
 
Contents
 
Overview
Controls and features
 
Cockpit 16
Instrument cluster 18
Indicator and warning lamps 20
Multi-function steering wheel 24
Hazard warning system 25
Warning triangle 25
First-aid kit 25
Refueling 26
Fuel specifications 26
Tire inflation pressure 27
 
Locks and security systems:
 
Keys32
Electronic vehicle  immobilizer 33
Central locking system 34
Door locks – from outside 34
Using the key 34
Using the remote control 35
Door locks – from inside 38
Luggage compartment lid 39
Luggage compartment 41
Alarm system 42
Electric power windows 44
Sliding/tilt sunroof 45
 
Adjustments:
 
Seats47
Seat and mirror memory 50
Steering wheel 51
Mirrors 52
Car Memory, Key Memory 54
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Safety belts55
Child restraint systems 56
Airbags 57
 
Driving:
 
Steering/ignition lock 62
Starting the engine 62
Switching off the engine 63
Parking brake 64 Manual transmission
65
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 66
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher 69
Wiper/washer system/Rain  sensor 69
Rear window defroster 71
Cruise control 72
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer74
Tachometer 74
Energy control 74
Fuel gauge 75
Temperature gauge 75
Service Interval Display 76
Check Control 77
Clock 77
Onboard computer 77
 
Technology for safety and  
convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC) 80
Dynamic Stability Control  (DSC) 81
Tire Pressure Control (RDC) 82 

130n
Washing your car Right from the start, you can wash your 
new BMW 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). Consult the 
car wash operator if necessary
>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 car washes or the presence of 
dead insects can cause rain sensor 
malfunctions.
Switch the rain sensor off when 
the vehicle passes through the car 
wash (refer to page 70). Damage could 
occur by an undesired actuation of the 
wipers if the system is not deacti-
vated.<
Parts of the car that 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 exces-
sive 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 rub dry. Never use abrasives 
or strong cleaning agents 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.<
Caring for your car  

161n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Deceleration sensors continuously 
monitor the physical forces acting upon 
the vehicle. If, as the result of a frontal 
collision, a deceleration is reached at 
which the protection of the safety belts 
alone is no longer adequate, the gas 
generators of the driver and passenger-
front airbags are ignited. However, the 
passenger-side airbag is only triggered 
if an additional sensor has recognized 
that the passenger seat is occupied. 
In the event of a side collision, the Head 
Protection and side airbags in the front 
or rear
* are triggered if necessary. 
390de319
The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of a 
few milliseconds. In this process they 
tear through the rated breaking points 
of the upholstered covers or press them 
out.
Because the inflation process must be 
virtually instantaneous, it is necessarily 
accompanied by a certain amount of 
ignition and inflation noise. The gas 
required to inflate the airbags is not 
dangerous, and the associated smoke 
then dissipates.
The entire process is completed within 
fractions of a second.Highly sensitive sensors monitor the 
number of revolutions of the wheels, 
steering angle, lateral acceleration, 
brake pressure and the movement of 
the vehicle around its vertical axis.
If differences in the wheel speeds oc-
cur, the system counteracts the danger 
of wheelspin by reducing engine torque. 
If necessary, the system also responds 
with additional application of the brakes 
at the rear wheels. 
If the system detects an instability in the 
vehicle's condition, the braking action 
can also be directed to the front wheels 
by the DSC in order to help stabilize the 
vehicle.
You may need some time to become 
accustomed to this system's interven-
tion. However, it provides optimum pro-
pulsive force and driving stability.
The braking intervention may be ac-
companied by a certain degree of 
noise.
Airbags DSC
  

Everything from A to ZGGasoline 26
Gasoline gauge 75
Glove compartment 94
Glove compartment lamp
bulb replacement 146
Grills 88
Gross weight 172HHandbrake 64
Hands-free system 95
Hazard warning system 25
Hazard warning triangle 25
Head restraint 48
Headlamp covers, 
care 130, 141
Headlamp flasher 85
Headlamp washer 
system 122, 173
Headlamp washers 71
Heated mirrors 52
Heated seats 93
Heater and ventilation 88
Heavy loads 100
Height 171
HiFi System – harman 
kardon 94
High beams 23, 69, 85
bulb replacement 141
Hood release 119
Horn 17
Hubcap 149
IIce warning 78
Icy roads 78
Identification, tires 115
Ignition key 32
Ignition lock 62
Indicator lamps 20
Inflation pressure 27, 113
Inflation pressure 
monitoring 82, 164
Inside rearview mirror, 
automatically set for low-
beam lights 53
INSPECTION 76
Installing child restraint 
system 61
Instrument cluster 18
Instrument lighting 84
Instrument panel lighting 84
Interaxle tire rotation 114
Interface socket 96
Interface socket for On-
Board-Diagnostics 137
Interference
cellular phones 112
Interior lamp 36, 85
bulb replacement 145
remote control 36
Interior mirror 52
automatic dim 163
Interior motion sensor 42
Interlock 62
Intermittent wipe 69
JJack 148
Jump-starting 156KKey 32
Key Memory 54LLamp switch 84
Lamps on warning 84
Lashing eyes 100
Leather care 134
Length 171
License plate lamp
bulb replacement 145
Light-alloy wheels 117
Lighter 96
Load-securing devices 100
Low beam headlamps 84
Low beams
bulb replacement 141
Low-beam light inside 
rearview mirror 53
Lug bolts 149
Luggage compartment 39
capacity 172
emergency release 39
floor mat 41
floor panel 41
remote control 37Luggage compartment 
lamps
bulb replacement 146
Luggage compartment 
lid 39
emergency release 39
Luggage compartment 
lighting 39
Luggage rack 101
Lumbar support 49
MM+S tires 116
Maintenance 76, 129
Malfunction displays 77
Manual transmission 65
Manually controlled 
recirculated-air 91
Memory 51
MFL (Multi-function steering 
wheel) 24
Microfilter 93, 154
Microphone 95
Mirror memory 51
Mirrors 52
Mobile phones 112
Modifications, 
technical 6, 136
Multi-function steering wheel 
(MFL) 24 

