
 
5n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenaceRepairsDataIndex
 
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams77
Instrument lighting78
High beams/Standing lamps78
Fog lamps78
Interior lamps79
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning80
Automatic climate control83
Roller sun blind86
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Premium sound system86
Glove compartment87
Storage compartments87
Cellular phone89
Ashtray, front89
Ashtray, rear90
Clothes hooks90
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading system91
Ski bag92
Cargo loading93
Roof-mounted luggage rack94
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures98
Driving notes99
Antilock Brake System (ABS)99
Brake system100
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressure101
Tire condition101
Tire replacement102
Wheel and tire 
combinations104
Winter tires105
 
In the engine compartment:
 
Hood106
Engine compartment 
essentials107
Washer fluids108
Engine oil109
Coolant111
Brake fluid112
 
Maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System113
 
Laws and regulations:
 
Technical modifications114
California Proposition 
65 Warning114
OBD interface socket115 

 
10n
 
For your own safety
 
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels  
containing up to and including 
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with 
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (i.e. 
15 % MTBE or 3% methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent) will 
not void the applicable warranties 
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel 
quality (volatility, composition, addi-
tives, for example) among gasolines 
offered for sale in the United States and 
Canada. The use of poor-quality fuels 
may result in driveability, starting and 
stalling problems especially under 
certain environmental conditions, such 
as high ambient temperature and high 
altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be 
related to the fuel you are using, we 
recommend that you respond by 
switching to a recognized high-quality 
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled 
maintenance.
Obey all applicable safety rules when 
you are handling gasoline.
 
<
 
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine parts  
and accessories approved by BMW. 
When you purchase accessories tested  
and approved by BMW and Original 
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire 
the assurance that they have been 
thoroughly tested by BMW to ensure 
optimum performance when installed 
on your vehicle. 
BMW warrants these parts to be free  
from defects in material and workman-
ship. 
BMW will not accept any liability for  
damage resulting from installation of 
parts and accessories not approved by 
BMW. 
BMW cannot test every product made  
by other manufacturers to ascertain 
whether it can be used on a BMW 
safely and without risk to either the 
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants. 
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories  
and other products approved by BMW, 
together with professional advice on 
using these items, are available from all 
BMW centers. 
Installation and operation of non-BMW  
approved accessories such as alarms, 
 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,  
wheels, suspension components, brake 
dust shields, telephones (including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (such as CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause 
extensive damage to the vehicle, 
compromise its safety, interfere with 
the vehicle's electrical system or affect 
the validity of the BMW Limited 
Warranty. Contact your BMW center for 
additional information. 
Do not use key or remote to lock doors  
or luggage compartment with anyone 
inside the vehicle. For more details 
refer to page  31.
 
<
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
Symbol on vehicle parts 
 
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this 
Owner's Manual for information on a 
particular part or assembly. 

 21n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Multifunction steering wheel (MFL)
 
* 
The buttons integrated in the multifunc-
tion steering wheel are provided so  that 
you can operate a number of accesso-
ries quickly and without being 
distracted from traffic conditions. You 
may operate:
 
>
 
Selected radio functions
 
>
 
the cruise control
 
>
 
selected cellular phone functions.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.
 
<
 
 
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
 
Switch between phone and radio, 
cassette and CD.
Forward:
 
>
 
Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: search function
 
>
 
CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
 
>
 
Cassette
Press briefly: stop track scan or fast 
forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
 
>
 
Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind: functions as forward.
 
Volume
Cruise control: to select a stored 
setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate (+) 
or decelerate and store (Ð).
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate. 

34n
Luggage compartment lidTo open from the inside
*
If the luggage compartment lid has not 
been locked separately, you can open it 
with this button in the footwell on the 
driver's side when the vehicle is 
stationary.
To closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim 
panel of the luggage compartment lid 
(arrows) make it easier to pull the lid 
down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage 
compartment lid is clear when it is 
closed, following the same precautions 
as with all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid is 
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes 
could penetrate the interior of the 
vehicle. Should it be absolutely neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the 
luggage compartment lid open:
>Close all windows. Shut the sliding/
tilt sunroof
>Sharply increase the air supply for the 
air conditioning or automatic climate 
control, refer to page 80 or 83.< 

