts down when the speed of the vehi-
cle increases and the driver must apply 
the brakes.
ATC
*