
153n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleCaring for the vehicle's finish Regular washing is a preventive 
measure against long-term effects from 
substances that are harmful to the 
vehicle's finish, especially if you drive 
your vehicle in areas with high levels of 
air pollution or aggressive natural 
substances (tree resins, pollen).
Nevertheless, you should immediately 
remove especially aggressive sub-
stances. Failure to do so can lead to 
changes in the paint's chemical 
structure or to discoloration. Gasoline 
spilled during refueling, oil, grease and 
brake fluid should always be cleaned 
away immediately, as should bird 
droppings.
Any contamination remaining on the 
surface of the vehicle will be especially 
conspicuous after washing. Use clean-
ing fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth 
or cotton pad to remove. Remove tar 
spots with tar remover. After cleaning, 
the affected areas should be waxed to 
ensure continued protection.
Use the cleaning and car-care 
products available at your BMW 
center.<
Waxing your vehicle Protect the finish using carnauba or 
synthetic-based waxes only.
The best way to determine when the 
finish needs to be waxed is by noting 
when water stops beading on the 
surface.
You can use a glass cleaner to remove 
any wax or silicone that may have been 
left on the windows during waxing.
Use the cleaning and car-care 
products available at your BMW 
center.<
Paint damageYou can touch up small areas of paint 
damage with a BMW spray paint or a 
BMW touchup stick. 
The paint color code for your vehicle 
is provided on a sticker located on the 
right hand-side under the hood and 
on the first page of your Service and 
Warranty Information Booklet 
(US models) or Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet (Canadian models).
Damage caused by flying stones, 
scratches, etc., must be touched up 
without delay to prevent rust from 
forming.
If corrosion has started to form in an 
area with paint damage, remove all rust 
and clean the area. Then prime the area 
with a BMW Primer Stick. Finally, apply 
the finish coat. Wait a few days, then 
polish the repaired area. Finish by 
applying a wax preservative.
More extensive paint damage should 
be repaired professionally in accor-
dance with the manufacturer's instruc-
tions. Your BMW center uses original 
BMW finish materials in accordance 
with approved repair procedures. 

154n
Caring for your vehicleWindow careYou can use window and glass cleaner 
to clean inside window surfaces and 
mirrors without smearing and streaking. 
Never use polishing pastes or abrasive 
(quartz) cleansers on mirror lenses.
Clean the wiper blades with soapy 
water. The wiper blades should be 
replaced twice a year Ð before and after 
the winter months. This is especially
important for vehicles with a rain 
sensor.
Use only wiper blades approved 
by BMW.<
Caring for other vehicle 
components and materials Light-alloy wheels should be treated 
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially 
during the winter months. However, do 
not use aggressive products contain-
ing acids, strong alkalis or abrasive 
cleaning agents, nor steam cleaners 
operating at temperatures above 
140 7 (+60 6) (follow the manufac-
turer's instructions).
If your vehicle has chrome parts
*, such 
as the window frames and door handles, 
clean these parts carefully with ample 
clean water and a shampoo supplement 
if desired, especially if they have an 
accumulation of road salt. Use a chrome 
polish for an additional treatment.
Plastic components, vinyl upholstery, 
headliners (hardtop), lamp lenses, the 
clear cover of the instrument panel and 
components with a sprayed dull black 
surface can be cleaned with water (add 
plastic shampoo as required). Do not 
allow moisture to soak through the 
seats or headliner (hardtop). Never use 
solvents such as lacquer thinner, 
heavy-duty grease remover, fuels, or 
similar substances. Rubber components should be cleaned 
with water only; a rubber treatment or 
silicone spray may also be applied.
Do not remove safety belts to clean 
them. Clean them with mild soapy 
water only. Do not use chemicals or dry 
cleaners to clean safety belts, since this 
could damage the belt fabric.
After cleaning, never allow the inertia 
reel to retract the belts until they are 
completely dry. Dirty safety belts 
prevent the inertia reel mechanism from 
retracting the strap properly, and thus 
constitute a safety hazard.
Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats
* 
can be cleaned with an interior cleaner. 
The floor mats can be removed from 
the vehicle for cleaning.
Use only a damp cloth to clean trim 
panels made of real wood
* and other 
parts constructed of real wood
*. Follow 
up by drying with a soft cloth.
Use the cleaning and car-care 
products available at your BMW 
center.< 

