Page 11 of 215

11n
Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance
Lamps:
Side lamps/Low beams93
Instrument panel lighting93
High beams/Parking lamps94
Fog lamps94
Interior lamps94
Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:
Air conditioner96
Automatic climate control102
Seat heating107
Interior convenience:
Glove compartment107
BMW Universal Transmitter108
Storage facilities110
Cellular phone111
Ashtray, front111
Cigarette lighter112
Ashtray, rear112
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag113
Cargo loading114
Roof-mounted luggage rack for
the hardtop116
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures120
Driving notes121
Catalytic converter121
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)122
Disc brakes125
Brake system126
Winter operation127
Power steering129
Cellular phone129
Radio reception129
Hardtop130
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure132
Tire condition132
Tire replacement133
Tire rotation134
Wheel and tire
combinations135
Winter tires136
Snow chains136
Approved wheel and tire
specifications137
Under the hood:
Hood140
Engine compartment142
Washer fluids144
Washer nozzles144
Engine oil145
Coolant147
Brake fluid148
Vehicle Identification
Number149
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System150
Caring for your vehicle151
Cleaning and care of the
convertible top157
Airbags159
Vehicle storage160
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications161
California Proposition
65 Warning161
ODB interface socket162
Page 17 of 215
17n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cockpit
1 Side lamps/Low beams93
2
d
Turn signal indicator76
>
Parking lamps94
>
High beams94
>
Headlamp flasher76
>
Computer83
3 Washer/Wiper system76
4 Shift lever/Selector lever72
For vehicles equipped with manual
transmission:
To shift into reverse, push the gear
shift lever to the left, overcoming
the slight resistance
5 Hazard warning flashers25
6 Central locking system34
7 Rear window defroster78
8 Horn: the entire surface functions as
the horn
9 Adjusting steering wheel57
10 Fog lamps94
Page 23 of 215

23n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Indicator and warning lamps
Engine electronics
* l
There is a fault in the engine's
electronic control system. The
electronics will allow you to continue
driving with reduced engine output or
reduced engine speed. Please have the
system inspected by your BMW center.
Add coolant
The coolant level is too low. Top
up the coolant at the earliest
opportunity.
For additional information, refer to
page 147.
Green: for your information
Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signal is
on.
Rapid flashing indicates a system
malfunction.
For additional information, refer to
page 76.
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise
control is activated: available for
operation via the multifunction steering
wheel.
For additional information, refer to
page 79.
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the front fog lamps.
For additional information, refer to
page 94.
Blue: for your information
High beams
Comes on when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information, refer to
pages 76, 94.
Page 31 of 215

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
31n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock69
Starting the engine69
Switching off the engine70
Parking brake71
Manual transmission72
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic73
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher76
Washer/Wiper system76
Rear window defroster78
Cruise control79
Everything under control:
Odometer81
Tachometer81
Energy Control81
Fuel gauge82
Coolant temperature gauge82
Service Interval Display82
Check Control83
Computer83
Technology for driving comfort
and safety:
Park Distance Control (PDC)87
Automatic Stability Control plus
traction (ASC+T)88
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)89
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)91Lamps:
Side lamps/Low beams93
Instrument panel lighting93
High beams/Parking lamps94
Fog lamps94
Interior lamps94
Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:
Air conditioner96
Automatic climate control102
Seat heating107
Interior convenience:
Glove compartment107
BMW Universal Transmitter108
Storage facilities110
Cellular phone111
Ashtray, front111
Cigarette lighter112
Ashtray rear112
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag113
Cargo loading114
Roof-mounted luggage rack for
hardtop116
Page 42 of 215

42n
Alarm system
*
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the
luggage compartment lid is opened.
>To movement inside the vehicle
(interior motion sensor).
>To a change of the vehicle's tilt Ð if
someone attempts to steal the
wheels or tow the vehicle without
authorization, for example.
>If there is an interruption in battery
voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an alarm for 30 seconds.
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes.
>The high beams flash on and off in the
same rhythm.
To activate and deactivate the
alarm systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
by using a key or with the remote
control, the alarm system is also simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.
The interior motion sensor and the tilt
alarm sensor are activated approx.
30 seconds after you have finished
locking the vehicle.
If the alarm system has been armed
correctly, the hazard warning flashers
flash once.
You can have a signal set as
acknowledgment for both arming
and disarming the alarm system.<
You can also open the luggage
compartment lid when the system is
armed by pressing button 3 of the
remote control (refer to page 36). When
it is closed, the lid is once again
secured.
Indicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located under the
interior rearview mirror.
>The indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously: the system is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes while the
system is being armed: the door(s),
the hood or luggage compartment lid
are not completely closed. Even if
you do not close the alerted area(s),
the remaining areas are secure, and
the indicator lamp will flash continu-
ously after 10 seconds. However, the
interior motion sensor is not acti-
vated.
>The indicator lamp goes out when the
system is disarmed: no manipulation
or attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the
system was armed.46cus033
Page 83 of 215
83n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
The following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols, start-
ing with the ignition key in position 2,
until the condition has been corrected:
1 Inspect the low-beam and high-beam
headlamps, as well as the side lamps
2 Door open
3 Luggage compartment lid open
4 Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after
stopping with the lights still on, a warn-
ing signal sounds for LIGHTS ON.462de272
Mode selectionFrom ignition key position 1 on, you can
call up information from the computer
using the button in the turn signal lever.
Every time you press the button briefly
in the direction of the steering column,
you can call up a new function for dis-
play.
The displays appear in the following
order:
Time, outside temperature, average fuel
consumption, cruising range, average
vehicle speed.
From ignition key position 1 on, the last
active setting is displayed.46cde096
Check Control Computer
Page 93 of 215

93n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Side lamps
With the switch in this position,
the front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on.
For lighting on one side for parking as
an additional feature, see page 94.
Low beam headlamps
When you switch the ignition off
with the low beam headlamps
on, only the side lamps will
remain on.
"Follow-me-home" lamps:
If you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle, the
low-beam headlamps will come on for a
short time. You can also have this func-
tion deactivated.<
460us035
"LIGHTS ON" warningWhen you open the driver's door after
turning the ignition key to position 0,
a buzzer sounds for a few seconds to
remind you that the headlamps have
not been switched off.Daytime running lamps
*
If you desire, the light switch can be left
in the second position:
When the ignition is switched off, the
external lighting is also switched off.
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the
illumination intensity.
460us036
Side lamps/Low beams
Instrument panel lighting
Page 161 of 215

161n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Any BMW center will be glad to inform
you of the advisability, legal require-
ments and factory recommendations
regarding technical modifications on
your vehicle. For this purpose, the
BMW center will require the Vehicle
Identification Number and, in some
cases, also the engine number. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light
source for many of the controls and
displays in your vehicle. The concept
behind their operation is related to that
employed for lasers.
Do not remove the protective lens
and avoid staring directly at the
unfiltered beam for extended periods
(several hours), as inflammation of the
iris could result.<
California laws require us to state the
following warning:
Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle
components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.<
Technical modifications California Proposition 65 Warning