
 
Contents
 
Overview
Controls and features
 
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Multifunction steering wheel 
(MFL)24
Hazard warning flashers25
Warning triangle25
First-aid kit25
Refueling26
Fuel specifications27
Tire inflation pressure27
 
Opening and closing:
 
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 compartment40
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
The manual convertible top45
The fully automatic convertible 
top48
Wind deflector50
 
Adjusting:
 
Seats52
Seat and mirror memory56
Steering wheel57
Mirrors57
Car Memory, Key Memory59
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Safety belts60
Airbags61
Transporting children safely64
Rollover protection system67
 
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 temperature 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)91
 
Contents 

30n
Opening and closing:
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 compartment40
Alarm system42
Electric power windows44
The manual convertible top45
The fully automatic convertible 
top48
Wind deflector50
Adjusting:
Seats52
Seat and mirror memory56
Steering wheel57
Mirrors57
Car Memory, Key Memory59
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts60
Airbags61
Transporting children safely64
Rollover protection system67
Controls 

51n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Wind deflector
*
2 Flip out both side pieces and lock 
into place (arrow).46cde098
Hold the wind deflector so that the 
smaller half faces toward the 
front.<
3 Guide the mounting pin for the side 
piece into the proper opening.
4 Pull back on the mounting pin for the 
other side piece by using the slide, so 
that the mounting pin can be guided 
into the opening provided.
5 Unlock the convertible top compart-
ment lid; see page 45 or 49, and 
open the convertible top compart-
ment lid.
6 Flip the back half of the wind 
deflector backward, so that the 
mounts are lying on the vehicle.
46cde099
7 Close the convertible top compart-
ment lid. The wind deflector is now 
attached so that it is theft-proof.
Operate the convertible top 
compartment lid from above only 
to avoid any pinching. 
With the wind deflector in place: never 
push the front seats all the way back to 
avoid damaging the wind deflector.

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. 

110n
BMW Universal Transmitter
*
Storage facilities 
Clearing the channel keys
Read and comply with the safety 
precautions on page 108.< 
The memory of individual channel keys 
cannot be deleted. However, the three 
channel keys can be cleared together 
as follows: 
>Press and hold both outside keys of 
the BMW Universal Transmitter until 
the indicator lamp flashes, and then 
release them. 
All of the channel keys are cleared. 
User informationDo not use this BMW Universal Trans-
mitter with any garage door opener that 
lacks safety "stop" and "reverse" 
features as required by federal safety 
standards (this includes any garage 
door opener model manufactured 
before April 1, 1982).
This device complies with Section 15 of 
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to 
the following two conditions: as defined 
in the regulations, this device must not 
emit harmful interference, and must be 
shielded against interference from 
external sources to prevent unautho-
rized or inadvertent activation.To
 open the storage compartment in 
the front center armrest: press the 
button (arrow) and lift upward.
You will find additional storage 
compartments in the doors and in the 
center console above the ashtray. 
Storage nets are located on the back-
rests of the front seats.460us043 

113n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Ski bag
* 
The ski bag allows the safe and clean 
transport of up to three pairs of skis or 
up to two snowboards.
The length of the ski bag and the addi-
tional space provided in the luggage 
compartment make it possible to carry 
skis up to 6.8 ft long (2.1 0 meters). 
Because of the tapered shape of the 
bag, the ski bag can only accommodate 
two pairs of skis up to 6.8 ft long 
(2.1 0 meters).
Loading1 Take the safety belts out of their 
brackets.
2 Press button downward (arrow) and 
remove the filler piece by pulling it 
forward.
3 Extend the ski bag between the front 
seats. The zipper provides conve-
nient access to stored items and it 
allows the ski bag to dry faster.46cde066
4 Press the release button in the 
luggage compartment (arrow).
5 Use the magnetic holder to fasten the 
cover panel to the back wall.
To store the ski bag, perform the above 
steps in reverse sequence.
Secure the skis or other objects in 
the bag by tightening the strap 
with the buckle.<
Please be sure that your skis are clean 
before loading them into the bag. Avoid 
damage from sharp edges during 
loading.46cde065 

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.