
60n
Drive with your safety belt onFasten your safety belt at the beginning 
of every trip.
To fasten: 
Make sure you hear the catch engage in 
the belt buckle.
To release: 
Press the red button in the buckle, hold 
the belt firmly and guide it back into its 
reel.
The safety belt system will automati-
cally adapt to your body contours.
Before putting on your safety belts 
in the rear, take them out of the 
holder.<
For care instructions, refer to page 154.46cus022
For your safety, please comply 
with the following instructions for 
wearing safety belts. If you do not, the 
safety belts may not be able to provide 
their maximum protection. The 
following information also applies to 
your passengers: 
Never allow more than one person to 
wear a single safety belt. Never allow 
infants or small children to ride in a 
passenger's lap. 
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it 
firmly across your hips and shoulder. 
Do not allow the belt to rest against 
hard or fragile objects in your pockets. 
Never route the belt across your neck, 
do not run it across sharp edges and 
ensure that the belt does not become 
caught or jammed. 
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents 
the belt from fitting properly. Pull on the 
belt periodically to readjust the tension 
across your shoulder. In the event of a 
frontal impact, a loose lap belt could 
slide over your hips, leading to abdom-
inal injury. In addition, the safety belt's 
restraint effectiveness is reduced if the 
belt is worn loosely. 
Expectant mothers should always wear 
the safety belt, taking special care to 
place the lap belt over the lower hips, 
where it does not exert pressure on the 
abdominal area.
Leave the rear safety belts in the 
holders if they are not needed to avoid 
unwanted movement from the safety 
belts at high speeds.<
For child restraint system installation, 
refer to page 64.
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.<
Safety belts  

61n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Safety belts Airbags Child restraint systems*
Do not install a rear-facing child 
restraint system in the front 
passenger seat of your vehicle. If you 
do so, the child could be injured in an 
accident when the airbag is triggered. 
Children should always ride in the rear 
and the restraint systems should be 
secured with the safety belts.
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 airbags for driver and passenger 
(front and rear
*)
Protective effectThe front airbags protect the front-seat 
occupants in the event of a severe 
frontal collision on which the protection 
afforded by the belts alone may no 
longer be sufficient. The side airbags 
help provide protection in the event of a 
collision from the side. Each of the side 
airbags is designed to help support the 
occupant's upper body.46cde048
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 airbag deployment.
The airbags will not be triggered in 
the event of a minor accident, a 
vehicle roll-over, or collisions from the 
rear.<
46cde027 

62n
AirbagsOperational 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 
and in the side trim panels in the front 
and rear
*. 
Adjust your seat to a position that 
provides a 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 your hands at the 9 and 
3 o'clock positions. Do not place your 
hands on the center pad. 
Never allow any objects to obstruct the 
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant. 
Do not use the cover panel above the 
passenger-side airbag as a storage 
area. 
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them 
or modify them in any other way. 
Do not install a rear-facing child 
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat of this vehicle. 
Children under 13 years of age and 
children less than 5 ft (150 cm) tall 
should ride only in the rear seat. 
Infants or small children should never 
be held on the lap of a passenger. 
If your car is equipped with side airbags 
in the rear passenger area
*, be sure 
that child restraints are mounted 
correctly and provided with the grea-
test-possible distance between the 
airbags in the side trim panels. Do not 
allow children to lean out of the child's 
seat in the direction of the side trim 
panels. If they do so, serious injuries 
can occur if the airbag is triggered.< 

63n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags
At all times, occupants should sit 
upright and be properly restrained 
(infants and small children in appro-
priate child restraint systems; larger 
children and adults using the safety 
belts). Never let an occupant's head 
rest near or on a side airbag because 
the inflating airbag could cause a 
serious or fatal injury. Please note that 
the word "Airbag" imprinted on the door 
trim panel indicates the airbag's loca-
tion. 
Accident research shows that the 
safest place for children in an 
automobile is in the rear seat. However, 
a child sitting in the rear seat and not 
properly restrained may place his or her 
head on or near the airbag, if so 
equipped. For example, a child Ñ even 
though belted Ñ may fall asleep with his 
or her head against the side airbag. It 
may be difficult for a driver to ensure 
that children in the rear seat will remain 
properly positioned at all times and not 
place their heads on or near the side 
airbag. Therefore, we recommend that 
the rear seat side airbags, if so 
equipped, be deactivated if children will 
travel in the rear seat. 
The rear seat side airbags may already 
have been deactivated, either at the 
time of manufacture or by a BMW 
center. Labels in the door opening 
should indicate the status of your rear 
seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of 
their status, or wish to have the airbags 
activated or deactivated, please 
contact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are 
observed, there is still a small residual 
risk of injuries to the face, hands and 
arms occurring in isolated instances. 
The ignition and inflation noise may 
induce a mild temporary hearing loss in 
sensitive individuals.
For additional information concerning 
the airbag system, refer to pages 159 
and 189.This is the right way for a child to sit in 
a child restraint when rear side airbags 
(arrow) are provided.
46cus025 

64n
Airbags Transporting children safely This is the right way for a larger child to 
sit wearing the safety belt when rear 
side airbags (arrow) are provided.46cus026
LATCH attachment of the child 
seat
*
The mounts for the LATCH child-
restraint system are located at the posi-
tions indicated by two colors, which are 
not visible from the outside. 
The illustration show the left rear seat.
To mount the LATCH attachment 
of the child-restraint system, 
please follow the manufacturer's oper-
ating and safety precautions.<
Carefully press the brackets through 
the separating lines in the upholstery at 
the marked spots.46cus028
Leave the rear safety belts in the 
holders if they are not needed to 
avoid unwanted movement from the 
safety belts at high speeds.< 