Everything from A to Z
181n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
NNavigation system, refer to 
the radio operating 
instructions
Neckrest 48
New transmitter, radio 
remote control 147
Non-smokers package 96
Nozzles 122OOBD connector 137
Obstruction protection 44
Odometer 74
Oil
filling capacity 173
quality 124
viscosity 124
Oil additives 123
Oil change intervals, see the 
Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet
Oil consumption 123
Oil dipstick 123
Oil filter change 173
Oil level
check 123
indicator lamp 21
Oil pressure, indicator 
lamp 20
Oil specifications 124
OILSERVICE 76Onboard computer 77
Onboard computer, refer to 
the radio operating 
instructions
Onboard tool kit 140
Opening and closing
from inside 38
from outside 34
Outlets, ventilation 88
Outside temperature 
display 78
PPaint blemishes 131
Paint, care 131
Paintwork
minor repairs 132
waxing 132
Park Distance Control 
(PDC) 80
Parking brake 64
Parking help 80
Parking lamps 84, 85
bulb replacement 142
Parking, winter 111
PDC (Park Distance 
Control) 80
Performance 170
Pocket lamp 94
Pollen 93
Power steering 112
Power windows 44Preheat 62
Pressure monitoring, 
tires 82, 164
Pressure, tires 27, 113
RRadiator 173
Radio Data System 
(RDS) 162
Radio reception 112, 162
Radio remote control, new 
transmitter 147
Radio, refer also to the radio 
operating instructions
Rain sensor 70, 165
RDC (Tire Pressure 
Control) 82, 164
RDS (Radio Data 
System) 162
Reading lamps 86
Rear backrest, folding 98
Rear lamps 143
Rear window 
defroster 71, 92
Rear-view mirror 52
Reclining seat 47
Refueling 26
Remote control 35
Removal of the vehicle from 
service 136
Remove condensation, 
windows 91Replenish washer fluid 122
Reporting safety defects 7
Reserve control lamp 75
Restraint system 56, 60
Reverse 17, 65
Roller blind, sun 
protection 93
Roof load 172
Roof luggage rack 101
Rubber parts 110
SSafety belt height 
adjustment 55
Safety belt tensioner 162
Safety belts 55
safety belt height 
adjustment 55
Safety buttons 38
Safety feature 44
Seat
electric power 50
mechanical 47
Seat adjustment 47
Seat heating 93
Seat memory 51
Securing cargo 100
Securing loads 100
Selector lever, automatic 
transmission 66
Self-diagnostics 166 

Everything from A to ZService and Warranty 
Information Booklet 129
Service Interval 
Display 76, 129
Shiftlock 66
Side airbags 57
Side impact Head Protection 
System 57
Ski bag 99
Sliding 111
Sliding/tilt sunroof 45
closing after electrical 
fault 155
ease of use actuation 34
remote control 35
Slippery roads 110
Snow chains 110, 117
Space-saver spare tire 148
Spare key 32
Spare key with radio remote 
control 32
Spare tire 148
Spark plugs 174
Special oils 124
Speed control 72
Speedometer 18
Sports Seat 49
Start 62
Starting problems 105, 156
Steel wheels 117
Steering 112
Steering wheel lock 62Steptronic 66
Stopping the vehicle 63
Storage shelf 95
Stroke 170
Summer tires 115
Sun roller blind 93
Sun visors 52
Switching off the engine 63
Symbols 4, 151
TTachometer 74
Tail lamps 143
bulb replacement 143
Tank capacity 173
Tank cover
unlock in case of electrical 
fault 155
Technical data 170
Technical 
modifications 6, 136
Telephone prep 95
Telephone, please refer to 
the manufacturer's 
operating instructions
Temperature display
outside temperature 78
Temperature gauge
engine coolant 75
Temperature 
stratification 92
Third brake lamp 145Through-loading facility 98
Tilt alarm 36
Tilt sensor alarm 
system 36, 43
Tire codes 115
Tire damages 113
Tire inflation 
pressure 27, 113
Tire Pressure Control 
(RDC) 82, 164
Tire pressure 
monitoring 82, 164
Tire replacement 114
Tire specifications 117
Tire tread 113
Tools 140
Top off washer fluid 
reservoir 122
Top off windshield washer 
fluid reservoir 122
Torque 170
Tow fittings 157
Tow starting 157
Towing 157
Track 171
Trailer loads 172
Transmission 65
Tread depth, tires 113
Trip odometer 74
Trunk 39
capacity 172
locking separately 39Trunk lamps
bulb replacement 146
Trunk lid, refer to luggage 
compartment lid 39
Turn signal 23
bulb replacement 142
Turn signals 69
Turning radius 171
Two-way radios 112
UUsed batteries 153VVacuum cleaner, 
connecting 96
Vanity mirror 52
bulb replacement 146
Vehicle
engage 62
Vehicle battery 151, 174
Vehicle care
exterior 131
interior 132
Vehicle identification 128
Vehicle Identification 
Number (VIN) 128
Vehicle immobilizer 33
Vehicle painting 131
Vehicle removal from 
service 136
Vehicle weight 172