155n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleCare of upholstery materials Depressions in the upholstery that 
result from everyday use can be 
brushed smooth by brushing against 
the nap with a lightly dampened brush.
The tendency of the pile to lie in a 
particular direction on velour upholstery 
is not a quality defect. Just as with 
home textiles or clothing, this cannot be 
avoided.
Lint on upholstery materials, textile or 
leather remnants that have been worn 
into the upholstery may be removed 
with a lint brush or a Velcro brush. A 
cleaning glove is available for particu-
larly "stubborn" lint. Stains and fairly 
large areas of dirt should be cleaned off 
without delay, using lukewarm water 
and an interior cleaner, stain remover or 
appropriate cleaning fluid. Brush the 
fabric afterwards to restore its appear-
ance.
If the vehicle will be stored for an 
extended period or if it is exposed to 
intense sunlight, cover all the seats or 
the windows to prevent fading.
Use the cleaning and car-care 
products available at your BMW 
center.<
The buildup of an electrostatic charge 
on the seat covers, particularly if 
atmospheric humidity is low, can give 
the occupants an unpleasant electric 
shock if they touch metal body parts 
after leaving the vehicle. Although this 
is not dangerous in any way, it can be 
avoided by touching a bare or polished 
metal part of the vehicle while getting 
out.
Leather care The leather
* upholstery used by BMW 
is a natural product of the highest 
quality, processed using state-of-the-
art methods to ensure that it will main-
tain its high quality for years to come, 
provided that it is properly cared for.
Because this product is manufactured 
using natural materials, you must make 
allowance for its special characteristics 
and for the peculiarities of its use and 
care.
Regular periodic cleaning and care are 
essential, as dust and road dirt act as 
abrasives in the pores and creases of 
the material. This leads to wear spots 
and premature brittleness on the sur-
face of the leather. We therefore sug-
gest that you clean the leather with a 
vacuum cleaner or cloth at frequent 
intervals.
For cleaning, use BMW leather cleaning 
foam.
Since dirt and grease gradually attack 
the protective layer of the leather, the 
cleaned surfaces should be treated 
with BMW leather care agent. This also 
acts as an antistatic agent.
For protection against dampness or 
moisture, treat the leather with a 
BMW impregnating agent. 

156n
Caring for your vehicleWe recommend that you perform this 
procedure twice a year on leather 
exposed to normal use.
Spills should be wiped up immediately. 
Remove grease and oil stains by 
dabbing with spot remover. Avoid 
rubbing.
If the upholstery is to be exposed to 
intense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be 
stored for an extended period, cover all 
leather surfaces (or, better yet, the 
windows) to prevent fading.
Use the cleaning and car-care 
products available at your BMW 
center.<
Cleaning agents can contain 
substances that are dangerous or 
that pose health risks. For this reason, 
always comply with the warnings and 
danger notices on the packaging. 
Open the doors or windows on your 
vehicle whenever cleaning the interior. 
Never clean your vehicle with solvents 
or other materials not specifically 
intended for this purpose.< 

158n
Cleaning and care of the convertible topDo not use spot removers, paint thin-
ners, solvents, gasoline or similar 
substances for removing spots from the 
convertible top or from the rear 
window. These materials destroy the 
rubber seals, which will lead to leaks. 
Use only BMW-approved cleaners. 
Cleaning agents can contain 
substances that are dangerous or 
pose health risks. Therefore, always 
comply with the warnings and danger 
notices on the package. 
Open the doors or windows on your 
vehicle whenever cleaning the interior. 
Never clean your vehicle with solvents 
or other materials not specifically 
intended for this purpose.c
Positioning for cleaningIn order to have free access to the 
convertible top compartment, lean the 
rear convertible top bow against the 
convertible top compartment lid (see 
illustration).
First release the convertible top 
locks, see page 45 or 50.<46cde072
Hardtop
*
Please follow the information for caring 
for your vehicle, which starts on 
page 151. 