65n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Transporting children safelyCommercially available child seats 
complying with the legal standard are 
designed to be secured with a seat belt 
or with the seat belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. 
Improperly or inadequately installed 
restraint systems can increase the risk 
of injury to children. Always read and 
follow the instructions that come with 
the system.
If you use a child restraint system with a 
tether strap, two additional tether 
anchorage points (refer to the arrows in 
the illustration) have been provided. 
They are located under the convertible 
top compartment.
Depending on the location selected for 
seating in the rear passenger area, 
attach the tether strap to the corres-
ponding anchorage point to secure the 
child restraint system.46cus001
Lift the respective headrest and pass 
the tether strap between the headrest 
and the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the 
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Before installing any child restraint 
device or child seat, please read 
the following: 
Never install a rearward-facing child 
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat of this vehicle. 
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag 
supplemental restraint system for the 
front passenger. Because the backrest 
on any rear-facing child restraint 
system (of the kind designed for infants 
under 1 year and 20 lbs./9 kg) would be 
within the airbag's deployment range, 
you should never mount such a device 
in the front passenger seat, as the 
impact of the airbag against the child 
restraint's backrest could lead to 
serious or fatal injuries. 
If it is necessary for a child (not an 
infant) to ride in the front seat, certain 
precautions should be taken. First, 
move the passenger seat as a far away 
from the dashboard as possible. This 
important precaution is intended to 
maximize the distance between the 
airbag and the child. Older children 
should be tightly secured with the 
safety belt. Younger children should be 
secured in an appropriate forward-
facing child restraint system that has 
first been properly secured with a 
safety belt. 
Never install a rear-facing child restraint 
system in the front passenger seat. 
We strongly urge you to carefully read 
and observe the instructions for instal-
lation and use provided by the child 
restraint's manufacturer whenever you 
use such a device. 
Allways ensure that all occupants (of all 
ages) remain properly and securely 
restrained at all times.c
All rear seating positions in your vehicle 
meet the recommendations of SAE 
J1819, an industry recommended 
practice for securing child restraint 
systems in motor vehicles. 

66n
Transporting children safelyChild seat securityAll of the rear belt retractors and the 
front passenger's safety belt can be 
locked for mounting and securing child 
restraint systems.
A label with the appropriate instructions 
for this is located in the immediate 
vicinity of the buckle latch of each 
safety belt.46cus027
Lock the safety beltExtract the entire length of the belt from 
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the 
reel to retract the belt somewhat and 
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt 
against the child restraint system. The 
retraction mechanism is now locked. 
The belt cannot be extracted further. 
Always comply with the installation 
instructions provided by the manufac-
turer of the child restraint system.
Unlock the safety beltRelease the safety belt, remove the 
child's seat and retract the safety belt 
to its end position on the belt retractor. 

Everything from A to Z
205n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
upholstery155 
vinyl upholstery154 
wool velour155 
Cargo 
loading114 
securing114 
Caring for the vehicle's 
finish153 
Cassette operation, refer 
also to the Radio Owner's 
Manual 
Catalytic converter121 
CBC (Cornering Brake 
Control)21,123 
CD operation, refer also to 
the Radio Owner's Manual 
Cellular phone111,129 
refer to also the separate 
Owner's Manual 
Center (high-mount) brake 
lamp171 
Center armrest110 
Central locking system34 
button38 
Changing a tire173 
Changing a wheel173 
Check Control83 
Child restraints64 
Child restraint
systems61,64 
Child seat security65 
Child's seat61,64 
Cigarette lighter112 Cleaning headlamps78 
Cleaning windshield77 
Clock84 
Cockpit16 
Code, refer to the radio 
Owner's Manual 
Coin box, cup holder111 
Combination switch76 
Compression196 
Computer83 
refer also to the separate 
Owner's Manual 
Configure settings59 
Consumption85 
Contents10 
Convertible top45 
cleaning and care157 
closing following an 
electrical malfunction181 
compartment panel41 
convenience operation34 
electrical fault181 
emergency closure181 
Coolant127,147,199 
antifreeze127 
Cooling system199 
Copyright4 
Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC)21,123 
Cruise control79 
Cruising range85 
Curb weight198 
Current check indicator20 
D 
Data 
dimensions197 
engine196 
technical196 
weights198 
Daytime-driving lamp 
switch93 
DBC (Dynamic Brake 
Control)124 
Deep water121 
Defrost setting100,105 
Defrostable rear 
window98,106 
Defrosting the 
windows100,105 
Digital clock84 
Dimensions197 
Dipstick145 
Disc brakes125 
Displacement196 
Display lighting93 
Displays18 
Disposal 
batteries178 
engine oil147 
Distance warning87 
Diversity Antenna190 
Door key32 
Door locks, care127 Doors 
emergency operation34 
remote control35 
unlocking and locking34 
DOT Quality Grades133 
Draft-free 
ventilation99,106 
Drive belts200 
Driving hints121 
Driving in winter127 
Driving lamps93 
DSC (Dynamic Stability 
Control)22,88,189 
Dynamic Brake Control 
(DBC)124 
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)22,88,189 
E 
Electric power windows44 
Electrical accessories, 
failure179 
Electrical system200 
Electronic vehicle 
immobilizer33 
Elements of operation16 
Emergency closure181 
Emergency operation 
convertible top181 
doors34 
fuel filler door180 
Energy Control81