
 
Contents
 
Overview
Controls and features
 
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)24
Sports steering wheel with 
multifunction buttons25
Hazard warning flashers26
Warning triangle26
First-aid kit26
Refueling27
Fuel specifications28
Tire inflation pressure28
 
Locks and security systems:
 
Keys32
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð from the 
outside34
Opening and closing Ð from the 
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
Airbags55
Transporting children safely59 
 
Driving:
 
Steering/Ignition lock62
Starting the engine62
Switching off the engine63
Parking brake64
Manual transmission65
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic66
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher69
Wiper/Washer system69
Rear window defroster71
Cruise control72
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer74
Tachometer74
Energy Control74
Fuel gauge75
Temperature gauge75
Service Interval Display75
Check Control76
Clock76
Computer77
 
Technology for safety and 
convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)79
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)80
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)82
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)86
 
Contents 

 
11n
 
Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance
 
Lamps:
 
Side lamps/Headlamps88
Instrument lighting88
High beams/Parking lamps89
Fog lamps89
Interior lamps89
 
Controlling the climate 
for pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioner92
Automatic climate control98
Seat heating103
Roller sun blind103
 
Interior conveniences:
 
HiFi system104
Glove compartment104
Storage compartments105
Cellular phones107
Ashtray, front107
Cigarette lighter108
Ashtray, rear108
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading system109
Ski bag110
Cargo loading112
Roof-mounted luggage rack113
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures116
Driving notes117
Catalytic converter117
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)118
Disc brakes120
Brake system121
Winter operation121
Power steering123
Cellular phones124
Radio reception124
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressures125
Tire condition125
Tire replacement126
Tire rotation127
Wheel and tire 
combinations128
Winter tires129
Snow chains129
Approved wheel and tire 
specifications130
 
Under the hood:
 
Hood134
Engine compartment136
Washer fluids138
Washer nozzles138
Engine oil139
Coolant142
Brake fluid143
Vehicle Identification 
Number144
 
Care and maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System145
Caring for your vehicle146
Airbags151
Vehicle storage152
 
Laws and regulations:
 
Technical modifications to the 
vehicle153
California Proposition 
65 Warning153
OBD interface socket154 

 
Contents
 
Owner service procedures
Advanced technology
Technical data
 
Replacement procedures:
 
Onboard tool kit158
Windshield wiper blades158
Lamps and bulbs158
Changing a wheel165
Battery168
Fuses170
Microfilter/Activated-charcoal 
filter171
 
In case of electrical 
malfunction:
 
Fuel filler door172
Sliding/Tilt sunroof172
 
Assistance, giving and 
receiving:
 
Jump-starting173
Towing the vehicle174Adaptive Transmission Control 
(ATC)178
Airbags179
Automatic Stability Control plus 
traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic 
Stability Control (DSC)180
Radio reception181
Four-wheel drive182
Safety belt tensioner183
Interior rearview mirror with 
automatic dimming 
feature184
Rain sensor185
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)186
Self-diagnostics187
Xenon lamps188Engine data192
Dimensions193
Weights194
Capacities195
Electrical system196
V-belts196 

 
19n
 
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
 
Instrument cluster
 
1 Fuel gauge with indicator lamp 
for fuel reserve75
2 Indicator lamp for turn signal 
indicators23
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator lamp for: 
 
>
 
Battery charge current20
 
>
 
High beams23
 
>
 
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil 
level20, 22
5 Tachometer and Energy Control74
6 Engine coolant temperature gauge 
with "Coolant temperature too high" 
indicator75
7 Indicator and warning lamps 
(clockwise) for:
 
>
 
Parking brake/Brake hydraulic 
system/Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC/DBC)20
 
>
 
Antilock Brake System (ABS)22 
 
>
 
Brake pads22
 
>
 
Tire Pressure Control 
(RDC)
 
* 
20, 22
 
>
 
Airbags21
 
>
 
Please fasten safety belts21
 
>
 
Cruise control
 
* 
23
8 Set button for the clock769 Program display for automatic 
transmission
 
* 
66, 68
Indicator lamp for automatic 
transmission
 
* 
21, 66
10 Indicator lamp for Automatic 
Stability Control plus Traction 
(ASC+T)/Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)
 
* 
 or DSC
 
* 
 and ADB
 
* 
/
ADB-X
 
* 
22
11 Indicator for:
 
>
 
Odometer74
 
>
 
Trip odometer74
 
>
 
Clock76
 
>
 
Service Interval76
Display for computer
 
* 
, operation via 
the turn signal lever, refer to 
page 77: 
 
>
 
Clock
 
>
 
Outside temperature
 
>
 
Average fuel consumption
 
>
 
Range 
 
>
 
Average speed
12 Indicator for Check Control76
13 Trip odometer, reset to zero7414 Indicator and warning lamps 
(clockwise) for: 
 
>
 
Front fog lamps
 
* 
23
 
>
 
Add washer fluid22
 
>
 
Coolant level23
 
>
 
Electronic Engine Power Control 
(EML)
 
* 
23
 
>
 
Service Engine Soon23
You can display the outside 
temperature and distance driven 
in different units of measurement.
 