171n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Lamps and bulbsCenter (high-mount) brake lampLED light bar on the rear window.
Please contact a BMW center in the 
event of a malfunction.46cde005
License plate lamps 5 watt bulb 
1 Place a screwdriver in the slot and 
press toward the left (arrow) to 
release the lens.
2 Replace the bulb.46cde043
Interior lamps Front: 
Interior lamp (6 watt bulb) 
Reading lamps (2 x 6 watt bulbs)
1 Using a screwdriver, press the lamp 
out toward the front.
2 Turn the bulb holder to the left and 
remove it.
3 Remove and replace the bulb.46cde037 

183n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Do not 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 
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables 
with fully insulated grips on the terminal 
clamps.
Do not touch the parts conducting 
electrical current while the engine 
is running. Failure to comply with this 
creates a risk of fatal injury.<
Carefully comply with the following 
instructions to avoid personal injury or 
damage to one or both vehicles:
1 Be sure that the battery on the 
support vehicle is also rated at 
12 volts, and that the capacities of 
the two batteries (Ah) are roughly 
comparable (printed on casing).
2 Leave the drained battery connected 
to the vehicle's electrical system. 
3 Make sure that there is no contact 
between the bodywork of the two 
vehicles Ð this creates a risk of short 
circuits.
4 Start by connecting the jumper cable 
from the positive terminal of the 
support 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 
vehicle that is to be started. There is 
a special nut provided for this on the 
BMW (arrow 2).
Follow the same sequence for 
connecting the jumper cables 
when helping other vehicles. If you do 
not, there is the risk of injury if sparks 
are generated at the battery.<462us053
6 Start the support vehicle's engine 
and let it run.
7 Start the engine on the vehicle 
needing 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 recharge.
8 Before disconnecting the jumper 
cables from your BMW, turn on the 
lighting, the rear window defroster 
and set the blower to the highest 
speed; allow the engine to run 
approx. 10 seconds. This will prevent 
a voltage surge from the voltage 
regulator to the electrical accesso-
ries.
9 Then disconnect the jumper cables in 
reverse sequence.
Depending on the cause of the fault, 
recharge the battery.
Jump-starting 

190n
Radio reception Safety belt tensionerThe AM frequency bands (medium-
wave, long-wave and short-wave) make 
it possible to receive stations from a 
great distance, because the broadcast 
signals travel not only along the ground 
as surface waves, but also as atmo-
spheric waves that are reflected from 
the ionosphere. 
Frequency modulation (FM) offers 
substantially better sound quality than 
the other frequencies. However, 
because FM transmissions rely on line-
of-sight broadcast waves, their effec-
tive reception range is limited. 360de084
The limitations inherent to radio recep-
tion in a moving vehicle have been 
minimized by a number of innovative 
system designs:
The "Radio Data System" (RDS) makes 
sure that, for broadcast stations 
sending on several frequencies, the 
radio automatically tunes to the 
frequency with the best reception 
quality.
The Antenna Diversity system employs 
several FM antennas integrated within 
the rear window to provide three sepa-
rate sources for receiving broadcast 
waves. An integral processor automati-
cally selects the antenna with the best 
FM reception quality at any given time. 
The selection of the antenna takes 
place within milliseconds, and is 
therefore not noticed by the radio 
listener.The safety belt tensioner makes sure 
that the belt tightens during a head-on 
collision to ensure that occupants 
remain firmly positioned in their seats. 
A gas-pressure system retracts the 
buckle assembly to tension the 
shoulder and lap belts within fractions 
of a second. This reduces the tendency 
to slide under the lap belt. 
390de330