65n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Fuel gauge  Temperature gauge  Service Interval DisplayOnce the indicator lamp stays on 
continuously, there are still approx. 
2 gallons (8 liters) of fuel in the fuel 
tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to 
page 135.
Certain operating conditions (such as 
those encountered in mountainous 
areas) may cause the needle to fluc-
tuate slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving 
to the last drop of fuel can result in 
damage to the engine and/or catalytic 
converter.<
When you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an 
operation check.
BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at 
moderate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the 
warning lamp comes on briefly to 
confirm that the system is operational.
If the lamp comes on during normal 
vehicle operation: the engine has over-
heated. Stop and switch the engine off 
immediately and allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to 
page 111.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle 
may rise as far as the edge of the red 
sector in normal operation.
Remaining distance to serviceThe displays shown in the illustration 
appear for a few seconds when the 
ignition key is in position 1 or after the 
engine is started.
The next service due appears with the 
message OIL SERVICE or INSPECTION, 
together with the distance remaining in 
miles (kilometers) before the next sched-
uled service. 
The computer bases its calculations of 
the remaining distance on the preceding 
driving style.
A flashing message and a "Ð" in front of 
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the 
distance shown on the display. Please 
contact your BMW center for an 
appointment. 

71n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
ASC+T Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
*
Reactivating the ASC+TPress the button again; the indicator 
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be 
repealed, even with ASC+T. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to 
drive in a manner that matches road 
conditions. This is why you should not 
use the additional safety margin the 
system provides as an excuse to take 
risks.<
The conceptDSC maintains vehicle stability, even in 
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability 
during acceleration and when starting 
from a full stop, as well as optimizing 
traction. In addition, it recognizes 
unstable vehicle conditions, such as 
under- or oversteering, and, within 
physically feasible limits, helps keeping 
the vehicle on a steady course by 
reducing the engine speed and brake 
applications to the individual wheels.
The DSC is operational every time you 
start the engine. DSC incorporates the 
ADB and CBC (Cornering Brake 
Control) functions.
The Automatic Differential Brake (ADB) 
relies on selective braking applications 
at the drive wheels to furnish the func-
tionality of a conventional limited-slip 
differential for enhanced traction in crit-
ical driving conditions such as those 
encountered on snow-covered road 
surfaces, etc.
The ADB is operational when DSC is 
switched off.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp on the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly 
after the ignition has been 
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking 
forces. 
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off with the 
button; ADB is operational.
ADB control intervention is not indi-
cated.
The indicator and the brake 
warning lamps will remain on 
continuously:
The DSC, ADB and DBC have 
been switched off with the 
button or are defective.
The vehicle will remain completely 
operational, however, without DSC. In 
the event of a fault, please consult your 
BMW center, refer to pages 18, 19.
Indicator and warning lamps for 
Canadian models. 

80n
Air conditioning
* 
1 Air onto the windshield and onto the 
side windows 
2 Air for the upper body area82
3 Air for the footwell 4 Air supply81
5 Temperature81
6 Air distribution817 Rear window defroster81
8 Air conditioning81
9 Recirculated-air mode81 

81n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Air conditioningAir supply
You can select blower speeds 
from 1 to 4. The heating and 
ventilation become more and 
more effective as the air 
supply settings are increased. In 
position 0, the blower and the heater 
are switched off. The outside air supply 
is blocked in position 0.
Temperature
In order to increase the 
temperature of the passenger 
compartment, turn to the right 
(red). The temperature of the 
incoming air is kept constant.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto 
the windows  , toward your 
upper body   or into the 
footwell  . All intermediate 
settings are possible. In the   setting, 
there is a low flow of air onto the 
windows to keep them free of conden-
sation.
Rear window defroster
When the rear window defroster 
is activated, the indicator lamp 
comes on. The rear window defroster 
switches off automatically.
The rear window defroster auto-
matically assumes operation 
within 5 minutes after the engine is 
started at outside temperatures below 
approx. 39 7 (+4 6).<
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and Ð depending on the 
temperature setting Ð rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the 
engine is started. Switching on the air 
conditioning will reduce condensation 
forming on the windows.
Condensation forms during opera-
tion of the air conditioning system, 
which then exits under the vehicle. 
Traces of condensed water of this kind 
are thus normal.<
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant 
external odors by temporarily 
excluding the supply of outside air. The 
system then recirculates the air 
currently within the vehicle.
If the windows should fog over in 
the recirculated-air mode, switch 
this mode off and increase the air 
supply as required.<