< 

21n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Indicator and warning lampsRed and yellow: continue driving 
cautiously 
The brake warning lamp coming 
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS and ASC+T/
DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and 
ASC+T/DSC and ADB/ADB-X/
DBC control system has failed. 
Continue driving cautiously and 
defensively. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Please have the system checked 
by your BMW center as soon as 
possible. 
For additional information, refer to 
pages 80 and 119.
Indicator and warning lamps for 
CBC, ABS and ASC+T/DSC
 and 
ADB/ADB-X/DBC 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 64.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 
inspected by your BMW center. 
For additional information, refer to 
pages 55 and 179.
Orange: consult the nearest BMW 
center
Automatic transmission
Because of a malfunction, the 
automatic transmission shifts 
only in the emergency program. Please 
consult the nearest BMW center. 
For additional information, refer to 
page 66. 

30n
Controls Locks and security systems:
Keys32
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer33
Central locking system34
Opening and closing Ð from the 
outside36
Opening and closing Ð from the 
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
Airbags55
Transporting children safely59 

55n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Safety belts Airbags For child restraint system installation, 
refer to page 61.
If the safety belt system has been 
subjected to the stresses involved 
in an accident or otherwise damaged: 
have the entire safety belt mechanism 
replaced by your BMW center, 
including the safety belt tensioner. In 
addition, have your BMW center 
inspect the safety belt anchors. If a 
child restraint system was in the vehicle 
during an accident, consult the manu-
facturer's instructions regarding 
replacement.<
Vehicles with through-loading 
system: please comply with the 
instructions for the center safety belt on 
page 109.
Child restraint systems
*  
Never install a rear-facing child 
restraint device on the front 
passenger seat. If you do so, the child 
could be injured when the airbag is trig-
gered.
Children should always ride in the rear 
and the restraint systems should be 
secured with the outer belts.
The centre seat belt should only be 
used when it is necessary to secure 
three child restraint systems.
Do not modify the child restraint system 
in any way. If you do so, it will not 
provide your child with maximum 
protection.<
1 Front airbags for driver and 
passenger
2 Side impact Head Protection System 
for driver and passenger (front)
3 Side airbags for driver and pasenger 
(front and rear
*) 
Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the three-
point safety belts by providing additional 
protection for the front-seat occupants 
in the event of a severe frontal collision 
when the protection afforded by the 
belts alone may no longer be sufficient. 
The Side impact Head Protection 
System and side airbags help provide 
protection in the event of a side impact. 
Each of the side airbags is designed to 
help support the upper body.460de140 

56n
Airbags
The side airbags in the rear 
passenger area
* of your vehicle 
may already have been deactivated 
either at the time of manufacture or by a 
BMW center. You may have them acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please 
contact your BMW center for additional 
information.<
The illustration depicts schematically 
the primary directions of vehicle impact 
that initiate an airbag deployment.
The airbags will not be triggered in 
the event of a minor accident, a 
vehicle roll-over, or collisions from the 
rear.c
460de141
Operational status
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster displays the opera-
tional status of the airbag 
system when the ignition key is in posi-
tion 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 the 
system immediately. 
The airbag indicator lamp also 
comes on if the safety belt 
tensioners have been triggered.<
Sitting correctly with airbags
For your safety, comply with the 
following instructions for the 
airbags. If you do not, the airbags may 
not be able to provide their maximum 
protection. All passengers in the vehicle 
should be aware of and comply with this 
information: 
The airbags are supplemental restraint 
devices designed to provide extra 
protection; 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 
vehicle roll-over, or collisions from the 
rear. In these instances, the safety belt 
provides optimal protection. 
Airbags are located under cover panels 
in the steering wheel, in the dashboard, 
in the side trim panels in the front and 
rear, in the roof panels, and in the sides 
of the inside roof lining.
Adjust your seat to a position that 
provides maximum distance between 
you and the steering wheel, the instru-
ment panel and the door while still 
allowing comfortable and safe access to 
all vehicle controls.
To avoid sustaining hand and arm inju-
ries, always grasp the steering wheel 
on the rim with the hands at the 9 and 
3 o'clock positions.